An Introduction to Visual Art

1. What is Art? An Introduction to Visual Art

2. Objectives of the Activity Determine a definition of visual art Examine how we see and perceive art Define terms related to the viewing of art Examine images critically

3. What is Art?

4. What is Art? Britannica Online defines art as: "the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others.“ Visual Art has been defined as a language of visual signs which conveys ideas, feelings, or moods.

5. The Meaning of the Word Art… The word art encompasses many meanings, including ability, process, and product. Ability - The human capacity to make things of beauty and things that stir us; skill, mastery, and creativity. Process - The different classifications of art such as drawing, painting, sculpting, architecture, music, and photography; methods and processes. Product - The completed work; painting, sculpture, . . Whatever the definition, it is important to know the vocabulary of art in order to understand it.

6. How is Visual Art Classified?

7. How is Visual Art Classified? Traditional and contemporary art encompasses activities as diverse as: painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, illustration, cartoons, ceramics, stained glass, photography, installation, video, film, and architecture, to name a few.

8. Style Over time, an artist’s body of work can reveal an expressive character unique to the individual artist, like a signature. This expressive quality is known as an artistic style. Individual Style is the characteristic manner of expression used by a particular artist. For each piece, the artist makes choices about the structure, media (materials and tools), techniques (methods of using the media), and treatment of subject matter that will best express his or her idea. Young artists are often tempted to prematurely impose a style on their work, instead of allowing it to mature naturally. However, they must remember— just like a signature—one’s expressive style truly only develops through time and repeated practice. Some styles, once unique to individual artists, have been adopted by generations of artists and have broader historical application. Period style is the general characteristics common to much of the work from given period of time or cultural phase. Regional style is the manner of expression common in the work of artists working in the same country or area. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, artists often confounded the public by the increasingly abstract treatment of subject matter. Contemporary artists, too, make expressive choices that the public often doesn’t understand or find personally relevant. In many cases, a single artist’s style changes as his or her body of work develops and grows. One prime example is the work of Piet Mondrian whose final style has influenced artists in other fields.

9. Piet Mondrian. The Grey Tree The Trees

10. Composition - The act of organizing the visual elements of art. The organization of the visual elements in a work of art. Piet Mondrian. Composition in Red, Blue, and Yellow

11. Seeing – Visual Perception awareness: intuitive, rational, informative

12. Art and Perception

13. Art and Perception

14. Art and Perceptionfigure ground reversal

15. Art and Perceptioncamouflage

18. Why do artists make art?

19. The Three Searches The three basic searches in which artists are involved: Search for understanding of: Nature, the Supernatural, and Self.

20. What are the purposes of art?

21. Art Creates Beauty Aesthetics – the search for beauty Idealism – the representation of forms according to a concept of perfection Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa

22. Art can be used to Replicate nature (naturalistic) Depict reality (realistic, objective, perceptive) Record an artist’s own experiences (representational) Gustave Courbet Burial at Ornans

23. Art Enhances Our Environment 5th century Byzantine Mosaics Mausoleum of Galla Placidia Ravenna, Italy

24. Art Enhances Our Environment Dale Chihuly. Fiori di Como (detail)Bellagio, Las Vegas, NV

25. DALE CHIHULY. Fioridi Como (1998). 70’ x 30’ x 12’

26. Dale Chihuly

27. How does art influence society?

28. Art Reveals Truth In her self-portraits, the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo used her tragic life as an emblem for human suffering. Frida Kahlo. Diego in My Thoughts

29. ArtImmortalizes Pop Art – an art style originating in the 1960s that uses commercial and popular images and themes as its subject matter Andy Warhol. Marilyn screen print

30. ANDY WARHOL. Four Marilyns (1962). Synthetic polymer paint and silkscreen ink on canvas. 30" × 23⅞".

31. Looking at Art Is this art? Why or why not? Warhol. Campbell’s Tomato Soup

32. Why is art important?

33. Art Expresses Religious Beliefs Hagia Sophia Istanbul, Turkey Christ Pantocrator Byzantine Art

34. Art Expresses Fantasy Marc Chagal, I and the Village, (1911) oil on canvas

35. Art and the Psychoanalytic Many 20th Century artists looked to the psychoanalytic writings of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, who suggested that primeval forces are at work in the unconscious reaches of the mind. Artist’s sought to use their art as an outlet for these unconscious forces.

