A style of architecture and art dominant in Europe from the 12th to the 15th century. Gothic architecture features pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and often large areas of stained glass.

An American style of art which seeks its inspiration from commercial art and items of mass culture (such as comic strips, popular foods and brand name packaging). This style evolved in the late 1950s and was characterized in the 1960s by such artists as Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, Claus Oldenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, Larry Rivers, Robert Rauschenberg, George Segal, and Robert Indiana.

A branch of French Impressionism in which the principle of optical mixture or broken colour was carried to the extreme of applying colour in tiny dots or small, isolated strokes. Forms are visible in a pointillist painting only from a distance, when the viewer’s eye blends the colours to create visual masses and outlines. The inventor and chief exponent of pointillism was George Seurat (1859-1891); the other leading figure was Paul Signac (1863-1935).

A coloured crayon made of pigment and aqueous binder; pastel works use pure pigment. (I used to use these)

A style of painting in which architectural details are rendered in extremely fine detail in order to create the illusion of dimensional reality. This form of painting was first used by the Romans thousands of years ago in frescoes and murals and was extremely popular during the Renaissance and continues today.

A final protective layer applied to paintings. (I do this)

A picture consisting of a graphic image of a person or thing.

A slender cylinder of graphite or chalk used for drawing. (I use these occasionally)

A technique where a metal plate is covered with acid-resistant material and then etched to create an image.

An art movement founded in France in the last thirty years of the 19th century. Impressionist artists sought to break up light into its component colours and capture the sense of its play on various objects. The artist’s vision was intensely centred on light and the ways it transforms the visible world. This style of painting is characterized by short brush strokes of bright colours used to recreate visual impressions of the subject and to capture the light, climate and atmosphere of the subject at a specific moment in time. The chosen colours represent light which is broken down into its spectrum components and recombined by the eyes into another colour when viewed at a distance.

As distinct from fine art, refers to the application of decoration to useful objects (such as ceramics, furniture, jewelry, etc.).

Initial test prints before a final edition is produced.

A printing technique where an image is carved into wood and then printed.

A method of etching that imitates the broad washes of a watercolour.

Prints authorized by the artist in addition to a limited signed edition.

A sketchy, imperfect or faint representation.

“New” expressionism – a term originally applied to works done primarily by German and Italian, who came to maturity in the post-WWII era; and later expanded (in the 1980’s) to include certain American artists. Neo- Expressionist works depict intense emotions and symbolism, sometimes using unconventional media and intense colours with turbulent compositions and subject matter.

A solution sprayed onto drawings to prevent smudging or crumbling. (I use this on my pastels)

The artist style of early 16th century painting in Florence and Rome; characterized by technical mastery, heroic composition and humanistic content.

A pigment’s resistance to fading when exposed to light.

A painting or design applied to cotton using wax and dye, often from the Far East or Africa.

A style of painting prominent from the 1950’s through the 1970’s, featuring large “fields” or areas of colour, meant to evoke an aesthetic or emotional response through the colour alone.

Art that uses more than one medium to create a single work of art.

A third party who handles the business and promotional aspects of an artist’s career, including licensing and exhibition organization.

An original sketch or enhancement in the margin of a print, increasing its uniqueness.

“New” classicism – a style in 19th century Western art that referred back to the classical styles of Greece and Rome. Neoclassical paintings have sharp outlines, reserved emotions, deliberate (often mathematical) composition, and cool colours.

Primitive art, by an untrained artist who paints in the common tradition of his community and reflects the life style of the people. Also called ‘Outsider art’ & ‘Art brut’.

Short for Optical Art, a style popular in the 1960s that was based on optical principles and optical illusion. Op Art deals in complex colour interactions, to the point where colours and lines seem to vibrate before the eyes.

Something shown to the public; a visual representation of something.

Descriptive of paintings in which forms are defined principally by colour areas, not by lines or edges. Where the artist’s brushstrokes are noticeable. Any image that looks as though it may have been created with the style or techniques used by a painter.

A point in linear perspective where parallel lines converge.

