Drawing glossary with photos and simple English description. To make easy for art students and people in general to lean the terms. Made by Sweet Drawing Blog, the sweet way to learn drawing:- http://SweetMonia.com/Sweet-Drawing-Blog/

1. Made by Sweet Drawing Blog
SweeMonia.com/Sweet-Drawing-Blog
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2. Aerial View
Also called a bird’s-eye view. Observing from a point of
view at a high elevation. In perspective, when the
horizon line, and thus the vanishing point (-s), have been
placed near or above the top of the picture frame. This
applies most often to landscapes, cityscapes, etc. (Be
careful not to confuse aerial view with aerial
perspective).

3. Aerial/Atmospheric
Perspective
The means by which the illusion of atmospheric distance
and depth is created by rendering objects in background
space with less edge and value contrast. May also be
accompanied by a shift from warmer to cooler hues.
softer focus or lighter value.

4. Abstraction
The reduction or simplification of an image or object to
an essential aspect (geometric or organic) of its form or
content.

5. Axis
An imaginary straight line that indicates movement and
the direction of movement. Be it the X,Y or Z axis or any
other one.

6. Background
Horse with background of greenery and
the sky
Objects or undetermined spaces surrounding the main
subject of a work.
The most distant zone of space in three-dimensional
illusion

7. Backlight
Backlight Behind Chess Pawns
The backlight behind the statue
and the cathedral makes their
features not seeable to the viewer
A light source positioned behind a person or object that
can create a silhouette or separate the person or object
from the background.

8. Base Tone
The base tone is the darkest tone in the
whole drawing
The different types of tones
The darkest tone on a form, located on that part of the
surface that is turned away from rays of light.

9. Blind Contour
Line drawings produced without looking at the paper.
Such drawings are done to heighten the feeling for space
and form and to improve eye-hand coordination

10. Cast Shadow
The shadow thrown by a form onto an adjacent or nearby
surface in a direction away from the light source. This is
the very common type of shadow we all now, and it is
usually sharper than form shadow

11. Chiaroscuro
A word borrowed from Italian (“light and shade” or
“dark”) referring to the modeling of volume by depicting
light and shade by contrasting them boldly. This is one
means of strengthening an illusion of depth on a two-dimensional
surface, and was an important topic among
artists of the Renaissance.

12. Composition
The organization and interaction of shapes, forms, lines,
patterns, light and color

13. Content
The Contents Of The Picture Here Is Lolita~ :3
The subject and meaning of a work of art.

14. Continuous Line
Drawing
A drawing in which the implement(the drawing tool)
remains in uninterrupted contact with the picture plane
creating enclosed shapes.
In Plain English:- A drawing created using one single line,
the pencil from the beginning to the end of the drawing
process. The final drawing consist of one single
uninterrupted line.

15. Contour
The outline and other visible edges of a mass, figure or
object

16. Contour Line (Drawing)
A single line that represents the edge of a form or group
of forms and suggests three-dimensional quality
indicating the thickness as well as height and width of the
form it describes. Contour line drawing uses subtle
overlapping planes.
In Plain English:- A simplified drawing that uses lines only
to describe the object

17. Convergence
In this picture, convergence happen when the corridor
lines meet at an imaginary point at the distance(called
the vanishing point).
In linear perspective, parallel lines in nature appear to
converge (come together) as they recede to a point on
the Eye Level or Horizon Line. into the picture plane.

18. Cross-Contour Lines
Multiple, curving parallel lines running over the surface of
an object horizontally and/or vertically that describe its
surface qualities. Much like wire framing in 3D design.

19. Cross Hatching
A drawing technique to shade an object using two or
more networks of parallel lines in a gradual angular
progression (to achieve a build up of complex value).

20. Diminution
Take a look at the people in this picture, and notice how
the size of each person become smaller as far they get
from us, that is diminution
In linear perspective, the phenomenon of more distant
objects appearing smaller.

