The Language of ArtThe Language of Art

Chapter 1 ArtTalk TextbookChapter 1 ArtTalk Textbook

Art is a way of communicatingArt is a way of communicating

Art is a universal language – it Art is a universal language – it can be understood regardless of can be understood regardless of whether there is a common whether there is a common language.language.

Art is a visual language – it’s Art is a visual language – it’s what you see.what you see.

Art has it’s own “vocabulary” Art has it’s own “vocabulary” and “rules of grammar”.and “rules of grammar”.

Art uses symbols. Art uses symbols. Symbols Symbols stand for or represent something stand for or represent something else. Most of these symbols are else. Most of these symbols are instantly recognizable.instantly recognizable.

The Language of ArtThe Language of Art

An artist can communicate An artist can communicate messages in art very clearly messages in art very clearly by using the by using the Elements of Elements of ArtArt and the and the Principles of Principles of Design.Design. The artist starts The artist starts with an idea, then uses the with an idea, then uses the elements of art and elements of art and principles of design to principles of design to emphasize the main idea emphasize the main idea and to direct the viewer’s and to direct the viewer’s eye through the image so eye through the image so the message comes through. the message comes through.

Edvard Munch, The Scream. 1893. Oil, tempera and pastel on cardboard. 91 x

73.5 cm. National Gallery, Oslo

Elements of ArtElements of Art The The elements of artelements of art are the are the

basic visual symbols in a basic visual symbols in a language of art.language of art.

The The elements of artelements of art are the are the “tools” of art. These are the “tools” of art. These are the “words” of art.“words” of art.

The The elements of artelements of art consist of consist of line, shape and form, space, line, shape and form, space, color, value, and texturecolor, value, and texture

All works of art contain at All works of art contain at least some of the elements.least some of the elements.

Grant Wood, American Gothic. 1930. Oil on beaverboard. 74.3 x 62.4 cm, 29 ¼ x 24 ½ in. Art Institute of Chicago.

Principles of DesignPrinciples of Design The The principles of designprinciples of design are are

the rules that govern how the rules that govern how artists organize the elements of artists organize the elements of art art

The The principles of designprinciples of design are are the “rules” of art – the “rules” of art – howhow you you use the elements or tools.use the elements or tools.

The The principles of designprinciples of design consist of consist of rhythm, movement, rhythm, movement, balance, proportion, variety, balance, proportion, variety, emphasis, harmony, and emphasis, harmony, and unity.unity.

The The principles of designprinciples of design are are used to communicate the used to communicate the message the artist wants to message the artist wants to convey.convey.

Miriam Schapiro, Sonia, Josephine. 1986. Cut-out paper.

Marc Chagall, Les Amoureux de Vence. Size: 20 x 16 in

MediumMedium The material used to The material used to

make art is called a make art is called a mediummedium. The plural of . The plural of medium is medium is mediamedia. For . For example, clay, wood, and example, clay, wood, and marble are marble are mediamedia used used for sculpting.for sculpting.

DrawingDrawing Drawing Drawing is the process of moving is the process of moving

a pointed instrument over a a pointed instrument over a smooth surface to leave a mark.smooth surface to leave a mark.

The most popular drawing media The most popular drawing media are graphite pencils, colored are graphite pencils, colored pencils, pens, charcoal, crayons, pencils, pens, charcoal, crayons, pastels (both soft and oil) and pastels (both soft and oil) and colored chalk.colored chalk.

Drawing helps artists with Drawing helps artists with perception. Perception perception. Perception is the act is the act of looking at something carefully of looking at something carefully and thinking deeply about what is and thinking deeply about what is seen.seen.

Drawing is the basis of almost all Drawing is the basis of almost all works of art – the artist draws or works of art – the artist draws or sketches the idea for the art work.sketches the idea for the art work.

Charles White, Preacher. 1952. Ink on cardboard. 54 x 76 cm (21 3/8 x 29 1/8). Collection of Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

PaintingPainting

Painting Painting is the process is the process of applying color to a of applying color to a surface using tools such surface using tools such as brush, painting knife, as brush, painting knife, roller, or even fingers.roller, or even fingers.

