Section

GLOSSARY OF ART TERMS

Edited by Mark Quinlan

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E
  6. F
  7. G
  8. H
  9. I
  10. J
  11. K
  12. L
  13. M
  14. N
  15. O
  16. P
  17. Q
  18. R
  19. S
  20. T
  21. U
  22. V
  23. W
  24. X
  25. Y
  26. Z
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Underdrawing

A term used to describe a preliminary drawing, often in charcoal, and usually on a painting’s canvas or panel, in which the outlines of form or composition are sketched in preparation for detailed work in other media. Often draftsmen also made a preliminary underdrawing in graphite or black chalk, or with a stylus, before finalising [...]

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Underpainting

A layer of colour or tone applied to the painting surface before the painting itself is begun, to establish the general compositional masses, the lights and darks (values) in the composition, or as a colour to affect/mix with subsequent layers of colour. Underpainting is generally a thin, semi-opaque layer of paint.

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Unit One

A British group founded by Paul Nash in 1933 to promote modern art, architecture and design. At this point the two major currents in modern art were seen as being abstract art on the one hand and Surrealism on the other. Unit One embraced the full spectrum, Nash himself making both abstract and Surrealist work [...]