“I have always wanted my art to

service my people - to reflect us, to

relate to us, to stimulate us, to make
us aware of our potential. We
have to create an art for liberation
and for life.”
-Elizabeth Catlett

“You bring to a painting your own

experience.”

Art -Jacob Lawrence

The beauty and the magnificence of art always inspire us

and motivate us to grow our creativity and develop our souls.
 An Introduction to Art
For thousands of years, art has
been part of our consciousness
as human beings. Art’s beauty is
well known, because of its
diversity, its qualities of
exquisite form, and its diverse
meanings or interpretations. In
other words, you can look at
works like Aaron Douglas'
images from the Harlem
Renaissance period and
Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa
plus get different meanings
from those works. Art
encompasses many attributes. A
painting of a forest, the
sculpture of a great leader, and
people performing dance are all
examples of art. Architecture is
a part of art as well. The large
structures of the Great
Pyramids of Egypt, the National
Museum of African American
History and Culture, and the
Eiffel Tower make up real
artistic expression. These
exquisite structures require
skill, patience, hard work, and
effort. Stonehenge in the
This work of art is called, “A Thousand Li of Mountains and Rivers.” It is a 12th century painting
created by Song dynasty artist Wang Ximeng. The Song dynasty of China had many advances like
the issuance of bank notes and a standing navy. They used gunpowder and the compass too.
United Kingdom is another
example of a great work of art
too. Internationally, art ought
to be appreciated. In Africa,
Asia, and the Americas,
elaborate, complex forms of art
have existed. For thousands of
years and in a wide spectrum of
locations, art has flourished in
the four corners of the Earth.
Since the first humans existed
in the Earth, art has captivated
the human imagination.
The modern age has movies,
theater, the Internet, Snapchat,
YouTube, Instagram, the
IPhone 10, etc. Therefore, these
platforms include a wide display
of art. We live in a unique time
in our history. Photographers
have used very advanced types
of equipment from specialized
cameras to the Microsoft Cloud
in developing a diversity of
pictures (with color and
excellent imagery). Art
constantly evolves or changes
throughout generations. Yet, it
is uniform in its common link
of advancing creative, human
expression. Debates and
controversies are related heavily
to art history, but art remains as
an intrepid, powerful aspect of
human civilization. Periods like
the Romantic period, the
Renaissance, etc. outline how
expressive the visual and the
decorative arts are. Now, we live
in a new era of time and the
power of art has continued to
shine a great light in the
Universe.
It will continue to exist
forevermore.
 The Types of Art
Art is very diverse. First, it is important to decipher the elements of art. The elements of art are used in
order to create various forms of art. They include color, contour, dimension, medium, melody, space,
texture, and value. They can also include visual design principles like arrangement, balance, contrast,
emphasis, harmony, proportion, proximity, and rhythm. The visual arts (or using art that shows the creation
of images or objects in various fields) include fine art, modern art, and decorative art. First, the fine art
includes drawing, painting, sculpture, and printmaking. Drawing can use charcoal, pencil, pastel, etc.
Printmaking can include woodcuts, engraving, etching, lithography, and other methods. Painting isn’t just
about using oil painting of acrylics. It can use watercolors, ink and wash and tempera painting. Fine art is
usually created to promote aesthetic value or its beauty (like art for the sake of art). Therefore, fine art is
art developed primarily for aesthetics or beauty, distinguishing it from applied art that also has to serve
some practical function, such as pottery or most metalwork. Some can use acrylic painting, silkscreen
printing, collage, and other methods to create fine art. The decorative arts are involved with crafts or the
design or creation of objects that are also functional. Decorative arts can be geometric as found in Chinese
art and Islamic art. It can be found in various pottery, rugs, tapestry, and even costumes. It can be found in
baskets, ceramics, etc. They are called the “crafts” too. Decorative arts do not necessarily have any intrinsic
aesthetic qualities.

Applied arts are forms of art the uses the application of design and decoration to everyday objects. They
can be used to promote aesthetic value. They relate to industrial design, graphic design, fashion design,
interior design, and the decorative arts are considered applied arts. That is why architecture and
photography are part of the applied arts. So, museums like the Leipzig Museum of Applied Arts in Germany
and other locations define applied art greatly. The Ziggurats of Sumer and the Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World relate to applied art too since they include many diverse designs. The modern day
skyscrapers and the Blobitecture art movement totally involve a serious application of art in modern day
society. There is subject of the performing arts. They include theater, music, film, and dance. Art just
doesn’t involve painting or a building design. Art is also about human expression. Human expression
enriches the human mind and the human soul. Many of the great dancers used art to perfect their great
performances and to inspire creativity in the Universe. Dancers utilize form, strength, balance, flexibility,
and other elements in their performances in order for them to achieve excellence. That is why you see
experts in dance like Misty Copeland using years of practice, hard work, and determination to achieve
excellence involving dancing. Creative art continues to exist today. There is interactive media that uses
newspapers, the Internet, social media, etc. to establish a diversity of art as well. We live in the 21st century
and digital uses of art outline magnificence. Art may be characterized in terms of mimesis (its
representation of reality), narrative (storytelling), expression, communication of emotion, or other
qualities.

