Art (Visual)
From pictures on the wall to statues in public spaces to jewellery, we are surrounded by the visual arts. People have been using visual art for centuries to beautify their lives, give pleasure and inspiration, and for personal expression. Visual artists use different media to express ideas, concepts and opinions and to reflect aspects of our lives. Looking at a work of art and asking, what is this about? what is the artist trying to express? why have they chosen to present it in this way? - can help us to see things in a different light.
The first visual artists that we know of were prehistoric cave dwellers, who used vegetable dyes to draw simple pictures on their cave walls. These paintings, depicting people hunting animals and carrying out daily activities, give valuable clues as to how people might have lived thousands of years ago.
Art History is the study of visual art from those prehistoric paintings up to the present. You can study Art History at school and university, and through studying art, you can also learn about the society and people of the time.
As civilization has progressed, visual art has been used to record and celebrate significant events, such as the death of an important person or a war; and as societies became secure and settled, functional objects, such as vases and clothing, became decorative art objects as well.
Ancient Art
Ancient societies such as the Egyptians had a rich artistic culture, producing statues, lavish jewellery, friezes (wall paintings) and hieroglyphics (pictorial writing). The opening of great tombs, where Pharaohs were buried in ornate coffins surrounded by sculptures and other art works, has revealed many of these treasures.
During the Classical era, (around 1100BC to 200AD) Greek and Roman art conformed to an accepted ideal of beauty, emphasising harmony, balance and simplicity. The Acropolis in Athens contains many remnants of sculptures from Greek times, and all over Europe there are huge statues, grand triumphal arches and other reminders of the Greek and Roman days of power. A lot of sculpture, pottery, jewellery and mosaics have survived from this period.
Meanwhile, in the East
All over the world, people developed their own artistic traditions. In Asia (stretching from India across China to Japan and down to Indonesia in the south) there were many early civilisations that produced beautiful works of art, including sculpture, pottery, jewellery, weaving and painting. Each area developed its own styles and techniques.
Emerging from the Dark Ages
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In the 1400s, Europe began to enter an age of enlightenment, known as the Renaissance (French for "rebirth"). During this period (around 1400 to 1600), the power of the church diminished and was replaced by science as a way of understanding the world. People became interested in exploring and studying the world around them.
The paintings of Giotto di Bondone (1267-1337) typifies the transition from the simple techniques of the Byzantine era to the return to classical ideals that strived for balance and harmony; the writer Boccaccio said that Giotto brought the art of painting "back to light" after centuries of darkness.
This shift in thinking contributed to huge developments in artists' techniques: the concept of perspective (how to show three dimensions on a flat surface) and the close study of human anatomy lead to a more realistic style of painting and sculpture. Some of the great artists of this era were:
- Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) - artist, vegetarian and inventor
- Michelangelo (1475-1564)
- Raphael (1483-1520)
These artists worked in large studios, with apprentices who helped on large-scale paintings and frescoes (murals) and they were often supported by wealthy patrons.
The Renaissance era was followed by the dramatic Baroque style (artists including Caravaggio and Rubens) and in the eighteenth century Rococo, a reaction to the grandiose Baroque, that was elegant and highly decorative.
A Challenge to Paint
The invention of photography in the 1800s challenged painting's position as the dominant visual art medium. The photographer could create a realistic portrait or record a scene exactly, much quicker than it could be painted. As a result, painters were freed up to explore abstract ideas. The biggest movement to grow from this was Impressionism, lead by Claude Monet. The Impressionists were interested in light and colour, and how fleeting visual impressions could be captured in paint.
Entering the 20th century, visual artists began to develop distinct styles, techniques and philosophies. Some of these movements are:
- Cubism - concerned with shape and form, fragmentation and multiple perspectives
- Surrealism - exploring the unconscious worlds of dream and nightmare;
- Pop Art - a response to the materialism of the 1950s, subverting the techniques of mass media and advertising
As technology takes us into the future, the boundaries of visual art are expanding. Multimedia projects combine film, video, theater, sound and other media, and on the internet visual artists are exploring how they can work online.
