Art Appreciation Test #1

markmaking

the attempts by many artists or any human to put their mark on something, people say mark making is what differentiates humans from animals: the desire to make a mark indicates higher brain function- to create meaning

The 3 components of any artifacts or work of art are:

1. Form 2. Content 3. Process

Form

the literal shape and mass of an object or figure, line, light, color, etc.

Content

the meaning of an image beyond its subject matter

Medium

any materials used to create a work of art

2D

height by width, flat surface

3D

height by width by depth, can be walked around

subject matter

the subject of the artwork

narrative

more than the subject matter, the story of what you see in the art

composition

the organization or arrangement of the formal elements in a work of art

formal elements

the visual tools an artist uses to create a work of art

formal analysis

analyzing the form of the art work

symbolism

the use of symbols to represent the invisible, intangible or abstract

iconography

the study of the significance and interpretation of the subject matter

picture plane

the flat. 2D surface of a work of art, the "window

pictorial depth

the aspect of composition on a 2D plane in with 3D space is depicted

verisimilitude

the quality to state of being the "truth". In the visual arts, this means that something looks life-like or real

naturalism

quality that makes a work of art appear close to or resemble the natural world

representational

resembles something from the natural and visual world around us

realism

artwork that is realist also resembles the natural world but once again realism is a general term and exist on continuum

abstract

rendering of images and objects in a stylized or simplified way, yet they remain recognizable; the formal or expressive aspects are emphasized; non-objective

impasto

thick paint on surface, if you can see the brushstrokes, the artist is painting with a heavy impasto

expressionistic

emphasizes the emotional and psychological content of the work

figurative

means that an artwork depicts or shows something that is recognizable and resembles something in the natural world

style

Unique manner of visual expression that is distinct from others

mixed media

contemporary term, example: my art is 3D paper sculpture

found objects

any sort of natural or manufactured object that is not made by the artist but found by them and put into their artwork

criticism

the art of evaluating or analyzing with knowledge and propriety works of art or literature

visual literacy

being educated in the laguage and terminology of the visual arts

aesthetic

pertaining the the study and appreciation of the beautiful and by extension to the appreciation of any form of art whether it is beautiful or not

organic vs. rectilinear

something organic is curving, rounded, sensuous even and derived from the natural world. Something that is rectilinear is geometric and based on right angles

shaman

a person designated within a group, clan or tribe, who communicates with the spiritual world

sculpture in the round

this is a piece of sculpture that the viewer can walk around

relief sculpture

sculpture that is raised from the background from which it is carved

art history

the study of styles of art and cultures linked to these styles and individuals artist through specific chronological periods

art criticism

looking critically at artworks to find successes and weaknesses

art appreciation

studying the jargon and language attached to the making of artworks, take consideration the successes of weaknesses of individual artworks

studio art

the production of art by artists

light

either implied (an illusion) or it is a real compnent ini the artwork

value

in 2D artworks light is expressed as value which is the relative lightness or darkness in color or black and whate

modeling

the manipulation of light and dark (shadow) to show dimensionality

hatching and cross hatching

a series of parallel lines and cross parallel lines

chiaroscuro

italian for "light and shadow

Ways to express light or shadow on a 2D surface with paint:

Tint: occurs when white is added to a color
Shade: occurs when black is added to a color
Tone: occurs when grey is added to a color

tenebrism

an extreme use of shading

photography, film and tv

all functions of light

Hue

color

value

brightness, or degree of light

saturation

intensity or depth of color

Kind of palettes

Triadic: palette based on the full range of colors around the wheel
Monochromatic: dominant use of one hue
Analogous: use of colors next to each other on the color wheel
Complementary: use of colors limited to those that are opposite each other

Open and Closed Palette

open: broad range of colors
close: limited range of colors

pointillism or divisionism

technique whereby the artist paints dots of color next to each other and the viewer's eyes must mix them

local color

colors as they are in nature

arbitrary color

color as interpreted by the artist for expressive purposes

line

a mark left by moving point, actual or implied and varying direction, thickness and density

line duties:

-define form
-create a focal point or area of emphasis
-framing device
-directional: direct the eye into and through the composition
-stops the eye from entering or leaving the composition

kind of line

1. hatching and cross hatching
2. outlines and contour lines
3. verticals
4. horizontals
5. diagonals
6. implied lines
7. quick curving lines

Outlines and contour line

outlines= flat surface
contour= dimensional

vertical lines

-demonstrate strength
-they're stable
-they're visual stopping point
-in a sense, they are inactive
-they are direct
- they are the position of life

horizontal lines

-restful, peaceful, inactive
-they're soothing and quiet
-you sleep horizontally
-postion of death

diagonal lines

-constantly moving
-full of energy
-unstable
-move the eye perhaps pullet quickly through a composition
-emotional and dramatic because they are constantly moving

implied lines

not a literal line but one that is composed of multiple elements arranged to suggest a line

quick curving lines

-repetitive curving lines that are energetic
-organic
-can establish a rhythm to the composition

gestalt theory

the brain attempts to organize and make sense of information

formal elements of art

-line -color -shape and mass -space -value/light -texture - pattern -time and motion

principles of design

-balance -emphasis or focal point -scale and proportion -repetition or rhythm -unity and variety