The document provides a list of art vocabulary words that can be used to describe different elements of artwork such as lines, shapes, composition, color, painting techniques and styles. It includes descriptive words like horizontal, organic, bold, and gestural as well as technique words like hatching, impasto, fluid and expression. It also defines chiaroscuro as the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually in bold contrasts affecting a whole composition.

1. Art Vocabulary
The list of words below can be used to describe different elements of artwork.
Line and
direction
Shape, form
and
composition
Colour and
tone
Painting
technique
Style and
effect
Vertical Silhouette Bleached Instinctive Grandiose
Horizontal Organic Bold Gestural Evocative
Jagged biomorphic Brash Painterly Sublime
Broken monumental Clean Impasto Daring/bold
Straight non-objective Glowing Fluid Joyful
Continuous Geometric Harsh Energetic Emotive
hatching Abstract Warm Dynamic Intimate
Merged Distorted Cool Rough Improvised
Contours Open Complimentary Smooth Rousing
Crooked Closed Limited Linear Exhilarating
Fluid Symmetrical Dull Strokes Dominant
Expressive Asymmetrical Muted Aggressive Iconic
Thick Flat Harmonious Brash Luminescent
Thin Block Vibrant Dripped Unconventional
Congested Exaggerated Discordant Soaked Dynamic
Minimal Plane Chiaroscuro Blended Pure
2D / 3D/Relief Expression
Chiaroscuro in art is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts
affecting a whole composition