AA support support is the surface is the surface on which the paint is on which the paint is applied. Canvas, paper, applied. Canvas, paper, wood, masonite, walls, wood, masonite, walls, ceilings are all examples ceilings are all examples of supports.of supports.

Kahlo, Frida The Two Fridas. 1939. Oil on canvas. 68 x 68 in. (173 x 173 cm). Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City

PaintPaint Paint has 3 basic partsPaint has 3 basic parts

PigmentPigment – the finely ground – the finely ground powder that gives paint its colorpowder that gives paint its color

BinderBinder – the liquid that holds the – the liquid that holds the pigment so it will stay on the pigment so it will stay on the support. Binder is also called support. Binder is also called vehicle. The two terms can be vehicle. The two terms can be used interchangeably.used interchangeably.

SolventSolvent – the material used to thin – the material used to thin the binder. Can frequently be the binder. Can frequently be used in clean-up as well – ex. used in clean-up as well – ex. Water is the solvent for acrylic, Water is the solvent for acrylic, and can also be used to clean and can also be used to clean brushes and remove acrylic (when brushes and remove acrylic (when wet) as well.wet) as well.

PrintmakingPrintmaking Printmaking Printmaking is a process in which is a process in which

an artist repeatedly transfers an an artist repeatedly transfers an original image from one prepared original image from one prepared surface to another.surface to another.

PrintmakingPrintmaking uses three basic uses three basic steps.steps. Creating the printing plate (the Creating the printing plate (the

surface onto or into which the surface onto or into which the image is placed)image is placed)

Inking the plate using a brayer Inking the plate using a brayer and inkand ink

Transferring the image by Transferring the image by pressing paper against the pressing paper against the inked plate. The pressing can inked plate. The pressing can be done by hand or by using a be done by hand or by using a printing press.printing press.

PrintmakingPrintmaking A series of identical prints made from A series of identical prints made from

the same plate is called an the same plate is called an edition.edition. In In relief printing, relief printing, the artist cuts away the artist cuts away

the parts of the surface that are not the parts of the surface that are not meant to be printed. Ex. Linoleum cutmeant to be printed. Ex. Linoleum cut

IntaglioIntaglio is the opposite of relief printing is the opposite of relief printing – ink is forced into lines which have – ink is forced into lines which have been cut out. Etchings and engravings been cut out. Etchings and engravings are examples of are examples of intaglio.intaglio.

LithographyLithography is based on the principle is based on the principle that grease and water do not mix. A that grease and water do not mix. A greasy crayon is used to create the greasy crayon is used to create the image to print. The surface is treated image to print. The surface is treated with a surface that keeps it from with a surface that keeps it from retaining ink, and only the greasy part retaining ink, and only the greasy part retains ink.retains ink.

Screen printingScreen printing uses a stencil attached uses a stencil attached to a screen of silk to create the image. to a screen of silk to create the image. The ink is then pushed through the silk. The ink is then pushed through the silk. Screen printing is used to print on fabric Screen printing is used to print on fabric – i.e. T-shirts– i.e. T-shirts

PhotographyPhotography

PhotographyPhotography is a is a technique of technique of capturing optical capturing optical images on light-images on light-sensitive surfaces.sensitive surfaces.

The The elements of elements of art art and the and the principles of principles of designdesign apply to apply to photography photography as as well as any other well as any other art form.art form.

Eugene Atget, Parc Monceau (8e arr). 1901-2. Albumen Print. George Eastman House,

Dorothea Lange, Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California. 1933. Gelatin silver print.

Diane Arbus, Child with a toy hand grenade in Central Park, N.Y.C. 1962.

SculptureSculpture

Sculpture Sculpture is an art form is an art form that literally takes up that literally takes up space.space.

Types of sculpture Types of sculpture include:include: Freestanding Freestanding – surrounded – surrounded

on all sides by spaceon all sides by space Relief Relief – type of sculpture – type of sculpture

in which forms project in which forms project from a flat background.from a flat background.

