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Art Glossary
20 ESSENTIAL TERMS
EVERY COLLECTOR SHOULD KNOW
How to use this glossary:
Bookmark this page for easy reference, use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F) to search for specific terms, and check back regularly as we add new terms each month.
There's nothing quite like walking into a gallery and having a work of art stop you in your tracks - while your brain scrambles to remember what impasto is, or whether you're looking at a modern or contemporary piece.
Whether you're considering your first art purchase, trying to understand a gallery label, or simply want to talk about art with more confidence, this glossary is for you. We've compiled 20 of the most searched art terms - the ones that come up again and again when people are looking to understand, buy, or simply appreciate art more deeply.
BUYING AND COLLECTING TERMS
What is a Limited Edition?
A set number of prints produced from an original artwork. Once the edition is sold out, no more prints are made, increasing rarity and potential value. Each print is usually numbered (e.g., 12/50) and often signed by the artist.
Collector's Tip: Lower edition numbers (like 1/50) aren't necessarily more valuable than higher ones (like 50/50)—what matters is the total edition size and the artist's reputation.
Art Title
1994
Art Title
1994
What is a Giclée Print?
A high-quality fine art print made using archival inks and professional inkjet printers. Giclée prints are valued for their colour accuracy, longevity, and ability to closely replicate the original artwork.
Why it matters: Giclée prints can last 100+ years without fading when properly cared for, making them a worthwhile investment.
What is Provenance?
The documented history of an artwork's ownership, exhibition history, and authenticity. Provenance establishes where a piece has been, who owned it, and verifies its authenticity.
Collector's Tip: Strong provenance can significantly increase an artwork's value and make it easier to insure or resell.
What is Medium in art?
The materials and methods an artist uses
to create their work—such as oil paint,
watercolour, bronze, or digital media.
Understanding medium helps you care
for and value your artwork properly.
What does Framing mean?
The structure that surrounds and protects an artwork. A frame enhances presentation, safeguards the piece from damage, and helps it integrate with a room's interior style.
Why it matters: Professional framing protects your investment and can cost 10-30% of the artwork's price—budget accordingly.
FOUNDATIONAL TERMS
What is Abstract Art?
Art that does not try to represent reality accurately. Instead, it uses shapes, colours, forms, and gestural marks to achieve its effect. Abstract art focuses on emotion, mood, and visual experience rather than realistic depiction.
What is Acrylic Paint?
A fast-drying paint made from pigment suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion. Acrylics are versatile, easy to use, and can mimic both watercolour and oil paint effects, making them popular with beginners and professionals.
What is Oil Painting?
A painting technique using pigments mixed with oil, traditionally linseed oil. Oil paints dry slowly, allowing artists to blend colours beautifully and build rich, luminous layers.
What is Watercolour?
A painting method where pigment is suspended in a water-based solution. Watercolours are known for their softness, transparency, and the way colours naturally blend on paper.
What is Canvas?
A woven fabric surface, usually cotton or linen, stretched over a wooden frame and used as a support for paintings. Canvas is durable, lightweight, and the most common surface for acrylic and oil artworks.
ART MOVEMENTS & STYLES
What is Impressionism?
A 19th-century art movement focused on capturing light, atmosphere, and fleeting moments. Impressionist works often feature visible brushstrokes, vibrant colour, and scenes from everyday life.
What is Abstract Expressionism?
A post-World War II movement centred on emotion, spontaneity, and large-scale gestures. Artists express inner feelings through bold brushwork, drips, splashes, and non-representational forms.
What is Contemporary Art?
Art created by living artists and reflective of today’s world. It includes a wide range of styles, media, and ideas, often engaging with current culture, technology, and social themes.
What is Modern Art?
Art produced roughly from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. Modern art broke away from traditional techniques and
introduced innovative styles like Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract art.
TECHNIQUES AND PROCESSES
What is Impasto?
A technique where paint is applied thickly so it stands off the canvas, creating visible texture and movement. Light catches the raised paint, giving the artwork a sculptural quality.
What is Glazing?
A thin, transparent layer of paint applied over a dry colour. Glazing adds depth, richness, and subtle shifts in tone,
especially in oil and acrylic painting.
What is Mixed Media?
Artwork created using more than one material or technique—for example, combining acrylic paint with ink, charcoal, collage, or textured mediums.
What is Collage?
A technique where various materials (paper, fabric, photos, found objects) are assembled onto a surface to create a new image or design. Collage emphasises layering, texture, and creative composition.
COMPOSITION AND DESIGN TERMS
What is Composition in art?
The arrangement of visual elements—such as shapes, colours, and lines—within an artwork. Strong composition guides the viewer’s eye and creates a sense of balance and harmony.
Why it matters: Composition is what makes you feel drawn to certain artworks—it’s the invisible structure that makes a piece work.
What does Palette mean?
Literal meaning: The physical board or surface an artist uses to mix colours. Figurative meaning: The range of colours chosen by an artist in a particular artwork or series.
What is Perspective?
The method used to create the illusion of depth and space in a two-dimensional artwork. Perspective makes objects appear closer, farther, larger, or smaller depending on their placement.
Related Terms to Explore
As you deepen your understanding of art, you might also want to explore:
Serigraph (screen printing),
Etching, Lithograph, Focal Point, Negative Space, Texture, Form, Line, Colour Theory, and Contrast.
We’ll be adding to this glossary
regularly. If there’s a term you’d like us to explain, reach out; we’d love to hear from you.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What’s the difference between a print and original?
An original is a one-of-a-kind artwork created directly by the artist. A print is a reproduction made from the original, usually in a limited edition. Originals are typically more valuable, but high-quality limited edition prints from renowned artists can also be excellent investments.
How do I know my limited edition print is valuable?
Look for: small edition sizes (under 100), artist’s signature, certificate of authenticity, strong provenance, and the artist’s overall market demand. Condition and framing quality also matter.
What does it mean if a print is numbered 12/50?
The first number (12) indicates this is the 12th print in the series. The second number (50) is the total edition size. Both numbers matter less than the fact that it’s a limited edition from a reputable artist.
Can I clean my own artwork?
For valuable pieces, always consult a professional conservator. For everyday care, dust frames gently with a soft, dry cloth and keep artwork away from direct sunlight and humidity.
What’s the difference between modern and contemporary art?
Modern art refers to a historical period (roughly 1860s-1970s) when artists broke from tradition. Contemporary art is art being created today by living artists. A painting from 1950 is modern; a painting from 2024 is contemporary.
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