Careers Involving Art

A diversity of occupations is related to art. One career is an illustrator. They can work on drawings,
photography, and digital illustrations using computers. Illustrators make interesting images and they inspire
the creative energy to spread worldwide. CAD systems or computer aided design technologies readily aid
illustrators in creating their pictures as well. A photographer can capture many images globally. We know
about legendary photographers like Lorna Simpson, Gordon Parks, Deborah Willis, Carrie Mae Weems,
Latoya Ruby Frazer, Chester Higgins Jr., and so many great human beings. A Master of Fine Arts specializing
in photography can readily help photographers. Photographers develop portfolios, many have contracts,
and they deal with weddings, advertising, models, photojournalism, and other aspects of human
civilization. They travel across America and the world to gain not only areas to take pictures, but to just love
the complexities of life. An animator and a graphic designer deal with art readily too. An art teacher,
printmaker, and an art administrator have helped people for years to develop their skills and work in
improving the cultural development of any society. A sculptor and a painter are great careers in dealing
with art. Sculptors take hours and days to finish their works. The kiln is also used by people to further
perfect their craft. Advanced images of many types of designs relate to sculpture. Painters also need a great
deal of time, effort, and determination to establish their own works.

Important Concepts Related to Art

Like any field, many concepts and definitions are found in it. Art is a beautiful field that certainly
requires knowledge about various mediums, objects, and visual concepts. For thousands of years, human
beings have used these various words and phrases as a way for them to engineer great works. The
following definitions completely relate to art.

1. Acrylic paint- It is a plastic, water soluble pigment used for painting.

2. Analogous colors- These are colors next to each other on the color wheel.

3. Armature- It is a structural support for an object. It is particularly used in sculpture to build upon.

4. Bisque-It is when clay objects that have been fired one time. The objects are unglazed.

5. Calligraphy- The word literally means beautiful line. It typically refers to a type of writing that
incorporates the use of a wide pen nib.

6. Canvas-It is a coarse cloth or heavy fabric that must be stretched and primed to use for painting,
particularly for oil paintings.
 7. Ceramic- This is when clay objects that have been fired twice, the
second time with a glaze.

8. Charcoal-It's a drawing material made from charred wood.

9. Chiaroscuro-It's an Italian word for "light-shade". The use and

balance of light and shade in a painting, and in particular the use of
strong contrast.

10. Clay-It's a natural, moist earth substance used in making bricks,

tile, pottery and ceramic sculpture.

This is a portrait of 11. Glaze-It is a transparent or semitransparent coating of a color or

stain used over oil paintings, plaster sculpture or ceramics.
the artist Kara
Walker by Chuck 12. Horizon line-That is the horizontal line that distinguishes the sky
Close. from the earth, or the ground from the wall. The eye-level of the
artists view is part of the horizon line. Also, it is where the vanishing
point lies in a perspective drawing.

13. Marquette-It's the French word for "small model". Used particularly by sculptors as a "sketch" of
their work.

The Various forms of Photography

Aerial Photography Fashion Landscape Photojournalism

Photography Photography
 The Diversity of Art Worldwide

African Art of the Yoruba Renaissance Art Oceanic Art of Easter Island

Ancient America art (of the Romanticism Art from Thomas Vietnamese Art from To Ngoc
Olmec civilization) Cole Van (created in 1943 called
Young Woman with Lily)
14. Masterpiece-An artist’s finest work, or any particularly fine work.

15. Medium-The process or material used in a work of art.

16. Monochromatic-Tints and shades of single hue or color.

17. Monochrome-Light and dark tones of a singular color.

18. Pointillism-An image created with the use of small dots or points.

19. Portraiture-Painting or sculpture representing the likeness of a person.

20. Primary colors-The basic colors that can be used to mix other colors. The primary colors are red,
yellow and blue.

21. Secondary colors-Orange, green and purple.

Extra Art Vocabulary Words

In art, balance is a way Gradation is a way of Proportion is a principle Color is an element of

of combining elements combining elements by of art that deals with the art that is made up of
to add a feeling of using a series of gradual relationship of certain hue, value, and intensity.
equilibrium or stability changes in those elements to the whole Hue is the color’s name.
to a work of art. elements (i.e. large to and to each other. Value is the lightness or
small shapes, a dark hue darkness of colors and
to a light hue, etc.). intensity is the
brightness of a color.
22. Slip-It's dried, crushed clay mixed with water to a creamy consistency. Used as a binder in joining
two pieces of clay together.

