The Artistic Journey

Branches of Visual Art

• The Western tradition does not consider literature as a branch of visual art.

Definition of Arts

• The broader definition of the arts includes literature, music, dance, and theater, in addition to visual arts.

Historical Definition of Art

• Before the 17th century, art was defined as any skilled craft or trade.

Fine Arts vs Acquired Skills

• The fine arts are distinguished from acquired skills in general by their emphasis on creativity and imagination.

Nature of Art

• The nature of art is often associated with creativity, self-expression, and emotional experience.

Charcoal as a Drawing Medium

• A unique quality of charcoal as a drawing medium is its ability to create a range of tonal values and textures.

Advantages of Charcoal for Portrait Drawing

• The main advantage of using charcoal for portrait drawing is its ability to quickly capture the subtleties of facial expressions and skin tones.

Types of Charcoal

• Vine charcoal is a type of charcoal made from charred grapevines, known for its softness and ease of blending.

Importance of Understanding Charcoal

• Understanding the type of charcoal is important for drawing success because different types of charcoal have distinct properties that affect the final result.

Nature of Charcoal

• Charcoal is a fragile, unpredictable, and ephemeral drawing medium that requires skill and control to master.