In this free French lesson, Iâm concentrating on French graphic arts vocabuary such as painting. Here is a free lesson about French music and another one about French movies.
How to say Art and artist in French?
The French translation for an artist is âun artisteâ (m), âune artisteâ (f), and art is âlâartâ (m) â note the t is silent [lar].
We often refer to graphic arts, the fine arts in French as âles beaux artsâ [lĂ© bo zar], or you could also say âles arts graphiquesâ.
Graphic Art Profession Names in French
- Un/une artiste peintre â art painter
- Un/une peintre â could be art painter or could be construction painter
- Un scultpeur / une sculptrice â sculptor â note that the p is totally silent in these words in French
- Un illustrateur / une illustratrice â illustrator
- Un dessinateur / une dessinatrice â well hum⊠drawer â graphic artist
- Un/une photographe â photographer â here is a lesson about the French photography vocabulary.

A new approach to learning both traditional and modern French logically structured for English speakers.
25 French Painting Words
- A work of art: une oeuvre dâart
- A painting: une peinture (sometimes âun tableauâ, mostly when itâs framed)
- To paint: peindre
- A sculpture: une sculpture (p silent [skultur]
- To sculpt: sculpter (p silent [skulté]
- A drawing: un dessin
- To draw: dessiner
- Watercolor : lâaquarelle (note itâs singular in French)
- Watercolor pocket set : du matĂ©riel dâaquarelle de poche
- Poster paint, gouache: la gouache (pronounce it gwash)
- Oil paint : la peinture Ă lâhuile
- Acrylic paint : lâacrylique
- Une palette : palette
- Un gobelet : water cup
- Un chevalet : easel
- A canvas : une toile
- A sketch : un croquis, une esquisse, une ébauche
- A Sketchbook : un carnet de croquis
- Paper : du papier
- A pencil : un crayon Ă papier
- Color pencils (prismacolor) : des crayons de couleurs
- A crayon: un pastel (watch out âa crayonâ as in crayola sticks is called âun pastelâ. âUn crayonâ in French is âa pencilâ)
- A fountain pen: un stylo
- Charcoal : un fusain
- A brush : un pinceau
10 Phrases to describe an art piece
- Comme câest beau ! â how beautiful !
- Ăa vous/te plaĂźt ? Do you like it ?
- Quâest-ce que vous en pensez / quâest-ce que tu en penses â what do you think of it?
- Vous avez vu cette exposition / visitĂ© ce musĂ©e â did you see this art exhibit / visit this museum?
- Je trouve ça pas mal⊠I think itâs not bad (interesting)
- Câest intĂ©ressant / remarquable / impressionnant â itâs interesting / remarquable / impressive
- Câest affreux / sans aucun intĂ©rĂȘt / atroce / dĂ©ja-vu â itâs awful / without any interest / atrocious / already seen
- Je ne comprends pas trop le message â I donât quite get the message
- Jâaime beaucoup ce genre de tableau â I love this kind of painting
- Câest un chef dâoeuvre â itâs a masterpiece
Donât hesitate to suggest more French painting terms in the Disqus comment section below (French + English translation please) and Iâll add them to the list. Merci !
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