Art Styles

Let’s go over some of the different art styles you can use. I’ll cover: What Does Art Style Mean? Style in art refers to an artist’s unique combination of techniques, processes, and decisions. It develops and evolves over the lifetime of an artist. A distinct style can help with an artist’s branding and recognition. Many … Read more

Luminosity in Art

The definition of luminosity is something full of light, bright, or shining. In art, it refers to the illusion of light from within the painting. The use of light in a painting can effectively organize a scene and define detail. It can also help create emotion and convey a story. To achieve effective luminosity, light … Read more

Fresco

Fresco is a form of mural painting used to produce grand and often beautiful works on plaster. One of the most famous examples is the Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo.  The word “fresco” means “fresh” in Italian, referring to the damp lime plaster which frescos are typically painted on. Unlike conventional paint over dry plaster, … Read more

Écorché

Écorché (which means “flayed” in French) refers to anatomical studies of human or animal forms without skin, having the underlying muscles and tissues exposed. The term is not specific to any medium-it could refer to a drawing, painting, sculpture, or digital work. Artists use écorché to gain a better understanding of what happens underneath the … Read more

Representational Art

Representational art refers to art that represents something, whether that be a tree in a landscape, apple in a still life, or figure in a portrait. Or in other words, it is art that is clearly identifiable as something which already exists in life. Below are some examples of representational art, starting with a watercolor by … Read more

Raking Light

Raking light refers to a light source which is set at an acute or nearly parallel angle to objects in a painting. Objects being hit by raking light will be half in light and half in shadow and will have long cast shadows. Surrealist artists like Salvador Dali and Giorgio de Chirico used raking light … Read more

Triptych Art

Triptych refers to art that is made up of three panels. The term originates from the Greek word ‘triptykhos’, meaning ‘three-layered’ or ‘three folds’.  The panels that form a triptych are often attached to one another with hinges, allowing the two outer panels (or wings) to fold inward and cover the central panel. However, contemporary triptychs … Read more

Dappled Light

Dappled light refers to that spotted light that typically comes through gaps in a tree canopy. Below is a great example by Claude Monet-notice the spots of light orange amongst the dark purple shadows. In this post, I cover: The shapes created by the dappled light vary based on: The position of the sun; The … Read more

Contrapposto

Contrapposto is Italian for “opposite” or “counter”. In art, it refers to the natural standing position of the human body, with weight leaning on one leg and a shift in the body to counter this. Michelangelo’s David is a perfect example of this. Putting the weight on one leg forces David’s hips, spine and shoulders … Read more