Visual Arts Terminology

noun a creative or imaginative piece of work produced through a visual medium such as painting, sculpture, or photography

• The art work displayed in the museum was truly remarkable.
• I really liked that art work you did for your project.
• Check out the sick art work on that graffiti wall!
• Her words were like a beautiful art work, painting a vivid picture in my mind.

adjective describing something that is capable of capturing and holding attention; fascinating

• The speaker delivered a captivating presentation that held the audience's attention throughout.
• The movie was so captivating, I couldn't look away from the screen.
• The new video game is absolutely captivating - I can't stop playing it!
• Her captivating smile lit up the room like a ray of sunshine.

noun a coordinated outfit or costume

• The orchestra performed a beautiful ensemble of classical music.
• The band played an awesome ensemble of popular songs.
• The crew put together a sick ensemble for the performance.
• The team worked together in perfect ensemble to achieve their goal.

noun creative art, especially visual art, whose products are to be appreciated primarily or solely for their imaginative, aesthetic, or intellectual content.

• The university offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree for students interested in pursuing a career in the fine arts.
• My sister is really talented in the fine arts and loves to paint in her free time.
• I'm thinking of taking a class in fine arts next semester, it seems like a cool way to express myself.
• The way she dances is like a form of fine arts, it's so graceful and beautiful to watch.

noun the quality or state of being opaque, or not allowing light to pass through

adjective opaque, not transparent or translucent

• The opacity of the glass blocks out most of the sunlight.
• I can't see through the opacity of this window.
• The opacity of her excuse was so obvious.
• The opacity of his emotions made it hard to understand how he truly felt.

verb The word 'picturing' is a verb that describes the action of forming a mental image or concept of something.

• She had a talent for picturing complex mathematical concepts in her mind.
• I have a hard time picturing what you're describing without seeing it in person.
• I can't even picture how crazy the party was last night.
• Picturing a world without technology is nearly impossible in today's society.

noun a representation or description of someone or something in a work of art or literature

• The artist's portrayal of the historical event was praised for its accuracy.
• I really liked the actor's portrayal of the character in the movie.
• Her portrayal of the popular singer was spot on.
• The author's portrayal of loneliness in the novel was hauntingly beautiful.

noun act of presenting or displaying something

verb action of presenting or displaying something

adjective describing something that is revealing or indicating

• The data analysis report is showing a significant increase in sales for the third quarter.
• The graph is showing a clear upward trend in profits.
• The movie we watched last night was showing some crazy special effects.
• Her actions are showing her true character.

adjective describing something that is not illuminated or lit up

• The unilluminated path through the forest was difficult to navigate.
• The unilluminated room gave me the creeps.
• I tripped over something in the unilluminated hallway.
• His unilluminated mind struggled to comprehend the complex concept.

verb to perceive with the eyes; to view or observe

adjective perceived with the eyes; observed

• The evidence seen by the jury was crucial in determining the verdict.
• I've never seen anything like that before in my life!
• That movie was so good, I've seen it like a million times.
• His wisdom and experience can be seen in the way he handles difficult situations.