CONTEMPORARY ART refers to art being done now. It tends to include art made from the late 1960s to the present.

FIGURATIVE ART represents a human or animal figure.

CANVAS is an extremely heavy-duty fabric, usually made of cotton, used as a painting surface. Artists typically use pieces of canvas as a base for their works of art. This canvas is stretched across a wooden frame called a stretcher, and is coated with gesso before it is used.

ETCHING is engraving or scratches cut into the painting to create lines, texture and designs meant to enhance the appearance of the finished piece.

EXPRESSIONISM is the tendency of an artist to distort reality for an emotional effect, often implying intense emotion. The basic characteristics of expressionism are bold colors, distorted forms, painted in a careless manner, two-dimensional, without perspective, and based on feelings.

IMPRESSIONISM is a distinct style of painting distinguished by the use of unmixed colors, thickly textured paint, and undefined edges. Compositions are simplified and innovative and the emphasis is upon overall effect rather than upon details. Colors are added layer upon layer on the canvas allowing the eye to mix the colors thereby creating a more vibrant experience for the viewer.

PIXELISM is a modern contemporary painting style generated by the age of technology.  It is based on the concept of painting images in a mosaic format similar to the 8 bit color imagery used by computers. While the colors appear similarly constructed, each artist approaches the creation of such a painting differently.

MEDIUM is the ink, pigment or color that is applied on the drawing surface or canvas. Most drawing media are either dry or wet.