Artist's Resources∼Artist's Dictionary K

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K


Kakemono   (Japanese, "hanging scroll") A vertical scroll displayed periodically, often following seasonal changes or as a dedication to a friends' visit, a birth, or the like. See also Makimono.
Kadinsky, Wassily   1886-1944∼ Russian, associated with the Blue Rider group and the Bauhaus. His Work is nonobjective, based on a spatical feeling rather than the depiction of objects realistically. Many theoretical writings on Art are credited to his name.
Kano School   (Japanese) Founded in the 16th century by Kano Masanobu, known for its boldness, the life of the brush stroke and the play of values in the ink paintings. See also Sumi-e.
Kanshitsu   (Japanese) Sculptural forms produced by the use of lacquer-saturated cloths placed on an armature.
Kara-zuri   (Japanese) Blind embossing. See also Embossed print.
Kat's tongue   See Cat's tongue.
Kerosene   A thin oil distilled from petroleum, used to clean oil brushes and sometimes as a substitute for turpentine in painting.
Key block, Key plate, Keystone   In multicolor printing, the block, plate, or stone that has the complete drawing on it, the other color blocks, plates, or stones being made from this key.
Key lines   In commercial Art, the outline, usually in red, indicating the placement, size, and shape of elements such as photographs and drawings on the mechanical; not printed, but a guide for the platemaker.
Kid finished   Describes a medium-textured drawing paper, also called "Vellum".
Killed Matter   1. Metal type or plates that are discarded and will be melted down. 2. Any copy that is not to be used.
Kill fee   The part of the original agreed-upon price an Artist receives for a Work of Art that was assigned, but cancelled through no fault of the Artist.
Kinetic Art   Popular in the 1950-1960's and continuing into the present, includes any Art Work that moves or has moving parts, such as mobiles and motorized sculpture; some of the earlier Artists involved were Burry, Calder, Chadwick and Wynter.
Kiss Impression   In printing, a very light impression, just enough to show the image.
Kitchen prints   In textile design, motifs pertaining to fruit, vegetables, pots and pans, etc.
Klee, Paul   (1879-1940) Swiss, a printmaker, painter and teacher associated with the Blue Rider group and the Bauhaus. His Work appears childlike, using simple lines, geometric shapes and striking color.
Kneaded eraser   A pliable, nonabrasive eraser that can be shaped to a point; used for cleaning ArtWork, picking out highlights, and softening pencil lines.
Knife   See Mat knife, Painting knife, Palette knife, and X-Acto knife.
Kolinsky   See Sable
Korin School   Japanese School of painting emphasizing decoration; the Artist Korin was a superb painter in lacquer.
Kou le   (Chinese, "contour style") A style of painting in which light outlines are drawn to establish a basic structure, darker lines are drawn to reinforce them, and finally color is added if desired. Pai-miao is the name given to the drawing or painting; Shuan kon is a form of Kou le with a double outline.