Drawing I Glossary

Front 1

refers to the imaginary plane through which artists view their subject. This plane also corresponds to the two-dimensional surface upon which a drawing is created.

Back 1

Picture Plane:

Front 2

refers to the overall shape and dimension of the picture plane.

Back 2

Format:

Front 3

refers to the identifiable things (objects, landscapes, figures, etc.) depicted in a drawing.

Back 3

Subject, Subject Matter:

Front 4

refers to the meaning of a work.

Back 4

Content:

Front 5

occurs when part of an image is cut off by the edge of the picture plane.

Back 5

Crop or Cropping:

Front 6

refers to a state of agreement or sense of belonging among all parts in a design. Unity is a universal principle of fine design.

Back 6

Unity, Harmony:

Front 7

refers to a state of equilibrium among all of the parts in a design.

Back 7

Balance:

Front 8

occurs when a form cannot be divided along a central axis and yield two identical halves.

Back 8

Asymmetric Balance:

Front 9

occurs when a form can be divided along a central axis and yield two identical halves.

Back 9

Symmetric Balance:

Front 10

refers to the size relationships within a design.

Back 10

Proportion:

Front 11

is a change of position or location. (Note: is considered a design element in some texts.)

Back 11

Movement:

Front 12

the visual path taken when viewing a design.

Back 12

Eye Movement:

Front 13

occurs when certain areas of a design are accentuated over others. is often achieved through the creation of a focal point.

Back 13

Emphasis:

Front 14

occurs when an element appears more than once in a design.

Back 14

Repetition:

Front 15

is a visual flow or movement created by repetition.

Back 15

Rhythm:

Front 16

an area in a design to which the eye is compellingly drawn.

Back 16

Focal Point:

Front 17

this occurs when the parts of a design are different from each other. However, the parts must also have something in common to maintain a sense of unity. Using variety in a design is an important technique for maintaining viewer interest in the work. Degrees of variety in design range from very subtle to extreme.

Back 17

Variety:

Front 18

: these phrases refer to viewpoints that remain in the same position when sighting the subject.

Back 18

Fixed Position, Stationary Viewpoint

Front 19

occurs when the subject is parallel to your viewpoint.

Back 19

Full View:

Front 20

occurs when the subject is not parallel to your viewpoint.

Back 20

Foreshortened View:

Front 21

refers to the visual compression of an object’s dimensions when it is viewed at an angle to the picture plane (or at an angle to your viewpoint).

Back 21

Foreshortening:

Front 22

refers to size relationships, such as comparing the width of a form to its height or the size of one form to another.

Back 22

Proportion:

Front 23

an important part of your viewpoint, eye level is a specific term that refers to the height of your eyes in relation to the ground plane

Back 23

Eye Level:

Front 24

also known as the horizon line, this is an imaginary line that runs parallel to the ground plane and represents the height of your eyes in relation to the ground plane.

Back 24

Eye Level Line:

Front 25

The process of visually measuring proportion, shape, and position in the subject.

Back 25

Sighting

Front 26

the shape of a foreshortened circle

Back 26

Ellipse:

Front 27

a perceived line on the distant horizon where earth and sky meet. It is the outer limit of your distance vision.

Back 27

Horizon Line:

Front 28

This is a general term that refers to the location of your eyes in relation to the subject.

Back 28

Viewpoint

Front 29

are guidelines that determine how to arrange the visual elements of a design to achieve an interesting composition

Back 29

Design Principles

Front 30

This refers to the arrangement of visual elements in a work.

Back 30

Composition

Front 31

refers to size relationships, such as comparing the width of a form to its height or the size of one form to another.

Back 31

Proportion:

Front 32

Sighting Techniques:

Back 32

Pencil Measure:
Line Extension, Extending Lines
Points of Intersection:
Viewfinder:
Gesture Drawings:
Angling:
Negative Shapes.

Front 33

are quick drawings that record the subject’s primary structure, directional movement, and expressive energy.

Back 33

Gesture Drawings:

Front 34

the technique of using a straight edge to measure proportions within the subject.

Back 34

Pencil Measure:

Front 35

a device used to sight a composition. Viewfinders are also used to measure proportion and position within the subject.

