Artistic Techniques Glossary

noun a visual image that persists after a stimulus has been removed

adjective relating to or being an afterimage

• The afterimage of the bright light lingered in his vision for a few moments.
• I kept seeing afterimages of the fireworks in my eyes after the show.
• Dude, I swear I saw some trippy afterimages after staring at that neon sign for too long.
• The afterimage of her smile stayed with him long after she had left.

noun a stage in a process of change or development

adjective relating to or denoting a series of successive stages or degrees

• The artist used a subtle gradation of colors to create a sense of depth in the painting.
• I love how the sunset has a beautiful gradation of colors from pink to orange.
• That hairstyle has a cool gradation going from dark to light at the tips.
• The gradation of emotions in the novel's climax left readers on the edge of their seats.

noun the act of making something higher or more intense

verb to make or become higher or more intense

• The use of bright colors can heighten the visual appeal of the room.
• Adding more spices can heighten the flavor of the dish.
• Watching a horror movie late at night really heightens the spookiness.
• The tension in the room seemed to heighten as the argument escalated.

noun the action of making something higher or more intense

verb the act of increasing or raising something to a higher level

• The heightening of tensions between the two countries has led to increased military presence along the border.
• The heightening of drama in the reality TV show has kept viewers hooked on every episode.
• The heightening of the party last night was off the charts!
• The heightening of emotions during the heated debate made it difficult to reach a resolution.

noun a document written entirely by the person in whose name it appears

• The scientist presented his research findings using a holograph of the human brain.
• Check out this cool holograph of a dinosaur I found online!
• I can't believe how realistic that holograph of the concert was!
• His words painted a holograph of the future in my mind.

noun the state of being white or glowing with heat

• The incandescence of the chandelier illuminated the entire ballroom.
• The incandescence from the fireworks lit up the night sky.
• The incandescence of the bonfire was so mesmerizing.
• Her passion for the cause burned with an incandescence that inspired others to join her.

noun the quality or state of being cheerful or carefree

• The lightness of the fabric made it perfect for summer wear.
• I love the lightness of this dessert, it's so refreshing.
• Her jokes always bring a lightness to the conversation.
• The lightness of his heart was evident in his carefree attitude.

adjective capable of being shaped or bent without breaking; adaptable or easily influenced

• The malleable material was easily molded into different shapes by the sculptor.
• I love working with malleable clay because it's so easy to shape.
• Dude, that guy is so malleable, he'll do whatever you tell him.
• Her malleable personality allowed her to adapt to any situation.

verb to choose or select from a group

adverb used to describe how something is done, in this case, the act of choosing or selecting

• The detective was able to pick out the suspect from a lineup of individuals.
• Can you help me pick out a birthday present for my mom?
• I can easily pick out my favorite song from that album.
• It's important to be able to pick out the key points in a complex argument.

noun something that alleviates pain or discomfort

• The government announced a new relief package for small businesses affected by the pandemic.
• I felt a sense of relief when I finally finished my exams.
• I can't believe I found my lost wallet, what a relief!
• Listening to music is a relief for my soul after a long day.

verb to shape or cut roughly, without finishing details

• The sculptor used a chisel to roughhew the marble block into a basic shape.
• I'm going to roughhew this piece of wood before sanding it down.
• Let's roughhew this project outline before presenting it to the team.
• Sometimes life throws us challenges that we must roughhew before we can move forward.

adjective having the characteristics of a snake; resembling a snake in form or movement

• The snaky path through the forest was difficult to navigate.
• Watch out for the snaky road ahead, it's full of twists and turns.
• That guy has a snaky personality, you can't trust him.
• Her words took on a snaky tone as she tried to manipulate the situation.

verb Swirling is a present participle form of the verb swirl, which means to move or cause to move in a twisting or spiraling pattern.

• The artist created a masterpiece with swirling brushstrokes of vibrant colors.
• I love watching the swirling patterns in the water when I stir my tea.
• The party was lit with everyone swirling on the dance floor.
• Emotions were swirling inside her, making it hard to focus on anything else.

noun A shade or variety of color

verb To color with or as if with a tint

• The artist applied a light blue tint to the sky in her painting.
• I'm thinking of getting my car windows tinted for the summer.
• I love the tint on those sunglasses, they look so cool.
• The nostalgia of the old photograph had a tint of sadness to it.

noun a subdued or muted tone or quality

verb none

adjective none

adverb none

pronoun none

preposition none

conjunction none

interjection none

article none

• The speaker's words had a subtle undertone of disapproval.
• There was an undertone of excitement in her voice when she talked about the party.
• I could sense an undertone of jealousy in her tone.
• The painting had an undertone of melancholy that spoke to the viewer's soul.