Detailed Study Notes for ARH 2313 - Intro to Fine Art

Week 2: ARH 2313 - Intro to Fine Art Terms for Formal and Iconographic Analysis

Basic Concepts

  • Geometric Shapes

    • Definition: Shapes defined by specific, mathematical properties.
    • Examples: Circles, squares, triangles.

  • Biomorphic Shapes

    • Definition: Organic forms that represent biological entities; they evoke a sense of growth or living nature.
    • Characteristics: Irregular, often fluid and naturalistic.

  • Open Shapes

    • Definition: Shapes that suggest continuation beyond their perimeters, creating a sense of motion or space.

  • Closed Shapes

    • Definition: Shapes that are contained within a defined perimeter, providing a sense of stability and solidity.

Shape Considerations

  • Geometric Form (PMA)

    • Discussion of how geometric forms can be represented artistically.

  • Biomorphic/Organic Form

    • Exploration of how these forms can represent the organic world in art.

Line and Shape

  • Open and Closed Forms

    • Comparative study of how open forms are dynamic while closed forms are static.

  • Contour Lines

    • Definitions:
    • Contour Line: A line that defines the edges of a shape.
    • Usage in artworks to demarcate boundaries and create a sense of structure.

Line Variations

  • Curved and Straight Lines

    • How each type contributes differently to the visual narrative of a piece.

  • Hatching and Cross-Hatching

    • Definitions:
    • Hatching: Series of parallel lines used to create shading effects.
    • Cross-Hatching: Layering of lines in different directions to enhance the darkness and density of shaded areas.
    • Example: Increasing the frequency of hatch lines implies a darker value.

Implied Lines

  • Actual vs. Implied Line
    • Actual Lines: Lines physically created in the artwork.
    • Implied Lines: Lines that are suggested by points or a viewer's gaze, creating a sense of direction and composition.

Value

  • Light and Dark
    • Definitions of Value Terms:
    • Chiaroscuro: An effect used to create an illusion of solidity and depth via defined value contrasts (light vs dark). It involves five values: Highlight, Light, Core Shadow, Reflected Light, and Cast Shadow.
    • Tenebrism: The use of strong contrasts of light and dark to create a dramatic effect.

Color

  • Hue

    • Defined as the name of a color. Includes primary colors (Red, Blue, Yellow) and secondary colors (Green, Orange, Violet).

  • Complementary Colors

    • Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel.
    • Warm and Cool Colors:
    • Cool: Blues, Greens.
    • Warm: Reds, Oranges, Yellows.

  • Saturation

    • Definition: The intensity of a color's quality of brightness or dullness.
    • Example: A highly saturated color appears vivid; a low saturated color appears muted or grayed.

Color Schemes

  • Monochromatic Color Scheme:
    • Variations in lightness and saturation of a single hue.

Space

  • Positive and Negative Space

    • Definitions:
    • Positive Space: The areas occupied by the subjects in a piece.
    • Negative Space: The background areas which complement the forms.

  • Figure-Ground Relationships

    • The relationship and interaction between the subject (figure) and the background (ground).

Pictorial Space Techniques

  • Overlapping:

    • Technique of placing one object in front of another to create an illusion of depth.

  • Diminution:

    • The practice of using smaller sizes for objects to suggest distance.

  • Atmospheric Perspective:

    • Technique where distant objects appear less distinct and often bluer than nearer objects due to air distortion.

  • Linear Perspective:

    • Developed in 15th-century Italy; uses mathematical principles for depicting recession in space with orthogonals converging at vanishing points.
    • Definitions:
    • One-point perspective: Uses a single vanishing point.
    • Two-point perspective: Uses two vanishing points to create depth.

Composition

  • Types of Composition

    • Central Composition: All elements lead toward a focal point.
    • Diagonal Composition: Elements arranged along diagonal lines create movement.
    • Balanced/Symmetrical Composition: Elements are mirrored on either side of an axis, creating harmony.

  • All-over Composition:

    • Every part of the artwork is designed equally, with no singular focal point.

Sculpture

  • In the Round:

    • Sculpture that can be viewed from all angles.

  • Relief Sculpture:

    • Low Relief (Bas-Relief): Slight projection from the background.
    • High Relief: More than half of the natural form projects from the background.

Scale in Art

  • Life-size: An object or figure is rendered in actual human scale.
  • Monumental: Large scale works that evoke significance and grandeur.
  • Miniature: Small-scale artworks that evoke delicacy and intricacy.
  • Hierarchic Scale: Scaling used to depict importance of subjects (larger sizes to show significance).

Representational and Abstract Art

  • Representational Art: Art that clearly depicts objects or subjects from the real world.

    • Scale of Abstraction:
    • Least abstract: Realistic representation.
    • Most abstract: Non-objective forms that do not represent real-life subjects.

  • Iconographic Analysis:

    • Distinction between subject matter (what is depicted) and object matter (the materials and methods of depiction).

Iconography and Semiotics

  • Iconography Terms:

    • Index, Icon, Symbol
    • Understanding of semiotics as it relates to artistic context and meaning.

  • Symbolism in Art:

    • Use of symbolic color or attributes to convey deeper meanings (e.g., attributes of Apollo).

Artistic Techniques

  • Thumbnail Sketches:

    • Quick initial sketches that map out ideas and composition.

  • Attributes in Symbolism:

    • Specific items or imagery that carry symbolic meaning in artworks.