Introduction to Art Appreciation

Study Notes

Art is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination.
Art typically manifests in a visual form.
Paintings and sculptures are examples of art.
Art produces works primarily appreciated for their beauty or emotional power.
The term "ars" in Latin means "craft or specialized form of skill" (Collingwood, 1938).
In Medieval Latin, "ars" refers to "any special form of book-learning" like grammar, logic, magic, or astrology.
Understanding or recognizing the value of something is an aspect of art.
Feelings of admiration, approval or gratitude are examples of art.
Judgement and evaluation are part of art.
Recognizing good qualities and understanding art is a core component.
Appreciation stems from gaining knowledge.
Art appreciation involves understanding vocabulary, concepts, themes, processes, and materials
Contextual awareness is important.
Appreciation doesn't necessitate liking or loving.
Knowledge and understanding of universal and timeless qualities identify great art.
The more art is appreciated and understood from various eras, movements, styles, and techniques, the better you can develop, evaluate, and improve your own artwork.
"The Arts: An Introduction to the Humanities" (Cerbo et al, 2010) provides definitions of art.

Art involves arranging aesthetic elements in an artistically interesting and appealing way.
Art includes human creations, diverse activities, and manners of expression.

During the Medieval period, the church dominated the expression of spiritual truths.
Visual arts presented figures in idealized 'flat' forms, indicating a lack of focus on the material world.
The Renaissance Period ascribed value to the material world in more defined and realistic renditions of the human body.
In the Renaissance, the material world was shown in the 'three-dimensional' reality of landscapes.
The Modern Period characterizes the idealistic search for truth and accepts relativity.
Varied experimentations mark artistic expressions in the Modern Period.

In the Old Stone Age, people lived in caves and manifested their artistry through drawings and sketching.

Art is universal and timeless, spanning generations and continents.
Artistic age is not a factor in determining art.
Artworks of Rizal and Francisco Balagtas are not read because they are old, but because they are beautifully written
Arts are liked and enjoyed by people continously regardless of origin, time, and place
Art is not nature.
Art expression and interpretation comes from man.
Art, not directed by representation of reality, is a perception of reality.
Art has its reason why the artist made it

Art involves actual doing of something.
All art relies on experience
Radio DJ, Choreographer, Painter, and Sculptor are examples of how people utilize experience in art

Humanities and art have always been part of man's growth and civilization.
Humans have always expressed innermost thoughts and feelings about reality through creating art.
Three assumptions on art are its universality, its not being nature, and its need for experience.
Without experience, there is no art and the artist has to be foremost, a perceiver, who is directly in touch with art.