Visual Arts Basics

Question	Answer
Aesthetics	In the arts, the concept of aesthetics is perceived differently around the world and across cultures. Aesthetics does not only address the rules and principles of beauty but should also include cultural perspectives and perception through the senses.
Identity	In the arts we often explore the self and self-discovery through the concept of identity; however, identity may also refer to the identity of a genre, style, movement, particular artist or place.
Change	The arts may be a reflection of change, or an inspiration for change. Change may be considered as external to the arts or incorporated within an artwork. In the arts, change can also be termed as metamorphosis or transformation—a marked change, in appearance, form, nature or character.
Communication	Communication is often regarded in the arts as a message between the artist and an audience, or between performers. Without intended communication the arts become solely self-expressive.
Creativity	Creativity is the process or ability to make or produce something new and original, often characterised by the use of imagination or divergent thinking. It may be evident in the process as well as the outcome, solution or product
Audience	A group of people who participate in a show or encounter a work of art.
Interpretation	An explanation of the meaning of another's artistic or creative work.
Visual Culture	The aspect of culture expressed in visual images.
Genre	Genre art contrasts with that of landscape, portraiture, still life, religious themes, historic events, or any kind of traditionally idealized subject matter.
Boundaries	Being limited to only a specific or certain genre.
Representation	Representation is the use of signs that stand in for and take the place of something else.
Style	A distinctive manner which permits the grouping of works into related categories." or " any distinctive, and therefore recognisable, way in which an act is performed or an artifact made.
Narrative	Art that tells a story, either as a moment in an ongoing story or as a sequence of events unfolding over time.
Micro & Macro	Innovation in art can be on a macro or micro scale. On a macro scale the use of materials never seen in an art quilt or a unique presentation method is certainly innovative. On a micro level, the fact that you have expressed yourself in a way you have never done so before is also innovative.
Innovation	They improved the way art was created, and made lasting names for themselves.
Expression	An artistic style that departs from the conventions of realism and naturalism and seeks to convey inner experience by distorting rather than directly representing natural images.
Structure	An artistic style that departs from the conventions of realism and naturalism and seeks to convey inner experience by distorting rather than directly representing natural images.
Composition	A composition is the placement or arrangement of visual elements or ingredients in a work of art, as distinct from the subject. It can also be thought of as the organisation of the elements of art according to the principles of art.
Line	A mark made on a surface by a moving point. The element of line has a wide range of qualities and expressive possibilities: curved lines, diagonal lines, dotted lines, straight lines, etc. Lines can vary in width as well as length; they can be thick or thin.
Texture	This term refers to the real or perceived surface quality or “feel” of an object; its roughness, smoothness, softness, etc.
Colour	Whether we see an object as red or brown or yellow is the result of the reflection or absorption of light.
Tone	The degree of light and dark in a design. It is the contrast between black and white and all the tones in between. Value can be used with colour as well as black and white.
Shape	A shape is an enclosed space formed by other elements such as lines or colours; shapes can be geometric or organic. Geometric shapes can be measured and defined, such as squares, circles, and ovals. Organic shapes are the more free-flowing shapes that occur in nature, such as clouds, puddles, and leaves.
Space	Refers to variations in the perspective, and proportions of objects, lines or shapes. There is a variation of sizes in space of objects either real or imagined.
Form	A 3-dimensional object having volume and thickness. It is the illusion of a 3-D effect that can be implied with the use of light and shading techniques. Form can be viewed from many angles.
Typography	Process of printing with type.
Signs	An object, quality, or event whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else.
Symbol	A mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function, or process, e.g. the letter or letters standing for a chemical element or a character in musical notation.
Adaptions	A composition that has been recast into a new form.
Batik	A technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to whole cloth, or cloth made using this technique.
Zentangle	Zentangle is an easy to learn a method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns. It is a fascinating new art form that is fun and relaxing. It increases focus and creativity. Zentangle provides artistic satisfaction and an increased sense of personal well-being.
Collograph	Collagraph is a collage printmaking technique, where the image is composed from a variety of textured materials glued to a cardboard or metal base. This plate or block is then carefully inked and printed through an etching press using thick dampened paper and a great deal of pressure.
Baroque Building	Architectural style originating in late 16th-century Italy. It had its origins in the Counter-Reformation, when the Catholic Church launched an overtly emotional and sensory appeal to the faithful through art and architecture.
Sculpture	Pottery is one of the oldest materials for sculpture, as well as clay being the medium in which many sculptures cast in metal are originally modelled for casting. Sculptors often build small preliminary works called maquettes of ephemeral materials such as plaster of Paris, wax, unfired clay, or plasticine.

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	Created by Eve Mashamba over 7 years ago