The artists and movements we've talked about are just a tiny sample of the world of Art History; and every culture has its own traditions and styles.
Art History is the academic study of art and artists, while Fine Art is the practical side - creating visual art. If you are interested in the visual arts, visiting art galleries and museums is a good way to learn about different styles and media, see what other artists are doing, and gain inspiration.
If it's difficult for you to get to galleries and museums, don't despair! - there are plenty of art galleries online for you to visit, such as:
- The Louvre (Paris)
- The Museum of Modern Art (New York)
- Tate Gallery (London)
Different Media
An artistic "medium" is simply the combination of materials and techniques used to present an idea; it could be an oil painting, an enamel brooch, a film or a web site. Most artists find they are naturally drawn to a particular medium, such as sculpture, or photography, and will specialise in that medium. However when you are starting out, it's useful to explore many different media then choose which suits you best.
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- painting
- sculpture
- drawing or sketching
- print making
- photography
- fibre arts (such as weaving, tapestry, screen printing)
- crafts (such as pottery, wood turning, ceramics)
- jewellery
- carving
- film and video
- graphic design
The term "multimedia" generally refers to digital arts, film, television and computer graphics; broadly, it describes a work that uses more than one medium.
Painting, sketching, printing and photography generally produce two-dimensional (flat) works of art, while sculpture, fibre arts and crafts are 3-dimensional and textural - such as the huge stone Sphinx in Egypt, or a Victorian tapestry.
Two dimensional art
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Painting is very popular, partly because it doesn't require any special equipment: you just need paint, something to apply it with (brushes, fingers, etc) and a ground (paper or canvas) to be able to create your own painting. Using different kinds of paint (such a oils or water colours), brushes and techniques enables the painter to create different effects.
Usually painters draw or sketch a picture before they begin to apply the paint; sketching can also produce a finished artwork. Cartoons, portraits and book illustrations are often sketches.
Printing involves first creating block or stamp, showing your picture in reverse, applying ink or paint to the block, and then transferring the picture to paper or material. Lino-cuts and metal etchings are usually put through a hand-turned printing press, while block prints are simply stamped on. Block printing is common throughout Asia, and many different cultures have their own techniques for printing designs onto material.
Photography is another popular form of visual art. Depending on the kind of camera you choose to use, the real skill in photography is capturing a feeling or moment, with the composition of elements within the picture and by being in the right place at the right time. There are many web sites that give advice about how to take a good photo, and have information on developing your own film. While it's expensive to set up a darkroom, once you have mastered the basics you can experiment and extend the creativity of photography beyond the click of the shutter.
Body and texture
Sculptors use clay, metal, stone, wood and other materials to create objects of all sizes, shapes and colours. Often they will have a special workshop, fitted out with the necessary equipment; for example, a stone sculptor will make a amount of dust and mess, they might need water and power-tools to carve hard stone, and they may also need protective clothing such as goggles and gloves.
The fibre arts incorporate all works of art created using soft fabrics, and crafts include a huge variety of handiwork. Often these arts are seen more as hobbies, simply because of the huge numbers of people that enjoy crafts in their spare time. This doesn't mean that it's not art; it means it's something that's easy for people to do at home, materials are accessible, and it might also be a way of meeting others and socialising.
Screens and Monitors
As technology has progressed over the last two hundred years we have seen the emergence of new forms of visual arts. Following photography came the invention of the moving image, or film, and today we have video and computer graphics. Designers and artists are using sophisticated computer programmes to create web sites, CD-ROMs and digital art projects.
Human Environments
Architecture, interior design and landscape architecture are the arts of creating visually interesting and attractive environments for people to live and work in. They are not usually described as "fine arts", but they are nonetheless about creating visual presentations. Set design, for theater and film, is another medium that can be included in visual arts.