21. Drawing
Depiction of shapes and forms on a surface chiefly by
means of lines. Color and shading may be included. A
major fine art technique in itself, drawing is the basis of
all pictorial representation, and an early step in most art
activities. Though an integral part of most painting,
drawing is generally differentiated from painting by the
dominance of line over mass

22. Edge
The rim or border, the place where two things meet: the
background (negative space) meets surface of objects
(positive space), a “tone” or “value” meets a different
tone/value.

23. Eye Level
Eye level is where the greenery meet
the sky
In linear perspective, the height at which the eyes are
located in relation to the ground plane. Standing creates
a high eye-level while sitting creates a lower one. In most
views, the eye level will match a horizon line. The same
as horizon line. All vanishing points in one and two point
perspective are positioned on the eye level.

24. Figure
The Girl, as well as the lion, are the
figure here
The Building Is The Figure In
This Picture
The primary or positive shape in a drawing. A shape that
is noticeably separated from the background. The figure
is the dominant, advancing shape in a figure/ground
relationship

25. Figure-Ground
Relationship
An arrangement in which positive and negative shapes
alternatively command attention. Also known as a
positive/negative relationship.

26. Foreground
The rocks in this picture represent
the foreground
The “nearest” space represented to the viewer. The
“front” of the visual stage.
An exaggeration of perspective in which elements nearer
to the viewer are shown much larger, and elements at a
distance appear much reduced in size.

27. Foreshortening
An Example of foreshorting, the man
appears shorter than he really is
because of the angle. And his feet
look larger than they really are
Here, we can see see foreshortening
by noticing how the street is wider
at the beginning compared to how it
is at the end.
A technique for producing the illusion of an object’s
extension into space by contracting its form. A way of
representing a subject or an object so that it conveys the
illusion of depth — so that it seems to go back into space.

28. Freehand Drawing
Sketches of a lion by Frans Koppelaar. If these were done
without the help of any drawing tool, then we could confidently
call it a free hand drawing
Drawn by hand, without the use of any mechanical device
— without the aid of a straightedge, compass, protractor,
French curves, computer equipment, etc. This is the
opposite of mechanical drawing.

29. Gestalt:
• A total mental picture, or conception, of a
form.
• Gestalt is a German word for form or shape
• While the above definition was a generic one.
Gestalt has many principles that could be
explained & understood easily on their own

30. Gestalt(Continue)
The eye tend to identify each row of black circles as one object.
Similarly, they tend to identify each row of the circles the same
way
Similarity:- The principle of similarity states that, all else
being equal, perception lends itself to seeing stimuli that
physically resemble each other as part of the same
object, and stimuli that are different as part of a
different object

31. Gestalt(Continue)
Even though the square and the circle in this picture are not
complete, we still see identify them as a square and a circle
Closure:- The principle of closure refers to the mind’s
tendency to see complete figures or forms even if a
picture is incomplete

32. Gestalt(Continue)
Even though the row of circles is interrupted by the other
circles, we still identify the row of circle as one
Continuity:- Also known as (Good Continuation)
When there is an intersection between two or more
objects, people tend to perceive each object as a single
uninterrupted object.

33. Gestalt(Continue)
Common Fate:- When visual elements are seen moving in
the same direction at the same rate (optical flow),
perception associates the movement as part of the same
stimulus. For example, birds may be distinguished from
their background as a single flock because they are
moving in the same direction and at the same velocity,
even when each bird is seen – from a distance – as little
more than a dot. The moving ‘dots’ appear to be part of
a unified whole.

34. Gestalt(Continue)
Good Form:-The principle of good form refers to the
tendency to group together forms of similar shape,
pattern, color, etc. Even in cases where two or more
forms clearly overlap, the human brain interprets them in
a way that allows people to differentiate different
patterns and/or shapes. An example would be a pile of
presents where a dozen packages of different size and
shape are wrapped in just three or so patterns of
wrapping paper.

35. Gradation
Gradation here is used to give the
impression of the cylinder surface
of the robot in the left, as opposed
to the solid way it is shaded at the
right
Gradation from white to black
Any gradual transition from one tone to another. In
drawing, shading through gradation can be used to
suggest three-dimensional illusion.

