Drawing Glossary
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Ambient Light
Ambient light is soft illumination that permeates a scene. In nature, the source of ambient light is...Ambient Occlusion
Ambient occlusion is the soft shading that occurs naturally in a scene as objects block ambient ligh...Blending Stumps
Blending stumps are tightly rolled paper tools used to smooth and blend dry media like graphite, cha...Block-In
The block-in is an initial stage of drawing where the artist establishes the basic proportions of th...
C – D
E – F
Edge
I use the term edge to refer to the quality of the transition between shapes of different tonal valu...Envelope
In drawing, an envelope is a simplified shape that encompasses the entire subject or major elements ...Focal Point
A focal point is an area of primary visual interest in a composition. It's where the viewer's eye is...Form Light
Form light refers to the part of an object that is receiving direct light from the main light source...Form Shadow
Form shadow refers to the part of an object that is not receiving direct light from the main light s...
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K – L
M – N
O – P
Occlusion Shadow
Occlusion shadows are the dark areas that occur where two objects or surfaces get close to each othe...Penumbra
The penumbra is the area where light is partially blocked, creating a gradual transition between the...Plaster Cast
Plaster casts are three-dimensional replicas of sculptures, typically made from plaster of Paris, a ...
S – T
Shadow Box
You can use a shadow box to control the lighting on your subject, like a still life or plaster cast....Sight-Size Method
At its essence, the Sight-Size Method is an observational drawing technique for still lifes, portrai...Sine Terminator Function
The sine terminator function describes the mathematical relationship between the light direction and...Specular Highlight
A specular highlight is the area on a subject where a light source is directly reflected towards the...Terminator
The terminator, in drawing and astronomy, refers to the boundary between the illuminated area (form ...Tonal Value
Tonal value refers to the relative lightness or darkness of a color or area in a drawing or painting...