Have you ever found yourself in front of an artwork and unable to find the words to describe it?
Do not despair; we have compiled a list of words to help you on your way to critiquing any artwork!
A good way to start is by focusing your description on line, contrast, tone, texture, scale, colour and shape. Here are a few descriptive words under each heading to get you started:
Line
Flowing
Delicate
Simple
Bold
Thick
Thin
Contrast
Dramatic
Subtle
Strong
Texture
Rough
Fine
Coarse
Smooth
Tone
Subtle
Contrasting
Muted
Dramatic
Scale
Large
Small
Intimate
Miniature
Shape
Organic
Curvaceous
Angular
Elongated
Colour
Bold
Vibrant
Subtle
Naturalistic
Pale
Scale
Large
Small
Intimate
Miniature
Monumental
Other useful terms:
Saturation- refers to the brightness of colour
Geometric – refers to the shapes such as circles, triangles, squares, etc.
Organic – free flowing or rounded
Symmetry – meaning it is equal on both sides
Asymmetrical – unequal proportioned elements
Flat tones – no tonal effect in the colour
Negative space – the space around the actual form of art
Depth – the illusion of space
Broken colour – dabs or small amounts of colour
Focal point – the spot that stands out in the artwork
Distorted – a shape that is changed and no longer looks proportioned