Painting Exam Study Guide Detailed Answers (100% Correct) with Rationales Rated A+!!!
abstract Describing an artwork based on a an identifiable subject, but with few or no details, and
whose visual elements are simplified or rearranged
achromatic Without color (white, black, gray)
aesthetic Pertaining to the beautiful, refined, tasteful, and artistic
analogous Colors that are closely related, such as blue, blue-green, and green; three or four colors
that are adjacent (touching) on the color wheel
asymmetrical balance The organization of the parts of a composition so that each side of a vertical axis contains
similar, but not identical, shapes or forms
atmospheric perspective A method of creating the illusion of distance by representing objects farther away, with
less clarity of contour, an din diminished color.
2/4/2026, 7:19:05 PM
,Painting Exam Study Guide Detailed Answers (100% Correct) with Rationales Rated A+!!!
background The area farthest way in a landscape, or the area around the subject matter in a painting
backlight Light coming from behind a subject
balance A principle of design referring to the arrangement of visual elements to create stability in
an artwork (symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial)
bichromatic A term describing a painting created with just two colors
binder An adhesive used to hold particles of pigment together in paint, and to hold color to the
ground
bleed Paint or ink that runs into an adjoining area, or up through coats of paint. usually
undesirable. also refers to fussy edges in a painting
bright A short, flat brush with a long handle, used mainly for oil and acrylic
2/4/2026, 7:19:05 PM
, Painting Exam Study Guide Detailed Answers (100% Correct) with Rationales Rated A+!!!
canvas A fabric prepared as a surface for painting in oils or acrylics
chiarascuro Strong contrast of dark and light values in a painting. a technique for modeling forms in
painting, by which the lighted parts seem to stand out from dark areas
color An element of design with three properties: hue, value, and intensity
color scheme The choice or combination of colors used in a painting, such as monochromatic,
analogous, complementary, or mixed
color triad Three colors spaced equally apart on the color wheel, such as orange, green, and violet
color wheel Colors arranged in a circle in the order of the spectrum
complementary colors Two colors that are directly opposite each other on the color wheel, meaning they are in
extreme contrast with each other.
2/4/2026, 7:19:05 PM
abstract Describing an artwork based on a an identifiable subject, but with few or no details, and
whose visual elements are simplified or rearranged
achromatic Without color (white, black, gray)
aesthetic Pertaining to the beautiful, refined, tasteful, and artistic
analogous Colors that are closely related, such as blue, blue-green, and green; three or four colors
that are adjacent (touching) on the color wheel
asymmetrical balance The organization of the parts of a composition so that each side of a vertical axis contains
similar, but not identical, shapes or forms
atmospheric perspective A method of creating the illusion of distance by representing objects farther away, with
less clarity of contour, an din diminished color.
2/4/2026, 7:19:05 PM
,Painting Exam Study Guide Detailed Answers (100% Correct) with Rationales Rated A+!!!
background The area farthest way in a landscape, or the area around the subject matter in a painting
backlight Light coming from behind a subject
balance A principle of design referring to the arrangement of visual elements to create stability in
an artwork (symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial)
bichromatic A term describing a painting created with just two colors
binder An adhesive used to hold particles of pigment together in paint, and to hold color to the
ground
bleed Paint or ink that runs into an adjoining area, or up through coats of paint. usually
undesirable. also refers to fussy edges in a painting
bright A short, flat brush with a long handle, used mainly for oil and acrylic
2/4/2026, 7:19:05 PM
, Painting Exam Study Guide Detailed Answers (100% Correct) with Rationales Rated A+!!!
canvas A fabric prepared as a surface for painting in oils or acrylics
chiarascuro Strong contrast of dark and light values in a painting. a technique for modeling forms in
painting, by which the lighted parts seem to stand out from dark areas
color An element of design with three properties: hue, value, and intensity
color scheme The choice or combination of colors used in a painting, such as monochromatic,
analogous, complementary, or mixed
color triad Three colors spaced equally apart on the color wheel, such as orange, green, and violet
color wheel Colors arranged in a circle in the order of the spectrum
complementary colors Two colors that are directly opposite each other on the color wheel, meaning they are in
extreme contrast with each other.
2/4/2026, 7:19:05 PM
