Art can be beautiful (it can also be strange or confusing). There are people out there who really appreciate it, and it would help to know what words we can use to describe these people. This article will explore some of the best synonyms for such a case.
What Do You Call Someone Who Appreciates Art?
Perhaps you’d like to pick one of the words from below to see which you like best:
- Cultured
- Cultivated
- Art enthusiast
- Art fan
- Aesthete
- Connoisseur
- Art lover
- Artistic
- Creative
- Refined
- Erudite
The preferred version is “cultured.” It’s a great word that many native speakers use to refer to someone who has a strong love for art and all things to do with it. If you need any information about art, they are the people you want to go to.
Cultured
“Cultured” is a great way to show that someone appreciates art. It means they have a really good upbringing and education, which typically goes hand-in-hand with an appreciation for the “finer things in life” like art.
The definition of “cultured,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “a cultured person has had a good education and knows a lot about art, music, literature, etc.”
- I’d like to be as cultured as you, but I just don’t have the patience.
- I’m very cultured, thank you very much. I dare say I’m the most cultured person here!
- She wants to be cultured, but you can tell that she tries too hard!
Cultivated
“Cultivated” is synonymous with “cultured.” We can use it to show that someone has an impressive education relating to art, and they will usually share their knowledge with others (which can turn into admiration or appreciation as well).
The definition of “cultivated,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “someone who is cultivated has had a good education and knows a lot about and likes art, music, painting, etc.”
- You’re quite cultivated in this regard, so I think you’ll do perfectly.
- I’d like to become more cultivated. Would you be able to teach me what you know?
- She’s cultivated enough to understand that this isn’t very good work!
Art Enthusiast
“Art enthusiast” is a great phrase to help us show someone loves art. The word “enthusiast” applies to show that someone is very interested in the art they see before them.
The definition of “enthusiast,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “a person who is very interested in and involved with a particular subject or activity.”
- You claim to be an art enthusiast, but you don’t seem to be very interested in this piece.
- I’m no art enthusiast! I don’t know what gave you that idea about me.
- Stop calling her an art enthusiast! I can tell that she has no style or taste!
Art Fan
“Art fan” means that someone admires art. We can use the word “fan” along with “art” to be more specific about people admiring art. “Fan” also applies in a more general sense to other areas (like sports, people, or events).
The definition of “fan,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “someone who admires and supports a person, sport, sports team, etc.”
- I’m not the art fan you were hoping I’d be, but I’ll still come and see it if you want me to.
- She’s an art fan, but I find all of it incredibly boring! I’ve really tried to get into it, but it doesn’t work for me.
- We are art fans, so we go to every museum looking at the next best pieces!
Aesthete
“Aesthete” is a great adjective that is underutilized by native speakers. It means that someone understands and enjoys art in a particular way (which makes it an excellent candidate for this list).
Some people use it more negatively, but there is no reason why this needs to be the case. If you like the word, you can use it positively to talk about art lovers as well.
The definition of “aesthete,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “a person who understands and enjoys beauty.”
- As an aesthete, I have a hard time disassociating my love for art from the outside world.
- He’s not an aesthete, even though he seems to think he is! I wouldn’t listen to him and his bad taste.
- She’s quite an aesthete. I’m always impressed with her collection, and you might benefit from checking it out if you want to learn.
Connoisseur
“Connoisseur” is a great way to show that someone has a lot of appreciation for art. It means that they are a good judge of quality and skill (rather than having the skill themselves).
We refer to connoisseurs when we want second opinions about the artwork. They will usually break it down for us to let us know whether it’s worth anything or whether it’s rubbish.
The definition of “connoisseur,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “a person who knows a lot about and enjoys one of the arts, or food, drink, etc., and can judge quality and skill in that subject.”
- You’re quite the connoisseur when it comes to this sort of thing, aren’t you?
- I’d love to be considered a connoisseur in the art field, but nobody seems to take anything I say seriously.
- He’s the connoisseur we’ve been waiting for! We must hire him to see whether our art is worth anything.
Art Lover
“Art lover” is another good phrase we can use to show that someone has a deeper appreciation of art. The “lover” portion of the word is the main focus here. It shows that someone has a strong liking toward the art they cherish.
The definition of “lover,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “someone with a strong liking for something.”
- As an art lover, I see beauty in everything. You should try it sometime.
- I’m not an art lover, so I don’t understand why you would spend a small fortune buying something like that.
- Okay, Mr. Art Lover. Tell me, why do you think the artist decided to use these brushstrokes to make this piece?
Artistic
We can use “artistic” to show that someone has a lot of art in their blood. This allows them to enjoy art in ways that many people around them might think to be bizarre.
Artistic people are usually quite talented themselves. They’ll also be able to create art, which usually helps them to understand other people’s work better (and thus appreciate it more).
The definition of “artistic,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “able to create or enjoy art.”
- I’m very artistic, which helps a lot in my job. I’ll always produce the most appealing work, but it takes the longest to complete.
- I’m not sure he’s the artistic person you’re hoping he is. He doesn’t often put a lot of time into anything like that.
- Shouldn’t she be more artistic? She goes to the museum all the time, but she doesn’t seem to appreciate any of it!
Creative
“Creative” is a good word to show that someone has strange ideas floating around their heads. They can use these ideas to explore the artistic world, and it typically helps them to develop an admiration or love for other artwork.
The definition of “creative,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “producing or using original and unusual ideas.”
- It helps to be creative when it comes to appreciating art. I love what I see before me.
- You’ll want to be a little more creative if it will help you understand what you see here. Trust me; it’s worth it.
- I’m not creative enough to understand the decisions this artist made!
Refined
“Refined” is a somewhat snobbish term that works to describe someone who loves art. It works well because it shows that they have a lot of awareness of style. You’ll usually find other people referring to snobbish people as “refined.”
The definition of “refined,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “polite, graceful, and aware of quality and style.”
- You’re very refined, so I think it makes sense that you act as the tour guide today.
- I’d love to be more refined, but I wouldn’t even know where to begin getting into art these days!
- I’m not sure he’s the most refined person to talk to. He doesn’t love art all that much!
Erudite
“Erudite” is an interesting adjective. We use it when we want to show that someone has a great deal of knowledge that not many people know. We can apply this to art lovers because they often have knowledge that offers do not care about.
They use this knowledge to drive their love for the art world even further. It helps them to feel in tune with the artistic prowess they see around them.
The definition of “erudite,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “having or containing a lot of knowledge that is known by very few people.”
- You have an erudite understanding of the art around here, which is why I think you’re the one to ask.
- I’ll never understand your erudite yearning to love the art you see before you.
- He’s erudite for art. If you ask him about it, he’ll tell you all he knows, and you’ll probably fall in love!
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
Below is a massive list of art words — that is, words related to art. The top 4 are: artist, painting, artwork and painter. You can get the definition(s) of a word in the list below by tapping the question-mark icon next to it. The words at the top of the list are the ones most associated with art, and as you go down the relatedness becomes more slight. By default, the words are sorted by relevance/relatedness, but you can also get the most common art terms by using the menu below, and there’s also the option to sort the words alphabetically so you can get art words starting with a particular letter. You can also filter the word list so it only shows words that are also related to another word of your choosing. So for example, you could enter «artist» and click «filter», and it’d give you words that are related to art and artist.