Rodin, Rodin, AugusteAuguste, , The Thinker. The Thinker. 1880. Bronze. 68.6 x 89.4 x 50.8 cm1880. Bronze. 68.6 x 89.4 x 50.8 cm

SculptureSculpture Sculptural processes include:Sculptural processes include:

Modeling Modeling – a soft, pliable – a soft, pliable material is built up and shaped – material is built up and shaped – an additive process.an additive process.

Carving Carving – sculptor carves, cuts – sculptor carves, cuts or chips from a mass of material or chips from a mass of material to create a sculpture - a to create a sculpture - a subtractive processsubtractive process

CastingCasting – Melted metal or other – Melted metal or other liquid substance is poured into a liquid substance is poured into a mold to harden.mold to harden.

AssemblyAssembly – Artist gathers and – Artist gathers and joins together a variety of joins together a variety of different materials to form a different materials to form a sculpture – an additive process.sculpture – an additive process.

CraftsCrafts Fine art Fine art is art that is meant is art that is meant

to be experienced visually. to be experienced visually. It is not meant to be It is not meant to be functional usually.functional usually.

Crafts (also called applied Crafts (also called applied arts)arts) are meant to be are meant to be functional as well as functional as well as visually appealing.visually appealing.

Examples of crafts are Examples of crafts are weaving, quilting, baskets, weaving, quilting, baskets, pottery, glass arts, and pottery, glass arts, and jewelry.jewelry.

The Work of ArtThe Work of Art

The work of art is defined The work of art is defined by three basic properties – by three basic properties – subject, composition, subject, composition, and and content.content.

The The subjectsubject is the image is the image that viewers can easily that viewers can easily identify in a work of art. identify in a work of art. Subjects can be Subjects can be objective objective (recognizable) or (recognizable) or non-non-objective objective (non-(non-recognizable subject recognizable subject matter).matter).

Walter Anderson, Blue Crabs. Watercolor. 8 ½ x 11 in.

James Michalopoulos, Just Nice. Oil on canvas. 22 x 28 in.

Nancy Graves, Zaga. 1983. Cast bronze with polychrome chemical patination. 182.9 x 124.5 x 81.4 cm (72 x 49 x 32 in). Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri.

The Work of ArtThe Work of Art

CompositionComposition is the is the second property of a second property of a work of art.work of art.

Composition Composition is the way is the way the principles of design the principles of design are used to organize the are used to organize the elements.elements.

Henri Cartier-Bresson, Behind the Gare St. Lazare

The Work The Work of Artof Art

ContentContent is the is the third property third property of a work of of a work of art.art.

ContentContent is the is the message the message the work of art work of art communicates.communicates.

Mary Cassatt, La Toilette. c. 1891. Oil on canvas. 39 1/2 x 26 in. The Art Institute of Chicago

Diane Arbus. Teenage couple on Hudson Street, N.Y.C. 1963

Pablo Picasso, The Tragedy. 1903. Oil paint on wood. 105.4 x 69 cm (411/2 x 27 1/8 in). National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

The Credit The Credit LineLine

A A credit linecredit line appears beneath appears beneath the caption of a the caption of a picture of a picture of a work of art in work of art in print, or next to print, or next to it when the it when the work of art is work of art is on display in a on display in a museum.museum. Joseph Raffael. Joseph Raffael. SpiritSpirit, 2006. Watercolor on paper. 60 x 85 inches , 2006. Watercolor on paper. 60 x 85 inches

The Credit LineThe Credit Line A A credit line credit line consists of the consists of the

following:following: NameName of the artist of the artist TitleTitle of the work of the work YearYear the work was created. the work was created.

Sometimes a “c” appears, Sometimes a “c” appears, which means circa, Latin for which means circa, Latin for “around” or “about”.“around” or “about”.

MediumMedium used by the artist. If used by the artist. If more than one, then more than one, then credit line credit line will indicate “mixed media” will indicate “mixed media”

SizeSize of the work. Height x of the work. Height x Width, in that order.Width, in that order.

