ILTS Visual Arts (214) flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Elements of Art

The basic visual components - line, shape, form, color, value, texture, and space - used to describe, analyze, and create any work of art.

Principles of Design

Organizational strategies such as balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, unity, and proportion that arrange the elements of art into a coherent composition.

Asymmetrical Balance

A composition balanced by unequal visual weights placed at different distances from center, creating dynamic equilibrium rather than mirror-image symmetry.

Complementary Colors

Hues opposite each other on the color wheel, such as red and green or blue and orange; they create maximum contrast and neutralize when mixed as pigment.

Two-Point Perspective

A linear perspective system in which parallel lines recede to two vanishing points on a horizon line, typically used to draw building corners and box forms.

Intaglio Printing

A printmaking family in which the image is incised below the plate surface and ink is held in the grooves, as in etching, engraving, and drypoint.

Contrapposto

An Italian term for the classical pose in which weight rests on one leg, causing hips and shoulders to tilt in opposing directions and creating naturalistic balance.

Byzantine Mosaic Style

Medieval art characterized by gold-ground mosaics, flattened frontal figures, elongated proportions, and spiritual hierarchy, seen in Ravenna and Hagia Sophia.

Gothic Architecture

A medieval style defined by pointed arches, rib vaults, flying buttresses, and large stained-glass windows, allowing tall, light-filled cathedrals such as Chartres.

Linear Perspective

A Renaissance system, codified by Brunelleschi and Alberti, that uses vanishing points and orthogonals to create the illusion of three-dimensional depth on a flat surface.

Sfumato

Leonardo da Vinci's technique of blending tones and edges with imperceptible transitions, producing soft, smoky modeling as in the Mona Lisa.

Tenebrism

An extreme form of chiaroscuro using dramatic shafts of light against deep darkness, associated with Caravaggio and Baroque painting.

Impressionism

A late nineteenth-century French movement emphasizing visible brushwork, light effects, and everyday subjects painted outdoors, associated with Monet, Renoir, and Cassatt.

Readymade

Marcel Duchamp's term for ordinary manufactured objects presented as art, challenging traditional ideas of authorship, craft, and what defines an artwork.

Abstract Expressionism

A post-World War II American movement combining large scale and expressive gesture or color fields, represented by Pollock's drips and Rothko's stacked rectangles.

Feldman Critique Method

A four-stage art criticism process - description, analysis, interpretation, and judgment - moving from observable facts to meaning to evaluation.

Formalism

An aesthetic theory holding that artistic value resides primarily in formal qualities such as composition, color, and line rather than subject matter or message.

Imitationalism

An aesthetic theory judging art by how convincingly it represents observed reality, valuing illusionistic accuracy and resemblance to the visible world.

Iconography

The study of symbols, attributes, and conventional motifs in art - such as a halo or lily - and how they convey meaning within a cultural tradition.

Nonobjective Art

Artwork with no recognizable subject matter, using only form, color, and line; distinct from abstraction, which still derives from observed subject matter.

Provenance

The documented history of ownership of an artwork, used to establish authenticity, support attribution, and identify works looted or illegally exported.

Portfolio Assessment

Evaluation based on a curated body of student work, often including process evidence and an artist statement, judged against criteria such as concept and craftsmanship.

SDS

Safety Data Sheet; a standardized document listing a material's hazards, handling, storage, and first-aid procedures, required in school art studios.

Silica Dust Hazard

Fine clay and glaze dust can cause silicosis, so studios use wet cleaning, ventilation, and masks instead of dry sweeping.

AP/CP Seal

A non-toxic materials certification: AP indicates a product is safe for all ages including children, CP indicates it meets performance standards.

Formative Assessment

Ongoing checks during instruction - sketches, critiques, exit slips - used to adjust teaching rather than to assign a final grade.

Rubric

A scoring guide listing criteria and performance levels, making evaluation of art consistent and transparent for students and families.

Differentiated Instruction

Adapting content, process, or product to varied learner needs, such as offering choice-based studio options or modified tools in the art room.

Kiln Safety

Rules for firing ceramics: vent fumes, avoid loading damp or explosive pieces, keep the area clear, and supervise students near hot kilns and ware.

Universal Design for Learning

A planning framework offering multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression so diverse students can access art content and demonstrate learning.

Visual Arts Standards

Framework organizing art education around creating, presenting, responding, and connecting, guiding curriculum, instruction, and assessment decisions.

Artist Statement

A short written reflection in which a student explains intent, process, influences, and meaning of their work, often required in portfolios.