240 Spanish Art Words for a Colorful Trip to Spain

Q: What is “the colors” in Spanish?

The word for "colors" in Spanish is " los colores ." This is the plural of “color” which is “ el color ” in Spanish. When talking specifically about art in Spanish, you might also want to say “different colors.” Here's an example sentence: "I find the different colors of this painting very intriguing" - " Los diferentes colores de esta pintura me parecen muy intrigantes. "

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Art has always been an integral part of culture, and Spain is no exception. From the world-famous Prado Museum in Madrid to the intricate mosaics of Park Güell in Barcelona, the Spanish’s rich artistic heritage is something that cannot be overlooked.

To truly indulge yourself in the art of Spain, you’ll need to learn some art-related vocabulary words in Spanish. Learning to communicate about art is a great way to develop a deeper appreciation for Spanish art.

How do I know? Well, as a former Spanish teacher, one of my most cherished units to teach was the art unit! I also lived in Spain and visited many of its world-renowned museums such as the Museo Reina Sofia, Museo Picasso, and the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.

Each year, I’d bring my experience into the classroom in the United States. Now, I’m excited to share my passion and knowledge with you!

Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a student preparing to study abroad, or a traveler looking to explore the extensive cultural treasures of Spain or another Spanish-speaking country, this list aims to be your comprehensive guide to understanding art vocabulary in Spanish.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Basic Art Words in Spanish

To talk about art in Spanish, having a strong foundation of basic vocabulary is essential. This section introduces you to fundamental art words in Spanish, covering everything from core concepts for beginners to subtleties for intermediate to advanced learners.

If you’re exploring art in a museum, discussing creative processes, or participating in an art workshop in Barcelona, these common Spanish art words will guide your conversations in the Spanish-speaking world.

artist studio with easel paint and water to clean paintbrushes

el arte – art
el artista/la artista – artist
un artista desconocido/una artista desconocida – an unknown artist
un artista famoso/una artista famosa – a famous artist
el color – color
la creatividad – creativity
el contraste – the contrast
el dibujo – drawing
el estudio – studio
la exposición de arte – art exhibit
la figura – the shape
la forma – the form
la galería – gallery
los materiales – materials
el movimiento artístico – art movement
el museo – museum
la obra maestra – masterpiece
la orientación – the orientation
el sentimiento – feeling
las técnicas – techniques
la temática – theme
la técnica – the technique
la textura – texture
el tono – the tone

Painting Words in Spanish

I think we can all agree that painting is a medium that transcends language barriers. I know I’ve been moved to tears by an oil painting or two, even if I don’t know anything about the artist, history, or artistic movement behind the painting.

Let’s delve into the Spanish vocabulary essential for discussing the intricate details of paintings, from various artistic techniques to saying “landscape painting” or “portrait” to the wide array of colors and materials used by artists.

paint and paintbrushes on top of a colorful canvas

la pintura acrílica – acrylic paint
el arte abstracto – abstract art
la acuarela – watercolor
el bodegón – still life
el caballete – easel
la brocha – brush
los colores pastel – pastel colors
la esponja – sponge
la espátula – painting/palette knife
firmado – signed
el lienzo – canvas
el marco – frame
el mural – mural
el óleo – oil paint
el paisaje – landscape
la paleta – palette
el pincel – brush
la pintura – painting
el pintor/la pintora – painter
el retrato – portrait
la trementina – turpentine

Words to Describe Art in Spanish: Sculpture

Sculpture, a three-dimensional art form, holds a revered place in the world of art. Just think of all the famous sculptures around Spain like El Oso y el Madroño in Madrid and the many statues, sculptures, and decorative fountains that stand in the roundabouts of Fuengirola.

From the choice of materials such as “madera” (wood) and “mármol” (marble) to the nuanced techniques employed by the “escultor” (sculptor), this Spanish vocabulary is necessary to appreciate and discuss the art of sculpting with Spanish speakers.

Creating your own pottery in a decorative arts class is a fun way to practice Spanish sculpture words, too!