Back 35

Viewfinder:

Front 36

the technique of measuring proportion and position of the subject by extending horizontal and vertical lines from one object into another.

Back 36

Line Extension, Extending Lines:

Front 37

this technique is used when objects or parts of objects overlap one another. The points where the background object intersects the foreground object designate the position and size of the background object in relation to the foreground object.

Back 37

Points of Intersection:

Front 38

the technique of using a straight edge to measure the angles of the subject.

Back 38

Angling:

Front 39

the technique of drawing the negative spaces between and surrounding positive forms enables artists to accurately sight the proportions of the positive form.

Back 39

Negative Shapes:

Front 40

This is a directional movement containing length, often thought of as a point in motion.

Back 40

Line

Front 41

a process of structurally analyzing the volume of a form into flat shapes.

Back 41

Planar Analysis:

Front 42

creating an illusion of three-dimensional depth and volume on a two dimensional surface

Back 42

Space:

Front 43

refers to variations in the thickness and value of a line.

Back 43

Line Weight:

Front 44

define the internal and external edges of forms. can vary in line weight to depict an illusion of volume.

Back 44

Contour Lines:

Front 45

move across the surfaces of forms and emphasize volume.

Back 45

Cross Contour Lines:

Front 46

Refers to any two-dimensional area containing length and height.

Back 46

Plane or Shape

Front 47

when three-dimensional objects are interpreted as two-dimensional shapes, they are called positive shapes.

Back 47

Positive Shapes:

Front 48

when the spaces surrounding and between three-dimensional objects are interpreted as two-dimensional shapes they are called negative shapes.

Back 48

Negative Shapes:

Front 49

This refers to any three-dimensional area containing length, height, and depth.

Back 49

Volume

Front 50

Refers to the three-dimensional realm within which volumetric form exists.

Back 50

Space

Front 51

creating an illusion of three-dimensional depth and volume on a two dimensional surface

Back 51

Spatial Illusion, Illusion of Space:

Front 52

Overlapping:
Diminishing Scale:
Foreshortening
Atmospheric Perspective.
Linear Perspective Theory:
Vanishing Point:
One Point Linear Perspective:
Two Point Linear Perspective

Back 52

Techniques for Creating Illusions of Space:

Front 53

occurs when an object conceals from view part of itself or other objects positioned behind it.

Back 53

Overlapping:

Front 54

refers to the apparent reduction in size that occurs as objects recede into space.

Back 54

Diminishing Scale:

Front 55

refers to the diminished clarity of distant forms. Moisture and dust particles in the atmosphere cause diminishing clarity with distant viewing.

Back 55

Atmospheric Perspective:

Front 56

a mechanical drawing system developed during the Italian Renaissance. It is used to depict the apparent convergence of parallel lines as they recede into space.

Back 56

Linear Perspective Theory:

Front 57

the point where parallel lines appear to meet and vanish from view.

Back 57

Vanishing Point:

Front 58

occurs when the subject is parallel the ground plane and parallel to your viewpoint.

Back 58

One Point Linear Perspective:

Front 59

: occurs when the subject is parallel to the ground plane but IS NOT parallel to your viewpoint.

Back 59

Two Point Linear Perspective

Front 60

This refers to relative degrees of lightness and darkness.

Back 60

Value

Front 61

a visual scale that depicts a progression of value change from black to white.

Back 61

Value Scale:

Front 62

the natural, inherent value of an object.

Back 62

Local Value:

Front 63

highlight, midtone, shadow, cast shadow, and reflected light.

Back 63

The Five Primary Value Areas:

Front 64

a general rendering of the light and shadow in your subject using only three values: dark gray, middle gray, and white.

Back 64

Value Foundation:

Front 65

Developed during the Italian Renaissance, this is a theory and technique for applying light and shadow to create an illusion of form and depth.

Back 65

Chiaroscuro:

Front 66

any process of building an image by the accumulation of material.

Back 66

Addition:

Front 67

any process of building an image by the removal of material

Back 67

Subtraction:

Front 68

refers to the quality of workmanship in the use of tools and materials.

Back 68

Craftsmanship:

Front 69

a blank sheet attached to the front of a drawing to protect its surface

Back 69

Cover Sheet

Front 70

a material used to bind drawing materials to a surface.

Back 70

Fixative: