A coarse material, such as wet or dry sandpaper that is used to rub against the surface to be altered in order to 1.)make it smooth 2.) make it rough 3.) remove the surface material.

Abrasive

Substance used for wearing away a surface by rubbing.

Absorbent Ground

A chalk ground which absorbs oil and is used in oil painting to achieve a matt effect and to speed up drying.

Abstract

Art which departs from real subjects and representational accuracy in preference to shapes, colour and texture. This form of Scottish Art is sometimes referred to as non-representational art.

Abstract

In an art style that uses geometric shapes or forms that do not represent objects as they appear in nature, and arranges them for their own sake to create meaning

Abstract Art

Any art in which the depiction of real objects has been subordinated or discarded in favor of patterns, lines and color.

Abstract Expressionism

New York painting movement of the 1940's with its artistic roots based upon Abstract Art. This type of painting is often referred to as action painting.

Abstract Expressionism

A movement that evolved in New York in the late 1940s and 1950s, it stressed the physical act of painting as a means of expression and was sometimes called action painting. The style encompassed the cubist emphasis on the picture plane with the surrealist interest in releasing unconscious imagery. At mid-century two stylistic trends were present: action painting and color field painting.

Abstract Expressionism

Abstract style originating in the U.S. in the 1940s emphasizing spontanity and energy.

Abstract Expressionism

1940's New York painting movement based on Abstract Art. This type of painting is often referred to as action painting.

Abstract Expressionism

Time ghost, essential spirit of a given time permeating thought, sentiment, aesthetics etc.

Abstract.

Artwork in which little or no attempt is made to represent images realistically, and objects are often simplified or distorted.

Abuna-e

(Risqué pictures)Ukiyo-e which illustrate mildly erotic scenes.

Academic Art

Works of art created in the absence of formal art training, yet appealing for their bright colors, originality and freshness; compare: primitive art

Academician

An elected member of an academy, or an artist who follows the principles of the traditional and conservative academic tradition. British Artists showing at Red Rag Modern British Art Gallery who are Academicians include: Simon Garden and Moira Huntly

Academy

Originally the school of philosophy founded by Plato in the garden of Academe, a district in the vicinity of Athens. Today means a learned Art Group recognised as being authoritative in its discipline, or a school in which art is taught. British Art term usually refers to a recognised society involved in the promotion of the arts. The British Royal Academy of Arts was established in 1768. Today it serves primarily as an art school and venue for regular Art exhibitions.

Acanthus

(Lat. Acanthus gk. Akantha, "thorn") a thistle species very common in the mediterranean. Its large, jagged leaves, curving in slightly at the tips, have been a favorite ornamental pattern since classical antiquity.

Accent

Emphasis given to certain elements in a painting which makes them attract more attention. Details that define an object or piece of art.

Accent

Where an artist highlights specific parts of a painting and in the process creates in them more attention.

Accent

A detail, brushstroke, or area of color placed in a painting for emphasis.

Achromatic

Without identifiable spectral hue; black, white, browns, grays

Acid Core

Solder in a tubular wire

Acid Free

Non-acidic, ph balanced (paper) resistant to discoloring or yellowing

Acid Free

Acid free refers to papers without acid (ph) in the pulp when manufactured. High acidity papers degrade quickly.

Acid-Free

A vague term, referring to a material with a ph of 7 or higher. Sometimes used incorrectly as a synonym for alkaline or buffered material. Some acidic materials are chemically neutralized with the addition of alkaline products; other materials are processed to remove the acid-producing elements. (Acid-free materials may become acidic over time due to residual chlorine from bleaching, aluminum sulfate from sizing or atmospheric pollutants.)

Acid-Free Corrugated Cardboard

Corrugated board that has been rendered acid-free; may be lignin free and/or buffered to raise the ph to 7 or above (alkaline). Used as a backing board or for making sturdy storage containers for paper art, textiles or other unframed pieces which should be stored in acid-free atmospheres.

Acid-Free Foam Board

A board made of foamed plastic (polystyrene) material sandwiched between coated paper from which the acids have been removed or have been chemically neutralized to raise the ph level above 7 (alkaline).

Acrylic

Clear plastic binder used in the manufacture of paint and as a casting material in sculpture; acrylic resin

Acrylic

Paint made from pigments and a synthetic plastic binder, water-soluble when wet, insoluble when dry. Developed commercially in the 30s and 40s and perfected in the 50s through 70s, this popular alternative to oil paint can also duplicate many of watercolor's unique characteristics when used in a fluid manner. • Go to Acrylics section.

Acrylic

Rapidly drying paint used by artists. Acrylic is made from synthetic materials that are water soluble while wet but once dried and cured become tough and flexible. The paint is long-lasting with good colour fastness and has little or no fumes. British Artists favour Acrylic Art when a painting is going to hang in public areas where people might touch the painting or it might be exposed to dust. British Artists showing at Red Rag Modern British Art Gallery and specialising in Acrylic paintings include: Sylvia Antonsen

Acrylic

A rapid drying paint which is easy to remove with mineral spirits; a plastic substance commonly used as a binder for paints.

Acrylic

A plastic like material used in the manufacturing of paint to increase gloss and durability.

Acrylic

A synthetic resin used in latex coating.

Acrylic Box

A box-like cover constructed from clear acrylic sheet.

Acrylic Emulsion

A water dispersion of polymers or co-polymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, or acrylonitrile. Acrylic emulsions dry by evaporation of the water and film coalescence

Acrylic Paint

Artists’ colors made by polymerizing a methyl methacrylate by emulsification, thus dispersing the resin into tiny particles in water. This fluid is used for a base in compounding polymer colors. Acrylic colors are water soluble when wet, but dry to an insoluble film. Colors are bright, dry quickly and are flexible.

Acrylic Painting

An artwork executed with acrylic paint.

Acrylic Solution

A solution of acrylic resin in a volatile solvent. Paints made with an acrylic solution binder resemble oil paints more than those made with acrylic emulsion binders.

Acrylic Urethane

A coating based on urethane chemistry which also includes acrylic chemistry as part of the cross linked polymer backbone.

Acrylic.

A fast-drying, water-based plastic polymer painting medium.

Action Painting

Any painting style calling for vigorous physical activity; specifically, Abstract Expressionism. Examples include the New York School art movement and the work of Jackson Pollock.

Action Painting

Where artists use vigorous physical activity to create paintings usually on a large abstract style.

Action Painting

Expressive painting, usually abstract, which records the artist's physical movement in vigorous brushwork, drips and smears, emphasizing the dynamic process of painting itself

Additive Color

Color that results from the mixture of two or more colored lights, the visual blending of separate spots of transmitted colored light.

Adhesion

The strength of a paint or sealant to remain attached to a surface.

Adhesion

The attachment between two surfaces or coatings i.e. the primer improves the adhesion of the paint to the surface.

Aedicula

A shrine or niche framed by two columns, piers, or pilasters carrying an entablature and pediment (triangular or segmental).

Aerial perspective

A way of suggesting the far distance in a landscape by using paler colours (sometimes tinged with blue), less pronounced tones, and vaguer forms.

Aerial Perspective

Atmospheric perspective; illusion of depth in a scene caused by a reduction of detail and the use of cool, muted background colors to suggest atmospheric haze

Aerial Perspective

Capturing the earth’s atmosphere by using painting techniques that make distant objects appear to have less color, texture, and distinction.

Aerial Perspective

Painting technique used to reproduce real life vistasmakes distant objects appear to have less colour, texture, and distinction.

Aesthetic

Art term relating to beauty and beautiful

Aesthetic

Pertaining to the beautiful, as opposed to the useful, scientific, or emotional. An aesthetic response is an appreciation of such beauty.

Aesthetic/S

Philosophy of the nature of beauty and art, and the nature of human sensory responses toward, and interpretation of, such qualities

Aesthetics

Relating to value, beauty and theory.

Aesthetics.

A branch of philosophy that focuses on the nature of beauty, the nature and value of art, and the inquiry processes and human responses associated with those topics.

Afterimage

Visual sensation which persists after directly gazing at then looking away from an image

Aiban

A print size between chuban and ôban; 13-1/2 x 8-3/4 inches (34 x 22 cm).

Air Brush

An instrument, powered by compressed air, used to spray paint with delicate control and precision. Paint (usually a fine water color) is held in a small cup attached to the side of the pen-like instrument. Paint is drawn through the "brush" by the Venturi effect. The result is characterized by a very smooth, even texture and unbroken tonal gradations.

Air Brush

A very small spray gun used for spraying smaller areas as in custom painting artwork and pin striping.

Air Dry

When paint is capable of drying at room temperature without the need of heating or the addition of a catalyst.

Air Hose

A rubber, plastic or cloth woven hose used to carry compressed air from it's storage tank or compressor to be used for the operation of air tools (like sanders or spray guns) and/or breathing apparatus.

Air Line

This term can be used meaning air hose but is mostly used to describe the hard piping that carries the air from the compressor to the regulator/filter where the air is cleaned and the pressure is controlled and where the hose is attached to carry the air to the tools.

Air Pressure

The amount that air is compressed, which is typically measured in "pounds per square inch" (PSI) for use in US auto body industry. However, this pressure can also be measured in other ways including "bars" which equal 14.2 PSI or in "kilonewtons per square centimeter" (Kn.sqcm)

Air Pressure Drop

Is the amount that the air pressure drops between the compressor and the tool being used. This drop is usually a brought about and determined by the initial pressure of the air leaving the compressor, the internal diameter of the pipe or hose carrying the air and the length of the pipe or hose.

Air Storage Tank or Receiver

The air from the compressor is usually pumped into a vessel that holds the air ready for use.The size of this tank is important when the use of the air is beyond the capacity of the compressor to generate. The storage of air can allow the user to use the tool for a longer duration before the need to stop and wait for the compressor to replenish the supply of compressed air. This becomes less of a factor when the compressor is of sufficient size to handle the application.

Air Supplied Respirator

A respirator that provides safe breathing air to a painter while working with paints. The air supply provides not only breathing air but positive pressure on the edges of the mask to eliminate any contaminates from the outside air. (Also known as supplied air or positive pressure).

Airbrush

Application of a fine spray of paint or dye with an atomizer powered by compressed air; compare spray paint

Airless Spray

A system of applying paint in which the paint, under high pressure, is passed through a nozzle and broken into droplets (atomized) when it enters the lower pressure region outside the gun tip.

Aizuri-e

(Blue printed pictures)prints done in shades of blue and which were seen in the prints of the late 1820s to 1840s. An attempt to evade the government's austerity edicts against the more colorful nishiki-e.

Ajari

(literally, "holy man")a Buddhist title.

Akita ranga style

Name given to the type of pseudo-Western painting done in Akita in the 18th century, which combined the Western chiaroscuro and perspective of Dutch engravings with the detailed naturalism of some Chinese 18th-century painting.

Ako

Town in Harima, famous for its daimyo Asano Naganori and the "Forty-seven Ronin".

Akoya

Famous courtesan of Kyoto, mistress of the Heika captain of the Kagekiyo.

Alb

(lat. Alba tunica, "white garment") the white, ankle-length garment worn by priests during mass, under the stole and chasuble.

Alkalai

A basic, or caustic, chemical substance. Found in fresh cement, concrete, plaster and certain household cleaning products.

Alkyd

Synthetic resin used in paints and mediums. As a medium works as a binder that encapsulates the pigment and speeds the drying time.

Alkyd

Synthetic resin used in paints and mediums. As a medium Liquin from Winsor and Newton works as a binder that encapsulates the pigment and speeds the drying time. In Paints W&N Griffith paints are good example of alkyd paints.

All' antica

(it. "from the antique") (of an art work) based on or influenced by classical greek or roman art.

Alla Prima

Technique in which the final surface of a painting is completed in one sitting, without under painting. Italian for "at the first".

Alla Prima

Italian phrase meaning "first time". Painting directly in one session with