Lecture 1: Introduction to Art & Art Making

what is the objective of this course?

to assess an artwork and develop an informed and objective opinion of the merit of the work

aesthetics

a body of written texts that deal with art, taste, and culture or that examine the definition and appreciation of art

do aesthetics go beyond individual taste?

yes because it reflects cultural preferences

art

the intended visual expression of the human experience

what is essential to art?

intent

art expresses

an artist's inner emotions and the social trends of thought during the time it was created (zeitgeist)

what is the role of an artist?

- Create places for some human purpose

- Create extraordinary versions of ordinary objects

- Record and commemorate

- Give tangible form to the unknown

- Give tangible form to feelings and ideas

- Refresh our vision and help us see the world in new ways

creativity

the mental capacity to develop innovative and effective ideas and nurture their growth through change (trial and error)

all artwork falls into one of three categories

- representational artwork

- abstracted art

- non-representational art

the three art categories are about what we see with our eyes (description) NOT

our minds (interpretation)

representational art

describes artworks that are realistic or naturalistic; they are clearly recognizable and there is no doubt what is being portrayed.

example of representation art

American Gothic by Grant Wood (1930)

a surrealistic example of representation art

Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate a Second Before Awakening by Salvador Dali (1944)

abstracted art

artworks that possess degrees of abstraction (abstracted from reality)

- although the objects have been distorted or stylized, they are still recognizable

example of abstracted art

War Horse of Babylon by Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (2005)

a cubist example of abstracted art

Guernica by Pablo Picasso

non-representational art

artworks that have no visual reference to the real world - a complete departure from reality

example of non-representational art

Convergence by Jackson Pollock (1952)

- the image is another Jackson Pollock painting (not Convergence)

subjective interpretation/POV

a response to an artwork that is instinctual and unique to each viewer and is derived from the viewer's aesthetic tastes, emotions, experiences and thoughts which are interdependent upon the viewer's historical, social, political, economic, and cultural environment

what is subjective interpretation about?

a subjective interpretation is about the viewer

objective interpretation/POV

centers on an artwork's subject matter

subject matter

physical characteristics

context

the artwork's original historical, social, political, economic, and cultural environment within which the work was created

what does forming an objective interpretation/pov require?

critical and creative thinking as well as the ability to synthesize information into a cohesive and informed opinion

what is objective interpretation about?

an objective interpretation is about the art

content

meaning of the artwork