Introduction to Visual Arts

Visual Arts: unique

expressions of ideas,
beliefs, experiences, and
feelings presented in well-
designed visual forms.
Purpose of Visual Art

 Ceremonial – ritual, celebration, artworks

created to support worship ceremonies

 Artistic Expression – artwork to express or

communicate emotions, ideas, feeling, (for
self-expression, to decorate or beautify
objects
Purpose of Visual Art Continued

 Narrative – artworks that tell stories, describe

and illustrate experiences, or communicate
information, art to document important or
historical events (Lange’s photography of the
Depression Era)
 Functional – artistic objects used in everyday
life (pottery, quilts, baskets, etc.)
Purpose of Visual Art Continued

 Persuasive – artworks that promote ideas,

philosophies, or products ( advertising,
marketing, propaganda, ideology, etc.)
Various Works of Art
Ralph Goings
Richard Estes
Nancy Graves
William de Kooning
Constantin Brancusi
Anne Geddes
 Forms of
Visual Arts

 Fine Arts: painting, sculpture, and

architecture

 Applied Arts: design or decoration of

functional objects to make them appealing
 Why Art is Created

 Aesthetics: art created for visual appeal

– Splatter paintings
Cont’d

 Morals/Ethics: art depicting people and

behaviors that are considered good and
noble
– The Attentive Nurse
Cont’d

 Spirituality: Art that enables people to

connect to the spirit world OR tell stories
associated with religious beliefs
– , The Last Supper
Cont’d

 History – artworks that provide valuable

information about important people, places,
and events
– Guernica
Cont’d

 Politics: Art used as

a tool of persuasion
or propaganda to
convince people to
adopt a certain
point of view or
enhance power of a
ruler
– Napoleon in His
Study
 Places for Art

 Museums
 Library
 Internet
 Malls
 Office buildings
 Schools

 Artist may exhibit their work at any of the above

mentioned locations
 Journal Writing
Please Write the Prompt

“Art is more popular today than ever before.”

Why do you agree or disagree with this claim?

---support your answer---