Famous spider sculpture outside of the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain

el altorrelieve – the high relief
la arcilla – clay
el bronce – bronze
la cerámica – ceramic
el escultor/la escultora – sculptor
la escultura – sculpture
la escultura de bronce – the bronze sculpture
la escultura de cera – the wax sculpture
la escultura de metal – the metal sculpture
el esmalte – enamel
el estilo – style
la estatua – statue
la fundición – casting/foundry
el granito – granite
el hierro – iron
la madera – wood
el mármol – marble
el metal – metal
el modelado – modeling
la musa – muse
el objeto – object
la obra – work (as in a work of art)
el pedestal – pedestal
la piedra – stone
el relieve – relief
la resina – resin
el tamaño – size
el volumen – volume
el yeso – plaster

Sketching Words in Spanish

Sketching is the art of capturing ideas with a simple stroke of a pencil. You’ll often see sketches in museums. For example, at Picasso’s Birthplace Museum in Málaga, you can see a series of sketches of the bull, illustrating the steps Pablo Picasso took to transform ordinary objects into his iconic style.

You can use the new words below to explore the nuances of sketching techniques and materials in Spanish. Then, try them out in a sketching c lass or outdoor drawing class in Barcelona!

hand sketching a face with an emphasis on the eye

el aguafuerte – etching
el boceto – sketch
el bolígrafo, la pluma – pen
el carboncillo – charcoal
los crayones – crayons
los detalles – details
el ilustrador – illustrator
el lápiz – pencil
los lápices de color – colored pencils

Photography Terms in Spanish

Photography is a universal language. That said, you’ll need Spanish photography terminology to discuss the art and science of photography with native speakers or classmates.

The word list of Spanish photography terms is sure to help augment your photo-related language skills.

woman holding a camera to her face so you can only see the camera lense

la apertura – aperture
el ángulo – angle
el balance de blancos – white balance
blanco y negro – black and white
la cámara – camera
la composición – composition
el diafragma – diaphragm (aperture)
la edición – editing
el enfoque – focus
la foto – photo, shot
el filtro – filter
el flash – flash
la fotografía – photography
la fotografía de naturaleza muerta – still life photography
la fotografía de retrato – portrait photography
la fotografía moderna – modern photography
el fotógrafo/la fotógrafa – photographer
el gran angular – wide angle
el ISO – ISO
el lente – lens
la luz – light
la luz natural – natural light
el modelo/la modelo – model
la obturación – shutter
el objetivo – objective (lens)
el papel brillo – glossy paper
el papel mate – matte paper
la perspectiva – perspective
el retrato – portrait
la resolución – resolution
el tamaño de apertura – aperture size
el trípode – tripod
el zoom – zoom

Artistic Movements in Spanish

Many different art movements have shaped the course of art history and cultural expression.

This section is your go-to resource for vocabulary around various artistic movements in Spanish from the innovative “arte contemporáneo” (contemporary art) to the intricate details of “el impresionismo” (impressionism).

Picasso painting of a bull taken at a museum in Bilbao

arte conceptual – Conceptual Art
arte contemporáneo – Contemporary Art
arte digital – Digital Art
arte óptico – Op Art
arte pop – Pop Art
arte callejero – Street Art
arte déco – Art Deco
barroco – Baroque
constructivismo – Constructivism
cubismo – Cubism
dadaísmo – Dadaism
expresionismo – Expressionism
expresionismo abstracto – Abstract Expressionism
futurismo – Futurism
el gótico – Gothic
hiperrealismo – Hyperrealism
impresionismo – Impressionism
minimalismo – Minimalism
el arte moderno – modern art
modernismo – Modernism (also known as Art Nouveau)
muralismo – Muralism
neoclasicismo – Neoclassicism
postimpresionismo – Post-Impressionism
realismo – Realism
renacimiento – Renaissance
el arte renacentista – Renaissance art
rococó – Rococo
romanticismo – Romanticism
surrealismo – Surrealism

Architecture Words in Spanish

Architecture is one of the more tangible expressions of the history and culture of a place.

To emphasize, there’s no shortage of amazing architecture to admire in Spain and Latin America.

This architectural vocabulary in Spanish will come in handy when exploring or attending tours. In fact, I still remember learning the word “la fachada” (façade) on a Spanish-language walking tour of Salamanca.

the female author of this blog standing in front of the large aqueduct in Segovia, Spain on a sunny day

la arquitectura – architecture
el arco – arch
el ascensor – elevator
el balcón – balcony
la columna – column
la cúpula – dome
el diseño – design
el edificio – building
la entrada – entrance
la escalera – stairs
la fachada – façade
la fundación – foundation
el jardín – garden
el monumento – monument
el pilar – pillar
el piso – floor
el plano – blueprint
la pared – wall
la sala – hall
el techo – ceiling; roof
la torre – tower
la viga – beam
la ventana – window

Digital Art and Media Words in Spanish

Since digital art and media have revolutionized the creative landscape in recent years, we decided to include a section with essential Spanish vocabulary for you.

