| Term Used | Definition |
| Achromatic |
Black, white and greys. Artwork that is executed without colour
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| Acrylic |
Thicker and stronger than tempera or watercolour paint, Acrylic is a water-based "plastic" paint
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| Albumen Print |
This printing process is used in photography printing processes. Egg whites are used in the emulsion
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| Alternative Process |
This photography term covers approximately 35 different processes for the final unconventional effect
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| Angled |
Lines are a combination of diagonal lines
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| Armature |
Structure used beneath something else for support. For example, a sculptor might create a clay sculpture with a wood or wire armature beneath it as support. Think about the frame of a house being constructed before all of the brick or siding is built on top
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| Artists Proof |
Small group of outstanding prints for the artists use which have been set aside from the edition prints
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| Balance |
An art and design principle concerned with the arrangement of one or more elements in a work of art so that they appear symmetrical (even) or asymmetrical (uneven) in design and proportion
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| Basic Colour Principles |
All colour theory is based on the principle that 'colour is light'.
An object that we see as red contains pigmentation which absorbs all of the coloured rays of white light except the red colour, which it reflects. White pigment absorbs none of the coloured rays, and black absorbs all of the colours of the spectrum.
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| Batik |
Parrafin or beeswax is used to resist paint or dye on fabric or paper. Designs and patterns are produced on the unwaxed areas
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| Bisque |
When clay has its first firing in a kiln, it is called bisque ware. At this point, the clay has changed composition and can no longer have water added to it and turned back into a useable material
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| Black |
The complete absence of light. Because of impurities, you can not create black with pigments. In most black pigments, the is a slight blue trace. A black surface absorbs all light
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| Brayer |
In printmaking, a Brayer is a roller which is used to apply ink to printing surfaces
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| Brushes |
Brush styles are designated by a letter following a series number:
B = Brights, flat, square-edged, long sable
Filberts = Flat, oval edge, long fibre
F = Flats, square edge, long bristle
L = Longs, flat, square-edge, long sable
R - Rounds, pointed bristle
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| Canvas |
Fabrics that are prepared for painting. Available in panels, stretched on frames, or obtained by the yard
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| Ceramics |
Describes the shaping, finishing and firing of clay
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| Charcoal and Conte Crayon |
In stick form, both give you a very strong, dark line. The disadvantage to these crayons is that they break easily and tend to smudge. Can be found is stick form as well
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| Chop |
An impression made by the artist, or by the printer seal
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| Chroma |
The intensity, or strength, or purity of a colour. Squeezing paint directly from the tube to the palette is 'full chroma'
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| Cibachrome |
Process where a photographic print can be made directly from a colour transparency
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