Visual Arts: Why Study Art?

Study Notes

Fundamental components include line, shape, value, color, space, texture, and form.
These elements combine to create composition and convey meaning.

Basic element; can be straight, curved, angular, or organic.
Varying thickness can convey direction, movement, value, and texture.
Line art utilizes techniques like hatching or cross-hatching to simulate light and shadow.

Two-dimensional forms with defined outlines; can be geometric or organic.
Complex shapes attract more attention than simple ones; larger shapes have greater visual weight.
Example: William Morris used repeated complex shapes for intricate patterns.

Refers to the lightness or darkness of a color, crucial for depth and perspective.
Created by mixing black or white with a color; related to Denman Ross's value scale (1=white, 9=black).
Chiaroscuro technique utilized by artists like Caravaggio highlights contrasting light and dark.

Essential for bringing vitality to art; perception based on hue, saturation, and luminance.
Primary colors (red, blue) mix to form secondary and tertiary colors.
Colors evoke emotions and can express the artist's state; color theory explores these applications in art.

A diverse range of tools, equipment, and materials are essential in Art/Design and Communication.
These materials can be costly and require proper care; students share supplies and must handle them responsibly.
Craftspeople and artists utilize various tools creatively, affecting the final object or design.

Dry Materials: Examples include pencils and charcoal, which can be used independently or in combination for richer textures.
Coloured Pencils: Used for fine lines and shading; artists can blend and layer different colours creatively.
Charcoal: An ancient drawing medium made from burnt wood, available in various forms (e.g., pencil, compressed sticks). Differences in hardness produce varied effects.
Conté: A compressed chalk that comes in various densities and only in earth tones (white, black, browns, greys, rust).
Oil Pastels: Compressed chalk with oil, available in numerous colours; layering can create soft, blended effects.

Wet Materials: Include ink and paint, which can be mixed for complex textures.
Felt Pens and Markers: Suitable for layout and design, but transparency limits their effectiveness for large colour areas.
India Ink: Conventional black ink used for drawing, especially in comics. It can be diluted for wash effects and applied with various tools (nib pens, brushes).
Types of Paint: Artists select paint based on colour, effects, drying time, and the surface used.