Paper or canvas treated to neutralize its acidity to protect prints from discoloration and deterioration.

An artwork not of a specific named person.

Art forms predating recorded history, such as Old, Middle, and New Stone Ages.

Genre of art, literature and architecture in reaction against principles and practices of established modernism. A term applied to the work of several artists – French or living in France – from about 1885 to 1900. Although they all painted in highly personal styles, the Post-Impressionists were united in rejecting the relative absence of form characteristic of Impressionism and stressed more formal qualities and the significance of subject matter.

An artistic technique most commonly used in oil painting. Paint is applied onto the canvas very thickly, often in layers, usually so that the brush or painting-knife strokes are visible. Paint is also sometimes mixed directly on the canvas. Impasto cannot easily be used in watercolour works due to the thin quality of the paint.

A stencil process for creating multi-coloured prints and illustrations.

Using painting knives to push, stain, or scrape paint on a canvas. (I do this)

Technique to represent three-dimensional objects on a flat surface for depth perception. (I use this technique)

Pure carbon prepared from vegetable or animal substances, used as a drawing implement.

A giclée edition that is enhanced with additional color, texture, or metallic leaf.

A process of printing impressions from a smooth surface.

A monochrome underlayer used in oil painting.

The surface on which an artist paints, such as canvas or paper. (I use these)

An art movement launched in 1905 with work characteristic of bright, non-natural colours and simple forms. This influenced Impressionists.

Art made by any printing or stamping process.

Synthetic resin used in paints and mediums to work as a binder that encapsulates the pigment and speeds the drying time.

A print where the artist created the matrix and made impressions from it.

A unique print where the artist created the master plates and executed the printing process.

In Greek art, the style of the 5th century B.C. Loosely, the term “classical” is often applied to all the art of ancient Greece and Rome, as well as to any art based on logical, rational principles and deliberate composition with an emphasis on proportion and harmony.

A small floating illustrative sketch or painting.

A broad, diluted layer of pigment in watercolour or oil painting.

A genre of French painting characterized by bright flat shapes and symbolic treatments of abstract ideas.

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was created in 1848 by seven artists: Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Michael Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, James Collinson, John Everett Millais, Frederic George Stephens, and Thomas Woolner. Their goal was to develop a naturalistic style of art, throwing away the rules and conventions drilled into students’ heads at the Academies. Raphael was the artist considered to have attained the highest degree of perfection, so much so that students were encouraged to draw from his examples rather than from nature itself; thus they became the “Pre-Raphaelites”. The group popularized a theatrically romantic style, marked by great beauty, an intricate realism, and a fondness for Greek and Arthurian legend. The movement itself did not last past the 1850’s but the style remained popular for decades, and influenced the Arts and Crafts Movement, the Symbolists, and even the Classicists.

A painting and drawing style of the mid 20th century in which people, objects, and scenes are depicted with such naturalism that the paintings resemble photographs – an almost exact visual duplication of the subject.

An intaglio engraving technique using a steel needle to create soft, velvety lines.

An art style handed down from generation to generation.

A term sometimes applied to art of late 16th early 17th century Europe, characterized by a dramatic use of space and light and a tendency toward elongated figures.

The process whereby artwork is framed with all four edges showing. The artwork is adhered to board with a reverse-cut bevel, which is in turn secured to an undermount, so it appears to ‘float’ above the undermount. Art on hand-made paper is often float-mounted.

A one-of-a-kind print made by transferring a wet painting onto paper.

Using materials and techniques in the framing process to ensure that the framing does not damage the artwork. Hinging the artwork instead of mounting it, using high-quality acid-free boards and mats, using no staining paste, and glazing with conservation glass or acrylic are generally accepted procedures used to help preserve artwork. The same procedures are sometimes referred to as “preservation framing.”

The characteristic way an artist applies paint onto a support, producing texture and aesthetic value.

A reverse engraving process that produces images in relief with light and shadow effects.

A generalization for any artists depiction of natural scenery, sea, sky or vegetation as its primary subject matter. Any figurative elements are of secondary importance or incidental to the artwork. Originally emerged from Holland and France in the 17th century.

