Art Appreciation

Understanding Art History, Artists & Culture

What is Art Appreciation?

What We Teach In Our Class Room

Art appreciation is a critical and mindful engagement with works of art. It involves examining and evaluating various forms of art, such as painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, and more, in order to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of their cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.

By learning to appreciate art, we not only gain a greater understanding of the world around us, but we also develop a keener eye for beauty and a more nuanced understanding of the human experience. Whether you are an experienced art enthusiast or just starting your journey, this page is dedicated to helping you deepen your appreciation of art.

Art Lessons Contains

Visual Elements of Art

Line

Freehand lines, Mechanical lines, Continuous lines, Broken lines, Thick lines, Thin lines

Element of Art Line

Line is the foundation of all drawing. It is the first and most versatile of the visual elements in art.

Shapes

Shapes can be employed in art to alter your feelings about a piece’s tone and composition.

Element of Art Shapes

2D and 3D Shapes, Representational Shapes, Abstract Shapes, Positive & Negative shapes, Geometric Shapes, Symbolic & Decorative, Perspective shapes, Transparent, Reflective and Opaque Shapes

Forms

Form is the main visual element in sculpture, 3D design and architecture.

Element of Art Forms

2D and 3D forms, Forms as Carving, Wood Carving, Form as Modelling and Casting, Form as Light and Space, Form as Land Art, Form as Kinetic Art

Space

In a work of art, space refers to a sense of depth or three dimensions.

Element of Art Space

Positive space (the area of the work filled by the topic or subjects), negative space (the region around the subject or subjects), and three-dimensional space

Texture

Surface quality of an artwork – the roughness or smoothness of the material used to create.

Element of Art Texture

We experience texture in two ways: optically (through sight) and physically (through touch).

Value

Value or Tone is the degree of lightness or darkness of a color.

Element of Art Value

Tone As the Contrast of Light and Dark, Tone as Form, Tone As Drama, Tone as Tranquility, Tone as Depth and Distance

Colors

Visual element with greatest emotional impact. Creates mood or atmosphere.

Element of Art Colors

Color as light, tone, pattern, form, symbol, movement, harmony, contrast, mood

Tools you will be using a lot

Visual Principles of Art

Patterns

Principle of Art- Pattern

A regular arrangement of alternated or repeated elements (Shapes, Line, colors) or motifs

Contrast

Principle of Art- Contrast

The Juxtaposition of different elements of Design (for e.g. rough and smooth texture, dark and light values)in order to highlight their differences and / or create visual interest or a focal point.

Emphasis

Principle of Art- Emphasis

Special attention/importance given to one part of a work of art (Eg aa dark shape in light composition) Emphasis can be achieved through placement, contrast, color, size, repetition.. released to focal point.

Balance

Principle of Art- Balance

A Feeling of balance results when the elements of design are arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically to create the impression of equality in weight or importance.

Scale

Principle of Art- Scale

The relationship between objects with respect to size, number, and so on, including the relation between parts of a whole.

Harmony

Principle of Art- Harmony

The arrangement of elements to give the viewer the feeling that all the parts of the piece form a coherent whole.

Rhythm / Movement

Principle of Art- Rhythm

The use of recurring elements to direct the eye through the image; the way the elements are organised to lead the eye to the focal area. The eye can be directed.

Unity

Principle of Art- Unity

All part of an image works together to be seen as whole.

Materials & Tools To create

Art Medium

Art medium refers to the material and tools an artist uses to create a work of art. It can include a wide range of materials such as paint, ink, charcoal, clay, wood, metal, textiles, and digital media. Each medium has unique properties and can be used to create different effects and styles in art.

The choice of art medium depends on the artist’s intentions, style, and the desired outcome of the artwork. For example, an artist may choose oil paint for its vibrant colors and blending ability, or charcoal for its smudgy and textured appearance. They may also experiment with different media to create mixed media art, which combines multiple mediums and techniques to create a unique and complex work of art.

Pencil

CHARCOAL

Acrylic & oil

oil & Soft pastels

watercolor

Craft

Clay

Paper Mache

Stop Motion

GIMP

Lino

wire

Print Media

Digital Publishing

Photo Manipulation

Importance of Art movements

Modern Art Movements

Major Artist, styles and key paintings

Art History Timelines

Our Art History Timelines provide a straightforward description of the major art movements, showcasing prominent artists and paintings from each movement. Understanding a movement or artist’s place in the timeline of art history is essential to appreciating their work completely. Knowing the creative and historical environment in which a piece of modern art was produced is instructive because most contemporary art is a reaction to or development of a prior style in the timeline.

Western Art History

Byzantine Art (330-1450), Gothic Art (1150-1400), Renaissance (1400-1450), Mannerism (1520-1580, Baroque (1600-1700), Rococo (1700-1775),Romanticism (1765-1850), Realism (1840-1880) | Impressionism (1870-1890), Post Impressionism (1885-1905), Fauvism (1905-1910, Cubism (1907-1915), Futurism (1909-1914), Abstract Art (1907-), Dada (1916-1922), Surrealism (1924-1939), Pop Art (1954-1970), Op Art (1964-1970)

Indian Art History

The Rajasthani School Of Painting, The Pahari School Of Painting, The Mughal Painting, The Bengal School of Paintings, Modern trends in Indian Art – Jamini Roy, Amrita Sher Gil, M.F Husain

Art & Culture Around the world

Warli, Bhil, Gond Art, Madhubani Painting, Saura Art, Miniature Painting, Kalihat Paintings, Amate Bark, Huichol, Mola Art (Central America)… And more

Artist Introduction

Artists

An artist’s introduction is important in art appreciation because it provides valuable context for understanding and appreciating their work. Knowing an artist’s background, influences, motivations, and techniques can enhance our understanding of their artistic vision and the meaning behind their works. Additionally, an artist’s biography can shed light on the cultural, social, and historical context in which they created their art, and help us to understand the significance of their contributions to the art world. By understanding the artist’s background and creative process, we can better appreciate the unique qualities of their work and the choices they made in creating it. This can deepen our appreciation and engagement with the artwork, and also help us to recognize the artist’s influence on the broader cultural and artistic landscape. Ultimately, an artist’s introduction can help us to develop a more nuanced and insightful understanding of the art we encounter, and enrich our experience of it.