The visual arts are the arts that produce beautiful objects to look at. The visual arts include all objects created for visual appeal, including those that serve a useful purpose. When we think of visual arts, most people first think of painting, sculpture, and architecture. Some people might add photography and filmmaking to the list. But today, the world of visual art also includes the crafts, industrial, fashion, and interior design; landscape architecture, television production; and the new computer arts.
The visual arts serve the same purposes today that they’ve served since the early history of humanity. They satisfy human needs; both personal needs and group needs. They satisfy our needs for display and celebration. They also satisfy our physical needs for useful objects and shelter.
Among the strongest needs satisfied by the visual arts are our needs for personal expression and communication. We use the visual arts to express our innermost feelings and to communicate our ideas. Whether we create a painting to hang on the wall or a decorated food container, we are communicating our feelings and ideas to others, through the visual arts.
When you talk to someone or write a letter, you communicate. You share your ideas and feelings with someone. You use words, either spoken or written, to communicate a message.
You can communicate through the arts. The arts offer a very special type of communication. They are languages for expressing ideas and feelings that everyday words cannot explain. The arts talk in ways that go beyond simply describing something or telling a story.
The arts can cross the language barriers of different countries. You do not need to speak French to understand a painting by Renoir. You don’t need to speak German to appreciate a Beethoven symphony. When Mikhail Baryshnikov dances, the language of his movement is understood all around the world.
All of the objects we look at are made up of certain common elements and basic principles. When you learn these basic elements and principles, you will learn the language of art.
Being able to speak the language of visual art will help in many ways to increase your appreciation and enjoyment of art. The basic kinds of art elements are line, shape, form, space, value, color, and texture and are used to put together a work of art. The principles of design are rhythm, movement, balance, proportion, variety, emphasis, and unity. These principles of design help artists organize the elements of art for certain effects. It is a slow process to learn to read the language of art. Start with line and see how many different kinds of lines you can see in the world around you. To be continued.
For more information, contact Jaylene Armstrong, retired art educator from Madison, Wisconsin, at 661-255-3050.