A list of works of art often associated with an exhibition or auction.

The diminishing of certain dimensions in an object or figure to depict correct spatial relationships. (I use this technique)

An exact copy of an original artwork made by the original artist. (I never create these)

A final print showing that the plate has been marred to prevent further use.

Used upon a ground of metal or porcelain, with colours fixed by fire.

A recent innovation that originated in New York and was adopted by certain contemporary painters. Forms are depicted with precise, geometric lines and edges.

An unclothed live model, or a work of art representing a person without clothing. The nude is classic, timeless, elemental, primal, and universal. Because we are all creatures of our own nakedness, it is the subject of ultimate empathy. And yet in the hands of an artist, that fleeting, imperfect, and fragile package that carries all of our souls gains a noble immortality and perfection that transcends its mere physicality.

A promotional image, often used for advertising.

A document providing background on an edition, such as size and technique.

A term used to describe the low oil content in paints and mediums. (I use this technique)

A print identical to the edition print used as samples for dealers and galleries.

A very thin, transparent coloured paint or glossy finish applied over a painted surface. (I use this technique)

The record of ownership of an artwork from its origin to the present.

A carrying case for artwork or a selection of an artist’s work. (I use these)

A style of painting and sculpture in the mid 20th century in which the art elements are rendered with a minimum of lines, shapes, and sometimes colour. The works may look and feel sparse, spare, restricted or empty.

Egg-based painting medium used before oil painting.

The overall effect of hue and value in an artwork. (I often do this)

A print intended for the artist’s personal use, typically marked AP or E.A.

A painting or carving consisting of two panels.

Completely non-representational; pure design; fully abstract.

A term used to describe a high oil content in paints and mediums. (I use this technique when layering)

An art style developed in the late 18th to the mid 19th centuries which was a reaction against Classicism, to celebrate nature rather than civilization. Emphasizing the personal, emotional and dramatic through the use of exotic, literary or historical subject matter. A dominant European style for many years, and was the pre-cursor to the Pre-Raphaelite movement.

An art style developed in the late 19th century characterized by the inclusion of symbols and ideas, usually spiritual or mystical in nature, which can represent the inner beliefs and traditions of people.

A pattern of closely spaced dots or small marks used to create a sense of three-dimensionally on a flat surface, especially in drawing and printmaking. See also hatching, cross-hatching.

From the Italian work for “smoke,” a technique of painting in thin glazes to achieve a hazy, cloudy atmosphere, often to represent objects or landscape meant to be perceived as distant from the picture plane.

A deeper than usual canvas used as a support for paintings that will be hung unframed. We provide bespoke picture framing service for Wokingham, Bracknell, Ascot and all surrounding areas. You can find examples of our bespoke framing projects here.

A painting technique where a thin or broken layer of colour is brushed over another so that patches of the color beneath show through. It can be done with a dry brush, or by removing bits of paint with a cloth.

A fanciful asymmetric ornamentation in art and architecture that originated in France in the 18th century.

Additional prints made from a master after the original edition has been exhausted.

The process of using dry adhesive substances to mount paper artwork or photographs to a board, using high heat and a dry mount press.

Signed agreements between artists and galleries confirming possession and ownership until payment. 

Literally, “counterpoise.” A method of portraying the human figure, especially in sculpture, often achieved by placing the weight on one foot and turning the shoulder so the figure appears relaxed and mobile. The result is often a graceful S-curve.

Incising a design into metal or stone, inking the depressions, and printing.

A one-off handmade piece by an artist. (I create these)

High-resolution inkjet prints using pigment-based inks that are lightfast.

The relative intensity or purity of a hue when compared to grayness or lack of hue.

Yellowing of oil paintings due to dirt, varnish, or linseed oil.

Any likeness of a person; a painting of a person’s face and sometimes their body.

A set of identical, often hand-produced prints numbered and signed by the artist.

A glue applied to paper or fabric before priming to protect against paint acids.

