Art Categories and Definitions | Nevada Artists Association

Acrylic. Painting with acrylic paints, which are synthetic acrylic resins that are water-based. This can be done on any substrate, wood panels, canvas and paper.
Digital Art. Digital Art is an artistic work that uses computer-generated imagery as an essential part of the creative process. Digital Art is typically a compilation of multiple photographs (not necessarily taken by the artist) or a photo collage enhanced through various image modification techniques. Computer programs used to paint or draw would also be considered digital art.
Dry Media. Dry media are generally those that do not require a solvent like water or turpentine. They are used dry and include pencil, charcoal, graphite, chalk and crayon. Typically, dry media are drawings, not paintings.
Mixed Media. Artwork in which a variety of media and artistic techniques have been employed. Materials used to create mixed media art include but are not limited to, paint, cloth, paper, wood stones and miscellaneous objects.
Oil. Painting in pigments ground initially in oil. Usually, this is done on wood panels or canvas. This category includes water-soluble oil.
Other. A catch-all category for works of art when the below situations exist: When there is not a minimum of three entries in a particular category. OR any work of art that does not fit into one of the categories.
Pastels. Pastels can be soft or hard, including but not limited to oil pastels. They can be painted as straight media sticks or be combined with a medium for blending.
Photography. Photographic image (s) captured by the artist. It may be digitally enhanced, but no digitally generated images or renderings, digital painting, or images not taken by the artist. By this definition, an artist could combine their own images in photography, use Photoshop, enhance, or change a photograph, but would NOT be able to use digital non-photographic images or renderings.
Textile & Fiber Arts. Textile and fiber arts use natural or synthetic fibers to construct 2D works of art. The methods and materials used to make textile and fiber art have expanded enormously over time. This art form is focused on the aesthetic rather than the functional value of the piece.
Three-Dimensional Art. Three-dimensional art is defined as art with all the dimensions of height, width, and depth. Unlike two- dimensional art, it occupies physical space and can be viewed and interpreted from all sides and angles. Various materials are manipulated into objects, characters, and scenes to produce these works of art. The most prominent example of 3D art is sculpture. Pottery, ceramics, carvings, and mobiles are also examples of 3D art.
Watercolor. Must be created in water as the dominant medium for this category. Watercolor media is described as paint that is easily reworkable when water is applied and even once dry. It includes transparent watercolor, gouache, and casein. Other media are allowed as accents if they comprise less than 20% of the whole.
Wet Media. Wet media includes any substance that can be put into a solution and applied to a painting surface. Examples of wet media mediums include print-making, markers, felt tip pens, ink, including alcohol ink.