What is Art?Let’s Take Some Notes

What is Art?O An artwork is the visual expression of

an idea or experience created with skill.

Visual Art Is More Than Just Paintings Hanging on a wall!

...Visual Art Includes

DRAWING

PRINTMAKING

SCULPTURE

ARCHITECTURE

PHOTOGRAPHY

FILM MAKING

CRAFTS

GRAPHIC ARTS

INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL DESIGN

VIDEO

COMPUTER ARTS

ART IS COMMUNICATION

Art is a language that artists use to express ideas and feelings that everyday words cannot

express!

WRITE THE FOLLOWING DOWN:PERCEPTION!

DEFINITION OF PERCIEVE

O PERCIEVE :

To perceive is to become deeply aware through the senses of the special nature of a visual object.

Perception is the result of perceive.

THE PURPOSES OF ART

PEOPLE CREATED ART TO RECORD IDEAS AND FEELINGS LONG BEFORE

THEY HAD WRITTEN WORDS

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE MOST COMMON FUNCTIONS OF ART…

PERSONAL FUNCTIONS

PERSONAL FUNCTIONS: (write this down)

Artists create art to express personal feelings.

Edvard Munch’s The Sick Child, 1907, shocked viewers who were used to seeing happy paintings. The work was meant to remind viewers of personal family tragedies.

SOCIAL FUNCTIONSOCIAL FUNCTION: (write this down)

Artists may produce art to reinforce and enhance the shared sense of identity of those in family, community, or civilization.

A family portrait is an example of a social function in art. This portrait of Queen Victoria of England, 1846 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter and her family is a great example.

SPIRITUAL FUNCTIONSPIRITUAL FUNCTION: (write this down)Artists may create art to express spiritual beliefs about life controlled by the force of a higher power.

The Last Supper, by Leonardo da Vinci, 1495-1498, is a great example of artwork used for a spiritual function.

PHYSICAL FUNCTIONPHYSICAL FUNCTION: (Write this down)Artists and craftspeople often create artworks that have a function or purpose.

These famous baskets made by Dat-So-La-Lee, a famous Indian basket maker, are an example of functional art. They are art but they also serve a purpose.

EDUCATIONAL FUNCTIONEDUCATIONAL FUNCTION: (write this down)

Artwork can provide visual instruction or

information. People who can not read or write will

understand visual information. Also when we look at art from the past, we learn from it.

This portrait of Anne of Cleves by Hans Holbein, 1539, shows us someone from the past, what they wore, and how they looked.

LESSON TWO: WHY DO ARTISTS CREATE?

(write this down)

Artists: are creative individuals who use imagination and skill to

communicate in visual form.

WHERE DO ARTISTS GET IDEAS?

(write these down)

1.) NATURE: artists look to their natural surroundings and record them.

EXAMPLE: The Hudson River School, a group of American artists, painted what was around them, most of them lived near that the Hudson River in New York. In the example George Inness, painted The Lackawanna Valley, 1856.

2.) People and Real World Events (write this down)

Artists will create artworks based on the people and events around them.

EXAMPLE: The artist, Grant Wood, painted the essence of the Midwestern American spirit during the Great Depression. In his most famous painting, American Gothic, 1930, Wood depicts the small town citizens posed before their house.

3.) MYTHS AND LEGENDS (write this down)

Some artists borrow ideas from famous works of literature.

EXAMPLE: The artist John Everett Millias,

painted Ophelia, 1852, based off of

the famous piece of literature Hamlet.

Millias was a member of the Pre-

Raphelites.

4.) SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS BELIEFS (write this down)

SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS BELIEFS: Visual artists in every culture use their skill to create

objects and images to be used to express spiritual beliefs

EXAMPLE: This bird mask was created for a dance ceremony by the Yup’ik people who lived in northwestern Alaska. It is worn during ceremonial winter dances.

5.) CREATIVE TECHNIQUES (write this down)

Creative Techniques: Many artists founded new art movements and developed new techniques

EXAMPLE: Jackson Pollock created a new style called action painting. In his artwork Convergence, 1952, Pollock developed this technique of splashing paint onto a canvas stretched on the floor.

6.) ARTISTS OF THE PAST(write this down)

ARTISTS OF THE PAST: Artists of a particular time period often influence each other.

EXAMPLE: Pablo Picasso’s Las Meninas (after Velazquez), 1957, is based off of Diego Velazquez’s, Las Meninas, 1656.

7.) IDEAS COMMISIONED BY EMPLOYERS (write this down)

Many artists are hired by individuals or companies to create works of art.

EXAMPLE: In 2002, Marc Jacobs

invited Takashi Murakami, to create for Louis Vuitton, his famous design was

used in various handbags.

WHY DO ARTISTS KEEP A SKETCHBOOK?

(write this down)Artists develop perception and artistic skills by constantly sketching the world around them.

The Principles of ArtO Write This Down:

Rhythm-Indicates movement by repeating elements.

MOVEMENTO is the suggestion or illusion of motion.

Vincent Van Gogh Starry Night, 1889

PATTERNO is the repetition of elements throughout a

composition.

BALANCEO describes how artists create visual weight.

CONTRASTO is differences in values, colors, textures, and

other elements.

EMPHASISO is used to make certain parts of artwork

stand out and grab the viewer’s attention. Also known as a “focal point”.

UNITYO is using the elements to create a feeling that

everything in the work of art works together and looks like it fits.

PROPORTIONO Concerns the size relationship

between parts of an artwork.

The neck isNot the correctProportion!

VARIETYO Concerned with

difference or contrast in artworks.

THE WORK OF ARTO SUBJECT: the image viewers can

easily identify in a work of art.

NONOBJECTIVE ARTO Art that has no recognizable subject

matter.

COMPOSITIONO The way the principles of art are

used to organize the elements of art.

CONTENTO Is the message

the work communicates. Could be an idea or theme….such as patriotism or family togetherness

THE CREDIT LINEO NAME:O TITLE: Usually in ItalicsO YEAR:O MEDIUM: What is it made of…

painting, drawing…O SIZE: the measurements of sizeO LOCATION: Where is the artwork

located?

FIND A CREDIT LINE:O FIND A CREDIT LINE IN THE ART

HISTORY BOOK PROVIDED. O PICK AN ARTWORKO WRITE DOWN THE INFORMATION

ODON’T FORGET THE PAGE NUMBER