Easy Art Vocabulary
Explore different art vocabulary and concepts in a simple, user-friendly format. Focus on the basics! Use this list during lessons to quickly explain art words, build students’ confidence when they talk about their work, and give extra support to diverse and adaptive learners.
Elements of Art
Line
A mark made by a moving point through space.
Shape
A two-dimensional area defined by an edge or outline.
Form
A three-dimensional object or the illusion of three dimensions.
Color
Produced when light reflected back from an object to the eye.
Value
The lightness or darkness of tones or colors.
Space
The area around, between, or within components of a piece.
Texture
The perceived surface quality of a work of art.
Principles of Design
Symmetry
The distribution of visual weight in a work of art.
Balance
How visual weight is arranged so that no one part feels heavier or more important than the rest.
Contrast & Empahsis
Use differences in art elements to draw the viewer’s eye to the most important part of a composition
Pattern & Repetition
Created when art elements are used again and again to form a rhythm or organized design
Unity & Harmony
When all the elements in a work feel like they belong together, creating a whole.
Variety
Use of different art elements to add interest and keep a work from feeling boring or repetitive.
Rhythm
Created when art elements are repeated or arranged in a way that guides the viewer’s eye through the artwork like a visual beat.
Proportion & Scale
Describe how the sizes of parts relate to each other and to the whole artwork.
Materials and Techniques
Collage
A technique where different materials like paper or fabric are glued to a surface.
Colored Pencil
A lead pencil containing pigment instead of graphite for drawing.
Art Terms
Landscape
A landscape is an artwork that shows natural scenery like mountains or forests.
Still Life
Still lifes show inanimate objects like fruit or flowers.
Learning Resources
Classroom Plans
• Art Elements Curriculum Map
Homeschool Guides
• Supply Starter List
Adaptive Tools
• Adapted Tool Guide