You can highlight the terms by the frequency with which they occur in the written English language using the menu below. The frequency data is extracted from the English Wikipedia corpus, and updated regularly. If you just care about the words’ direct semantic similarity to art, then there’s probably no need for this.
There are already a bunch of websites on the net that help you find synonyms for various words, but only a handful that help you find related, or even loosely associated words. So although you might see some synonyms of art in the list below, many of the words below will have other relationships with art — you could see a word with the exact opposite meaning in the word list, for example. So it’s the sort of list that would be useful for helping you build a art vocabulary list, or just a general art word list for whatever purpose, but it’s not necessarily going to be useful if you’re looking for words that mean the same thing as art (though it still might be handy for that).
If you’re looking for names related to art (e.g. business names, or pet names), this page might help you come up with ideas. The results below obviously aren’t all going to be applicable for the actual name of your pet/blog/startup/etc., but hopefully they get your mind working and help you see the links between various concepts. If your pet/blog/etc. has something to do with art, then it’s obviously a good idea to use concepts or words to do with art.
If you don’t find what you’re looking for in the list below, or if there’s some sort of bug and it’s not displaying art related words, please send me feedback using this page. Thanks for using the site — I hope it is useful to you! 🐑
That’s about all the art related words we’ve got! I hope this list of art terms was useful to you in some way or another. The words down here at the bottom of the list will be in some way associated with art, but perhaps tenuously (if you’ve currenly got it sorted by relevance, that is). If you have any feedback for the site, please share it here, but please note this is only a hobby project, so I may not be able to make regular updates to the site. Have a nice day! 🐿
Англо-русский глоссарий по теме «Искусство»
| ИСКУССТВО | |
| WORD / PHRASE | ПЕРЕВОД |
| to practice an art | заниматься искусством |
| abstract art | абстракционизм |
| classical art | классическое искусство |
| modern art | современное искусство |
| primitive art | примитивизм |
| graphic art | графическое искусство, графика |
| plastic arts | пластическое искусство |
| art school | художественное училище |
| Art Nouveau | франц. стиль модерн (художественный и архитектурный стиль конца XIX — начала XX вв.) |
| antique art | античное искусство |
| folk art | народное искусство |
| decorative art | декоративное искусство |
| applied art | прикладное искусство |
| art of building | зодчество |
| art castings | художественное литье |
| Graphic (black-and-white) art | искусство графики |
| art is long, life is short посл. | жизнь коротка, искусство вечно |
| Fine Arts | изобразительные искусства (музей изобразительных искусств имени С. Д. Эрьзи — the S. Erzya Museum of Fine Arts) |
| (the) Academy of Arts | Академия художеств |
| pictorial art | живопись |
| История искусства: эпохи и направления | |
| WORD / PHRASE | ПЕРЕВОД |
| Stone Age art | искусство Каменного Века |
| Classical Greek | древнегреческий |
| Byzantine | византийский |
| Flemish | фламандский |
| Gothic | готический |
| the Renaissance period | эпоха Возрождения |
| the Baroque age | эпоха барокко |
| the Romantic era | эра Романтизма |
| the Neo-Classicists | неоклассицисты |
| the Itinerants | Передвижники |
| Impressionism | импрессионисты |
| The Symbolists | символисты |
| Expressionism | экспрессионизм |
| Cubism | кубизм |
| Pop art | поп-арт |
| Художественные жанры | |
| WORD / PHRASE | ПЕРЕВОД |
| acrylic painting | живопись акриловой краской |
| bark painting | живопись на коре |
| battle piece | батальная живопись |
| caricature | карикатура |
| ceremonial portrait | парадный портрет |
| collage | коллаж |
| drawing | рисунок |
| easel painting | станковая живопись |
| engraving | гравюра, эстамп |
| family group | семейный портрет |
| full-length portrait | портрет в полный рост |
| genre bas | «низкий жанр», бытовой жанр |
| genre painting | жанровая живопись |
| historical painting | историческая живопись |
| landscape | пейзаж |
| marine / seascape | морской пейзаж |
| miniature | миниатюра |
| mosaics | мозаика |
| mural | фреска, настенная живопись |
| oil painting | картина маслом |
| pastel picture | рисунок пастелью |
| self-portrait | автопортрет |
| sketch | набросок, этюд |
| still life | натюрморт |
| tapestry | гобелен |
| wall / mural painting | настенная живопись |
| water-colour | живопись акварелью |
| master | великий художник, мастер |
| old masters | cтарые мастера, особенно художники XVII-XVIII вв.; картины старых мастеров |
| moderns | cовременные художники |
| painter | живописец, художник |
| artist | художник (в широком смысле слова) |
| landscape painter | пейзажист |
| portrait painter (portraitist) | портретист |
| painter of sea-scapes | маринист |
| still life painter | художник, пишущий натюрморты |
| pastel(l)ist (pastel painter) | художник, рисующий пастелью |
| black-and-white artist (a painter in black-and-white) | график |
| colourist | художник-колорист |
| dauber | плохой художник |
| draughtsman (draftsman) | рисовальщик |
| art dealer | маршан; тот, кто продает и покупает картины; торговец произведениями искусства |
| colour-man | торговец красками |
| art-lover | любитель искусства |
| art-worker | художественный деятель |
| avant-garde | авангард |
| be in advance of one’s time | опережать свое время |
| be taught painter | выучиться на художника |
| become famous overnight | стать известным за одну ночь |
| break with the tradition | порвать с традицией |
| canvas | картина, полотно |
| capture the sitter’s vitality, transient expression | передать энергию модели, мимолетное выражение лица |
| conform to the taste of the period | соответствовать вкусу эпохи |
| depict a person, a scene of common life, the mood of… | изображать человека, бытовую сцену, настроение |
| develop one’s own style of painting | выработать собственный стиль письма |
| die forgotten and penniless | умереть в бедности и безызвестности |
| do a painting | написать картину |
| expose the dark sides of life | изображать темную сторону жизни |
| fashionable artist | модный художник |
| mature artist | зрелый художник |
| nude model | обнаженная модель |
| paint from nature, memory | писать с натуры / по памяти |
| paint mythological, historical subjects | писать на мифологические, исторические сюжеты |
| painting | 1) живопись, 2) картина |
| picture | 1) картина, 2) фотография |
| portrait/landscape painter | портретист / пейзажист |
| portray people, emotions with moving sincerity/restraint | изображать людей, эмоции с трогательной искренностью / сдержанностью |
| render, interpret the personality of… | передавать характер… |
| reveal the person’s nature | раскрыть характер |
| self-taught artist | художник-самоучка |
| specialize in portraiture, still life | специализироваться в написании портретов, натюрмортов |
| Навыки художника | |
| WORD / PHRASE | ПЕРЕВОД |
| his painterly talents | его талант к живописи |
| complete command of colour | великолепное владение цветом |
