Exploring Art

What is Art?
 The arts are a basic form of human
communication.
 The visual arts, music, literature, and poetry
may be considered the means by which
people, past and present, express
themselves in unique sights and sounds that
capture the interest, imagination and
appreciation of others.
 Visual Arts
 Scholars have tried
to establish the
qualities that
identify an object as
a work of art.
 Qualities of a Work of Art

 1. Art should mirror reality. It must look like

something seen in the real world
 Qualities of a Work of Art

 2. Art must be
pleasing to the eye,
even if it is not
realistic.
 Qualities of a Work of Art

 3. Art should
express the artist’s
ideas, beliefs, and
feelings so that
others can
understand them

 Figure 1.5 on page 8 Hugo Robus -

Despair
 Various Forms of art

 Two primary forms art fine arts and applied

arts.
 Fine Arts- refers to painting, sculpting, and
architecture, arts which have no practical
function, valued on their visual pleasure they
provide or their success in communicating
ideas or feelings.
Fine Art:

New Jersey Grounds for Elizabeth Catlett:

Sculpture Mother and Child
 Various Forms of art

 Applied Art – the design or decoration of

functional objects to make them pleasing to
the eye.
 Made either by hand or machine
 Intended primarily to serve a useful function
 Artisans, designers and craftspeople
 Applied Art:
Ikea furniture
 Why Art is Created
 Aesthetics
 Simply for its visual appeal and the
pleasure it brings

 Morals/Ethics
 Depict people and behaviors that reflect
morality

 Spirituality
 Enables people to connect with the
spiritual world

 History
 Provide valuable information about
people, places and events

 Politics
 Used as a tool of persuasion or
propaganda
 Why Artists Create

 Wealth?
 Titian earned huge commissions and lived like a prince
 while Rembrandt ended his last days bankrupt

 Recognition and Glory?

 Not all received fame… Judith Leyster (1609-1660) was
completely ignored for generations

 Regardless of the artist’s culture or

nationality, all artists seem to have
one trait in common: They are driven
by the impulse to create.
 Why should you study art

 You might wonder why you should involve

yourself in the creation of art.
 When you create original works of art, you
experience the creative process
 Presented with a puzzling visual problem,
you learn how approach the problem and
resolve it as an artist might.
 You develop your own capabilities for self-
expression
 Why should you study art

1. Self-Expression
– Assume for a moment that you want to express
an idea or emotion in a work of art.
– As you create you look for ways to convey this
idea or feeling to others.
– This task involves more than manipulating
material with your hands, it also requires that
you use your mind to draw upon your emotions.
 Starry Night

Munch

Van Gogh
 Why should you study art
2. Decision Making and Problem Solving
 What subject should I paint or sculpt?
 Which medium and technique should I use?
 What colors, shapes, lines and textures
should I emphasize?
 How can I arrange these elements
effectively?
 How will I recognize that the work is finished
and the creative process has ended?
 Why should you study art
3. Real-World Connections
 Clarify the problems
 Identify Possible Solutions
 Test each possible solution
 Select the solution that seems most
appropriate
 Apply the Solution
 Determine whether the solution resolves the
problem
 Art Media

 Materials used by artist to create artworks

 Can include: pencils, charcoal, paint, clay,
stone, and metal
 Art Processes

 The action involved in making the art

 Can include: drawing, painting, printmaking
modeling, weaving digitizing, and casting
 Aesthetics

 Branch of Philosophy
 Dealing with the nature of art, beauty, and
taste
 Art Criticism

 The criteria, or standards of judgment you

will need when making decisions about art.
 The four steps of art criticism are:
1. Description
2. Analysis
3. Interpretation
4. Judgment
 2-dimensional Art: Flat art without physical depth
 3-dimensional Art: Art viewed from all sides
 The Creative Formula
 Spark (inspiration): start with a problem to be
solved; brainstorm; observe; become aware of
relationships.
 Planning (calculation): decision-making
phase. Selection of materials. Refine visual
elements: gather visual references.
 Communication (execution): create the project.
Maintain craftsmanship, and integrity