Critiquing Tools

ART VOCABULARY LIST
Negative space is the space between objects or the parts of an object, for example the area between a cup and its handle. Also the space between an object and the edges of the canvas, i.e. the space around an object.
http://painting.about.com/cs/paintingknowhow/g/negativespace.htm 

Smudge (or scumble)— There are two senses for this term. Its earlier meaning: a broken passage of opaque or translucent color (often paint) skimmed or dragged across the surface in such a way that each color is visible, each modifying the other, or, to apply a color in this way. This technique was developed by the Venetian school of painters (chief among whom was Titian, c. 1488 - 1576), who passed dry, opaque coats of oil paint over a tinted background to create subtle tones and shadows. Although this painting technique dates to the 16th century, use of the word "scumble" in order to refer to it is unknown before the late 18th century. The origins of the word "scumble" are blurry [!], but the word is thought to be related to the verb "scum," an obsolete form of "skim" (meaning "to pass lightly over"). A later sense for scumble: to smudge or smear the lines, edges, or colors in an image by rubbing lightly. This use appeared in the mid-1800s.
http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/Sc.html

Proportion is a principle of art that describes the size, location or amount of one element to another (or to the whole) in a work. It has a great deal to do with the overall hamrony of an individual piece.

http://arthistory.about.com/cs/glossaries/g/p_proportion.htm

Rhythm is a principle of art that's difficult to summarize in words. Assuming that you've picked up on a rhythm in music before, take what you heard with your ears and try to translate that to something you'd see with your eyes. Rhythm, in art, is a visual beat.
http://arthistory.about.com/cs/glossaries/g/r_rhythm.htm


Middle ground
A point of view midway between extremes: "the middle ground between news and amusement" (Roderick Anscombe).
http://www.answers.com/topic/middle-ground

courtesy of http://www.greatimpressions.co.uk/personal1.htm

ADJECTIVE LIST

Concerning Colour:

Shade - A color to which black or another dark hue has been added to make it darker, tending to make them neutral in color. For example, black added to green makes it a darker shade of green. Value changes from pure hues are called shades and tints. You can see this in the color wheel below. On the right, pure hues are marked by dots. The shades made from those hues are under them.
http://www.artlex.com/



Warm
warm colors - Colors are often described as having temperature — as warm (reds, oranges, and yellows), or cool (greens, blues, and violets). Warm colors are often associated with fire and the sun. They appear on one side of the color wheel, and opposite the cool colors. Psychologically, warm colors are said to be stimulating and passionate. Optically, warm colors generally appear to advance, coming toward the viewer.
http://www.artlex.com/


Garish
1.
a. Marked by strident color or excessive ornamentation; gaudy.
b. Loud and flashy: garish makeup. See Synonyms at gaudy1.
2. Glaring; dazzling: "Hide me from Day's garish eye" (John Milton).
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/garish

Polychrome
• adj. painted, printed, or decorated in several colors.
• n. varied coloring.
∎ a work of art in several colors, esp. a statue.
• v. [tr.] [usu. as adj.] (polychromed) execute or decorate (a work of art) in several colors.
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-polychrome.html

Analogous colors are colors that are adjacent or next to one another on a color wheel. An analogous color scheme is one in which only three adjacent colors are used. The theory is that colors work well or harmonize together. Usually one of these colors is dominant, or used more than the other two, in the painting.

http://painting.about.com/od/artglossarya/g/defanalogous.htm

courtesy of http://www.roguescene.com

PRINCIPLES and ELEMENTS of DESIGN LIST

Basic ELEMENTS of Design

Line

Line can be considered in two ways. The linear marks made with a pen or brush or the edge created when two shapes meet.

Colour

Also called Hue

Texture

Texture is the surface quality of a shape - rough, smooth, soft hard glossy etc. Texture can be physical (tactile) or visual.

Shape

A shape is a self contained defined area of geometric or organic form. A positive shape in a painting automatically creates a negative shape.

Form (aka shade/value)

Value is the lightness or darkness of a colour. Value is also called Tone

http://www.johnlovett.com/test.htm

Basic PRINCIPLES of Design

Stability (better known as Balance)

Balance is one of the principles of art which describes how artists to create visual weight.
http://www.alifetimeofcolor.com/study/g_balance.html

Dynamics

a) characterized by action or forcefulness or force of personality; "a dynamic market"; "a dynamic speaker"; "the dynamic president of the firm"
b) of or relating to dynamics
c) moral force: an efficient incentive; "they hoped it would act as a spiritual dynamic on all churches"
d) active: (used of verbs (e.g. `to run') and participial adjectives (e.g. `running' in `running water')) expressing action rather than a state of being
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Rhythm

Rhythm is one of the principles of art. Visual rhythm makes you think of the rhythms you hear in music or dance. Artists create visual rhythm by repeating art elements and creating patterns.
http://www.alifetimeofcolor.com/study/g_rhythm.html

Scale (also known as Proportion)

Proportion is one of the principles of art which describes the size, location or amount of one thing compared to another.

http://www.alifetimeofcolor.com/study/g_proportion.html