36. Gesture
A spontaneous representation of the dominant physical
and expressive stance of an object. The act of making a
sketch with relatively loose arm movements (gestures) —
with the large muscles of the arm, rather than with the
small muscles of the hand and wrist; Or a drawing made
this way.

37. Grid
Normal Grid Criss-cross Grid
A framework or pattern of criss-crossed or parallel lines.
A lattice. When criss-crossed, lines are usually horizontal
and vertical; and when lines are diagonal, they are
usually at right angles to each other

38. Ground
The actual flat surface of a drawing, synonymous with a
drawing’s opaque picture plane. In a three dimensional
illusion, ground also refers to the area behind an object
(or figure).

39. Half Tone
After the highlight and quarter tone, the next brightest
area of illumination on a form. The halftone is located on
that part of the surface that is parallel to the rays of light

40. Highlight
The brightest area of illumination on a form, which
appears on that part of the surface most perpendicular to
the light source

41. Horizon Line
The horizontal line, where the sky meets the ground
In linear perspective, the line on which all vanishing
points are positioned. More accurately described as the
eye line or eye level.

42. Layout
The placement of images within a two dimensional
format.
The way to arrange elements in drawing to produce a
certain effect or to draw the viewer attention in a
certain way.

43. Light Tone
After highlight, the next light value of illumination on a
form. Sometimes called indirect light.

44. Line
A mark with length and direction. An element of art which refers to the
continuous mark made on some surface by a moving point. Types of line
include: vertical, horizontal, diagonal, straight or ruled, curved, bent,
angular, thin, thick or wide, interrupted (dotted, dashed, broken, etc.),
blurred or fuzzy, controlled, freehand, parallel, hatching, meandering,
and spiraling. Often it defines a space, and may create an outline or
contour, define a silhouette; create patterns, or movement, and the
illusion of mass or volume. It may be two-dimensional (as with pencil on
paper) three-dimensional (as with wire) or implied (the edge of a shape
or form).

45. Line gesture
A type of gesture drawing that describes interior forms, utilizing line
rather than mass.
In Plain English:- Using lines instead of shades to describe the forms of
the object

46. Local Value
The basic tonality of an object’s surface. regardless of incidental lighting
effects or surface texture.
In Plain English:- The value or color of the object/subject. Without it
being affected by any light or shadow. For example, the local value or
color of a white shirt is white. But may appear yellowish under the
sunset light.

47. Mark
Drawings are created by leaving marks
or strokes using pencil or any drawing
tools on paper
A visible trace or impression on a surface, such as a line, a dot, spot,
stain, scratch, etc.
In Plain English:- The lines made by pencil or strokes by a brush are all
examples of marks.

48. Mass
An Example Of A Mass Drawing
The density or weight of an object.
In Plain English:- Drawing without a contour, using the mass of values
and shades to draw the object, the more intense the values is, the more
mass they say it has.

49. Massing
In composition: to block-in forms with the purpose of achieving an
overall organization of visual weight

50. Mass gesture
A drawing created by mass gestures
A system of broad, gestural marks used to
create density and weight in a form.

51. Middle ground
The area between the foreground and
background in a drawing.

52. Modeled Drawing
A method of drawing which delineates form through the use of
a variety of values-A range of tones from light to dark.
In Plain English:- Grayscale drawing, which can be done with
Pencil, charocal, or any other tool

53. Motion
The arrangement of the parts of an image to create a sense of
movement by using lines, shapes, forms, and textures that
causes the eye to move over the work.

54. Negative Space
A picture where negative space
takes most of the space of the
picture
The space surrounding a positive shape; sometimes referred
to as a ground, empty space, field, etc.

55. Outline
Line of uniform thickness, tone and speed, which serves as a
boundary between a shape or form and its environment A. It
does not suggest contour, and is therefore flat, two
dimensional. A silhouette.

56. Overlapping Planes
A method of representing hierarchy of space in a drawing.
Overlapping occurs when one object obscures from view part
of a second object.

57. One-Point Perspective
All the road lines in this picture
meet at the point in the distant,
which is called the vanishing point
A frontal, head on view with a central point at eye level at
which all receding parallels appear to converge and vanish.