| the brush | искусство художника |
| brushwork | манера художника накладывать краски кистью; манера письма |
| creative work | творчество |
| finished technique | отточенное мастерство |
| to group | подбирать гармонично краски, цвета |
| handling | умение художника владеть кистью |
| verve | живость и яркость (описания); сила изображения, индивидуальность художника |
| exquisite work | тонкое мастерство |
| paint shop | изостудия |
| studio | мастерская художника |
| art exhibit | художественная выставка |
| exhibit | экспонат; выставлять,экспонировать |
| art exhibition | художественная выставка |
| art gallery | художественная галерея |
| a picture gallery | картинная галерея |
| a picture show | выставка картин |
| show | выставка |
| one-man exhibition | персональная выставка |
| private exhibition | частная выставка |
| at the exhibition | на выставке |
| exhibition halls (rooms) | выставочные залы |
| loan exhibition | выставка картин, временно предоставленных владельцами для экспозиции (музеем или отделтным лицом) |
| display | выставка; выставлять, показывать |
| varnishing-day | день накануне выставки (когда художники могут подправить свои картины, покрыть их лаком); вернисаж |
| opening day | вернисаж |
| pictures hung on the line | картины, выставленные так, что центр картины находится на уровне глаз зрителя; |
| Инструменты художника | |
| WORD / PHRASE | ПЕРЕВОД |
| brush | кисть |
| canvas | холст |
| chalk | мел |
| charcoal | угольный карандаш |
| colour box / palette | палитра |
| crayon | цветной карандаш, мелок |
| drapery | драпировка |
| easel | мольберт |
| enamel | эмаль, финифть |
| encaustic | энкаустика |
| frame | рама |
| fresco | фреска, фресковая живопись |
| gouache | гуашь |
| ink | чернила |
| India ink | тушь |
| Indian ink | тушь |
| lacquer | лак, глазурь |
| liquid | 1) жидкость 2) жидкий |
| oil paint | масляная краска |
| paintbox | коробка с красками |
| panel | тонкая доска для живописи, панно |
| pigment | пигмент |
| tempera | темпера |
| to charcoal | рисовать углем |
| vehicle | растворитель |
| watercolour | акварель |
| sketch-book | альбом, тетрадь для рисования |
| drawing-block | тетрадь для рисования |
| easel | мольберт; The easel is a frame which supports the painting during its progress. — Мольберт — это подставка, на которой устанавливается картина во время работы над ней |
| to adjust (set) an easel | поставить, укрепить мольберт |
| easel-picture | картина на мольберте (во время рисования) |
| He continued working on his easel-pieces. | Он продолжал работу над картиной, стоявшей на мольберте |
| Canvas | холст, картина, полотно (о произведении искусства: фильме, картине и т.д.) |
| to stretch canvas | натягивать холст |
| frame | рама; вставлять в раму |
| stretcher | подрамник, на который натягивают холст |
| paint brush | кисть (для рисования) |
| paint oil | олифа |
| paint-box | коробка красок |
| a box of paints | набор красок |
| colour-box | ящик с красками |
| a set of (oil) paints | набор (масляных) красок |
| palette knife | мастихин |
| colour pan | палитра (доска для смешивания красок) |
| lacquer | лак |
| solvent | растворитель; |
| Paint. Painting. Sketch. | |
| WORD / PHRASE | ПЕРЕВОД |
| Paint 1. | 1) а) рисование б) рисунок; 2) а) краска; окраска |
| to dilute paint | разводить краску |
| to mix paints | смешивать краски |
| to scrape paint | соскабливать краску |
| to spread paint evenly | ровно распределять краску |
| to spray paint | распылять краску |
| paint chips | краска облетает |
| paint peels | краска сходит, слезает |
| Paint | б) (pl.) краски |
| a box of paints | ящик с красками |
| Paint 2. | а) писать красками |
| to paint a portrait in oil(s) | написать портрет масляными красками |
| paint from nature | рисовать/писать с натуры; Syn: depict, portray, delineate |
| Paint | б) заниматься живописью |
| Paint | в) расписывать красками (дом, стену, окно и т.д.) |
| to paint a wall | расписать стену |
| paint in | вписывать красками; The trees in the background were painted in later by a different artist. Деревья на заднем плане были дорисованы другим художником |
| Paint | Syn: colour |
| Sketch 1. | эскиз, набросок |
| to draw, make a sketch | сделать набросок |
| a composite sketch | сложный эскиз |
| a rough sketch | предварительный набросок; Syn: drawing, draft, outline |
| Sketch 2. | 1) рисовать эскиз, делать набросок; I always sketch with pen and paper.Я всегда делаю свои наброски на бумаге ручкой |
| Sketch | 2) описывать в общих чертах |
| preliminary sketch | предварительный набросок |
| outline/study | набросок; эскиз / этюд |
| to draw up an outline, to make an outline | сделать эскиз, набросок |
| bare, broad, general, rough outline | приблизительный набросок; Syn: sketch, draft |
| Painting | 1) живопись |
| Painting | а) вид изобразительного искусства |
| finger painting | рисование пальцами (о маленьких детях, рисующих масляными красками) |
| Flemish painting | фламандская живопись |
| hard-edge painting | амер. «живопись четких контуров» |
| wall painting | амер. настенная живопись (традиционный элемент пейзажа больших городов) |
| water-color painting | акварельная живопись |
| oil painting | 1) живопись масляными красками; 2) картина, написанная масляными красками |
| Painting | б) (произведение) роспись; изображение, картина |
| to authenticate a painting | устанавливать подлинность картины |
| to do a painting | рисовать картину |
| to restore a painting | реставрировать картину |
| a painting depicts, portrays, shows | картина изображает, представляет |
| Painting | в) занятие живописью; рисование |
| to be taught painting | обучаться живописи; Two hobbies she really enjoyed, painting and gardening. У нее было два занятия, которые ей по-настоящему нравились: рисование и садоводство. Syn: coloring |
| Painting | 2) окраска, малярное дело |
| painting and decorating | малярные работы |
| mural painting | стенная живопись |
| dip painting | окрашивание окунанием |
| Battle painting | батальная живопись |
| Genre painting | жанровая живопись |
| Anecdotal painting | разновидность жанровой живописи |
| Historical painting | историческая живопись |
| Landscape painting | пейзажная живопись |
| Monumental painting | монументальная живопись |
| Mural painting | фресковая живопись |
| “plain-air” painting | пленэристическая живопись |
| plain-air technique | пленэрная живопись |
| in the open air | на открытом воздухе (на пленэре) |
| “plain air” (фр. plein air) | пленэр (живопись на открытом воздухе вне мастерской) |
| portraiture | портретная живопись; собир. портреты |
| water-color painting | акварельная живопись |
| Colour. Depict. Изображение. | |
| WORD / PHRASE | ПЕРЕВОД |
| Colour 1. | n; живопись color 1) цвет (обычно яркий), оттенок, тон, колер |
| out of colour | выцветший, выгоревший |
| (Antonym) without colour | бесцветный; перен. «серый», обыкновенный, ничем не примечательный, незаметный |
| Colour | 2) краска, красящее вещество, пигмент; This one is painted in dark colours. Эта картина нарисована темными красками |
| colouring | 1) окрашивание, раскрашивание; 2) окраска, расцветка, цвет |
| Colour 2. | v.; живопись color иметь или придавать цвет; красить, раскрашивать; окрашивать |
| Depict | изображать на картине, рисовать. The artist depicted him strolling through a garden. Художник изобразил его гуляющим в саду. Syn: picture, portray, paint |
| Portray | рисовать портрет; изображать (кого-л.) |
