6 Art Terms to Know

There’s a romantic side to art that is what lures so many to create: the idea of expressing yourself with drawing ideas, of creating a meaningful image or scene, or of tapping into “the zone” and peacefully drawing or painting to your heart’s content. And then there’s the academic side. It’s point A in your journey, as this is where you learn the drawing techniques that others before you have mastered.

A to your chosen destination. In this special magazine that’s laser-focused to help you learn how to draw, you’ll find articles from professional artists who want you to learn the basics, the ins, the outs, and the possibilities that lay before you.

Have you ever been told that you’re holding your pencil the wrong way? Or that there is only one right way to hold a pencil for drawing? Chances are that this well-intentioned advice wasn’t quite right.

There is no single right way, and whatever ‘works’ for you is probably the best choice. This short article demonstrates the most popular ways to hold a pencil for various drawing effects. Try experimenting with various grips as different methods will suit you for various effects and you may find some more comfortable than others.

Drawing Basics: 6 Art Terms to Know

académie – a nude figure drawing completed as part of a process of study. Also called an academy drawing or academy figure.

contrapposto – from the Italian term “counterpose,” this is a pose in which a figure stands with most of its weight on one foot so that hips and shoulders rest at different angles.

écorché – a drawing or sculpture depicting a body without skin, revealing the underlying muscles.

gesture drawing – a line drawing made with relatively loose arm movement; often used in art education or in preparation for a more finished work.

negative space – the empty space surrounding a form or an artwork’s focal point. Skilled use of negative space is an important aspect of composition.

trompe-l’oeil – from the French term “trick the eye,” this type of painting gives a sense of three- dimensional realism that can inspire a viewer to question his or her perception.