Drawing Vocabulary
Abstraction
An alternation of forms, derived from observation or experience in such a way as to present essential rather than particular qualities. Lives on spectrum from observation to non-objective.
Composition
Composition
The organization or arrangement of the elements of art in a given work.
Cone of Vision
Cone of Vision
Represents the limited area that can be clearly seen-visualized as a cone approximately 45°to 60°. Objects drawn beyond results in distortion.
Contour line
Contour line
A line that delineates an object’s surface topography. Emphasizes the volumetric shape of an object.
Ellipse
Ellipse
A circle in perspective that changes shape in relation to horizon line. Check Major and Minor axis for shape
Gestural Study
Gestural Study
A quick graphic representation of form in which the hand (holding a mark-making tool) follows the movement of the eye over the subject’s configuration.
Highlight
Highlight
The lightest spots or areas in a drawing or painting; the areas receiving the most illumination; the application of light-colored media over a darker medium or ground.
Horizon line
Horizon line
An imaginary line, indicated by the viewer’s eye level, in the distance where earth and sky appear to meet and toward which receding form appear to diminish in size.
Mid-point method
Mid-point method
A system within linear perspective that allows the artist to project how a line or shape will repeat along an edge.
Parallel
Parallel
Two lines, two surfaces, or a line and a surface are parallel if they never intersect (meet). They remain a constant distance apart over their entire lengths
Perspective
Perspective
A quasi-mathematical system of drawing concerned with creating the illusion of depth and volume on a two-dimensional surface. This western approach to representing space was developed by the Renaissance architect, Filippo Brunelleschi (c. 1425 AD) and first written about by Alberti in his Treatise on Painting (1435 AD).
1-Point Perspective
1-Point Perspective
A system that uses one vanishing point. The remaining two dimensions are either parallel or perpendicular to the horizon line.
2-Point Perspective
2-Point Perspective
A system that uses two vanishing points. The one remaining dimension is perpendicular to theline containing the two vp's. (No true horizontals)
3-Point Perspective
3-Point Perspective
A system that uses three vanishing points. 2 vp's are located on the horizon line, the third vp is located on a vertical that is perpendicular to the horizon line.
Picture Plane
Picture Plane
The imaginary flat surface that is usually located between the station point and the object being viewed and is ordinarily a vertical plane perpendicular to the horizontal projection of the line of sight to the object's order of interest.
Scale
Scale
The relationship of actual size of the drawing to the actual size of the subject. 1”=1ʼ means drawing is smaller than object. ¼”=1” means drawing is larger than object
Vanishing point
Vanishing point
A point in a perspective drawing at which orthogonal (receding) lines converge. Usually located on the horizon line.
Value The graduation of tone from light to dark, from white through gray to black. Classically illustrated by the 5-value system of highlight, mid-tone, core shadow, reflected light and cast shadow.
Value The graduation of tone from light to dark, from white through gray to black. Classically illustrated by the 5-value system of highlight, mid-tone, core shadow, reflected light and cast shadow.