A type of rapid drying and versatile synthetic paint that is especially popular with artists working today. Acrylics have good adhesive and elastic properties, resist ultraviolet light and chemical degradation, and are easy to remove with mineral spirits. They are often used in the restoration of damaged oil paintings. We use these during our Art Events.

The work of a painter; a painted representation of any object or scene; a picture. (I do this)

A group active in the invention and application of new ideas and techniques in an original or experimental way. A group of practitioners and/or advocates of a new art form may also be called avant-garde. Some avant-garde works are intended to shock those who are accustomed to traditional, established styles.

A painting done outside rather than in a studio. The term comes from the French en plein air, meaning ‘in the open air’.

The range of colours used by a particular artist, in a particular painting, or by a school of art. (I mostly paint using a limited palette)

Descriptive of an artwork that closely resembles forms in the natural world. Synonymous with representational.

Certifies the authenticity of an individual piece in an edition and can also state the current market value.

Refers to glass with both a UV filter and anti-reflective qualities.

An outlined shape filled with colour. (I have created several)

A mechanically produced copy of an original work. (I create prints)

The act of selling a license to reproduce an artist’s work for a specific purpose. (I do this)

Old paintings reveal earlier layers over time due to pigment transparency.

An art style developed in 1908 by Picasso and Braque whereby the artist breaks down the natural forms of the subjects into geometric shapes and creates a new kind of pictorial space. In contrast to traditional painting styles where the perspective of subjects is fixed and complete, cubist work can portray the subject from multiple perspectives.

An artwork made by combining and overlapping images.

Art movement founded in Italy in 1909 and lasting only a few years. Futurism concentrated on the dynamic quality of modern technological life, emphasizing speed and movement.

A painting, printmaking, decorative design, and architectural style developed in England in the 1880s. Art Nouveau, primarily an ornamental style, was not only a protest against the sterile Realism, but against the whole drift toward industrialization and mechanization and the unnatural artefacts they produced. The style is characterized by the usage of sinuous, graceful, cursive lines, interlaced patterns, flowers, plants, insects and other motifs inspired by nature.

A technique of modelling using closely set parallel lines.

Chiaroscuro painting in shades of gray imitating the effect of relief.

One who makes Art. We represent some of the most talented artists and you can find more about them here.

A three-dimensional work of art made from various materials.

Art that depicts the casual moments of everyday life and its surroundings or a class of art having a characteristic form or technique.

Primary hues in pigment: red, yellow, blue.

A set of identical fine prints where the artist personally created and supervised the printing.

Perhaps America’s greatest contribution to the history of modern art is Abstract Expressionism, which dominated the New York scene for a decade and a half subsequent to World War II. Though less cohesive as an art movement, its common thread centred around an opposition to the strict formalism characteristic of much of abstract art at the time. The movement, which owed its existence to a new evaluation of the individual, spread quickly following the defeat of totalitarianism in the Second World War. The founders of Abstract Expressionism include Arshile Gorky, Hans Hofmann, Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, and Mark Rothko.

Complementary colours appear brighter when placed side by side.

An image produced from a master surface like a wood block, stone, or plate.

Often used to describe works of art that depict nature in some way, as distinct from abstracting from it. In its most limited (and useful) sense, used to describe art works based on the human figure or animals.

A print run with no limit, sometimes signed but not numbered.

Rendering of forms through a balanced contrast between light and dark areas. Our artist Richard Young uses this technique in his paintings.

The groove under the lip of the moulding that allows space for the mat, glass, art and mounting board.

A non-flexible painting surface, often wood panel.

The ingredient in paints that causes the particles of pigment to adhere to one another and to a support.

A painted or carved screen placed above and behind an altar or communion table.

Exhibiting multiple colors.

Refers to materials that meet certain criteria for permanence such as lignin-free, pH neutral, alkaline-buffered, stable in light, etc.

An engraving consisting of a smooth plate of copper that has been etched or engraved.

(Also referred to as Non-Reflective) Reduces reflection and minimizes light transmission, giving maximum clarity. Tru Vue UV70 is the most popular in our framing orders. You can view our framing projects here.