| Portrayal | рисование портрета, изображение |
| Delineate | 1) набрасывать, чертить, намечать. The exact position is delineated on the plan. На плане отмечена точное местоположение |
| Delineate | 2) (переносное значение) схематически изображать (то, что должно быть создано); делать набросок; набрасывать. Our laws and the whole constitution of our state having been thus delineated. Таким образом, сделан предварительный проект наших законов и конституции в целом |
| Deliniation | изображение |
| Draw. Colour and Paint. | |
| WORD / PHRASE | ПЕРЕВОД |
| Draw | чертить, рисовать, набрасывать рисунок; The assignment is to draw a horse in motion. Задание — сделать набросок бегущей лошади |
| to draw in pen and ink | рисовать тушью |
| Drawing | 1) рисование; черчение; 2) рисунок, набросок, эскиз (сделанный ручкой, карандашом или мелком); 3) чертеж |
| to do, make a drawing | рисовать |
| a freehand drawing | чертеж от руки |
| a line drawing | чертеж; рисунок пером или карандашом |
| Design | чертеж, эскиз, набросок; рисунок, узор; делать эскизы наброски, создавать узоры и т. п |
| trace out | набрасывать (план, рисунок) |
| dash | быстрый набросок; мазок; штрих; набрасывать краску на холст |
| dot | точка; ставить точки, особая техника письма в живописи (не мазками, а точками так наз. пуантилизм) |
| to block in | набрасывать (рисунок, схему). He blocked the picture in roughly. Он сделал набросок картины |
| painter’s paint/decorative paint | художественная краска |
| water paint | водная краска |
| flat paint/dull paint | матовая краска |
| water-colour | 1) обыкн. мн. акварель, акварельные краски 2) акварель (рисунок) |
| oil-colours/ oil(s) | масляные краски |
| gouache | гуашь |
| crayon | цветной карандаш, цветной мелок, пастель; рисунок цветным карандашом, пастелью |
| hue | краска, оттенок, тон, цвет |
| colour tone | оттенок |
| tint | краска, оттенок, тон, в котором преобладает белый цвет (в картине) |
| half-tint | полутон |
| primary colours/ simple colours/ fundamental colours | основные цвета |
| cold and warm tones | холодные и теплые тона |
| semi-tones | полутона |
| low-toned pictutres | картины, написанные в смягченных тонах |
| subdued tones | приглушенные тона |
| broken tones | неровные тона |
| flesh colour | телесный цвет |
| pastel | пастель |
| light and shade | свет и тени |
| pastel | пастель |
| pastel shades | пастельные тона, оттенки |
| to paint in pastel | рисовать пастелью |
| pastel blue | пастельно-голубой, нежно-голубой |
| play of light | игра света |
| line and colour | рисунок и краска |
| colour scheme | палитра (колорит) художника |
| palette | палитра; колорит художника; стирать уже написанную часть картины мастихином |
| coloration | колорит (в живописи) |
| colour scale/ scale | живоп. цветовая гамма |
| colour match | цветовое согласование; цветовое уравнивание |
| relations of tone and colour | соотношение тона и цвета |
| colour rendition | спец. цветопередача, верность воспроизведения цвета |
| effect (часто pl) | впечатление от сочетания красок на картине |
| division of colours | приемы дивизионизма (живопись раздельными мазками) |
| the play of colours | игра (переливы) красок |
| riot of colours | изобилие, богатство красок |
| intensity | яркость, глубина (красок) |
| saturation | насыщенность цвета в живописи |
| colourful | красочный, яркий |
| colourless | бесцветный, бледный |
| colourlessness | тусклость |
| Выставка. Композиция картины | |
| WORD / PHRASE | ПЕРЕВОД |
| art gallery | художественная галерея |
| exhibit | экспонат |
| exhibition | выставка |
| art exhibition | художественная выставка |
| one-man exhibition | персональная выставка |
| permanent exhibition | постоянная выставка |
| special exhibition | специальная выставка |
| travelling exhibition | передвижная выставка |
| exhibition about | выставка, посвященная… |
| exhibition hall | выставочный зал |
| exposition | экспозиция |
| to display | выставлять |
| to go to an exhibition | пойти на выставку |
| to put on exhibition / stage an exhibition | устроить выставку |
| accentuate something | подчеркнуть |
| arrange symmetrically, asymmetrically, in a pyramid, in a vertical format | расположить (а)симметрично, в форме пирамиды, вертикально |
| be scarcely discernible | едва различимый |
| blend with the landscape | сливаться, сочетаться с пейзажем |
| define the nearer figures more sharply | обозначить ближайшие фигуры более резко |
| emphasize contours purposely | преднамеренно акцентировать контуры |
| in the background | на заднем плане |
| at the bottom | внизу |
| in the foreground | на переднем плане |
| in the left (right)-hand corner | в левом (правом) углу |
| at the top | наверху |
| indicate the sitter’s profession | указывать на профессию модели |
| perspective | перспектива |
| place the figures against the landscape background | располагать фигуры на фоне пейзажа |
| Картина | |
| WORD / PHRASE | ПЕРЕВОД |
| Picture | картина; рисунок |
| a picture by Rubens | картина Рубенса |
| to draw, paint a picture | рисовать, писать картину; изображать на картине, рисовать |
| a piece of art | художественное произвдение |
| art work | 1. художественное произведение; 2. оригинал |
| a work of art | произведение искусства |
| piece | картина |
| battle piece | батальная картина |
| conversation piece | живоп. жанровая картина (изображающая группу людей (особ. членов семьи) за каким-л. обыденным занятием) |
| life-size | размер в натуральную величину (о картинах, скульптурах) |
| half-life size | в половину натуральной величины |
| masterpiece | шедевр |
| to create a masterpiece | создать шедевр |
| enduring masterpiece | бессмертный шедевр |
| scene | вид, пейзаж, картина |
| scenery | пейзаж (всегда в ед.ч. и только о природе) |
| landscape | пейзаж; ландшафт (вид живописи и картина, изображающая пейзаж) |
| city-scape/townscape | городской пейзаж |
| marina / sea piece/ water piece/sea-scape | картина, изображающая морской вид, морской пейзаж, марина |
| still life | натюрморт |
| flower piece | натюрморт с цветами |
| fruit-piece | натюрморт с фруктами |
| portrait | портрет |
| self-portrait | автопортрет |
| half-lengh portrait | поясной портрет |
| full-lengh portrait | портрет во весь рост |
| shoulder-lengh portrait | погрудный портрет |
| knee-lengh portrait | портрет по колено |
| group portrait | групповой портрет |
| equestrian portrait | конный портрет |
| miniature | миниатюра (вид живописи и небольшая картина, обычно портрет) |
| caricature | карикатура |
| reproduction | репродукция, копия |
| art reproduction | художественная репродукция |
| art print | художественная репродукция, иллюстрация |
| prior art | прототип |
| panel | тонкая доска для живописи; панно; длинная узкая картина |
| fresco | фреска, фресковая живопись |
| line art | штриховой рисунок |
| black-and-white | рисунок пером |
| art collection | коллекция произведений искусства |
| daub | плохая картина, мазня; малевать |
| highlights | самая светлая часть картины |
| in the foreground | на переднем плане |
| in the background | на заднем плане |
| in the middle ground | на втором плане |
| against a background | на фоне |
| Описание картины | |
| WORD / PHRASE | ПЕРЕВОД |
| chaotic | хаотичный |
| cheap | дешевый |
| colourless daub of paint | бесцветная мазня |
| crude | кричащий |
| depressing | унылый, тягостный |
| disappointing | печальный |