Learning this vocabulary is one of the best ways to participate in the many conversations surrounding this art form.

desk view from above full of color options and patterns along with computer and drawing tablet with woman's arms drawing

la animación – animation
el blog – blog
la cámara digital – digital camera
el diseño gráfico – graphic design
la edición de video – video editing
los efectos especiales – special effects
el formato digital – digital format
la fotografía digital – digital photography
el gráfico – graphic
la ilustración – illustration
la imagen – image
el montaje – montage
la multimedia – multimedia
la página web – web page
el pixel – pixel
el podcast – podcast
el retoque fotográfico – photo retouching
el software – software
la tableta gráfica – graphics tablet
el video – video
la web – web

Adjectives to Describe Art in Spanish

Opinions on art can be just as diverse as art itself! Therefore, you’ll want to practice the following adjectives in order to express your artistic observations and feelings—whether you’re meeting with friends in real life to go to a museum or conducting your own art study.

older man reading the plaque next to a Picasso portrait of a woman in a museum

abstracto/a – abstract
brillante – bright
colorido/a – colorful
conceptual – conceptual
contemporáneo/a – contemporary
detallado/a – detailed
emotivo/a – emotional
expresivo/a – expressive
fantástico/a – fantastic
geométrico/a – geometric
impresionante – impressive
innovador/a – innovative
inspirador/a – inspiring
intenso/a – intense
jaspeado – marbled
minimalista – minimalist
moderno/a – modern
naturalista – naturalistic
original – original
quijotesco – Quixotesque
realista – realistic
rústico/a – rustic
sencillo/a – simple
simbólico/a – symbolic
sofisticado/a – sophisticated
tradicional – traditional
vanguardista – avant-garde

Verbs to Talk About Spanish Art

You’ll need to learn many different words to clearly convey your ideas and emotions in a foreign language, verbs chief among them!

So, after learning some basic art words, the first thing to concentrate on is verbs so you can engage in meaningful conversations.

apreciar – to appreciate
aprender – to learn
colgar – to hang
colocar – to place
conocer – to know
crear – to create
decorar – to decorate
dibujar – to draw
diseñar – to design
esbozar – to sketch
entender – to understand
esculpir – to sculpt
examinar – to examine
exponer – to exhibit
fotografiar – to photograph
grabar – to engrave
ilustrar – to illustrate
mezclar – to mix
modelar – to model
observar – to observe
pintar – to paint
restaurar – to restore
salpicar – to splatter
seleccionar – to select

How to Practice Art Words in Spanish

Armed with these word lists, you’re now ready to do the most important part—practice!

Here are some practical ways you can practice these art words in Spanish:

Observe and Discuss Art

Start by going to museums or looking up your favorite type of art online. Take a journal and write down your thoughts and descriptions of each piece. Take it a step further by expressing the feelings the artwork provokes by writing them down.

Once you’ve done some of your own reflections, put yourself in situations where you can actually discuss art with Spanish speakers. One idea is to go with your intercambio to a museum. Spend half the time discussing art in Spanish and the other in English (or whatever your native language is) so you each get some practice.

You can also join Facebook groups or start posting your artistic musings on your own social media accounts, inviting others to share information and interact in Spanish.

Whatever you do, find situations where you actively discuss art in Spanish (We’ll list a few more ideas in the following sections, too!).

Go on Spanish-speaking Tours

For some people, the best part of traveling is going on tours. While I do love to wander and explore on my own, tours are a great way to get an in-depth perspective from a local. So, I do them from time to time.

If you’re a Spanish learner, attending Spanish-language tours is a particularly effective way to learn new vocabulary and phrases (art or otherwise). You’ll also likely get a good cultural understanding of the different artwork presented. While a Spanish-language tour may be intimidating for a beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners can gain a lot from attending.

So, your next step is to find and sign up for a Spanish-language museum tour.

Attend an Art Class in Spain

There’s hardly a better way to practice your Spanish art words than to attend an interactive art class in Spain. These classes will give you a short introduction to art in Spanish and provide all the art materials you need to exercise your artistic side!

