art

“Art” means different things to various people. It's been an enigma! Since the age of twelve I wanted to be an "artist". Over the years I had become involved with numerous "art" endeavors: drawings, sculptures, paintings in various media, architectural design, photography, writing, and ceramics. I've even been fortunate to have "art" jobs: art and photography teacher, freelance artist, supervisor of a graphic art department, museum exhibits designer and builder, and art director. In all those experiences and even through educational training beyond the master's degree I could not find a comprehensive definition of..."art". After all, I was an "artist"; but, how could I make claim to this intriguing group with out really knowing what "art" was?

In the early 1990's, I participated in the Improving Visual Art Education Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, which was sponsored by the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Getty Center for the Arts. The conference basically centered around the concept of "Discipline Based Art Education". In this realm arts education is believed to have four basic tenants that should be covered in pedagogy and help give credence to spending constrained budgets on having "arts" in the public school curriculum. These four areas are: history, theory/criticism, aesthetics, and production. It was from this conference that I came up with the design for the MIA PATCH Lesson Plan for the Arts since there was no lesson plan format that I new of that really fit the "arts" education arena. One of the speakers, and I forget her name, was an aesthetics professor from the University of Minnesota. She came the closest to a definition of art that I could agree with, except, for her, art had to have a concrete artifact, an art "object", something tangible to be reviewed through time. But, as many "artists" know, sometimes an artistic creation is designed to be fugitive, non-tangible through time, it must disappear to fulfill its aesthetic intent.

While out jogging one afternoon at the conference it came to me, an epiphany; "There is a simple, comprehensive definition of "art", it's an acronym for itself".

The Aesthetic Rendering of Thought.

In order for Art to exist, the following three (3) criteria must be met. First of all, there must be some sensory manifestation (Rendering), fugitive or permanent, that is based upon a creative, intellectual process (Thought) with the intention of a beautiful or pleasurable (Aesthetic or Anti-aesthetic) action, or reaction, in one or more of the senses and/or psyche.

Encircled within this definition are more than the traditional concepts of "art": painting, sculpture, ceramics, writing, architecture, drama, music, dance, and photography. It's now easier to understand why cooking can be included as an "art" and more than just a craft. Please do not confuse "craft" with "art". Art objects are original creations, one of a kind. Craft, on the other hand, is the fastidious copying, reproduction, of an art object.

Learning airbrush art from books and videos can only take you so far with your art. To take things to the next level and gain some insight straight from an expert, then enroll in an airbrush art workshop. Airbrush art workshops are offered around the world by many expert artists who will show you up close and personal how to create art like a pro. These workshops range from beginners to advanced classes. Each artist and each individual workshop will teach you something new and exciting about the world of airbrush art.

The Learning and Product Expo: Art is one such place to take part in workshops with airbrush experts and gain some hands on experience. While under the supervision of an expert you can quickly learn where you are making some mistakes with your work. Expert instructors include Peter West and Pamela Shanteau who hold classes at the Learning and Product Expo: Art for beginners through to advanced.

AirBrush Action offers their Airbrush Getaway Workshops that run from a one day class to four day classes and are located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The workshops offered cover airbrush t-shirt art, murals on steel introduction, achieving photorealism, pinup art, pin striping and much more on airbrush art. The pricing for AirBrush Action's workshops runs $150 for a one day class and $575 for the four day classes. This is a small price to pay to learn hands on with experts such as Cross-Eyed, Javier Soto, Jonathan Pantaleon and Craig Fraser.

In the UK airbrush art workshops are being offered by Organic Image with instructor Beej Curtis. Beej Curtis instructs on airbrush art in 1 and 2 day classes covering different aspects of airbrush art. Beej Curtis also offers private 1 on 1 lessons for anyone wanting to learn in a more private setting. The private lessons are 3 day classes that will take you from beginner to advanced airbrush art techniques. If you have experience then start where you know and go forward advancing through airbrush art techniques.

Workshops can cover a wide variety of different styles and techniques of airbrush art. Makeup artists that practice airbrush art for makeup sometimes will offer workshops in their salons to teach the art of airbrush makeup. So when interested in learning about how to apply airbrush makeup then look into the websites for artist that practice this form of airbrush art. Usually they will have a place on their website that talks about offered workshops. One such airbrush artist is Suzanne Patterson of Creative artistry. Suzanne Patterson has held several workshops teaching people hands on all about the art of applying airbrush makeup.

With airbrush art is does not matter what your skill level is because there is a workshop out there for you. So even if you have read almost nothing on airbrush art or tried anything with airbrushes then learn all about it in a beginner's airbrush workshop. Find the workshop that works for what you are wanting and needing to learn then get ready to learn hands on from the masters of airbrush art.

What is Art ?