A genre of unskilled, extortionately expensive artwork, highly favoured by auction houses who are expert in chandelier bidding, city galleries who’s managers quaff Dom Perignon by the bucket, agents having several lavish apartments and unwitting collectors in receipt of large bonus’s. Created using a palette of colourful paint resembling a fresh ‘pizza’, applied violently to the canvas or wall in a 1/4 rotation whilst blowing a loud raspberry and raising one leg. Lauded for the ability to rotate the final creation until the artist and collector achieves satisfaction and can relate it with conviction to his / her inner emotions and troubled upbringing, often whilst high on something mind altering. The creation has the benefit that it’s initially edible and tastes yummy the morning after if refrigerated. Viewed with much amusement by my partner and I during exhibitions. AKA ‘Bish-Bash-Bosh’ by those on the inside. Art? – Fine! You decide, but invest with caution… 🙂

A record of ownership history for a work of art.

A preliminary drawing for later elaboration. (I create these)

A watercolour executed using opaque watercolours mainly for illustrations.

An art style developed in Europe in the 1920’s, characterized by the use of the subconscious as a source of creativity to liberate pictorial subjects and ideas. Surrealist paintings often depict unexpected or irrational objects in an atmosphere of fantasy, creating the sense of being in a dream.

Genre of art and literature that makes a self-conscious break with previous genres.

The placement or arrangement of visual elements in a work of art.

Colours created by mixing two primary colours (orange, green, violet).

A printing process where the non-printing areas are removed from the surface.

A 20th century style of Art in which nonrepresentational lines, colours, shapes, and forms replace accurate visual depiction of objects, landscape, and figures. The subjects often stylized, blurred, repeated or broken down into basic forms so that it becomes unrecognizable and does not represent reality as seen by the human eye. Intangible subjects such as thoughts, emotions, and time are often expressed in abstract art form. Abstract art attempts to express reality without depicting it.

Term used by my children when they were younger to describe the graphics on their PlayStation and occasionally my artwork.

A colour mixed with white. (I create these on the canvas, not on my palette)

A coating material applied to a support to prepare it for painting.

A print retained by the printer as a reference, often signed by the artist.

An art form in which the underlying idea or concept and the process by which it is achieved are more important than any tangible product.

The right to reproduce an artwork while retaining copyright.

A colour print using at least three emulsion layers of light-sensitive silver salts.

A painting or other two-dimensional work of art in which the subject matter is an arrangement of tangible objects (such as fruit, flowers, vases, etc.) brought together for their complementary contrasts of shape, colour or texture. A flower arrangement of cut stems by a Avas Flowers type service or a bowl of fruit is usually the most common still life that artists will experiment with when they first start working with the art form.

Made to the customer’s specific requirements.

The binder used in watercolour, made from the gum of the Acacia tree.

Attacks cellulose fibres by shortening them, causing paper to discolour, become brittle and eventually turn to dust.

A white ground material for preparing supports for painting.

A movement that emerged during World War I in Europe that purported to be anti-everything, even anti-art. Dada poked fun at all the established traditions and tastes in art with works that were deliberately shocking, vulgar, and nonsensical.

Colours that are closely related, or near each other on the colour spectrum, especially those in which we can see common hues.

A technique using chemical treatments to create images on a flat surface.

Colour or shade of a colour. (I am aware of this)

A printing technique that creates tonal gradations by etching microscopic cracks and pits into the master plate.

A plastic alternative to glass.

An elaborate theatrical style gaudily ornate ornamentation in decorative art & architecture that flourished in Europe in the 16th to 18th century characterized by curved rather than straight lines.

Shading consisting of multiple crossing lines, typically used in pencil and ink drawings. 

A technique of applying higher oil content (fatter) paint layers on top of lower oil content (leaner) layers to prevent cracking. (I use this technique when layering)

Using shading to create depth and dimension. (I extensively use this technique)

Italian Renaissance art & literature in the 15th century.

