palette noun A board or surface artists use to mix colors, or the range of colors used in a work. She squeezed dabs of red, blue, and yellow paint onto her wooden palette. + canvas noun A strong, coarse cloth used for painting on, or for making tents, sails, and bags. The artist stretched a fresh canvas across the wooden frame before beginning to paint. + sketch noun A quick, rough drawing that captures the basic form of something without fine detail. The architect made a quick sketch of the building before drawing full plans. + silhouette noun The dark outline or shape of someone or something seen against a lighter background. We watched the silhouette of the mountains darken as the sun went down. + texture noun The feel, appearance, or consistency of a surface or substance, especially as perceived by touch. The bread had a soft texture with a slightly crisp outer crust. + composition noun The way in which the parts of something are combined to form a whole, or a piece of writing or music. The teacher praised the balanced composition of colors and shapes in the painting. + perspective noun A way of thinking about or viewing a situation. Reading the diary gave us a different perspective on the journey. + symmetry noun The quality of having balanced, matching proportions on either side of a dividing line or point. The butterfly's wings show near-perfect symmetry in their color and pattern. + contrast verb To examine or describe differences between things. Contrast the two endings and explain how each changes the story. + hue noun A particular shade or variety of a color. The sunset painted the sky in warm hues of orange and pink. + shade noun An area of comparative darkness and coolness created when direct sunlight is blocked. We spread the picnic blanket in the shade of a large oak tree. + tint noun A shade or slight variation of a color, often produced by adding white or a small amount of dye. The walls had a soft pink tint that made the room feel warm. + gradient noun The steepness of a slope, or a gradual change in the value of something, such as color or temperature, over a distance. Cyclists dreaded the steep gradient near the top of the mountain pass. + collage noun An artistic composition made by assembling different materials, such as paper, photographs, and fabric, onto a surface. The students made a collage of magazine cutouts to represent their hopes for the future. + mosaic noun A picture or pattern made by fitting together small pieces of colored glass, stone, or tile. The ancient floor featured a detailed mosaic depicting hunters chasing a wild boar. + sculpture noun A three-dimensional work of art created by carving, casting, or shaping materials such as stone or metal. The museum's courtyard displays a bronze sculpture of a running horse. + ceramic adjective Made of clay or a similar material that has been shaped and hardened by intense heat. She bought a set of ceramic bowls painted with delicate blue flowers. + pottery noun Objects such as pots, bowls, and vases made from clay and hardened by firing in a kiln, or the craft of making them. The museum displayed ancient pottery recovered from a Bronze Age settlement. + kiln noun A furnace or oven used to bake, dry, or harden materials such as clay, bricks, or timber. The potter fired her bowls in a kiln heated to over a thousand degrees. + glaze noun A thin, glossy coating applied to food, pottery, or other surfaces. The baker brushed a sweet glaze over the warm cinnamon rolls before serving. + typography noun The style, arrangement, and appearance of printed or digital text. The designer chose a bold typography to make the poster's headline stand out. + typeface noun A particular design of printed or digital letters and characters, such as Times New Roman. The designer chose a clean, modern typeface for the company logo. + kerning noun In typography, the adjustment of space between individual letters to improve visual appearance and readability. The designer spent extra time on kerning to make sure the logo's letters looked evenly spaced. + layout noun The way in which the parts of something, such as a page, building, or garden, are arranged. The magazine's clean layout made the long article easy to read. + monochrome adjective Using or containing only one color, or shades of a single color, such as in black-and-white photography. The photographer preferred monochrome images because they emphasized shape and contrast over color. + abstract adjective Existing as an idea or quality rather than as a physical, concrete object. Justice is an abstract concept that philosophers have debated for centuries. + portrait noun A painting, drawing, or photograph that represents a particular person, especially their face. The artist spent weeks painting a portrait of the mayor for the town hall. + landscape noun A wide view of natural or rural scenery, or the overall shape and features of an area of land. The rolling hills and quiet lakes made a peaceful landscape for painting. + still life noun A painting or drawing of an arrangement of inanimate objects, such as fruit or flowers. The gallery displayed a still life of pears and a ceramic jug. + brushstroke noun A single mark or stroke made by a paintbrush on a surface. The artist's loose, visible brushstrokes gave the painting a sense of movement. + easel noun A standing frame used to hold and display a canvas, painting, or chalkboard. The art teacher set up an easel in the corner for each student's canvas. + pigment noun A natural or synthetic substance that gives color to skin, plants, paint, or other materials. Melanin is the pigment that determines the color of human skin and hair. + watercolor noun A paint that is mixed with water rather than oil, or a picture made using this paint. She painted a soft watercolor of the harbor at sunset. + charcoal noun A dark, porous form of carbon made by burning wood slowly with little air, used as fuel or for drawing. They grilled the vegetables over hot charcoal for a smoky flavor. +