Art Appreciation Essay

Whatever form of art we see, its main characteristic is to please our senses. Art expresses the feelings of the artist that can be interpreted by us in various ways. This lesson will discuss the different forms of art, its elements and principles of art design that make our life more enriching. Objectives At the end of the lesson, you will be able to: 1. discuss the different forms of art; 2. distinguish the functions of art; and 3. reflect on the functions of art with regard to their personal contributions to the development of art. Topic Scope of Art There are different forms of art that affect our feelings and emotions. We may define art as a medium through which we express our thoughts, feelings and emotions. It is through art that we can reveal to the world our creativity that exists in our mind and also our deepest feelings. The artist or the doer of the art through his artwork tells a story and conveys a meaning with another human being indirectly but deeply felt. Art has a silent power to move our soul and enlighten our spirits as evidenced when we see displayed artworks elsewhere. Many civilizations are considered great because of their advancement in art. There are different forms of art. In this lesson, we consider these two classes: visual art and performing art. Visual art includes paintings, sculpture, literature, calligraphy, photography and architecture. 1 Manual Title MODULE OF INSTRUCTION Performing arts are all forms of dance, music, theater and films. Art can also be classified as fine art, commercial art, and applied art. Visual Arts Visual art can be explained as a form of art that uses any medium to represent the artist’s idea, emotion and imagination. They are those creations we can look at. Visual arts can be further classified as: Drawing –It is a representation of any form or object by hand. Painting – Paintings are classified according to the style in which they are made as well as the genre and main object of the painting. Still life, landscapes, seascapes, abstract and pop are the different types of painting genres that are popular among artists. Sculpture – Sculptures are also among the different forms of art that falls under visual art that are made in two ways, either chiselled or carved. Calligraphy – The art of writing letters in a manner that it looks visually appealing. It is a form of visual art that has great commercial value and is much sought after Photography – Photography is the art of producing an image of an object on a photographic film. The way the image is captured with the use of light differs from photographer to photographer. Performing Arts There are many forms of arts but the performing art is much appreciated and enjoyed by us – dance, music, films, theatre and drama. Artists that perform these are known as dancers for those who perform dance, musicians for music, actors for films, theatres and drama etc. 2 Manual Title MODULE OF INSTRUCTION Performing arts may be classified as: Dance – It is a non-verbal communication and movement of the body with the accompaniment of music which is delightful and harmonious that conveys the artist’s thoughts, feelings and emotions. Singing – This is an act of producing sound with the voice in a rhythmic manner that is pleasing to the ear. It is often accompanied by the use of musical instruments. Films and Theater – These are forms of art that use stories that capture our imagination. They are performed by artists in front of an audience. Music – It is one of the most admired form of art and is difficult to define. It is any harmonious sound from human voice or musical instrument. It has the power to change our mood, and lift our spirits and move our emotion Applied Art Applied art is a part of visual art that has practical application and functionality. Let us discuss the different types of applied art. Architecture – Architecture is a form of applied art that concerns with designing and building any construction. Fashion Design – Fashion design is the art of designing apparels that are aesthetically pleasing as well as functional. It involves working with different types of fabrics and patterns which are then designed into garments. Great fashion designs are illustrated by the uniqueness and perfection of created styles. Jewelry Design – Jewelry design is also a different form of art and it involves the design of complicated pieces of jewelry from metals, wood or plastic. Wood Crafts – Any object that is made with wood that is beautifully pleasing to the eye and is functional is called wood crafts. Furniture and decor items are examples of woodworking. 3 Manual Title MODULE OF INSTRUCTION Interior Design – The art of planning the design, layout and style of an architectural space, be it home or office is called as interior design. Home furnishings are examples of this. Fine Art Esaak(Arthistory. About. Com) said, Art knows no boundaries and the different art forms are always of help whenever we feel the need to stimulate our senses. Fine Arts are called fine arts because, only the â€Å"fine† people – those who did not do manual labor- studied them. Fine arts are those which have primarily to do with the imagination and taste, and are applied to the production of what is beautiful like painting, sculpture, music, theatre etc. Commercial Art Commercial art is a form of art that includes designing books, advertisements, signs, posters, and other displays to promote sale or acceptance of products, services, or ideas. It is really very confusing for us to distinguish the forms of art because some overlap. For example, some people classify painting as visual art, while others say it is â€Å"fine† art. It is also classified as commercial art because it is created for the purpose of generating sales and income. However, for us to have a common understanding about the arts, we rather consider the arts as visual or performing arts. Functions of Art Every art has definite functions as it satisfies particular needs. To the ordinary man, art may not have much function. For him, he finds art meaningful if it is useful and can serve the purpose of which it was designed. Evidently, architecture is an art that is directly functional because of the usefulness of the buildings that are constructed for a special purpose. In here, architecture allows the artist to express his compassion for beauty. In a building, the function of the building is very clear that it serves to shelter man from harm. Music is used entertain people, soothe their feelings, worship the gods and for rituals. Sculpture and paintings are used to narrate and commemorate events and portray people. Arts and crafts like jewelry, lamps, weapons, tools, ceramics, glassware, electronics, etc. are made for specific purposes.