ART IN VARIOUS FORMS OF NATURE

Nature in art can take many visual forms, from photorealism to abstraction. Art can
mimic nature, by seeking to visually replicate objects as they actually appear in real life. But
abstract paintings can also take their visual cue from actual forms in nature, such as the
painting below.

Photorealism is a genre of art that encompasses painting, drawing and other graphic
media, in which an artist studies a photograph and then attempts to reproduce the
image as realistically as possible in another medium.

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Hyperrealism is a genre of painting and sculpture resembling a high-resolution photograph.
Hyperrealism is considered an advancement of photorealism by the methods used to create
the resulting paintings or sculptures.

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• The term “art” is related to the Latin word “ars” meaning, art, skill, or craft.
• The first known use of the word comes from 13th-century manuscripts.

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SECONDLY, KNOWING WHAT THE ELEMENTS OF ART ARE ENABLES US TO:
1. Describe what an artist has done
2. Analyse what is going on in a particular piece
3. Communicate our thoughts and findings using a common language.

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Unity: Do all the parts of the composition feel as if they belong together, or does something
feel stuck on, awkwardly out of place?
Balance: Balance is the sense that the painting "feels right" and not heavier on one
side. Having a symmetrical arrangement adds a sense of calm, whereas an asymmetrical
arrangement creates a more dynamic feeling. A painting that is not balanced creates a sense
of unease.
Movement: There are many ways to give a sense of movement in a painting, such as the
arrangement of objects, the position of figures, the flow of a river. You can use leading lines
(a photography term applicable to painting) to direct the viewer's eye into and around the
painting. Leading lines can be actual lines, such as the lines of a fence or railroad, or they can
be implied lines, such as a row of trees or curve of stones or circles.
Rhythm: In much the same way music does, a piece of art can have a rhythm or underlying
beat that leads your eye to view the artwork at a certain pace. Look for the large underlying
shapes (squares, triangles, etc.) and repeated color.
Focus (or Emphasis): The viewer's eye ultimately wants to rest on the "most important" thing
or focal point in the painting, otherwise the eye feels lost, wandering around in space.
Contrast: Paintings with high contrast—strong differences between light and dark, for
example—have a different feel than paintings with minimal contrast in light and dark, such as
in Whistler Nocturne series. In addition to light and dark, contrast can be differences in
shape, color, size, texture, type of line, etc.
Pattern: A regular repetition of lines, shapes, colors, or values in a composition.
Proportion: How things fit together and relate to each other in terms of size and scale;
whether big or small, nearby or distant.
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What is contrast in art?

Contrast in art is the technique of using unlike visual elements in juxtaposition to create
meaning and intensify the characteristics of the work.
Artists utilize various elements at their disposal to create contrast such as shadows, light,
color, size, and composition.
Contrast has often been called the golden rule for creating art as it is one of the best tools to
engage a viewer and create meaning within a single work.

What is contrast in art created from?

1. Complementary colors
2. Light and dark
3. Contrasting sizes

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ACTIVITY

Tell a story from the picture – contrast understanding of the picture.

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Art as a Reflection of Society: Understanding the Cultural Impact

Art has always shared an intricate relationship with society, serving as both a mirror and a
catalyst for cultural change.
Through its various forms and movements, art provides a lens through which we can
analyze the values, beliefs, and aspirations of a society at any given time.

Art Movements Through the Ages

1. The Renaissance, often regarded as the rebirth of humanism and expression.

2. The Romanticism movement emerged, driven by a deep appreciation for emotion,
nature, and imagination.
3. Artists sought to express their innermost feelings and explore the sublime through
works that captured the beauty of landscapes and the depths of human passion.
4. The onset of Modernism shattered traditional boundaries and ushered in a bold era of
experimentation.
5. Artists rejected the conventions of classical art, pushing the boundaries of style, form,
and subject matter. This movement embraced the radical, the unconventional, and the
avant-garde, facilitating a paradigm shift in artistic expression.
1. Postmodernism, with its emphasis on deconstruction and pluralism, further
dismantled the notion of a single, definitive truth.
2. Artists delved into the realms of irony, pastiche, and self-referential, provoking critical
thinking and challenging established structures of power.

POLITICS AND PROPAGANDA IN ART

 During the Civil Rights Movement, artists embraced their craft as a means to
shed light on racial injustice, demand equal rights, and challenge the prevailing
racist ideologies of the time.
Through their artwork, they amplified the voices of the marginalized, sparking
empathy, and inspiring societal change.

Digital Art and Its Impact on Society

• The rise of digital art has revolutionized the way society consumes and
engages with artwork.
• Virtual reality technology has redefined the boundaries of artistic creation,
offering immersive experiences that transcend the limitations of traditional
mediums.
• However, as technology advances, ethical concerns arise, particularly with AI-
generated art.
• The use of artificial intelligence to create art raises questions of authenticity,
creativity, and authorship. The ethical implications surrounding AI-generated
art demand a careful examination of the role of technology in shaping artistic
expression and its impact on human creativity and labor.
MUSEUMS AS CULTURAL GATEKEEPERS
 • Curatorial decisions have the power to reflect cultural bias and subjective
interpretations, potentially nurturing exclusionary narratives.
• Therefore, it becomes crucial for museums to strive for inclusivity, diverse
representation, and a balanced portrayal of various artistic perspectives.
• The return of stolen artifacts to their rightful owners signifies not only a
rectification of historical injustices but also a commitment to preserving
cultural integrity and fostering global collaboration.
Art and culture also provide a commanding and democratic way of sharing,
shaping, and expressing human values. art and culture serve as part of the basis
for shaping the values we have,
A sense of community or belonging
Affiliation
Self-acceptance
Creativity
Self-respect
Equality
Unity
Nature
Freedom
 What is Cultural Diversity in Art?