58. Planar Analysis
A structural description of a form in which its complex curves
are generalized into major planar zones.

59. Perspective
An example of perspective, here,
the road becomes narrower and
the poles smaller as they get
away from us
Any system used to represent depth or space on a flat surface
by reducing the size and placement of elements to suggest
that they are further away from the viewer.

60. Picture Frame
The physical vertical and horizontal dimensions of the paper
surface.

61. Picture Plane
The flat, two-dimensional surface on which a drawing is
made.

62. Plane
Any flat level or surface

63. Plastic
Denotes the illusion of three dimensionality or movement into
the picture plane as it relates to the flat, two-dimensional
nature of the picture plane itself. We refer to this as plastic
space in contrast to perspective space.
In Plain English:- The projection of 3-dimentional objects into
the picture plane, which we refer to as plastic space.

64. Positive Space
The positive space here is the
space taken by the dog.
The shape of an object that serves as the subject for a
drawing. The relationship between positive shape and
negative space is sometimes called figure/ground,
foreground/background relationship.
In Plain English:- The space taken by the subject in the
drawing or the artwork

65. Proportion
A figure explaining the proportions
of Lolita~
A term that refers to the “accurate” relationship of part to
part in a realistic drawing. It can also refer to the expressive
purposes, e.g. Distortion of proportion to consciously or
unconsciously achieve a subjective intention. Proportion also
relates to a sense of balance.

66. Reflective Light
Also known as reflected light
If you looked closely, you will see
the reflective light at the bottom
of both apple. Be sure not to mix
between the reflective light and
the highlight at the top of the
apples
The relatively weak light that bounces off a nearby surface
onto the shadowed side of a form.

67. Relative Scale
The tree at the right, which is
closer to us, appears larger than
the one at the left
A better example is presented
here. The tree that’s closest to us
is larger than any of trees that are
far from us
A way in which to represent and judge the spatial position of
an object in three-dimensional illusionistic space so that
forms drawn smaller appear further away and forms that are
drawn larger appear closer.

68. Representational
There couldn’t be any better
example of representational that
the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vicvi
A drawing that attempts to achieve a near-likeness to the
objects being drawn. Drawings which strive to achieve the
qualities of realism.

69. Rendering
Renders of a tea pot
A depiction or an interpretation. Also, a drawing in
perspective of a proposed structure. (Rendering can be used
either as a noun or as a verb.)
Wikipedia definition:- Rendering in visual art and technical
drawing means the process of formulating, adding color,
shading, and texturing of an image. It can also be used to
describe the quality of execution of that process. When used
as a means of expression, it is synonymous with illustrating.

70. Scale
Map Scale, according to this scale,
each CM is correspond to 372,000
KM of land
A ratio or proportion used in determining the dimensional relationship between a
representation to that which it represents (its actual size), such as maps, building plans, and
models.
In Plain English:- If you stated that “each 1 CM in the map is equivalent to 10 KM of land in
the real world”. Then you defined a scale. This can also be used in drawing and art creation
as well, where it is useful in creating the blueprints of buildings for example.
Scale can also be used in drawing. For example, you could draw a house where each
centimeter in the drawing corresponds to one meter in the real house

71. Shallow Space
This circuit has a very shallow
depth, making it a good example
of a shallow space
A relatively flat space, having weight and width but limited
depth.
In Plain English:- a space that has a width and a heigh, but
limited to no depth.

72. Shape
Examples of multiple shapes
A contained, edged-in area on the two-dimensional surface.
Or an area that suggests containment. A shape is always
interdependent with another element (shape or space) in the
composition.
Squares, circles and triangles are among the common objects
we see everyday.

73. Sighting
The visual measurements of objects and spaces between objects.
Wikipedia Definition:- Sighting” is the use of one (or more) of many
techniques for drawing accurately. It is often used when there are several
objects and figures in a scene. In other words, sighting is generally using a
method that relates one object to all of the other objects. Values, or an
array of different shades
Measuring the size of the object(s) you are drawing by extending your arm
while holding your pencil is the easiest example of sighting.