Art is a skilled exercise of human faculties... It refers to the creation of something aesthetically satisfying. According to an idealistic view, art is only completely expressed when material is re-formed, re-created, re-fused, by divine afflatus.(Everymans Encyclopaedia)

In the broadest sense art refers to expressions of spiritual as opposed to material, consciousness of perception... deals with what is beyond , or outside the possibility of demonstrating by mechanical or scientific testing... being concerned with the expression of imagination and the translation of emotion.(Practical Knowledge of Art)

There are , I believe, several things to be considered before classifying something as art. Mainly there are two implications of calling something an art- only a few people possesses the skills required to be called ‘artists’, and even the artists find it difficult to describe their artistry and pass it on only by acting as models to imitate. Teaching & Art In ordinary conversation it is not uncommon for teaching to be referred to as art. Some arrive at this view after considerable thought and it will invariably be based on a carefully developed concept of teaching .

If teaching is considered an art , it goes without saying that it requires long practice for its perfection . Teaching is complex, if we consider the fact that the object in teaching is never static ; it is a living process that is coloured by the past experience as well as the present mood of the learner.

In many ways the teacher is a craftsman. But a true craftsman must be free to express himself within the principles which govern his work. Just as the most original painter is governed by laws of perspective, by laws of colour mixture add by laws of colour perception, so the teacher is governed by the nature of the human material with which he works, by the nature of the material he teaches, and by the ultimate aim which he accepts as the goal of his efforts.

What does an artist working on clay or wood do?

He handles dead material and imparts life to it through his work . He gives the shape he likes, expresses his own ideas and makes the object as he likes. He imposes his will on the material with which he works, and creates an object.

Is teacher an artist?

Well... the teacher doesn’t use the chisel and hammer...yet he makes an impact felt. He creates learning situations ,motivates, arranges conditions for the mind and body to grow, introduces changes in the behaviour pattern, and inspires noble thoughts and feelings.

So... don’t you , dear reader, agree that the teacher is an artist too...???

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Author Profile

The author, C. Praveen an ELT consultant, has been teaching English since 1987. He has specialized in Media-based language teaching and is currently teaching in the Govt. College of Teacher Education, Calicut, South India 673001 .

Email: cpteach@rediffmail.com

For other articles/information please visit the following:

http://cpraveeneduchat.blogspot.com/ http://elteducationabstracts.blogspot.com/ http://cpraveeneltconsultant.blogspot.com/

Art Nouveau is an international style of art, architecture and design that peaked in popularity at the beginning of the 20th century (1880-1914) and is characterized by highly-stylised, flowing, curvilinear designs often incorporating floral and other plant-inspired motifs. Art Nouveau was a concerted attempt to create an international style based on decoration. It was developed by a brilliant and energetic generation of artists and designers, who sought to fashion an art form appropriate to the modern age.

Over the years, there have been many influential artistic movements and Art Nouveau being one of the most popular with the general public. Artists, architects and designers all fell under its spell during the 1880s, producing highly stylized pieces of work. Examples of magnificent buildings in the style can be found all over Europe, particularly in Paris, Prague, Budapest, Barcelona and Berlin. Other locations, such as London, New York City and St. Petersburg also have landmarks in the style.

During the World's Fair in Paris in 1900, the movement was brought a wider audience in fair. Art Nouveau embraced the modern use of technology on materials such as stained glass and wrought iron, which were used extensively in sculpture and functional items. A classic tradition was observed too in the use of motifs from the natural world, such as flowers or insects. Furniture, jewelry, lighting, textiles and posters were all part of the style.

And one of the famous architect of the movement is Antoni Gaudi, and still celebrated today for his eccentric buildings in Barcelona. Gaudi was a man of simple ideas and common sense. In his architecture it fuses structure and decoration. He clearly accepted nature as his guide. His interest in nature was in three dimensional forms, rather than in two dimensional and he was interested primarily in nature’s inner forces, which expressed themselves on the surface. He took the style to new heights, never making a straight line where a wavy one could do the job. His crowning glory was the city cathedral, left unfinished at the time of his death.

Charles Rennie Mackintosh was one of the leading exponents and a designer from Glasgow in Scotland. He brought his distinctive ideas to buildings, furniture and jewelry. Examples of his work are held in museums and his jewelry is constantly copied and sold. The French designer Rene Lalique was also a jewelry maker in the Art Noveau style and he also became famous for his work in glass making.

Well, many artists in the genre remain popular today and none more so than Gustav Klimt. The Austrian specialized in the female figure in paintings, drawings and murals. Some of his paintings have sold for extremely high prices and his work is mass produced in the form of prints, posters and furnishings. Aubrey Beardsley, an English artist and illustrator, is also still popular today. He is mostly known for his posters, drawn in ink and sometimes depicting controversial images.

By the time when the world War 1 was begin, the movement was fade. Times were hard and less expensive materials were favored. A more modernist and less fussy design style came into favor, culminating in the Art Deco movement that would dominate through the 1920s and 1930s. There does remain, however, a nostalgic affection for Art Nouveau and the many expressive people caught up in it.