Cultural diversity in art refers to the variety of artistic expressions that originate from
different cultures. It's about acknowledging that art isn't a one-size-fits-all concept; it
varies greatly depending on the cultural context.
For example, the bold colors and geometric patterns you might see in an African Kente
cloth are a stark contrast to the subtle ink washes of a traditional Japanese Sumi-e
painting. Both, however, are equally art — they just reflect different cultural aesthetics and
values.
 How to Identify Cultural Diversity in Art

Color and pattern: Many cultures have specific color and pattern associations
that can be seen in their art.
Symbolism: Art often includes symbols or motifs that have significant cultural
meanings.
Materials: The materials used can also provide clues about a culture. For
example, the use of jade in Chinese art or terracotta in ancient Greek art.

Colors and patterns can speak volumes about a culture.

Patterns, too, can reflect cultural values.
The repetitive, intricate designs in Islamic art, for example, are a testament to
the Islamic belief in the infinite nature of God.

Symbols are another powerful tool artists use to represent cultural diversity.
From the Celtic knots found in Irish art to the dragons in Chinese art, symbols
provide a way for artists to express cultural beliefs, stories, and values.
But remember, the meaning of a symbol can change dramatically depending
on its cultural context, so it's always worth taking the time to understand the
symbolism involved.
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Rays of light and the eye
The basic elements of perspective drawing :

The horizon line

The horizon line is always at the eye level of the viewer. However, viewers can have different
heights, which means the height of the horizon line will shift.
That is why a distinction is made among three different perspectives:
1. The bird’s-eye view,
2. The normal perspective (based on ourselves),
3. Worm’s-eye view.
Although the earth is round, the horizon line appears to us as a clear separation
between the ground and the sky. Usually it is covered by trees, hills, or buildings
and we don’t consciously notice it.
Only looking at the ocean clearly shows us the horizon line.
The horizon line plays an important role in drawings. It demarcates the ground,
which represents the foundation for us.

The vanishing points and vanishing lines

The vanishing point is where all parallel lines intersect and is always on the horizon line.
Single point perspective Two-point perspective
Three-point perspective

In the two-point If you want to give the viewer

All vanishing lines lead to a of your picture the feeling of
central point. The horizontal perspective, also known as
height and depth, you can
and vertical lines, however, the corner perspective, add another vanishing point.
remain parallel to each there are two vanishing All vertical lines lead to this
other. points along the horizon point. It is an extension of the
line. two-point perspective.
What is scale and proportion?

Scale refers to the size of an object (a whole) in relationship to another object (another
whole).
In art the size relationship between an object and the human body is significant.
In experiencing the scale of an artwork we tend to compare its size to the size of our own
bodies.

Proportion refers to the relative size of parts of a whole (elements within an object). We
often think of porportions in terms of size relationships within the human body.
Michelangelo's sculpture David represents the
Renaissance emphasis on the ideal, based on the
ancient Greek model of the ideal: rationality
reflected in the portrayal of perfection in the
human body.

The scale of this overwhelming figure is larger than

life: over 13 feet tall.
In addition it is placed on a pedestal taller than the
average human, so that the sculpture towers far
above the viewer.
This gives it a sense of godlike grandeur.

The proportions within the body are based on

an ancient Greek mathematical system which
is meant to define perfection in the human
body.
 Scale in art
An artwork has a physical size; when referring to an artwork's size, we use the
term scale.
Scale is more than simply the object's size, however.
It is the size of the art object in relation to another object.
The relative size of the artwork is always compared to the size of the human body--
life-sized, miniature, enormous--are all terms that use the human body as a size
reference.
The Great Wall of China: scale as expression of power

The Great Wall of China, near Beijing in July 2006, a section of

Mutianyu.
Traditional Chinese Jade Sculpture: the scale of
humans in the world
Proportions of the human body as a reflection of cultural ideology

Proportion
Proportion in Art

Proportion is the relative size of parts

within a whole. The human body is an
effective example of the design
principle.

This famous drawing is based on the

geometrically calculated ideal human
proportions described by the ancient
Roman architect Vitruvius in Book III of
his treatise De Architectura.
According to Vitruvius the human
figure was the primary source of
proportion used in Classical orders of
architecture.
Perfect Proportion: The Golden Ratio, the Golden Mean, or Fibonacci's Spiral

A Fibonacci spiral which approximates the golden spiral, using Fibonacci sequence square
sizes up to 34.
The golden ratio is a mathematical
proportion based
on pi (1.618033988749895...) and is
used to define aesthetically pleasing
proportions in art and architecture.

It can be derived with a number of

geometric constructions, each of which
divides a line segment at the unique
point where the ratio of the whole
line to the large segment is the same as
the ratio of the large segment to
the small segment.
The ratio is found in within all of the
natural world