4 Basic Relationships of Arts

4 Basic Relationships of Arts

• Subject Matter: Themes, topics, or elements represented in an artwork.
  • Non-Figurative: Does not depict recognizable figures; often abstract.
  • Figurative: Depicts recognizable figures.
  • Universal: Broad themes like love, death, nature.
  • Personal: Reflects the artist's experiences, emotions, or identity.
• Representation: A likeness of something.
  • Representational: Subjects easily recognizable from the real world (e.g., portraits, landscapes, still life).
  • Abstract: Subjects that do not directly resemble real things, focusing on shapes, colors, and textures.
• Symbolism: Using symbolic elements to represent deeper meanings (e.g., cultural, religious, or philosophical).
• Cultural and Historical Influences: Subject matter reflecting the time and place of its creation.
• Interaction with the Viewer: Engagement with specific subject matter.

Medium-Specific Considerations

• The medium of an artwork (painting, sculpture, digital art, etc.) affects the subject matter.
• Examples include: Paintings (landscapes, portraits), Photography (everyday moments), Sculptures (abstract forms), Digital art.

Elements of Painting

• Line: A narrow mark made by a brush or the meeting point of two objects; suggests movement.
• Shape: An enclosed area; can be geometric (triangle, square, circle) or organic (found in nature).
• Space (or volume): The area around a solid, balance between positive space (subject) and negative space (surrounding area).
• Texture: The surface quality of a painting.
• Composition: Arrangement of elements within a painting.
• Color (or hue): The most important element; sets the mood and feeling of the artwork.
• Tone or Value: How light or dark a color is without the color.

Elements of Sculpture

• Mass: The bulk or size of a sculpture.
• Space: The air around the solid object of a sculpture.
• Surface: Whether the sculpture is convex, concave, colored, uncolored.

Drawing

• Using tools like pencils, inks, or brushes to create an image.

Colors

• Primary: Red, Yellow, Blue.
• Secondary: Green, Orange, Purple.
• Tertiary: Yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green, yellow-green.
• Warm: Red, Yellow, Orange
• Cool: Blue, Green, Purple
• Analogous: Colors side by side on the color wheel.
• Complementary: Colors opposite on the color wheel.

Performing Arts

• Actors and Designers: Create the characters, visual aspects of the performance.
• Builders/Crews: Construct the sets, make costumes, handle props.
• Stage Managers: Runs the live production.
• House Manager: Admits and seats the audience.
• Playwrights: Write the scripts/plays
• Producer, Director
• Theatre is a collaborative art form involving actors, designers, builders, crews, stage managers, house managers, playwrights, producers, directors.
• Theatre refers to a performance, drama refers to the play.

Types of Dance

• Folk and Ritual Dances: Reflect the beliefs, interests, customs and practices of a specific ethnic group.
• Ballroom Dances: Performances usually in pairs (e.g. ballroom, nightclubs).
• Theatrical Dances: Performances for entertainment in a theater.

Instrumental Music

• Sonata: A long composition for a solo instrument.
• Suite: A series of musical pieces telling a story.
• Symphony: A sonata for an orchestra.
• Concerto: A sonata for solo and orchestra.
• Chamber Music: For two or more instruments.

Vocal Music

• Opera: Drama set to music (using actions, costumes, and scenery).
• Cantata: A story told in music without action; may be secular or religious.
• Oratorio: A form of dramatic music based on biblical or contemplative stories.

Music Classification

• Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, Mezzo-Soprano
• Alto or Contralto
• Mezzo Soprano
• Lyrical Soprano