Exploring Art Chapter 1 – Art in Focus Mr. Mulligan

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

 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 Qualities of a Work of Art

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.

New Jersey Grounds for Sculpture Fine Art : Elizabeth Catlett: Mother and Child

 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 Various Forms of art

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 ( ) 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

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. Why should you study art

Starry Night Munch Van Gogh

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

 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 3. Real-World Connections Why should you study art

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