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Terms Used in Drawing

Axis A line passing through the center of a solid

object. In objects such as fruits and vegetables,

the axis runs through the core.

Backlight Light shining from behind the subject.

Base drawing The first layer of rough shading that

enables you to define the general shape and tonal varia-

tions before you begin to refine the drawing.

Brightness The degree to which light reflects from an

object’s surface.

Centerline A line that bisects a symmetrical object

being depicted. Alternatively, a line that divides the

horizontal or vertical halves of a composition.

Center point A point positioned in the center of the ob-

ject being depicted. Alternatively, a point in the middle

of the various elements of a composition.

Composing The act of mindfully positioning and

scaling an object or objects on the drawing surface. See

page 26.

Composition mark A lightly drawn mark to serve as

a guide for determining the position of an object at its

base, used before roughing in the preliminary sketch.

Contrast The observable difference in adjacent light

and dark areas of a drawing. Areas of high contrast

exhibit an intensity that draws the eye.

Depth The distance from the front to the back of the

object. Depth in drawings is often expressed by subtly

blurring and lightening the portions that should appear

farthest from the viewer.

Details Final, small, carefully made additions to a

drawing that make it come alive with realism.

Diagonal A line connecting the vertices of two non-ad-

jacent corners of a polygon. Also, for polyhedra, a line

segment connecting two vertices that are not on the

same plane.

Dominant Eye The eye that is used primarily for sight.

The non-dominant eye plays a supporting role in cor-

recting focus and comprehending depth perception. To

determine your dominant eye, hold an index finger out

while you focus on a distant object. Move your finger

to cover the distant object, and then close one eye at a

time. The eye that still sees the distant object as being

covered up is the dominant one.

Eye level The vantage point of the viewer. When dis-

cussing perspective, it refers to the level of the vanishing

point. See page 56.

Focus In drawing, it is the part of the image in the fore-

ground that commands attention and draws the eye.

Form The shape of an object or group of assembled

objects. See page 30.

Free-hand Drawing without the use of tools such as

a ruler or French curve. This book focuses on freehand

drawing instruction.

Golden ratio A ratio expressed as 1:1.618 in geometry,

which is the basis of the “golden rectangle,” an aesthet-

ically pleasing shape that has been used in many famous

artworks, such as Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.”

Gradation Gradual changes from one shade, color or

texture to another.

Highlight The location or locations on an object where

the most light is reflected to the viewer’s eye. If the

object is polished, the highlight will be sharply defined.

If the object is textured, the highlight will be diffuse.

Inherent color The actual color of the surface of a given

object, unrelated to the intensity of the lighting.

Intersection The vertex where the edge of two planes

of a three-dimensional shape meet. Understanding of

planes and vertices is the basis of drawing. See page 38.

Light source The natural or artificial point or points

from which light is directed toward an object. In draw-

ing, it is important to determine the light source, and

understand how it affects shading, highlights and shad-

ows. See page 8.

Low Angle Observing the object to be drawn from a

low vantage point.

Masking tape Low-tack painter’s tape useful for

recording the position of an object that is likely to be

moved before the drawing is completed.

Mass A sense of volume and weight achieved through

careful attention given to emulating an object’s obser-

vable characteristics.

Measuring stick Any thin rod used to visually measuring

an object. Most artists use their handy pencil to mea-

sure. See page 30.

Natural light Light from the sun.

Object The subject of your drawing.

Outline A line that represents the border between

objects and space. Outlines in the foreground tend to be

heavier and sharper, while outlines in the background

tend to be lighter and fuzzier.

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