| distinguished by a marvellous sense of colour and composition | отличается потрясающим чувством цвета и композиции |
| exquisite piece of painting | утонченное произведение |
| fake | подделка; подлог, фальшивка |
| forgery | подделка, подлог, фальсификация, фальшивка |
| gaudy | яркий, безвкусный |
| lyrical | лиричный |
| masterpiece | шедевр |
| moving | трогательный |
| obscure | мрачный, тусклый |
| original | оригинальный |
| poetic | поэтичный |
| romantic | романтичный |
| unintelligible | неразборчивый |
| unsurpassed masterpiece | непревзойденный шедевр |
| vulgar | вульгарный |
| аbstract | абстрактный |
| abundance | обилие, изобилие |
| accuracy | точность |
| affirmation | утверждение |
| air | воздух |
| animation | живость |
| apotheosis | апофеоз |
| arrangement | расположение |
| at one stroke | мгновенно |
| austere | суровый, строгий |
| brilliance | яркость |
| brushstroke | мазок |
| candid glimpses | бледные отблески |
| colourful | яркий |
| colouring | колорит |
| combination of colours | сочетание цветов |
| complete command of colours | великолепное владение цветом |
| conception | замысел |
| cone | конус |
| craftsmanship | мастерство |
| crystal-clear | чистый, прозрачный, ясный |
| cuboid | кубический |
| decorative | декоративный |
| decorativeness | декоративность |
| delicate colours | утонченные цвета |
| delineation | очертание, эскиз |
| density | плотность, густота |
| design | композиция |
| diffused light | рассеянный свет |
| drama | эффект, нечто броское, эффектное |
| effect | эффект, нечто броское, эффектное |
| emphasis | подчеркивание, акцент |
| expressiveness | выразительность |
| exquisite | утонченный |
| facial expression | выражение лица |
| finished technique | отточенная техника |
| fluid, fluent | плавный |
| gamut | гамма |
| geometrical abstraction | геометрическая абстракция |
| harmony of colours | гармония цветов |
| highlights | яркие участки изображения |
| homogeneous form | однородная форма |
| hyperbole | гипербола, преувеличение |
| immediacy | непосредственность |
| individual traits | индивидуальные черты |
| infinite | безграничный |
| intensity | глубина красок |
| intricate | запутанный, замысловатый |
| life-asserting art | жизнеутверждающее искусство |
| light and shade | светотень |
| line | линия |
| luminous | прозрачный, светлый |
| message | идейное содержание |
| original | 1) оригинал 2) оригинальный |
| out of value | слишком темное или слишком светлое |
| personification | олицетворение |
| primary colours (red, blue, yellow) | основные цвета |
| projection | проекция, отображение |
| pure, vivid, brilliant, intense | чистые, яркие, насыщенные краски |
| soft, delicate colours | мягкие, приглушенные тона |
| range of colours | гамма цветов |
| reproduction | репродукция |
| riot of colours | богатство красок |
| saturation | насыщенность |
| secondary colour | сложный цвет |
| semi-tones | полутона |
| silhouette | силуэт |
| simplicity | простота |
| skill | искусство, умение |
| sphere | сфера |
| spirituality | одухотворенность |
| splashes of colour | яркие краски |
| subdued colours | приглушенные краски |
| subject | сюжет в живописи |
| subject matter | тема |
| texture | текстура |
| to acquire | овладеть |
| to affect | волновать |
| to anticipate | предвосхищать |
| to appeal | привлекать, влечь, взывать |
| to attain | достигать |
| to be silhouetted against | вырисовываться на фоне |
| to catch, capture, seize | схватить, передавать |
| to command attention | завладеть вниманием |
| to convey | передавать |
| to depict | изображать |
| to evoke | вызывать |
| to execute | исполнять |
| to fade | блекнуть |
| to frame | обрамлять |
| to glorify | прославлять |
| to grip | захватывать внимание |
| to penetrate | проникать, пронизывать |
| to portray | изображать |
| to produce impression | производить впечатление |
| to radiate | излучать |
| to render, represent | изображать |
| to restore | восстанавливать |
| to treat | трактовать |
| tone | тон |
| treatment | трактовка |
| subtle / gaudy colouring | нежные / кричащие цвета |
| to combine form and colour into harmonious unity | гармонично сочетать |
| brilliant / low keyed colour scheme where….predominates | блестящая, сдержанная гамма, где преобладают |
| muted in colour | приглушенные цвета |
| delicacy of tones may be lost in a reproduction | утонченность цветов может быть утеряна в репродукции |
| Полезные прилагательные | |
| WORD / PHRASE | ПЕРЕВОД |
| second-rate | второсортный, посредственный |
| overrated | переоцененный, перехваленный |
| revolting | отвратительный |
| unremarkable | невыдающийся, обыкновенный, ничем не примечательный |
| pathetic | жалкий, убогий, ничтожный |
| crude | сырой, неотработанный, черновой, предварительный |
| sketchy | эскизный (недоработанный, носящий незаконченный характер) |
| poor | жалкий, ничтожный, низкого качества |
| astonishing | удивительный, изумительный |
| remarkable | замечательный, удивительный, выдающийся |
| superb | великолепный, грандиозный, роскошный, превосходный |
| brilliant | блестящий, выдающийся |
| great | замечательный, великолепный |
| outstanding | выдающийся |
| Полезные слова и словосочетания | |
| WORD / PHRASE | ПЕРЕВОД |
| brushstroke | мазок |
| stroke | штрих, мазок, черта |
| dab | мазок, пятно краски; покрывать краской, делать легкие мазки кистью |
| to dab off | снимать легкими мазками |
| smear | мазок |
| a smear of paint will put it right | надо немного подмазать краской, и все будет в порядке |
| touch | штрих, черта, мазок; слегка окрашивать, придавать оттенок |
| finishing touches | последние штрихи, мазки |
| to touch up | класть последние штрихи, мазки |
| line | линия, черта, штрих |
| patch | пятно неправильной формы |
| blob, speck of paint | капля, пятно краски |
| coat of paint | слой краски |
| to apply a second coat of paint | наносить второй слой краски |
| splash of paint | пятно краски |
| to break the paint | размешивать краску |
| paint spattered | забрызганный краской |
| artisic | художественный |
| painterly | живописный, относящийся к живописи |
| impression | впечатление |
| to produce an impression (on) | производить впечатление |
| pictorial | живописный, изобразительный |
| picturesque | живописный, колоритный |
| picturesqueness | живописность |
| subject (genre, historical, marine, pastoral etc.) | тема, сюжет в живописи (жанровый, исторический, морской, пасторальный и т. п.); тот, кого изображают |
| life | натура |
| true to life | реалистический, жизненно правдивый, точно воспроизведенный |
| nude | обнаженное тело (особ. в живописи ), attr обнаженный (особ. о натурщике) |
| pose | поза; позировать художнику |
| to pose naked | позировать в обнаженном виде |
| to pose sitting (standing) | позировать сидя (стоя) |
| out of the way | необыкновенный, необычный, незаурядный |
| the picture is nothing out of the way | в этой картине нет ничего особенного |
| to pose for a painter | позировать художнику |
| to sit | позировать художнику |
| to stand for, to stand for one’s portrait, to stand to (for) an artist | позировать художнику |
| sitting | сеанс |
| sitter | тот, кто позирует художнику; натурщик |
| profile | профиль, очертание, контур; рисовать в профиль |
| model | модель, образец, шаблон, слепок; натурщик, натурщица |
| to execute | выполнять, исполнять |
| execution | мастерство исполнения |
| experience | квалификация, мастерство |
| to express | выражать |
