The source of the term art is the Latin word ars, which meant “skill.” Although this is the oldest meaning of art, it is no longer the most common meaning. For us, the realm1 of the arts suggests creative endeavors2 and includes an entire range of activities classified as cultural. These creative arts are often subdivided into the broad categories of the performing arts, the literary arts, and the visual arts.
However, most people assume art means visual art, art that we experience primarily through our sense of sight. We define the visual arts to include the artistic media of painting, sculpture, and architecture, as well as outstanding examples of drawing, printmaking, photography, design, digital art, decorative arts, and crafts3. They are usually subdivided into the fine arts (such as painting, printmaking and sculpture) and the applied arts (such as architecture and design). For centuries, in Western art, paintings and sculptures have usually been seen as a higher form of artistic production than applied or useful arts, such as book illustration or wallpaper. However, for the last one hundred years or so, this distinction4 has not been as important. In Eastern art, there has never been such a division.
A work of fine art is usually an original, or creation. Each work of art is the result of the artist’s personal effort, the touch of his or her hands, the fresh invention of the artist’s mind, spirit, and talent. There are exceptions to this rule. Prints, whether traditional or digital, for instance, are produced in a series from an original “plate” or digital image designed by the artist. Photographs, which were once thought of as mere mechanical reproductions of reality, have also been elevated to the status of fine art. Although their artistic merit has been recognized, however, prints and photographs are usually less valued and less expensive than drawings, paintings, or sculptures by the same artists. This reflects the fact that the work is not unique; it has been duplicated. A black-and-white print by a great photographer, however, is far more valuable than the painting of a mediocre5 artist.
When artists create useful or functional objects, such as ceramic pots, glass vases, silver bowls, woven rugs, and even wooden chairs, these are typically put in the category of crafts and decorative arts. The term crafts is also often used to describe contemporary objects that are handmade. Craft art is perhaps the most popular way of appreciating and practicing art in our society. While some art historians and critics still think that such things as jewelry should not be considered art at all, attitudes are changing. Imaginative metal, fiber, and woodwork are now generally included in international surveys of design.
What about functional items that are mass-produced6? Are they part of the world of visual arts? A broad definition of art would certainly include manufactured objects that are well designed. This field of art is known as industrial design. An industrial designer must understand both art and engineering. Industrial design is the aesthetic refinement of products, making functional engineering solutions easy to use and understand, and attractive. The phrase “user-friendly” neatly conveys the goal of all industrial designers.
Graphic design, sometimes called commercial art, includes two-dimensional designs that are mass-produced, such as logos, magazine layouts, decorative posters, and the cover of the book. Much thought and effort goes into every aspect of logo, since it represents the company.
Adapted from The Power of Art, p.26-29
The source of the term art is the Latin word ars, which meant “skill.” Although this is the oldest meaning of art, it is no longer the most common meaning. For us, the realm1 of the arts suggests creative endeavors2 and includes an entire range of activities classified as cultural. These creative arts are often subdivided into the broad categories of the performing arts, the literary arts, and the visual arts.
However, most people assume art means visual art, art that we experience primarily through our sense of sight. We define the visual arts to include the artistic media of painting, sculpture, and architecture, as well as outstanding examples of drawing, printmaking, photography, design, digital art, decorative arts, and crafts3. They are usually subdivided into the fine arts (such as painting, printmaking and sculpture) and the applied arts (such as architecture and design). For centuries, in Western art, paintings and sculptures have usually been seen as a higher form of artistic production than applied or useful arts, such as book illustration or wallpaper. However, for the last one hundred years or so, this distinction4 has not been as important. In Eastern art, there has never been such a division.
A work of fine art is usually an original, or creation. Each work of art is the result of the artist’s personal effort, the touch of his or her hands, the fresh invention of the artist’s mind, spirit, and talent. There are exceptions to this rule. Prints, whether traditional or digital, for instance, are produced in a series from an original “plate” or digital image designed by the artist. Photographs, which were once thought of as mere mechanical reproductions of reality, have also been elevated to the status of fine art. Although their artistic merit has been recognized, however, prints and photographs are usually less valued and less expensive than drawings, paintings, or sculptures by the same artists. This reflects the fact that the work is not unique; it has been duplicated. A black-and-white print by a great photographer, however, is far more valuable than the painting of a mediocre5 artist.
When artists create useful or functional objects, such as ceramic pots, glass vases, silver bowls, woven rugs, and even wooden chairs, these are typically put in the category of crafts and decorative arts. The term crafts is also often used to describe contemporary objects that are handmade. Craft art is perhaps the most popular way of appreciating and practicing art in our society. While some art historians and critics still think that such things as jewelry should not be considered art at all, attitudes are changing. Imaginative metal, fiber, and woodwork are now generally included in international surveys of design.
What about functional items that are mass-produced6? Are they part of the world of visual arts? A broad definition of art would certainly include manufactured objects that are well designed. This field of art is known as industrial design. An industrial designer must understand both art and engineering. Industrial design is the aesthetic refinement of products, making functional engineering solutions easy to use and understand, and attractive. The phrase “user-friendly” neatly conveys the goal of all industrial designers.
Graphic design, sometimes called commercial art, includes two-dimensional designs that are mass-produced, such as logos, magazine layouts, decorative posters, and the cover of the book. Much thought and effort goes into every aspect of logo, since it represents the company.
Adapted from The Power of Art, p.26-29
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