74. Silhouette
A silhouette of a cat
Any dark two-dimensional shape seen against a light background.

75. Sketch
A quick drawing that loosely captures the appearance or action of a place
or situation. Sketches are often done in preparation for larger, more
detailed works of art.

76. Space
There’s a space between these two
inventions, and between them and the
edges of the picture
The distance between images or points in a drawing. We contain space
when defining edges of interrelated shapes.

77. Station Point
From our standing point, or let’s say our
station point, we can see the Castle and
the road ahead of us
In linear perspective, the fixed position a person occupies in relation to
the subject that is being drawn.
In Plain English:- The easiest way to understand what Station Point is to
think of it as the point where you or the camera are stationed

78. Surface
Smooth drawing paper Paper with a rough texture
The actual physical structure or texture of the drawing paper containing
degrees of smoothness, gloss, or roughness.

79. Two-Point Perspective
An example of two points
perspective. Notice how the
sites of the walls converge
toward two points.
Another example of two-points
perspective, where the
convergence toward the two
points is easy to see
A way of representing space on the picture plane in which physically
parallel elements of the same size appear progressively reduced along
converging rays to the left and right, reaching a single point on the
horizon on both the left and right side.

80. Three Point-Perspective
An example of three-points
perspective, each arrow points
toward one of the three
vanishing points
The cube, when we face it from
an angle like that, is drawn
using three-points perspective
A system for representing objects in space with exaggerated three
dimensionality, through the use of three perpendicular sets of converging
parallels.

81. Texture
The actual or suggestive surface quality of a two-dimensional shape or
three-dimensional volume. Texture can be created by using skillful
drawing techniques, erasure, rubbing, or employing specific materials
such as sand.

82. Two Dimensional Space
The drawing paper is the 2D medium
where we create wonderful worlds in
the 3D dimensions of that world
The flat, actual surface area of a drawing, which is the product of the
length times the width of the drawing paper support.
In Plain English:- The drawing surface of the paper or the canvas, as
opposed to the space inside the drawing

83. Three Dimensional
Space
The actual space in the environment, and the representation of it in the
form of pictorial illusion.
In Plain English:- The space or the world where your characters or objects
live.

84. Value
Multiple values created by pencil
Black, white and the gradations of gray tones between them. The relative
degree of light and dark.

85. Value Relativity
By placing multiple values besides
each other, it is easy to see how
each value is different relative to
the other values.
The changing visual identity of values in juxtaposition, sometimes called
value contrast.

86. Value Scale
The gradual range from white through gray to black.

87. Value Pattern
Take a look at this picture of the tree,
notice how each of the trees has the
same color and value pattern, making
them all look equal.
Now take a look at the picture after
modifying it, it has modified so that the
trees at the center and the ones closer
to us has a more pattern, which attracts
more attention to them
The arrangement or organization of values that control compositional movement and create a
unifying effect throughout a work of art.
In Plain English:- The manipulation of the range of values used in the artwork, both in the whole
pictures or parts of it. When drawing from living, the artist usually choose a range of values that is
smaller than what there’s actually is to create a simpler drawing that is easier on the eye, where
the artist can manipulate the values to draw the viewer attention to the main subject in the
picture.

88. Visual Weight
Here, the ostriches at the front attract
more attention than the one at the back
because of their placement. Color
weight can also be manipulated using
the values pattern of the object
The potential of any element or area of a drawing to attract the eye. The
more weight an element has, the more ability it has to attract the eye of
the viewer.

89. Volume
This Elephant has a lot of volume in this
picture
The overall size of an object, and by extension the quantity of three-dimensional
space it occupies.
In Plain English:- The physical size of the object, the bigger the object is,
the more volume it has.

90. Resources
• The original glossary came from http://
csuimages.sjsu.edu
• Pictures are from Wikipedia Commons, Flickr, DeviantArt,
or created by yours truly.
• Some additional definitions came from Wikipedia, us
noted in their respected place.
• Plain English definitions are written by yours truly, I tried
my best to keep them as much accurate as possible.