Art Concepts Glossary

Adapted from “How to Teach Art to Children”

by Joy Evans and Tanya Skelton

complementary colors

• colors that are straight across from each other on the color wheel

contrast• using light colors next to dark colors

cool colors• colors that have cool undertones: green,

blue, and purple

diagonal• a slanted line

form• a three-dimensional object

geometric shape• a shape that fits into mathematics (circle,

square, rectangle, triangle, etc.)

horizontal• a straight line that runs side to side

hue• the colors of the color wheel

line• a basic element of art; the path made by a

moving point

monochromatic• using one color in an image

organic shape• a shape that comes from nature and does

not fit into mathematics

Parallel lines• two lines that run next to each other and

never intersect

primary colors• colors that cannot be made by mixing other

colors: red, yellow, and blue

secondary colors• colors that are made by mixing two primary

colors: orange, green, and purple

shade• a variety of a particular color with black

added

shape• a basic element of art: an area that is made by

a line that touches at the beginning and end

tertiary colors• colors that are

made by mixing one primary and one secondary color. These colors tend to be grayish. The primary color is always listed first: red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet, red-violet.

tint• a variety of a particular color with white

added

value• the use of lights and darks in artwork

vertical• a straight up and down line

warm colors• colors that have warm undertones: red,

orange, and yellow