| expression | выразительность, экспрессия |
| to render | воспроизводить, изображать, передовать |
| rendering | передача, изображение |
| represent | изображать |
| representation | изображение |
| to convey | передавать, выражать (идею и т. п.) |
| to heighten | усиливать интенсивность краски, делать цвет более ярким; оттенять, подкрашивать (рисунок); выделять (изображение) |
| to retouch | делать поправки (о картине) |
| to scrape (out) | стереть уже написанную часть картины |
| paint in true colours | изображать правдиво |
| to paint from life | писать с натуры |
| to draw from nature | рисовать с натуры |
| to load | класть густо краску |
| to prime | грунтовать холст |
| to varnish | лакировать, покрывать лаком |
Английские слова и выражения по Изобразительному искусству в алфавитном порядке
Fine Art Vocabulary list
art — искусство, искусственный, художественный
a work of art — произведение искусства
a love of art — любовь к искусству
visual arts — изобразительное искусство
performing arts — исполнительское искусство
aesthetic — эстетический
aesthetically — эстетически
aesthetic appeal — эстетическая привлекательность
aesthetic quality — эстетическое качество
aesthetic value — эстетическая ценность
aesthetic pleasing — эстетическое наслаждение
artful — ловкий
artistic — художественный
audience — аудитория
backdrops — задники
background — фон
creative — творческий
crown — корона
canvas — холст
oil on canvas — холст маслом
get / receive a commission — получить / получить комиссию
work on a commission — работа на комиссию
charcoal pencils — угольные карандаши
depict — изображать
depiction — описание
elaborate — разрабатывать
exhibit — экспонат
frame — рамка
to frame — поставить в рамки
foreground — передний план
fresco — фреска
genre — жанр
literary genre — литературный жанр
artistic genre — художественный жанр
invent genre — изобрести жанр
spawn genre — жанр порождения
icon — икона
icons — иконки
iconic (adj.) — иконический (прил.)
religious icon — религиозная икона
cultural icon — культурная икона
sporting icon — спортивная икона
icon status — значок состояния
masterpiece — шедевр
marble bust — мраморный бюст
mural — фреска
medium (множественное число: mediums, media) — способ, средство, материал, которым художник пользуется, чтоб создавать свои работы
blending methods — методы смешивания
portray (syn.: painting, depiction, representation, likeness) — изобразить (син .: живопись, изображение, изображение, изображение)
portrays — изображает
portrait — портрет
self-portrait — автопортрет
portrait gallery — портретная галерея
props — реквизит
perspective — перспективы
pastel — пастельный
restrained — сдержанный
rough sketch – набросок
sculpture (syn.: carve, chisel, shape, form, fashion, model, stature) — скульптура (син .: резьба, долото, форма, форма, мода, модель, рост)
sculpture — скульптура
to sculpture (verb) — к скульптуре (глагол)
sculptor — скульптор
carve a sculpture — вырезать скульптуру
unveil a sculpture — раскрыть скульптуру
stage — этап
scenery — декорации
sward — дерн
sets — наборы
seascape — марина
shades — оттенков
strokes — штрихи (рисование)
serenity — безмятежность
tile — кафельная плитка
tools — инструменты
vivid (syn.: intense, detailed, powerful, brilliant, colorful, memorable) — яркий (син .: интенсивный, подробный, мощный, блестящий, красочный, запоминающийся)
vivid memory — яркая память
vivid imagination — богатое воображение
vivid imagery — яркие образы
vivid picture — яркая картина
vivid colors — яркие цвета
vivid summary – яркое резюме
a work of art — произведение искусства
Выражения на тему Fine Art
It has a classical sensibility. — У него классическая чувствительность.
It utilizes a palette of… — Он использует палитру …
It is moving. — Это движется.
Prominent in the composition is … — Видным в составе является …
be put on a display — выставить (в музее)
to get the right shading — получить правильный оттенок
be a patron — быть покровителем (искусства)
show your patronage — показать свое покровительство
Learn how to describe art using the right words and phrases. Everyone can write colorfully about artwork!
- Art Adjectives
- Art Nouns
- Art Verbs
- Negatives
- Art Styles & Movements
- Art Phrases
- absorbing
- abstract
- acclaimed
- accomplished
- adroit
- aesthetic
- aesthetically pleasing
- aggressive
- appealing
- artistic
- astonishing
- atmospheric
- authentic
- avant-garde
- award-winning
- awe-inspiring
- balanced
- baroque
- beautiful
- bold
- boundless
- brilliant
- candid
- ceramic
- characteristic
- classic
- collectable
- colorful
- complementary
- complex
- conceptual
- contemplative
- contemporary
- controversial
- conversational
- creative
- daring
- dazzling
- decorative
- deeply thoughtful
- delicate
- dense
- detailed
- infused
- inspirational
- inspired
- instinctive
- intellectual
- intense
- intensive
- interesting
- intuitive
- inventive
- labyrinthine
- layered
- lifelike
- literal
- luminous
- lyrical
- mature
- meandering
- mosaic-like
- moving
- mysterious
- mystical
- narrative
- organic
- original
- paradoxical
- passionate
- peaceful
- personal
- phenomenal
- pictorial
- playful
- potent
- profound
- provoking
- pure
- radiant
- realistic
- refined
- refreshing
- remarkable
- resourceful
- revealing
- disciplined
- disruptive
- distinctive
- distinguished
- divine
- dreamlike
- dreamy
- dynamic
- eclectic
- elevated
- elevating
- emergent
- emerging
- emotional
- emotionally charged
- enchanted
- energetic
- engaging
- engrossing
- enigmatic
- epochal
- ethereal
- evocative
- exceptional
- exotic
- explosive
- expressive
- extreme
- fascinating
- figural
- figurative
- fluid
- freelance
- fresh
- gorgeous
- graceful
- granular
- honest
- human
- hyper-creative
- imaginative
- impassioned
- impeccable
- romantic
- saturated
- sculptural
- semi-abstract
- sensual
- serene
- signature
- simple
- skilled
- soft
- sparse
- spiritual
- stimulating
- stirring
- studied
- stunning
- sublime
- substantive
- supple
- surreal
- symbolic
- tactile
- talented
- tasteful
- textile
- thought-provoking
- timeless
- touching
- traditional
- tranquil
- unconventional
- unexpected
- unforgettable
- unique
- universal
- unpredictable
- varied
- visionary
- visual
- visually stimulating
- voyeuristic
- abstraction
- abundance
- aesthetic
- an eye for
- art
- art form
- art gallery
- art style
- artist
- artistic career
- artistic endeavor
- artistic expresion
- artistic genius
- artwork
- assemblage
- balance
- beauty
- body of work
- brushwork
- camera
- canvas
- character
- collection
- collector
- color
- complexity
- composition
- concept
- conception
- contrasts
- conviction
- creative approach
- creativity
- dedication
- depth
- masterpiece
- mastery
- maturity
- meaning
- medium
- method
- mixed media
- mood
- motif
- movement
- museum
- mystique
- narrative
- nuance
- painting
- palette
- panel
- passion
- patron
- pattern
- perception
- perspective
- philosophy
- photo
- photograph
- picture
- piece
- portrait
- preoccupation
- process
- purity
- quality
- reaction
- realm
- detail
- diptych
- draftsmanship
- duality
- element
- exhibition
- exploration
- expression
- figure
- form
- format
- gallery
- growth
- hanging
- hue
- icon
- iconic value
- ideal
- illustration
- image
- imagery
- impact
- innovation
- inspiration
- installation
- instinct
- intensity
- interaction
- interpretation
- intricacies
- journey
- juxtaposition
- labyrinth
