Reading Visual Arts

Sanchez et. al (2011)

ated that art, like love, is difficult to define

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

states that “art’s c ontingent cultural and historical features are emphasized by some definitions of art.” Philo

Philosophy

plays an important role in the definition of art as philosophy even has a word to refer to the philosophical study of beauty and taste

Aesthetics

philosophical study of beauty and taste

Plato in the Republic

believes that arts are representational or mimetic in nature

Art as an expression

is a belief that art is created to reflect the inner state of the artist – the subjective experiences and the emotions. Instr

Instrumentalism

presents that art is created as a tool or “instrument” to persuade the viewers, through social commentary on social issues. Lastly,

Merriam-Webster

defined art as “the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects.” 

ars

after all, the word art came from the word ___ which means skill. That means that art is a skill resulting from learning and practice. 

beauty

refers to anything that pleases the senses – the interaction between line, color, texture, shape, motion, and size.

ability to create

one of the special characteristics of being human

Her Secret is Patience

a huge artwork by Janet Echelman. It was hoisted into the air above Phoenix, Arizona, in mid-2009, even most of the doubters became admirers once they experienced this stunning work. Suspended from three leaning poles between 40 and 100 feet above the ground, its colored circles of netting appear both permanent and ever changing, solid yet spacious, defying gravity as they dance and wave slowly in the breeze.

cactus

The artist chose the ____-flower shape to symbolize the desert city of Phoenix. S

visual arts

includes drawing, painting, sculpture, film, architecture, and design

Georgia O’Keeffe

American painter; said: “I found that I could say things with colors and shapes that I couldn’t say in any other way—things I had no words for.”

Work of art

is the visual expression of an idea or experience, formed with skill, through the use of a medium.

medium

a particular material, along with its accompanying technique

media

plural form of medium

Human Imagination

Source of all art, science, technology

Creativity

the ability to bring forth something new that has value. Mere novelty is not enough; the new thing must have some relevance, or unlock some new way of thinking. It also has the potential to influence future thought or action, and is vital to most walks of life.

creativity

In 2010, the International Business Machines (IBM) corporation interviewed 1,500 chief executive officers (CEOs) from 60 countries, asking them what was the most important leadership skill for the successful businesses of the future. Their answer was not economic knowledge, management skills, integrity, or personal discipline, but ____

Associating

The ability to make connections across seemingly unrelated fields.

Questioning

Persistently challenging the status quo, asking why things function as they do now, and how or why they might be changed.

Observing

Intently watching the world around, without judgment, in search of new insights or ways of operating.

Networking

Being willing to interact with others, and learn from them, even if their views are radically different or their competencies seem unrelated

Experimenting

Exploring new possibilities by trying them out, building models and then taking them apart for further improvement

trained artists

generally learned by working as apprentices to accomplished masters. (With a few notable exceptions, women were excluded from such apprenticeships.) ugh practical experience, they gained necessary skills and developed knowledge of their society’s art traditions. 

untrained artists or folk artists

those with a small amount of or no formal art education

outsider artists

made by people who are largely unaware of art history or the art trends of their time

Representational Art

It depicts the appearance of things.

figurative art

When the human form is the primary subject, it is called___

subjects

objects that representational art depicts are called sub

trompe l’oeil

There are many ways to create representational art. The most “real”-looking paintings are in a style called ____French for “fool the eye.”

Abstract Art

the artist changes the object’s natural appearance in order to emphasize or reveal certain qualities.

to abstract

means to take form

Nonrepresentational Art

It presents visual forms with no specific references to anything outside themselves. It is sometimes called non-objective or nonfigurative art .

Looking

is habitual and implies taking in what is before us in a generally mechanical or goal-oriented way.

Seeing

a more open, receptive, and focused version of looking. I

Henri Matisse

The twentieth-century French artist _____ wrote about how to see intently: “To see is itself a creative operation, requiring an effort

Form

refers to the total effect of the combined visual qualities within a work, including such components as materials, color, shape, line, and design.

Content

refers to the message or meaning of the work of art —what the artist expresses or communicates to the viewer. 

Content

determines form

Form

expresses content

Iconography

refers to the subjects, symbols, and motifs used in an image to convey its meaning (f

eikon

means image or picture

Art for Daily Use

Objects of all kinds, from ancient carefully crafted flin t knives to today’s personal digital devices, have been conceived to delight the eye as well as to serve more obviously useful functions. Well-designed utilitarian objects and spaces—from spoons to cities — bring pleasure and efficiency into our daily lives. A

Designing f or Everyday

Objects that we use every day can be designed artfully for greater enjoyment.

Embellishment

Most societies value the artistic embellishment of everyday things.

Visual Delight

happens when we are captivated by a work of art, and we enjoy it aside from practical or moral or political considerations.

Aesthetics

refers to the branch of philosophy that studies how and why artworks are considered beautiful

Idealism

In some cultures, something beautiful must also exhibit a certain idealism.

Harmony

Another common definition of beauty includes a pleasing balance or harmonious proportions. A graceful arrangement of well-proportioned forms is basic to beauty, be it in a human face or an artwork.

Art for Communicating Information

Art makes a statement that can be understood by many people, it has often been used to impart information and ideas. Indeed, before the invention of photography in the nineteenth century, artists and illustrators were our only source of information about the visual appearance of anything.

Storytelling

A great deal of art tells stories. These can be personal, moral, or historical.

Commentary

Artists who fulfill our need for commentary often speak in a language that is easy to understand;

Art for Public and Personal Expression

Sometimes a human life is so notable or an event so momentous that a monument is created to help us remember it. At other times self-expression by artists builds bridges of empathy to individual viewers.

Commemoration

Visual imagery can serve as an aid to our memories. Man

Self-Expression

For most of human history, self-expression has not been a primary reason for creating art. O

Art for the Spirit

Another function of art has been to enhance religious contemplation, and most of the world’s religions have found ways to incorporate artists’ creativity into their sacred rituals, places, and ceremonies. So

Worship and Ritual

Many religious buildings intended for gathering the faithful have a striking visual aspect that helps to induce a feeling of wonder or sublimity. Other religious traditions show less interest in special buildings and focus their visual creativity instead on ritual tools.

Spirituality

Contemporary spirituality can take many forms, and art assists some of them.

Art for Political Purposes

Just as art has often served religious needs, so at times it has been used to express political goals or ideals

Persuasion

Many artforms have a persuasive purpose.