Below, we’ve curated a list of the best art classes in Spain. Choose from a painting, mosaics, or pottery class. Then, insist on practicing the words on this Spanish art list in order to progress towards advanced proficiency levels! ⤵

By the way, this list is not exhaustive of all the different types of classes and workshops offered in Spain. I like to search for workshops and classes on Viator. Start your search by looking for painting classes, pottery classes, or craft classes!

Practice with a Language Learning Program

While the best way to learn Spanish is to immerse yourself in the culture, using a language learning platform or taking Spanish classes is essential to learning the basic vocabulary and grammatical skills that will allow you to interact in a variety of different contexts in the Spanish-speaking world.

Heck, even as an advanced speaker, I still need refreshers sometimes! Plus, I love studying Spanish.

Here are a few language learning programs to practice your Spanish:

Babbel: Babbel is a popular language-learning app known for its practical approach. With a focus on real-life conversations and practical vocabulary, Babbel helps learners quickly gain language skills and confidence.
Memrise: Memrise specializes in vocabulary acquisition and language learning through spaced repetition. It offers a wide range of user-generated courses and emphasizes a fun and engaging learning experience.
Rosetta Stone: Rosetta Stone is a renowned language learning program offering comprehensive courses for various languages. Known for its immersive and interactive approach, it helps learners develop speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.
Duolingo: Duolingo is a widely recognized app that features a user-friendly interface and gamified lessons. It offers a diverse range of languages and encourages consistent practice through short, daily lessons.
Tandem: Tandem is a language exchange app that connects learners with native speakers around the world. It promotes conversational learning by allowing users to connect through text, voice, and video chats, making it an excellent platform for practicing language skills in real-life contexts.

FAQ: Art Words in Spanish

What are the Spanish terms for art?

“The Spanish term for “art” is “el arte.” The “arts” is “los artes.” Additional Spanish terms for art can be found in this blog post.

What is the Spanish art style?

Spanish art encompasses various styles throughout its rich history, including the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, and contemporary art movements. While there isn’t one singular “Spanish art style,” Cubism and Surrealism were particularly distinct historical and cultural movements in Spain.

What are Spanish patterns called?

Spanish patterns can be referred to as “estampados.“ These refer to designs or patterns on paper, fabric, etc.

What is “the colors” in Spanish?

The word for “colors” in Spanish is “los colores.” This is the plural of “color” which is “el color” in Spanish. When talking specifically about art in Spanish, you might also want to say “different colors.” Here’s an example sentence: “I find the different colors of this painting very intriguing” – “Los diferentes colores de esta pintura me parecen muy intrigantes.“

What does “obra” mean in Spanish art?

In Spanish art, “obra” refers to a “work” or “piece” of art. It can be used to describe any creation whether it’s a painting, sculpture, or any other form of artistic expression. When put together with the word “maestra” as in “obra maestra,” it means “masterpiece.”

Is Spain known for its art?

Yes, Spain is renowned for its rich artistic heritage. It has produced many influential artists and is home to world-famous museums such as the Prado Museum in Madrid, National Art Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona, and the Museum of Fine Arts of Seville. Spanish art has made many significant contributions to various art movements and styles over the centuries.

How to say “paint” in Spanish?

The verb “to paint” in Spanish is “pintar.” For example, you can say the simple sentence, “I am going to paint a picture” – “Voy a pintar un cuadro.” Or, you can conjugate the verb as in, “She paints with watercolors” – “Ella pinta con acuarelas.”

Spanish Art Words PDF

Looking for a PDF to print, study, and bring with you on your next trip? Get our 2-page Spanish Art words PDF! (Note, this list doesn’t include the photography words; those will be on a separate cheatsheet!).

Spanish Art Words: What’s Next?

large brick building with columns and a glass door — Entrance to the Prado Museum in Madrid

To sum up, learning the basics of Spanish art vocabulary can enhance your cultural experiences and interactions during your travels.

To get these Spanish art words at your fingertips, get our comprehensive Spanish Art Words Cheatsheet!

Whether you’re exploring a museum, engaging with local artists or tour guides, or attending a ceramics class, this blog post is meant to equip you with the language tools to engage with the art world more deeply.

Have a great trip!

More Spanish Language Guides

Want to practice or learn Spanish? Check out these additional Spanish-language resources!