36. Max Beckman. The Dream

37. 0 ART, INTELLECT, AND EMOTION Art can make you think. Art can make you feel. Art can trigger associations.

38. Art Simulates the Intellect Buckminster Fuller stands in front of his geodesic dome Leonardo. Polyhedron

39. Art Creates Order and Harmony Ictinos and Callicrates, The Parthenon, Acropolis, Athens Application of the Golden Section Design - The combination of the visual elements according to principles of design such as proportion and harmony.

40. 0 Art is harmony.–Georges Seurat Artists and scientists try to find the underlying order of nature. Zen - A Buddhist sect that seeks inner harmony through introspection and meditation.

41. Ryoanji Zen Temple, Japanese sand garden, Kyoto, Japan.

42. Art Protests Injustice Eugene Deacroix. Liberty Leading the People oil on canvas Allegory - A narrative in which people and events have consistent symbolic meanings; extended metaphor.

43. Conceptual Art Conceptual art does not represent an external object. It also challenges the traditional view of the artist as creative visionary, skilled craftsperson, and master of ones media. The “art” lies in the artist’s concept or idea.

44. Art Elevates the Commonplace Readymade – found objects that are exhibited as works of art Assemblage – a work of art that consists of assembled three-dimensional objects Duchamp. Fountain

45. Art Elevates the Commonplace Gustave Courbet. The Stonebreakers, oil on canvas

46. Art Reflects the Social and Cultural Context Edward Hopper. Night Hawks (1942) oil on canvas

47. Art Meets the Needs of the Artist Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The Gates, Central Park, New York, NY 2005 Christo. The Gates drawing

49. Elements of Art

50. Principles of Design

51. Underlying Concepts Picasso’s Garçon à la pipe

53. Content

54. Form

55. Style

56. Media

57. Technique Van Gogh’s Portrait of Dr. Gachet

59. Color

60. Line

61. Shape

62. Mass

63. Texture Hokusai. The Great Wave color wood-cut

65. Variety

66. Balance

67. Emphasis

68. Rhythm

69. Proportion

70. EconomyRembrandt Anatomy Lesson oil on canvas

71. Underlying Core Concepts Light – that form of radiant energy which simulates visual perception, illumination (value, color, hue, neutral, tone, key, tint, shade, shadow, highlight, modeling, chiaroscuro) Space – the environment in which all things exist (line, shape, mass, length, width, size, area, measurement, depth, volume, dimension, proportion, scale) Time – period of duration, fourth dimension (duration, motion, moment, date)

72. Other Key Terms Composition - The act or organizing or composing the visual elements of art. Design - The combination of the visual elements of art according to principles of design such as balance and unity. Form - The organization of the visual elements in a work of art.

73. Looking at Art Is this art? Why or why not? What elements does it have or not have? Monet. Water Lilies oil paint

74. 0 COMPARE & CONTRAST The Piano Lesson(s) by Matisse and Bearden

75. HENRI MATISSE. Piano Lesson (1916). Oil on canvas. 8’ x 6’11 “ ROMARE BEARDEN. Piano Lesson (1983). Oil with Collage. 29” x 22”

77. Color

78. Texture

79. Space

80. Movement

81. Balance

82. Scale

83. Subject matterPierre-Auguste Renoir. The Piano Lesson c. 1889

85. Color

86. Texture

87. Space

88. Movement

89. Balance

90. Scale

91. Subject matterHenri Matisse. Piano Lesson oil on canvas c. 1916

93. Color

94. Texture

95. Space

96. Movement

97. Balance

98. Scale

99. Subject matterRomare Bearden. The Piano Lesson oil on canvas c. 1983

101. Texture

102. Space

103. Balance

104. Symbolism

105. the touching of hands represents an agreement to wed.

106. the dog represents fidelity.Jan Van Eyck, Giovanni Arnolfini and His Bride, 1434 oil paint

109. Unity Order/Oneness Subject Content Form Harmony Variety Principles of Design Rhythm Emphasis Balance Economy Proportion Elements of Art Mass Value Color Texture Line Shape Components of Art