The word art conjures up images of dark lecture halls and dry textbooks, but it doesn’t have to be this way. In fact, teaching students about art is a great way to get them engaged and interested in history, culture, and society as a whole!
The subject of art is vast and can encompass many different forms such as paintings, sculptures, drawings, architecture, and even dance. It can be used to express ideas and emotions, to convey a message, or to create a sense of place or time. Art can be found in every culture around the world and serves a variety of functions in society.
It can be used to make people laugh, it can be a symbol of power, or it can be a reminder of beauty and harmony in the world. Art has a unique ability to communicate so much about the human experience and it can inspire us in ways that we may not have realized.
A lot of the meaning in an artwork is subjective and up to the viewer, but there are some basic guidelines that can be used to help define what makes something art. Some of the most important factors to consider are the form, color, and emotion. Form refers to the way in which the work is constructed and can include things such as proportion, balance, and movement. Color can be a very powerful force in an artwork as it can create certain feelings or moods and is often used to communicate a specific idea. Movement can also be a strong element in an artwork and is often achieved through the use of contrasting lines, shapes, or colors. Emotion can be a strong factor in an artwork and can be expressed through a wide range of techniques including shading, lighting, or even just the size of a figure.
Once a person has determined what an artwork is, they can begin to analyze it for more information. A typical analysis will involve examining the work’s elements, making connections, and sharing one’s own interpretation. This is a great activity to do when a class is studying an artwork as it forces the students to really examine the piece and think about what they see.
One of the best resources to use when analyzing an artwork is a glossary of art terms. This can be a huge help to students and teachers alike as it will provide them with the vocabulary that they need to fully understand an artwork. A great resource is the Tate Glossary of Art Terms. It provides definitions for all of the most common art terms that are used in this field and is easy to navigate.