Feeling a bit stuck with the terminology surrounding original fine art? Don’t worry, we’re here to help!
This blog is your go-to guide, offering an extensive glossary of terms to demystify the language of fine art. Whether you’re curious about the rich texture of "impasto" or the intricate craft of "batik," we break it all down for you. Our goal is to help you navigate the world of mediums, techniques, and materials with ease, so you can fully appreciate the creativity behind every masterpiece.
What is an Original artwork?
A unique piece of artwork is often referred to as an ‘Original.’ This relates mainly to its manner of production. For example a print (or reproduction) may look identical to an original painting, but the image produced by printing can be identically reproduced as many times as is required. An original oil painting can never be reproduced identically again.This is why the value of an original painting is usually higher than that of a print of the same image.
What is Oil Paint?
Oil paint is made up of pigment suspended in an oil. It can be used raw out of the tube or diluted with different types of spirits, but not water. It produces very rich tones and different thickness can allow an artist to use the paint in different ways. Due to the oil component it can take a long time to dry, however due to the slower drying time oil paint can also be reworked over a longer duration.
What is Watercolour?
Watercolour is a water based medium made from finely ground pigment usually suspended in gum arabic. It can be diluted by water to create an extremely thin medium with luminous transparency.
What is Acrylic Paint?
Acrylic Paint is a water based paint made from finely ground pigments suspended in a plasticising emulsion which dries to a very solid state in a short space of time. Acrylic paint can be diluted with water but once dried, becomes water resistant and is very difficult to rework.
What is a Canvas made of?
Closely woven, sturdy cloth of hemp, cotton, linen, or a similar fibre, usually stretched over a wooden frame or flat board, it can also be used un-stretched and used as a surface for painting.
What is a Collage?
From the French verb coller, meaning “to glue.” The term collage refers to both the technique and the resulting work of art in which fragments of paper and other materials are arranged and glued or otherwise affixed to a supporting surface.
What does Diptych and Triptych mean?
Terms which refer to a work of art consisting of two (di) or three (tri) sections or panels that are displayed together, creating one artwork.
What does Impasto mean?
This is a technique used in painting, where paint is laid on an area of the surface in very thick layers, usually thick enough that the brush or painting-knife strokes are visible.
What is Brushwork?
The manner in which a painter applies paint with a brush, “energetic,” “subtle,” “aggressive,” or “tight,” “loose” ...brushwork.
What does Chiaroscuro mean?
From the Italian terms “chiaro,” light and “scuro,” dark, the term refers to how an artist creates form and volume through a bold contrast of light and shade.
What is Glaze?
A glaze is a very thin, transparent layer of paint applied to an area, or sometimes a full painting to tint, or change the tonal range of colours beneath.
What does Assemblage mean?
A three-dimensional work of art made from combinations of materials including found objects or non-traditional art materials.
What is Mixed Media?
A technique involving the use of two or more artistic mediums, such as ink and pastel or painting and collage, which are combined in a single composition.
What is Batik?
A wax-resist dyeing technique that is often used to make highly patterned cloth.
What does Medium mean?
The medium refers to the material used to create the piece of artwork, for example, oil paint or charcoal are different mediums.
Understanding the terminology of original fine art is the key to deepening your appreciation of this fascinating world. We hope this glossary has helped demystify the terms and provided you with the confidence to explore and engage with art on a whole new level.
Ready to expand your knowledge even further? Whilst you're on a roll, why not dive into your next read, Glossary of Print Edition Terms. It’s the perfect follow-up to enrich your understanding of the art world. Happy reading!
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