A comprehensive overview of French vocabulary for arts activities, including terms for painting, drawing, crafting, and more.
Welcome to the Arts Activities vocabulary guide! This page will introduce you to essential French terms related to various art activities, from painting and drawing to crafting and sculpting. Whether you’re describing your favorite hobby or following instructions in a French art class, these words will help you express yourself with confidence.
Art Supplies
These are the basic tools and materials you need to create art. Knowing these words will help you gather supplies, follow instructions, or ask for what you need in a French-speaking environment.
| French Sing./Pl. | English Sing./Pl. | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| le pinceau / les pinceaux | paintbrush / paintbrushes | J’utilise un pinceau fin pour les détails. | I use a fine paintbrush for the details. |
| la peinture | paint | La peinture acrylique sèche rapidement. | Acrylic paint dries quickly. |
| le crayon / les crayons | pencil / pencils | Je dessine avec un crayon HB. | I draw with an HB pencil. |
| la gomme | eraser | J’efface les erreurs avec la gomme. | I erase mistakes with the eraser. |
| le papier | paper | Ce papier est trop épais pour l’aquarelle. | This paper is too thick for watercolor. |
| le chevalet | easel | Le chevalet tient la toile en place. | The easel holds the canvas in place. |
| la toile | canvas | Je peins sur une toile blanche. | I paint on a white canvas. |
| les ciseaux | scissors | Coupe le papier avec des ciseaux. | Cut the paper with scissors. |
| la colle | glue | Utilise de la colle blanche pour coller. | Use white glue to stick it. |
| le pastel | pastel | Je préfère dessiner au pastel. | I prefer to draw with pastel. |
J’efface les erreurs avec la ___.
What is the French word for 'eraser'?
gomme
'Gomme' means eraser in French. 'Pinceau' is paintbrush, 'colle' is glue, and 'crayon' is pencil.
Je peins sur une ___ blanche.
How do you say 'canvas' in French?
toile
'Toile' means canvas in French. 'Papier' is paper, 'peinture' is paint, and 'chevalet' is easel.
Painting & Drawing
These terms cover the actions and techniques used in creating images with paint or pencil. They’ll help you describe what you’re doing or understand artistic instructions.
| French Sing./Pl. | English Sing./Pl. | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| peindre | to paint | J’aime peindre des paysages. | I like to paint landscapes. |
| dessiner | to draw | Elle dessine des portraits au crayon. | She draws portraits with a pencil. |
| colorier | to color | Les enfants colorient des images. | The children color pictures. |
| estomper | to smudge/blend | Estompe les contours pour un effet doux. | Smudge the edges for a soft effect. |
| esquisser | to sketch | Je vais esquisser une idée rapide. | I’m going to sketch a quick idea. |
| appliquer | to apply | Applique une couche fine de peinture. | Apply a thin layer of paint. |
| mélanger | to mix | Mélange les couleurs sur la palette. | Mix the colors on the palette. |
| tracer | to draw/trace | Trace les lignes au crayon léger. | Draw the lines with a light pencil. |
| gribouiller | to doodle/scribble | Ne gribouille pas sur la table ! | Don’t scribble on the table! |
| repeindre | to repaint | J’ai dû repeindre le mur. | I had to repaint the wall. |
Crafts & DIY
These words relate to creating handmade objects, often using various materials and techniques. They’re useful for talking about hobbies, school projects, or decorating.
| French Sing./Pl. | English Sing./Pl. | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| bricoler | to do DIY/craft | J’aime bricoler le week-end. | I like to do crafts on the weekend. |
| découper | to cut out | Découpe les formes dans du carton. | Cut out the shapes from cardboard. |
| coller | to glue | Colle les morceaux ensemble. | Glue the pieces together. |
| plier | to fold | Plie le papier en deux. | Fold the paper in half. |
| tresser | to braid | Elle tresse des bracelets de coton. | She braids cotton bracelets. |
| coudre | to sew | Je sais coudre un bouton. | I know how to sew on a button. |
| percer | to pierce | Percer un trou dans le carton. | Pierce a hole in the cardboard. |
| décorer | to decorate | Décore ta boîte avec des paillettes. | Decorate your box with glitter. |
| sculpter | to sculpt | Il sculpte des formes en bois. | He sculpts shapes in wood. |
| assembler | to assemble | Assemble les pièces avec soin. | Assemble the pieces carefully. |
Artistic Styles
These terms describe different ways of creating art. They’ll help you talk about your favorite styles or understand descriptions in French.
| French Sing./Pl. | English Sing./Pl. | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| abstrait / abstraite | abstract | J’aime l’art abstrait. | I like abstract art. |
| réaliste | realistic | Ce dessin est très réaliste. | This drawing is very realistic. |
| impressionniste | impressionist | Monet est un peintre impressionniste. | Monet is an impressionist painter. |
| surréaliste | surrealist | Dali crée des œuvres surréalistes. | Dali creates surrealist works. |
| minimaliste | minimalist | Le design est très minimaliste. | The design is very minimalist. |
| expressionniste | expressionist | L’art expressionniste est très émotionnel. | Expressionist art is very emotional. |
| figuratif / figurative | figurative | La peinture est figurative. | The painting is figurative. |
| cubiste | cubist | Picasso est célèbre pour le cubisme. | Picasso is famous for cubism. |
| naïf / naïve | naive | Le style naïf est simple et coloré. | The naive style is simple and colorful. |
| baroque | baroque | Le style baroque est orné et dramatique. | Baroque style is ornate and dramatic. |
Artistic Expressions
These are common phrases and expressions used by artists to describe their work, techniques, or feelings about creating art.
| French Sing./Pl. | English Sing./Pl. | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| faire un croquis | to make a sketch | Je fais un croquis avant de peindre. | I make a sketch before painting. |
| prendre des couleurs | to take on color | Le visage commence à prendre des couleurs. | The face is starting to take on color. |
| jouer avec la lumière | to play with light | J’aime jouer avec la lumière dans mes peintures. | I like to play with light in my paintings. |
| toucher la toile | to touch the canvas | Je touche la toile avec un pinceau doux. | I touch the canvas with a soft brush. |
| avoir de l’inspiration | to be inspired | Aujourd’hui, je n’ai pas d’inspiration. | Today, I have no inspiration. |
| laisser sécher | to let dry | Laisse sécher la peinture avant de continuer. | Let the paint dry before continuing. |
| retravailler une zone | to rework an area | Je dois retravailler cette zone. | I need to rework this area. |
| signer un tableau | to sign a painting | N’oublie pas de signer ton tableau. | Don’t forget to sign your painting. |
| capturer un moment | to capture a moment | Le photographe capture un moment précieux. | The photographer captures a precious moment. |
| exprimer des émotions | to express emotions | L’art permet d’exprimer des émotions profondes. | Art allows you to express deep emotions. |
That’s a wrap on our Arts Activities vocabulary guide! Whether you’re picking up a brush, pencil, or glue stick, these French terms will help you navigate the creative process with confidence. Happy creating!
Flashcards (1 of 50)
- English Sing./Pl.: paintbrush / paintbrushes
- English Example: I use a fine paintbrush for the details.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
