Exploring Art

Exploring ArtExploring ArtChapter 1 – Art in FocusChapter 1 – Art in Focus

Mr. MulliganMr. Mulligan

What is Art?What is Art? The arts are a basic form of human The arts are a basic form of human

communication.communication. The visual arts, music, literature, and poetry The visual arts, music, literature, and poetry

may be considered the means by which may be considered the means by which people, past and present, express people, past and present, express themselves in unique sights and sounds that themselves in unique sights and sounds that capture the interest, imagination and capture the interest, imagination and appreciation of others.appreciation of others.

Visual ArtsVisual Arts Scholars have tried Scholars have tried

to establish the to establish the qualities that qualities that identify an object as identify an object as a work of art.a work of art.

Qualities of a Work of ArtQualities of a Work of Art

1. Art should mirror reality. It must look like 1. Art should mirror reality. It must look like something seen in the real worldsomething seen in the real world

2. Art must be 2. Art must be pleasing to the eye, pleasing to the eye, even if it is not even if it is not realistic.realistic.


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

Figure 1.5 on page 8 Hugo Robus - Figure 1.5 on page 8 Hugo Robus - DespairDespair


Various Forms of artVarious Forms of art

Two primary forms art fine arts and applied Two primary forms art fine arts and applied arts.arts.

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

New Jersey Grounds for New Jersey Grounds for SculptureSculpture

Fine ArtFine Art::

Elizabeth Catlett: Elizabeth Catlett: Mother and ChildMother and Child

Applied Art Applied Art –– the design or decoration of the design or decoration of functional objects to make them pleasing to functional objects to make them pleasing to the eye.the eye.

Made either by hand or machineMade either by hand or machine Intended primarily to serve a useful functionIntended primarily to serve a useful function Artisans, designers and craftspeopleArtisans, designers and craftspeople

Various Forms of artVarious Forms of art

Applied Art:Applied Art:Ikea furnitureIkea furniture

Why Art is CreatedWhy Art is Created AestheticsAesthetics Simply for its visual appeal and the Simply for its visual appeal and the

pleasure it bringspleasure it brings

Morals/EthicsMorals/Ethics Depict people and behaviors that reflect Depict people and behaviors that reflect

moralitymorality

SpiritualitySpirituality Enables people to connect with the Enables people to connect with the

spiritual worldspiritual world

HistoryHistory Provide valuable information about Provide valuable information about

people, places and eventspeople, places and events

PoliticsPolitics Used as a tool of persuasion or Used as a tool of persuasion or

propagandapropaganda

Why Artists CreateWhy Artists Create

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

Recognition and Glory?Recognition and Glory? Not all received fame… Judith Leyster (1609-1660) was Not all received fame… Judith Leyster (1609-1660) was

completely ignored for generationscompletely ignored for generations

Regardless of the artist’s culture or Regardless of the artist’s culture or nationality, all artists seem to have nationality, all artists seem to have one trait in common: They are driven one trait in common: They are driven by the impulse to create.by the impulse to create.

Why should you study artWhy should you study art

You might wonder why you should involve You might wonder why you should involve yourself in the creation of art.yourself in the creation of art.

When you create original works of art, you When you create original works of art, you experience the creative processexperience the creative process

Presented with a puzzling visual problem, Presented with a puzzling visual problem, you learn how approach the problem and you learn how approach the problem and resolve it as an artist might.resolve it as an artist might.

You develop your own capabilities for self-You develop your own capabilities for self-expressionexpression

1. Self-Expression1. Self-Expression– Assume for a moment that you want to express Assume for a moment that you want to express

an idea or emotion in a work of art.an idea or emotion in a work of art.– As you create you look for ways to convey this As you create you look for ways to convey this

idea or feeling to others.idea or feeling to others.– This task involves more than manipulating This task involves more than manipulating

material with your hands, it also requires that material with your hands, it also requires that you use your mind to draw upon your emotions.you use your mind to draw upon your emotions.


Starry NightStarry Night

MunchMunch

Van GoghVan Gogh

2. Decision Making and Problem Solving2. Decision Making and Problem Solving

What subject should I paint or sculpt?What subject should I paint or sculpt? Which medium and technique should I use?Which medium and technique should I use? What colors, shapes, lines and textures What colors, shapes, lines and textures

should I emphasize?should I emphasize? How can I arrange these elements How can I arrange these elements

effectively?effectively? How will I recognize that the work is finished How will I recognize that the work is finished

and the creative process has ended?and the creative process has ended?


Clarify the problemsClarify the problems Identify Possible SolutionsIdentify Possible Solutions Test each possible solutionTest each possible solution Select the solution that seems most Select the solution that seems most

appropriateappropriate Apply the SolutionApply the Solution Determine whether the solution resolves the Determine whether the solution resolves the

problemproblem

3. Real-World Connections3. Real-World ConnectionsWhy should you study artWhy should you study art

Art MediaArt Media

Materials used by artist to create artworksMaterials used by artist to create artworks Can include: pencils, charcoal, paint, clay, Can include: pencils, charcoal, paint, clay,

stone, and metalstone, and metal

Art ProcessesArt Processes

The action involved in making the artThe action involved in making the art Can include: drawing, painting, printmaking Can include: drawing, painting, printmaking

modeling, weaving digitizing, and castingmodeling, weaving digitizing, and casting

AestheticsAesthetics

Branch of PhilosophyBranch of Philosophy Dealing with the nature of art, beauty, and Dealing with the nature of art, beauty, and

tastetaste

Art CriticismArt Criticism

The criteria, or standards of judgment you The criteria, or standards of judgment you will need when making decisions about art.will need when making decisions about art.

The four steps of art criticism are:The four steps of art criticism are:

1. Description1. Description

2. Analysis2. Analysis

3. Interpretation3. Interpretation

4. Judgment4. Judgment

2-dimensional Art: 2-dimensional Art: Flat art without physical depthFlat art without physical depth 3-dimensional Art: 3-dimensional Art: Art viewed from all sidesArt viewed from all sides

The Creative FormulaThe Creative Formula

SparkSpark (inspiration): start with a problem to be (inspiration): start with a problem to be solved; brainstorm; observe; become aware of solved; brainstorm; observe; become aware of relationships.relationships.

PlanningPlanning (calculation): decision-making (calculation): decision-making phase. Selection of materials. Refine visual phase. Selection of materials. Refine visual elements: gather visual references. elements: gather visual references.

CommunicationCommunication (execution): create the project. (execution): create the project. Maintain craftsmanship, and integrity Maintain craftsmanship, and integrity

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Exploring Art