Fine Arts

What is Art? Art is a visual language. It is a communication tool, used for expression. We have all grown up in a visual world, surrounded by images created by other people for us to look at. Art is all around us in hundreds of different forms and we have learned to interpret, understand and make meaning of it all. A single image can communicate a vast amount of information to its viewers without any text or explanation. Much like literature, art offers great insight into the culture of a group of people or of a certain period of time.

Artists are creative thinkers who use visual information as a way to communicate their ideas to others. They use images, shape, color, line and texture to express messages, ideas, feelings and stories to the world. An artist is someone who has something to share—perhaps with the agenda of getting others to see something from a new and different perspective. Artists invite viewers to observe their work and react. In this way, an artist is speaking to an audience and waiting for a response.

Artists are driven by different purposes and each have a personal voice. Some may create to express humor, some beauty in unusual things, some to disturb. An artist may want you to consider a different life perspective. An artist may want to bring you into her personal nightmares to feel what she feels. Perhaps he has a political agenda, or she wants to get you to think about the society that you live in from a different viewpoint. He might hope to awaken a child-like fantasy or to give you a new found appreciation for detail in something ordinary. Some artists may want to frustrate you, confuse you, make you uncomfortable, or even get you to rethink what art really is. Artists create for a reason and have an audience in mind, just like writers write with a purpose and intend for their words to be read.

To be an artist is to share your vision and better yet—to do it in a way that has not yet been done before! An artist is an inventor, an innovator, a story-teller, a revealer, a controller of emotions, one who evokes. An artist communicates through visual means, asks others to interpret the work and invites a response. The response may be large or small, exclaimed out loud, or thoughtfully kept inside—but it is still a reaction. To be an artist is no small task and with it, comes great power. So young artists, grab someone’s attention, and once you have it, say something!

The 8 Studio Habits of Mind are skills that are developed in an art class

- They will help you develop into a stronger artist

- They will help you in nearly all other career fields and aspects of life

- They are the categories in which you are graded in this class

Development of Craft

- Learn how to use and maintain tools & materials correctly, effectively and skillfully to achieve desired effects.

- The more you practice a hands-on craft, the more comfortable your hands will get and the better your outcome will be. With enough time spent, you can master a trade.

Envision

- Learn how to picture things mentally and come up with original ideas.

- Imagine what is possible, think creatively and design something new.

- Picture the steps ahead and come up with a thorough plan to make your ideas happen.

Express

- Communicate to others through what you make and how you present it

- Develop an artistic voice & know what you want others to get from your work

- Develop a distinct and recognizable style

Observe

- Focus to notice details that others often overlook

- Bring extra attention to detail to your work that sets it apart

- Be aware of your surroundings and let them inform how you make decisions

Stretch & Explore

- Try a variety of methods, materials and techniques

- Get outside of your comfort zone, and play with something new

- Learn more and grow by experimenting and taking risks

Engage & Persist

- Stick with a challenge and press through until the end

- Invest in something meaningful and take pride in what you do

- Work hard and put in the time it takes to improve and achieve something great

Understanding Art World

- Develop an awareness and understanding of professionals and their practice

- Learn and gain inspiration from those who have mastered their craft

- Learn about the progression of something throughout time (understand its history, to gain insight into its possible future)

Reflect & Critique

- Think back on all of your decisions & question which worked and which didn’t.

- Explain the choices you made and evaluate work

- Observe, interpret and evaluate the work of others through critique