- landscape
- luminosity
- reflection
- representation
- scene
- scenery
- sculptor
- sculpture
- self-portrait
- sensation
- sensitivity
- sensuality
- series
- shading
- show
- skill
- space
- splendor
- style
- subconscious
- subject
- subject matter
- symbol
- symbolism
- talent
- taste
- technique
- texture
- theme
- transformation
- triptych
- understanding
- urge
- viewer
- viewing
- vision
- visualization
- accomplish
- affect
- apply
- arouse
- articulate
- awaken
- brush
- captivate
- capture
- carve
- characterize
- commission
- communicate
- conceptualize
- conjure
- contour
- contrast
- convey
- create
- critique
- dance
- decorate
- focus
- fuse
- hang
- illustrate
- immerse
- impassion
- incorporate
- inspire
- interlace
- interpret
- interweave
- intrigue
- invert
- juxtapose
- layer
- manipulate
- outline
- paint
- pioneer
- play on
- portray
- reach
- design
- develop
- display
- distort
- draw
- echo
- elevate
- emancipate
- embellish
- embody
- emerge
- emphasize
- enchant
- envision
- etch
- evoke
- excite
- exhibit
- experience
- explore
- express
- fascinate
- redefine
- refine
- reflect
- remind
- render
- represent
- reveal
- saturate
- sculpt
- shape
- shoot
- show
- sketch
- speaks of
- stir
- study
- touch
- transform
- uplift
- view
- visualize
- witness
- arrogant
- average
- bad art
- banal
- blasé
- boring
- catastrophe
- childish
- common
- commonplace
- confusing
- contrived
- copied
- crude
- devoid of skill
- disturbing
- drab
- dull
- lifeless
- mediocre
- numb
- pedestrian
- plain
- poorly-conceived
- poorly-executed
- predictable
- pretentious
- redundant
- self-absorbed
- senseless
- so-so
- sophomoric
- stereotyped
- sterile
- stiff
- street art
- ennui-inspiring
- flat
- forced
- frantic
- frigid
- gimmicky
- hollow
- hotel art
- in poor taste
- incompetent
- inconsistent
- inexperienced
- innocuous
- insincere
- irrelevant
- juvenile
- lacking
- lacking talent
- tasteless
- unaffecting
- unapproachable
- underwhelming
- undiscovered
- unfinished
- unimaginative
- unimportant
- uninspired
- uninteresting
- unoriginal
- unpracticed
- unrefined
- unsatisfying
- untalented
- vacuous
- void
- Abstract
- Abstract Expresionism
- Art Brut
- Art Deco
- Art Nouveau
- Arts & Crafts
- Baroque
- Bauhaus
- Ceramics
- Classical
- Constructivism
- Contemporary
- Cubism
- Dada
- Medieval
- Minimalism
- Modern
- Modernism
- Neo-Classical
- Neo-Expressionism
- Op-Art
- Orientalism
- Outsider
- painting
- Performance Art
- photography
- Photorealism
- Pop Art
- Digital Art
- Expressionism
- Fauvism
- Fine Art Photography
- Folk
- Found Art
- Futurism
- Glass Art
- Gothic
- graphic design
- Harlem Renaissance
- illustration
- Impressionism
- Installation Art
- Postmodern
- pottery
- Pre-Raphaelite
- printmaking
- Realism
- Renaissance
- Representational
- Rococo
- Romanticism
- Surrealism
- Symbolism
- Traditional
- Virtual Art
- woodworking
- [] and [] fill the mysterious world of the artist
- [] at its finest
- []’s work is truly []
- a bold expression of []
- a dedication to [] inspires his pieces
- a defining characteristic of her work
- a marriage of form and material
- a master of light/shadow/atmosphere/color/movement
- a meditation on []
- a multidimensional space where a variety of thoughts and ideas coexist
- a pictorial symphony
- a poetic mediation on the human spirit
- a profusion of [] references
- a traditional adherence to []
- addressing the paradoxical nature of []
- an attempt to reconcile a love for [] and []
- an awareness of the beauty of the everyday
- an extraordinary display of talent
- an intricate weaving of elements
- art that elevates the room
- blurring boundaries between [] and reality
- breaks down the boundaries of []
- capturing his subject matter with ease and []
- characteristic of his early/late work
- combines [] and [] in a single work of art
- combing movement, form, and color
- her photography reveals []
- her work is an enigmatic narrative of []
- her work is brilliant in conception and []
- his [] are a balance between [] and []
- his [] are well-thought out and executed
- his [] show talent beyond his years
- his canvas is a storytelling medium
- his choice of objects and images addresses the impact[]
- his paintings appeal to one’s []
- his paintings are recognizable for their mix of influences/imagery/use of color/subject matter
- his paintings reveal the influence of [] and remarkable understanding of []
- his pieces are skillfully and meticulously []
- his style is characterized by []
- his talent is uncontainable and has no boundaries
- his work explores contemporary []
- immerses the viewer in a [] journey
- immerses the viewer in a total experience of []
- inspired by the vastness and spirituality of []
- interweaving his passions of [] and []
- medium of choice
- no one uses the [] the way that the artist does
- portrayal of a real-life observation
- something to behold
- taps into the subconscious
- texture and complexity of the []’s surface
- the art inspires dialogue/you to action/terror/peace
- creating movement and depth
- deeply infused with []
- demonstrates the intense emotion of the artist
- developed a style all her own
- does not follow previous models in the [] canon
- drawing the viewer’s attention ever towards []
- evokes an emotional response
- exemplifying the medium’s expressive potential
- exploring the dichotomy between [] and []
- he can move effortless between mediums of [] and []
- he combines themes of [] and [] seamlessly
- he demonstrates a mastery and deep understanding of []
- he illustrates his perspective through a mastery of []
- he is primarily known for his work depicting []
- he seeks truth, but not always beauty
- her [] address the relationship between man and []
- her [] are admired worldwide
- her [] are dominated by [] colors and [] themes
- her [] are full of meaning and emotion
- her [] are physically and imaginatively idiosyncratic
- her [] are unmatched by an other artist with respect to []
- her [] depict [] blown-up to fantastic proportions
- her brushwork is smooth and studied
- her designs are influenced by []
- her designs are provocative and []
- her drawing is impressively executed
- the art transforms a single piece of [] into a []
- the art transforms the experience of [] into
- the artist breathes new life into the art of []
- the artist helps us to see his vision of []
- the artist is commended for her []
- the artist uses [] to its fullest potential
- the canvas tells a story of []
- the complexity of his vision and talent
- the discussion of [] is a common thread of her work
- the enduring effect of art in everyday life
- the expressive and [] way the artist approaches the world
- the images speak of new []
- the painting reveals imagery and symbolic intent
- the piece is simultaneously [] and []
- the true joy of the art derives from his view of []
- the work brings you to a place of []
- the work is of such exceptional beauty that the viewer []
- the work reflects life back to us with simplicity and truth
- to give life to the [] that reside within him/her
- to own her work is a privilege amongst discerning collectors
- to see her art is to witness []
- transforms the visible world
- visual musings on []
- whose methods combine [] with mixed media elements
- with intense hues and varied tones
- with utmost care and attention to every detail
Darling, it was so evocative!
