Vocabulary to describe, analyze, and interpret what you're seeing.

Thinking of the right words bec

First, find the aspect of a painting you wis

DESCRIBE
ELEMENTS: These Form your sentence or PRINCIPLES: The princip
elements are the phrase here from the art represent how the a
building blocks, or selected element, noun(s) uses the elements of ar
ingredients, of art. and adjective(s) create an effect and to
NOUN ADJECTIVE convey the artist's inte

COLOR abstraction absorbing

TEXTURE abundance abstract

VALUE aesthetic acclaimed

SHAPE an eye for accomplished

LINE art adroit

VALUE art form aesthetic

SPACE art gallery aesthetically pleasing

art style aggressive

artist appealing

artistic career artistic

artistic endeavor astonishing

artistic expression atmospheric

artistic genius authentic

artwork avant-garde

assemblage award-winning

balance awe-inspiring

beauty balanced

body of work baroque

brushwork beautiful
camera bold

canvas boundless

character brilliant

collection candid

collector ceramic

color characteristic

complexity classic

composition collectable

concept colorful

conception complementary

contrasts complex

conviction conceptual

creative approach contemplative

creativity contemporary

dedication controversial

depth conversational

masterpiece creative

mastery daring

maturity dazzling

meaning decorative

medium deeply thoughtful

method delicate

mixed media dense

mood detailed

motif infused

movement inspirational
museum inspired

mystique instinctive

narrative intellectual

nuance intense

painting intensive

palette interesting

panel intuitive

passion inventive

patron labyrinthine

pattern layered

perception lifelike

perspective literal

philosophy luminous

photo lyrical

photograph mature

picture meandering

piece mosaic-like

portrait moving

preoccupation mysterious

print mystical

process narrative

purity organic

quality original

reaction paradoxical

realm passionate

detail peaceful
diptych personal

draftsmanship phenomenal

duality pictorial

element playful

exhibition potent

exploration profound

expression provoking

figure pure

form radiant

format realistic

gallery refined

growth refreshing

hanging remarkable

hue resourceful

icon revealing

iconic value disciplined

ideal disruptive

illustration distinctive

image distinguished

imagery divine

impact dreamlike

innovation dreamy

inspiration dynamic

installation eclectic

instinct elevated

intensity elevating
interaction emergent

interpretation emerging

intricacies emotional

journey emotionally charged

juxtaposition enchanted

labyrinth energetic

landscape engaging

luminosity engrossing

reflection enigmatic

representation epochal

scene ethereal

scenery evocative

sculptor exceptional

sculpture exotic

self-portrait explosive

sensation expressive

sensitivity extreme

sensuality fascinating

series figural

shading figurative

show fluid

skill freelance

space fresh

splendor gorgeous

style graceful

subconscious granular
 subject honest

subject matter human

symbol hyper-creative

symbolism imaginative

talent impassioned

taste impeccable

technique romantic

texture saturated

theme sculptural

transformation semi-abstract

triptych sensual

understanding serene

urge signature

viewer simple

viewing skilled

vision soft

ç ç visualization sparse

ç ç spiritual

ç ç stimulating

ç ç stirring

ç ç studied

ç ç stunning

ç ç sublime

ç ç substantive

ç ç supple

ç ç surreal
ç ç symbolic

ç ç tactile

ç ç talented

ç ç tasteful

ç ç textile

ç ç thought-provoking

ç ç timeless

ç ç touching

ç ç traditional

ç ç tranquil

ç ç unconventional

ç ç unexpected

ç ç unforgettable

ç ç unique

ç ç universal

ç ç unpredictable

ç ç varied

ç ç visionary

ç ç visual

ç ç visually stimulating

ç ç voyeuristic
g of the right words becomes easier the more art terms you know, which is where this list comes in. If you consult the word

ect of a painting you wish to talk about (the colors, for instance), and then see which words match or fit with what you're th

FORMAL ART ANALYSIS

DESCRIBE
PRINCIPLES: The principles of Form your sentence or
art represent how the artist phrase here from the
uses the elements of art to selected principle, verb(s)
create an effect and to help and adverb(s)
convey the artist's intent. VERB ADVERB

BALANCE accomplish feasibly

CONTRAST affect realistically

EMPHASIS apply masterfully

MOVEMENT arouse unfailingly

PATTERN articulate successfully

UNITY/VARIETY awaken efficiently

RHYTHM brush satisfactorily

captivate victoriously

capture conceivably

carve effectively

characterize reliably

commission effortlessly

communicate possibly

conceptualize competently

conjure easily

contour indirectly

contrast routinely

convey abundantly

create collectively
critique reasonably

dance cooperatively

decorate infinitely

focus optimally

fuse adequately

hang skillfully

illustrate creatively

immerse individually

impassion precisely

incorporate exactly

inspire comfortably

interlace consistently

interpret automatically

interweave quickly adv

intrigue hopefully

invert usually

juxtapose necessarily

layer certainly

manipulate personally

outline strategically

paint severally

pioneer seemingly

play on perfectly

portray spontaneously

reach mutually

design artistically
develop neatly + adv

display properly

distort conveniently

draw virtually

echo probably

elevate ordinarily

emancipate gloriously

embellish basically

embody partially

emerge always

emphasize potentially

enchant

envision

etch

evoke

excite

exhibit

experience

explore

express

fascinate

redefine

refine

reflect

remind

render
represent

reveal

saturate

sculpt

shape

shoot

show

sketch

speaks of

stir

study

touch

transform

uplift

view

visualize

witness
comes in. If you consult the word bank regularly, you'll start to remember more and more terms.

s match or fit with what you're thinking.

ANALYZE INTERPRET JUDGE