FAQs & essential info about making art

This page has responses to questions students ask. More questions? Start up a convo w/ your peers. Check out our Pinterest!

"Do you already have to be good at art to do well in this class?" Ms. Fitzpatrick will ask you, "Do you already know the geometry when you begin geometry class??" HECK NO!

You are here to learn. But you need to be open minded and willing to try. "Determination will get you there."

In the art room, trust the process. You may be surprised how skilled you get! Most do & see growth.

"What is creativity? Is creativity something I can learn?"

Growing your creativity can take some work and you need to open yourself to it. You were born creative, but as we age, some of us get less creative.

What can you do to enhance your creativity? Turn off the tv, internet and phone now and then. Give yourself some quiet time to think. Challenge yourself. Explore the world. Keep a journal. Doodle.

"Where do ideas come from?"

Inspiration comes from everything around and inside you. Get in the habit of taking pictures of things you want to make art about. Put them in an album & go to that when it's time to make art. If you are stuck and need to think outside the box, look at some of the links on this website. Copying other people's work can teach you technical skills, but that won't help you come up with your own ideas, or speak about your experience. Think about things you like or experiences you had, then make some sketches. Go on an adventure, to a museum, take a walk in a park & look at nature, listen to music, or doodle. Experimenting with art supplies can help you gain skills and come up with ideas, too.

The Art Assignment is a program that can get you inspired. See Ms. Fitzpatrick's pinterest boards and YouTube channel, too.

"How can I learn to draw better?"

In order to draw convincingly, one must look at real objects, places and people and draw them in person. This is called, drawing from observation. You must observe reality. Then, you must consider how you perceive an object vs. how an object really is. Our perception can mislead us to draw lines that differ from reality. By using pencil measuring tricks, you can actually defeat how you originally perceived your subject and actually draw an accurate reality.

Perspective is a great tool to help you draw, and combined with pencil measuring, you will learn to draw!

"What are the Elements & Principles of Art?"

"What do some of these art words mean?"

We use a lot of vocabulary in art. Our glossary will help you. We also have a classroom library to inspire and teach. Take note of the vocabulary being used and start using those words yourself.

"What is symbolism?"

Symbolism is everywhere in art. Some artwork is full of symbols and very obviously symbolic. Other art is more subtle. Some symbols found in art are creatures, part human - part something else. The Green man is one of them. When researching symbolism in art, you will find a lot. There is sooo much on-line. Wading through to find quality information can be a challenge. I have done some of that work for you in this website. The links I post are "Ms. Fitz approved."

"How can I learn Cursive?" It takes practice. Ms. Fitzpatrick's generation took penmanship classes in younger elementary grades. We will occasionally practice cursive for Do Nows. Here is a link to a playlist and worksheets to get started.

"How should I set up my work space for painting?"

-cover the table with newspaper

-get 2 cups of water to wash your brushes

-use a paint rag to dab up mistakes & dry brushes

-get a few brushes of different sizes

-get a piece of palette paper & pour out a small amount of paint (just what is needed for that session)

"WHAT IS ART?" See playlist to find out.

"Do people make art now?" Yes. Being creative is part of what makes us human. Art made recently is called contemporary art. In our classes, students strive to make art with personal meaning. On the right is work by just a small portion of the contemporary artists working all over the world.

"Can I copy something & say it's mine?"

Below is the AP photo S.Fairey used for the HOPE poster. He lost the copyright lawsuit.

selections of contemporary art

"What are The Essentials?"

Creative Ways To Brainstorm Ideas

Essential Questions

Art vocabulary

Reflection prompts

Studio Habits Of Mind

Formal Analysis prompts

"I need Inspiration & Advice"

artists working today & what inspires them

ART/CRAFTS/CERAMICS/SCULPTURE playlist 1 & playlists 2

pinterest boards

Art Prof: Create & Critique

The Art Assignment

Art21 on PBS

Smart History

see old & new art

Advice from an artist on how to gain confidence and hear feedback

Ms. Fitzpatrick's google slides about art history & techniques

"What is Choice Based Art Education?" After building a foundation of skills & exposure to a wide variety of art themes & concepts, students set their own goals & objectives, them make art that is completely self directed.

"What is happening in the art world right now?"

Contemporary art is work made in the last 20 years. The contemporary art world is diverse and vibrant. Below is a photo taken at our field trip to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts last year. We saw the exhibition of Rina Banerjee's work. Ms. Banerjee is a contemporary artist creating mixed media sculptures and drawings. You can see more contemporary art in art museums and galleries around Philadelphia and elsewhere.

"How much does it cost to get into a museum or gallery?"

Art galleries are free. Museums can be free on certain days. Do your research and find out the hours and fees at local art venues. Get Philly Stamp Pass so you can get into most area museums and cultural spots for FREE! Make sure you read hours and other important information before taking a trip to one of the museums on their list.

"What is aesthetics?"

Aesthetics is the science of the beautiful in art. In art you'll find, even ugly things can be beautiful.

"What is composition??"

Composition is an arrangement of shapes or forms in a work of art. The composition helps communicate a feeling the artist is trying to convey.

The composition of the work leads you into the work. The arrangement of the work's elements manipulate the viewer. As you practice, you will discover ways to create effective compositions. The more you practice, the better you will get....at anything.

All art has the elements: line, shape/form, color, value, texture, space. To begin to understand an artwork, first look at these things. These are terms to consider in your own work.

"What is negative space?"

Negative space is the space around an object in a picture. The shape of that empty space is negative space. It is as important to the composition of a picture, as the shape of the positive space (the shape of the objects) because, you paint that as well as the actual shape of the objects. (video)

"What is surrealism?"

Surrealism is a style of art in which the images are dream-like. Usually the images show strange combinations of objects or people and animals. The work can make the viewer feel uncomfortable or happy. Surreal images can be scary or silly.

"Whats the difference between abstract & realistic?"

Abstract and realistic are opposites. Abstract refers to geometric or organic shapes, while realism, means the work looks like something real. Abstract can remind you of real things, but it can also simply be shapes. A portrait is usually realistic, but sometimes it has elements of abstraction. Pablo Picasso painted abstracted portraits.