The Nature of Art and Creativity Chapter 1

Her Secret is Patience; Janet Echelman

What is art? A work of art is the visual expression of an idea or experience formed with skill through the use of a medium. Define medium (plural media) What do we call an artwork made with a combination of different media?

Barnett Newman Cathedra 1951 96”x213”

Barnett Newman Cathedra 1951 96”x213”

Fountain; Marcel Duchamp

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Albert Einstein creativity Imagination is more important than knowledge. Albert Einstein

Creativity The ability to bring forth something new that has value. Mere novelty is not enough; the new thing must have some relevance, or unlock some new way of thinking. Everyone has the potential to be creative, most of us have not been encouraged to be to be creative. Creativity is an attitude.

5 Traits that define creativity 1: Associating: ability to make connections across seemingly unconnected fields. 2: Questioning: Persistently questioning the status quo. Asking why things function as they do and how can they be changed. 3: Observing: Intently watching the world around, without judgments, in search of new insights or ways of operating. 4: Networking: Being willing to interact with others, and learn from them, even if their views are radically different or their competencies seem unrelated. 5: Experimenting: Exploring new possibilities by trying them out, building models and taking them apart for further improvement.

Trained vs. untrained VS. Folk artist Trained Artist: Artist with formal artistic training. Originally received training by being apprenticed to masters in their workshop. Modern definition: An artist who has received training at a college, university or art school.

Trained vs. untrained VS. Folk artist Untrained Artist: Artist with little to no formal art education. Also known as Outsider Artist. African Village Joe Minter

Trained vs. untrained VS. Folk artist Folk artists: untrained artist who work within a tradition. Minnie Adkins

Trained vs. untrained VS. Folk artist Linville Barker

Trompe l’oeil (“tromp loy”) “fool the eye” artwork of extreme realism Art and reality Representational Art (also objective or figurative art): Presents again or represents objects we recognize from the everyday world. The objects in representational art are called subjects. Trompe l’oeil (“tromp loy”) “fool the eye” artwork of extreme realism

William harnett

Abstract art Works that depict natural objects in simplified, distorted or exaggerated ways. The artist changes the objects natural appearance in order to emphasize or reveal certain properties.

nonrepresentational No specific reference outside itself. Also known as nonobjective or nonfigurative. Using lines, shapes and colors to create a composition.

Looking vs. seeing Degrees of visual awareness. Looking- Purely mechanical, minimal interaction. Seeing- Going beyond the simple functional act of look to truly grasp the essence of the object.

Creating a mental picture. Visual Thinking Creating a mental picture.

Perception vs. awareness Perception: To become aware of something through the senses, particularly sight and hearing. Awareness: To be conscious, to know something and to understand through that awareness.

Form: What we see. Content: What it means. Form vs. content Form: What we see. Content: What it means.

The symbolic meaning of signs, subjects and images. iconography The symbolic meaning of signs, subjects and images.

The Knight, death and the devil; Durer