It’s easy to join in a conversation about art in English. Just be sure to call everyone darling, to have outrageous opinions that nobody really understands, and to wear at least one item of statement jewellery at all times.
Of course, these are stereotypes. The best way to feel confident discussing art in English is to learn the words and phrases commonly used in the art world – and that’s exactly what this article will help you to do.
| outrageous | very unusual and intended to shock people |
|---|---|
| statement jewellery | large jewellery that is designed to attract attention |
| the art world | the area of activity that involves making, buying, selling, displaying, promoting and writing about art |
Going to a gallery
Most cities and large towns have a public gallery that is funded by the government. Public galleries generally have a permanent collection (which may be free) and also stage temporary exhibitions (which usually have an entrance fee). Large public galleries, such as the Tate Modern in London, hold at least one blockbuster exhibition each year. If you are a member of the gallery, you may be invited to attend an opening. You might also hear about new acquisitions before anyone else.
As well as public galleries, there are commercial galleries at which the artworks are on sale. Especially in small towns, they tend to show pieces by local artists.
| permanent collection | the works of art which are always on display in a gallery |
|---|---|
| temporary exhibition | a group of artworks shown together for a fixed period |
| stage/hold an exhibition | display a group of artworks to the public |
| blockbuster | a very popular exhibition of work by a well-known artist or artists |
| opening | an event at which people can see an exhibition for the first time |
| new acquisition | a work of art that the gallery has bought recently |
| pieces | works of art |
Categorising works of art
Though lots of artists would like to believe their work defies categorisation, in reality we tend to discuss art based on the medium used. Well-known categories of artwork include drawing, painting, sculpture and photography, but today all kinds of novel forms can be found both inside and outside of galleries. These include video and new media pieces; performance pieces; conceptual pieces; and installations. Other popular media include textiles, ceramics and printmaking, while works in mixed media combine different materials and techniques.
| defy categorisation | be difficult to clearly describe as one thing or another |
|---|---|
| medium (plural: media) | the material/technique used to create a work of art |
| new media | materials/techniques that are modern and technological |
| performance | the artist uses bodies, voices and/or movement to make the artwork |
| conceptual | the idea is the most important thing about the artwork |
| installation | the artist puts objects into an existing space, e.g. the room of a gallery |
| textiles | materials such as cotton, silk and wool |
| ceramics | clay objects which are made hard by baking at high temperatures |
| printmaking | creating images by preparing a block of (e.g.) wood, applying ink to it, then printing onto (e.g.) paper |
Special notes on drawing and painting
Drawing and painting are the oldest of the visual arts, so they have lots of specific vocabulary of their own.
Drawing is typically done in graphite (i.e. pencil), charcoal, pastel or ink. A quick drawing, especially one in which the artist tries to copy something in the real world, is known as a sketch; the art of sketching naked human models is called life drawing, while an artwork that shows a naked person is called a nude. Important skills for drawing include composition and perspective.
Paintings are commonly created with oil, watercolour or acrylic on a surface of paper or canvas. Traditional types of paintings include portrait, landscape and still life, though abstract works have also been popular since the 20th century.
| composition | the skill of arranging multiple elements in a pleasing way |
|---|---|
| oil | thick, slow-drying paint that contains oil |
| watercolour | thin, quick-drying paint that contains water |
| acrylic | quick-drying paint that contains man-made ingredients |
| canvas | strong cloth that is used to make tents and boat sails |
| still life | a picture of a group of objects, such as flowers or food |
| abstract | communicating with colour and shape instead of with realistic images |
Working in the art world
As well as artists themselves, lots of different people keep the art world moving including agents, dealers and critics. Within a gallery setting, you might also expect to find a director who is in charge overall, curators, handlers and assistants (also called attendants).
| agent | someone who represents and promotes artists |
|---|---|
| dealer | someone who buys and sells works of art |
| critic | someone who writes about art, especially reviews of exhibitions |
| curator | someone who selects and presents artworks for exhibitions |
| handler | someone who carefully packs and unpacks works of art |
| gallery assistant | someone who greets visitors and answers questions |
Discussing works of art
If you fancy yourself as a critic, there are certain words and phrases that occur frequently in writing and discussions about art. A selection of them is given below, but the best way to develop this kind of vocabulary is to read reviews and art books as often as you can.
Positive descriptions
Her work . . .
- is moving – it is effective at making people feel sadness or sympathy
- is evocative – it brings strong images or memories to mind
- is visionary – it considers the future in an intelligent way
- really spoke to me – it connected with my own life experiences
Neutral descriptions
Their work . . .
- is bold/delicate – it gives the impression of being physically strong/weak
- is controversial – it divides public opinion
- is Instagrammable – people love to take photos of and with it
- is a bit out there – it is weird and/or hard to understand, but not necessarily in a bad way
Negative descriptions
His work . . .
- is disturbing – it is likely to cause someone to be offended or upset
- is derivative – it seems to copy existing works of art
- is amateurish – it does not show a high level of skill
- left me cold – I had no emotional or intellectual response to it
Yes, but is it art . . . ?
Painting and sculpture are obvious examples of fine arts – but what about other visual forms such as architecture, graphic design, video games and graffiti? Does it make sense to separate the fine and applied arts? Who decides the meaning of art, anyway?
| fine arts | activity that produces objects with no practical function |
|---|---|
| graphic design | combining images and texts to make (e.g.) magazines and adverts |
| applied arts | activity that produces functional objects whose appearance is also important, such as furniture or jewellery |
What a load of rubbish
Not everyone likes art, of course. Some people find modern art, in particular, inaccessible and pretentious. A number of clichés can often be heard in response to pieces of contemporary art – most of which would cause artists and art-lovers to roll their eyes.
- My five-year-old could have done that! – it looks like a child made it
- Look at the state of that! – it looks messy, as though no skill was needed to make it
- Money for old rope! – there is nothing new, special or interesting about this
- What a load of rubbish! – said in response to any art that the speaker does not like
| inaccessible | difficult for ordinary people to understand |
|---|---|
| pretentious | trying to be more serious or important than it really is |
| cliché | a phrase that is used often and shows a lack of original thought |
| roll your eyes | move your eyeballs upwards or in a circle to show you think something is boring or annoying |
The art world is a strange place, but the surest way to fit in – apart from wearing all-black outfits and rings as big as your hands – is to practice speaking like the arty types hanging around galleries. So ciao for now, darling, and see you at tomorrow’s opening!
| arty types | people who dress and/or behave in a way that shows a strong interest in the arts |
|---|