Art appreciation and some definitions of 'fine art'
6-1 DEFINITIONS
Before you start painting you must decide on your object in learning to paint. There are many styles and
methods of applying paint to a surface but there are three main reasons for doing so. After you have looked at
these reasons and the examples I have provided you should be able to follow your purpose and utilize the tools of
drawing, color, texture and design to your best advantage. The categories are not definitive as many paintings
encompass more than a single element - nor is any objective better or worse than any other.
None should ever gain from a painting any dividend in excess of what the artist invests - and if he or she does it
is a fool's profit. Sadly so many twentieth century artists hold their public in the same regard a con man would a
victim. Even Picasso and Dali made some unfortunate comments in this regard. If we train our senses sufficiently
they can evolve to the extent they are able to discern great subtlety. Just as a wine taster or gourmet train theirs so
can a visual artist and it is truly a joy.' ...The categories are:Fig 3
Fig 2- Decoration - I want to paint because I love to decorate.
Fig 1.(above) Here color and proportion are made pleasing to the senses.
Fig 2 Impressionist decoration.
Fig 3 The use of an accent (bright red in a sea of grey) for an eye catching wall decoration
I would have you paint decoration for the appreciation of decoration, paint subtlety for the appreciation of
subtlety and paint messages for those looking to pictures for meaning. Why deny people their decoration, why
deny the high church their subtlety, why deny the communicators their messages? There is no good reason—still,
I would have the artist be all, at the same time. But if you find you cannot, just rejoice in the diversity and do not
judge one better than the other.http://www.geocities.com/~jlhagan/lessons/ideas.htm (1 of 3)1/13/2004 3:51:00 AM