An art movement of the 20th century ( 1940’s – 1950’s ) characterized by depictions of everyday reality, but with the element of fantasy or wonder greatly accentuated ( in use of color, clarity of perspective or in treatment of the subject ). In painting, this movement combines fantastic or dreamlike elements with realism. A few artists known for this style are Paul Cadmus, Andrew Wyeth and Emile Deschler.

Recognizable characteristics in an artist’s work over time.

Generally used to describe art that has been created since the second half of the 20th century.

Closely woven cloth usually of cotton or linen used as a support for paintings. We provide a Canvas Stretching and Canvas Dry-Mounting service. You can find more about these services here. 

The space occupied by objects in a painting. (I emphasise this)

The framework over which oil paintings on canvas and some types of fabric art are stretched. These can be bought in standard sizes and some types can be bought by the length for self-assembly. The cross section of a stretcher bar is tapered, so that the inner edges do not touch the back of the canvas. Wedges are tapped into the corners to keep the stretcher frame square. Depending on the level of framing, the bars can be covered with a tightly wound fabric (e.g. cotton) or covered with a barrier board.

A giclée edition print coated with resin for a glossy, durable finish.

A style of painting which depicts subject matter (form, color, space) as it appears in actuality or ordinary visual experience without distortion or stylization.

A painting knife may be used for application, whereas a palette knife is used for mixing paint. (I extensively use these)

A detailed study of part of a final composition. (I occasionally create these)

Having a degree of human involvement — through manual skills or thought products of human creativity. The creation of beautiful or significant things, a superior skill learned by study, praise, observation, or photographs. You can find a vast selection of fine art here. 

A painting medium using gum Arabic and water.

A high-quality electronic reproduction of artwork. (I do this)

Technique in which the final surface of a painting is completed in one sitting, without under painting. Italian for 'at the first'. The artist Richard Young uses this technique.

An artist's physical signature on a work of art. (I do this)

The art of the Middle Ages ca. 500 A.D. through the 14th century. The art produced immediately prior to the Renaissance.

Glazing that will not shatter if broken.

To order an original, usually customized work of art from the artist. We offer commissions for pet portraits, landscapes, buildings, and more. Visit our commissions page to learn more. 

An art movement of the early 20th century in which traditional adherence to realism and proportion was replaced by the artist’s emotional connection to the subject. These paintings are often abstract, the subject matter distorted in colour and form to emphasize and express the intense emotion of the artist.

A technique using a squeegee to push ink through a stencil onto paper or canvas.

An intaglio technique where a metal plate is directly cut with an engraving tool.

A colour mixed with grey.

A thin moulding used as an accent in framing inside another moulding, liner or mat.

Dry colouring matter, usually an insoluble powder mixed with liquid to create paint.

Colours positioned between primary and secondary hues on the colour wheel.

A painting executed with pigments mixed with oil. (I create these)

Illusory space in a two-dimensional work that recedes into depth.

An imaginary flat surface identical to the surface of a painting. (I occasionally use this technique)

The art of painting on freshly spread plaster before it dries.

The unity of all the visual elements of a composition achieved by repetition.

Very thin leaves of real gold burnished onto an object. (I use this on my Ltd Edition Hand Embellished Prints)

Art created purely as an aesthetic expression to be enjoyed for its own sake. (I use this to define my artwork)

A painting or carving consisting of three panels.

Depiction of shapes and forms on a surface chiefly by means of lines.

A technique using a large foreground object to increase depth illusion.

The process of leaving out of consideration one or more properties of a complex object so as to attend to others.

Prints created by tiny drops of ink, with giclée being the highest quality.

The period of European history at the close of the Middle Ages and the rise of the modern world; a cultural rebirth from the 14th century through the 17th century. In art, it is most closely associated with Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.

The opposite of acidic. Alkaline materials have a pH greater than 7 and are used to counteract paper degradation.

Not all canvasses are framed. Some are painted over the edges to allow unframed hanging and create a 3D effect. (I use this technique)

The artist retains the copyright in a work regardless of whether the original has been sold. Most artists adhere to and enforce this.