Art Glossary

A maquette is a small-scale model of a sculpture that serves as a preliminary version of the final piece. It allows the artist to experiment with ideas and make adjustments without the expense and (...) read more

Marble is a rare and expensive metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized limestone. It has been used for centuries to create statues, decorative floors, and walls due to its translucency and (...) read more

A marker is a drawing tool filled with colorful inks that dry quickly. Markers come in various sizes and use different colorants, such as ink, dye, or paint. They are available with different tip (...) read more

Metal has been traditionally used in art for creating sculptures, jewelry, masks, adornments, tools, and weapons, often featuring decorative elements. Common types of metal used include bronze, (...) read more

Metalcut was a relief printing technique used primarily in Europe from around 1450 to 1540. The technique involved using thin metal plates. One method involved cutting or hammering away parts of the (...) read more

Mezzotint is a printmaking technique in which a copper or steel plate is roughened to produce a solid black print. The artist smooths specific areas of the plate to create a range of tones, from deep (...) read more

Mixed media refers to artwork that incorporates more than one medium within a single piece. Unlike multimedia art, which combines distinct forms of visual art and often includes elements like sound, (...) read more

A mobile is a type of kinetic sculpture consisting of an ensemble of balanced parts that hang freely and move independently or as a whole when influenced by air currents or touch. Typically made of (...) read more

Monochromatic describes paintings, photographs, designs, or drawings that utilize one color or various shades of a single color. Monochromatic objects have a limited range of hues. While the term (...) read more

Monoprinting is a printmaking technique where a single impression is created from a re-printable surface, such as a lithographic stone, wood block, or metal plate. Unlike traditional printmaking, (...) read more

Monotype is a printmaking technique where an image is painted or drawn on a nonabsorbent, smooth surface, traditionally an etching plate of copper, but now also acrylic, zinc, or glass. The image is (...) read more

Montage is a film editing technique where a series of shots are edited into a sequence to condense time, convey information, and manage space within the narrative. While it primarily refers to this (...) read more

Mosaic is an art form that involves creating images by arranging many small pieces of colored tile, glass, or other materials. These pieces, often numbering in the hundreds, are placed closely (...) read more

Multimedia refers to an art technique that combines multiple forms of media, such as visual, audio, and digital elements, into a single composition. This is different from mixed media, which involves (...) read more

An object in art refers to any tangible thing that exists and can be depicted in a work of art. Sometimes, the object becomes the focal point of a painting, drawing, or sculpture, meaning it is the (...) read more

Offset lithography is a printing technique where the inked image is first transferred (offset) from a plate to a rubber blanket and then to the printing surface. This method combines the lithographic (...) read more

Oil on board is a painting technique where oil paint is applied to either wood panels that have been sanded and primed or high-density cardboard covered with canvas. These surfaces offer the (...) read more

Oil paint is a slow-drying type of paint made from pigment particles suspended in a drying oil, typically linseed oil. The viscosity of the paint can be adjusted by adding a solvent like turpentine, (...) read more

Oil on paper is a technique that allows painters to use economical paper without needing to apply a primer before painting. Artists can combine oil paints with solvents to achieve effects similar to (...) read more

Papier-mâché is a composite material made from pieces of paper or pulp, reinforced with textiles and bound with adhesives like starch, wallpaper paste, or glue. There are two main methods to create (...) read more

Pastel is an art medium in stick form made from powdered pigment and a binder. The pigments used in pastels are the same as those in other colored art media. The color effect of pastels closely (...) read more

Pen and ink is a traditional drawing technique that involves using a dip pen with India ink on paper. The fine tip of the dip pen is ideal for creating varied lines and detailed shading. Some artists (...) read more

A pencil is a writing and drawing tool with a core of solid pigment, typically graphite or colored, encased in a protective layer of wood or composite material. Pencils make marks on paper by (...) read more

A photograph is an image captured with a camera. Traditionally, photographs were made by exposing film and then developing the image on light-sensitive paper using chemicals. Today, photographs can (...) read more