General Art and Fine Arts ClassesMs. Murray and Ms. McCaffreyCardinal Spellman High School

Introduction to ArtArtwork is a visual expression of an idea

or experience created with skill.Art is a language artist use to express ideas

and feelings that every day words can not express.

To perceive is to become deeply aware through the senses of a special nature of a visual object.

Perception is a sensation to which you attach a meaning to an object or feeling.

The Purpose of ArtThere are 5 Purpose (reasons) why people

create art. Spiritual Educational Personal Physical Social

Spiritual FunctionArtist create art for religious purposes.Examples: Religious paintings done during the

Renaissance, sculptures of religious figures,etc.

Educational FunctionArtwork created for instructional purposes.

To provide visual instruction.Examples: stained glass windows,

illustrations of bible stories, street signs.

Personal FunctionArtwork that is created to express the

feelings and emotions of the artist. Examples: self portraits, paintings that

describe a emotional time in the artist life.

Physical FunctionArtwork created to be used by people. Made

to make life easier in some way.Examples: Clothing, utensils, plates, buildings,

furniture.

Social FunctionArtwork that is produced to reinforce an

enhance a shared sense of identity in a family, community, or civilization.

Examples: yearbook, family portrait, 9/11 memorial, murals done in your community.

The language of Art 3 things all artwork have: Subject- The image the

viewers can easily identify in a work of art.

Non-objective, meaning that there is no recognizable subject matter and it is an arrangement of the elements of art.

Composition- The way in which the principles of art are used to arrange the elements of art.

Content: The message the work communicating. It may be an idea, theme, or emotion. It is up to the view to interpret the artist’s meaning.

Things to look for when viewing art.Credit line: A list of all the important

facts about a work of art. Name of artist

Title of work – Appears in Italics

Year created- date may appear with a “C” in front of it, which stands for circa. This means that the exact year is unknown and that the artwork as created around the given year.

Medium- Materials used to create the artwork.

If one or more material is used it is called mixed media.

Size- 2D Measurements: height and width 3D measurements: Length, height and

width.Location: Where it is currently located,

name of gallery, museum, collection. If the artwork is on loan by a collector or from another museum, their information will be here

The Elements of Art: the basic symbols in the art language, the visual building blocks.

When comparing art to spoken language the elements would be considered the words.

The elements are:Line

ShapeSpaceFormColorValue

Texture

Principles of Art: The rules that govern how artist should organize the elements.

When comparing art to spoken language the elements would be considered the grammar.

The Principles are:Rhythm

MovementBalance

ProportionVariety

EmphasisHarmony

Unity

The Elements of ArtThese are the things that we use to

create artworks. The 6 elements of art are:

LineShape (2 Dimensional)Form (3 Dimensional Shapes)Value (shading)SpaceColor

Line- A line is a dot who went for a walk.

A one dimensional moving point. It can vary in length and width.

ShapeA 2 dimensional closed figure.2 types of Shapes

Regular: Shapes that have names, and are mathematically created. Square, Circle, Triangle.

Free Form/Organic: Shapes that do not have a name and are found in nature.

FormA 3 dimensional shape. Showing depth.Examples: Cone, Sphere, Cylinder, Cube.

ValueThe lightness or darkness of an object.Creates the illusion of being 3 dimensional

SpaceThe area around, above, below, within an

object.2 Types of Space

Positive space: The area taken up by the object.

Negative space: The empty space around or within an object.

ColorAn element of art that is derived from

reflected light.Color has 3 properties: Hue, value and

intensity.

The Principles of ArtThese are the rule used to arrange the

elements of art. The 8 Principles are: Balance Movement Emphasis Variety Contrast Proportion Harmony Unity

BalanceThe equalization of visual elements.2 Types of BalanceSymmertical balance: 2 halves of

an image are balanced by being identical mirror images.

Asymmetrical balance: the balance of unlike objects.

MovementUsed to create the look and feeling of action and to guide the viewers eye through the artwork.

EmphasisOne part of a work becomes dominate over the other parts. Being noticed by the viewer first.

VarietyThe differences and contrasts with in an artwork.

Artwork that is too much of the same thing can become boring. Adding similar things of different sizes and shapes etc. make it more interesting to look at.

ContrastThe differences in Elements.

Examples: Large/ small light/dark

ProportionThe size relationship of one part to another part.

Proportion used when creating clothing. All pieces of the clothing are proportionate to your body.

Size relationships can be exaggerated to create a cartoon effect. Example Caricature.

HarmonyCreates unity by stressing the similarities of separate but related parts.

UnityThe quality of wholeness or oneness.

Everything looks complete and belongs together.