LocationLocation of the work. of the work.

Paul Cézanne. Paul Cézanne. Still Life with Peaches and PearsStill Life with Peaches and Pears. 1888-90. Oil on canvas. The Pushkin Museum of Fine Art, Moscow, Russia . 1888-90. Oil on canvas. The Pushkin Museum of Fine Art, Moscow, Russia

Meet the ArtistMeet the ArtistHenry MooreHenry Moore

Henry Moore (English, 1898-1986) was Henry Moore (English, 1898-1986) was one of the greatest and most innovative one of the greatest and most innovative sculptors in the 20sculptors in the 20thth century. He created century. He created organic-shaped sculptures and gave organic-shaped sculptures and gave them a look of having been touched and them a look of having been touched and rubbed by thousands of hands over the rubbed by thousands of hands over the years. years.

When asked to create a massive When asked to create a massive sculpture for the UNESCO building, he sculpture for the UNESCO building, he searched the marble quarries in Italy for searched the marble quarries in Italy for the perfect piece. It was too big to move the perfect piece. It was too big to move (more than 60 tons), so he went to the (more than 60 tons), so he went to the quarry and worked there for a year until quarry and worked there for a year until he had reduced the work to a moveable he had reduced the work to a moveable size. It is the simplest and larges of size. It is the simplest and larges of Moore’s reclining figures.Moore’s reclining figures.

Does anyone know where there is a Does anyone know where there is a Henry Moore sculpture on display in Henry Moore sculpture on display in Houston?Houston?

Objective Assessment – Building Objective Assessment – Building VocabularyVocabulary

Write the entire definition, then add the term that best matches the definition.Write the entire definition, then add the term that best matches the definition.

1.1. Something that stands for, or represents something Something that stands for, or represents something else. else.

2.2. The basic visual symbols in the language of art.The basic visual symbols in the language of art.3.3. The rules that govern how artists organize the The rules that govern how artists organize the

elements of art.elements of art.4.4. A material used to make artA material used to make art5.5. The act of looking at something carefully and The act of looking at something carefully and

thinking deeply about what is seen.thinking deeply about what is seen.6.6. A process in which an artist repeatedly transfers an A process in which an artist repeatedly transfers an

original image from one prepared surface to another.original image from one prepared surface to another.

Objective Assessment – Building Objective Assessment – Building VocabularyVocabulary

7.7. A series of identical prints made from the same A series of identical prints made from the same plate.plate.

8.8. A technique of capturing optical images on light-A technique of capturing optical images on light-sensitive surfaces.sensitive surfaces.

9.9. Surrounded on all sides by space.Surrounded on all sides by space.10.10. Sculpture in which forms project from a flat Sculpture in which forms project from a flat

background.background.11.11. The image viewers can easily identify in a work of The image viewers can easily identify in a work of

art.art.12.12. Art that has no recognizable subject matter.Art that has no recognizable subject matter.

Objective Assessment – Reviewing Objective Assessment – Reviewing Art FactsArt Facts

Write the following questions and then the answer.Write the following questions and then the answer.

1.1. Name the elements of art.Name the elements of art.

2.2. List the principles of design.List the principles of design.

3.3. Name at least four of the most popular media Name at least four of the most popular media used in drawing.used in drawing.

4.4. What are the three basic ingredients common What are the three basic ingredients common to all paints?to all paints?

5.5. What three basic steps are used in the What three basic steps are used in the printmaking process?printmaking process?

Objective Assessment – Reviewing Objective Assessment – Reviewing Art FactsArt Facts

6.6. What printmaking process is best suited to What printmaking process is best suited to printing on fabric?printing on fabric?

7.7. Name a subtractive process an artist can use Name a subtractive process an artist can use to create a sculpture.to create a sculpture.

8.8. What are the three basic ingredients of paint?What are the three basic ingredients of paint?

9.9. What are the six parts of a credit line?What are the six parts of a credit line?

10.10. Name the three basic properties or features Name the three basic properties or features of a work of art.of a work of art.