23. Still life-It's an inanimate object(s) represented in a drawing, painting or collage.

24. Wedging-It's a method of preparing clay by kneading and squeezing it to expel air pockets and
make it more plastic.

25. Tertiary colors- They are the resulting colors formed when an equal amount of a primary and a
secondary color are mixed.
 The Benefits of Art
The truth and reality is that art has tons of benefits to society. It can improve the creativity of humanity.
Art is known to spur up the mind to paint great images, to sculpt magnificent objects, and to establish
beautiful mosaics. Also, art is readily subjective. It doesn't have to be in a one specific format. Art causes
the mind to think, because art can cause people to focus on creating a work that can value and it can be
part of the abstract mind of a human being. Art relieves human stress. Art also improves problem solving
skills. Art is readily used to unlock the mysteries of art or fully express what someone is going through. It
can also cause people to develop their own solutions for art, because thinking outside of the box is key in
establishing charity of how complex the world is. A greater level of interpreting the world manifests itself as
a result of utilizing art. A feeling of self-accomplishment definitely exists among artists after they completed
a work. That work can be a painting using acrylic or a creative architectural building. That sense of
fulfillment certainly represents a very essential element of the expansive capacity of art in general. New
connections among brains exist every time when we learn something new.

When anyone does art that is new, it just expands the connectivity of the human mind. We know that
music can improve the mind and cause better brain plasticity. There are many studies that show that art
can improve a student's performance in reading, math, and science. A West Virginia study found that
students with more art credits performed better on the ACT. California third graders who participated in a
special arts program saw their reading scores improve by 87 percent. The arts teach students about good
judgments and qualitative relationships. It can teach children that there can be multiple solutions to solve
problems. Drama helps students with social skills, emotional awareness, and story comprehension. Dance
can grow social tolerance, creativity, and self-esteem. That is why investments in music and art is just
commonsense.
We have new 21st century scientific studies that document how art can improve cognitive abilities and
attention. Dr. Michael I. Posner and Brenda Patoine have shown research proving this to be true. Dr. Arnold
Bresky (who is a physician) has used art training to help those with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Drawing and painting improves the soul and the mind greatly. Writing literature and using a diversity of art
can lessen the tensions in people's lives. Art is for everyone too. Anyone can perform art. Performing dance
is art. Using technology to create digital images is part of art. Therefore, when you see an artist sacrificing
his or her time to do great things in inspiring humanity for their works, please take the time to thank them
for their creativity and for their excellence.

Many Great Artists Today

Kara Elizabeth Walker is a famous
African American painter,
silhouettist, printer maker, and
filmmaker. Her works explore the
many issues of race, gender, and
identity. She has taught at
Columbia University and she lives
in New York City. She was born in
Stockton, California. She is now
48 years old.
Kerry James Marshall is a famous
artist born in Birmingham,
Alabama and he was raised in
South Central Los Angeles. He
lives in Chicago today. His
paintings are based on his
experiences in Watts and during
the Black Power plus the Civil
Rights movements. His works
from paintings to sculptures deal
with complex realities of African
American life and history.
Lorna Simpson is from Brooklyn,
NYC and she is a great black
photographer and multimedia
artist. She was born in 1960. She
has made works during the 1980’s
and the 1990’s with works like
Guarded Conditions and Square
Deal. Her exhibitions are found
nationally and internationally. She
was born in 1960 and received
many awards (like the 2010 ICP
Infinity Award in Art).
Conclusion
Art is part of our souls categorically. It includes a diversity of numerous aspects of our lives. Art not only
deals with paintings and drawing exquisite images. It can include dance, rhythm, displaying a myriad of
color patterns, graffiti, mosaics, and even abstract displays of objects. Art has been debated firmly too. A
multifaceted interpretation of artwork is commonplace. For example, on artwork can mean different things
to different people. To this very day, there are scholars who disagree on whether the Mona Lisa painting
has a person smiling or frowning. From the prehistoric cave drawings to concrete exhibitions, artistic
expression abides in places worldwide. In our time, art deals with complex technology too. Some people
use Windows Cloud and other programs in order for them to form advanced, creative artworks. Other
people use 3-D printers to sculpt objects with extraordinary aesthetic detail. Now, we are near 2020 and
the same love of art is engraved in our consciousness. So, art is beautiful. It is always important to give
great praise to the artists who sacrifice their time in developing their works. Some of these artists are
unsung and many of them are found in Facebook. They have worked long hours in numerous cases, they
have focused on establishing great minutia, and they have exhibited magnificent talent too.

"I had something I was trying to say and sometimes the message is an easy transmission and
sometimes it's a difficult one but I love the power of saying it so I'm gonna do it whether it's
hard or easy."
-Faith Ringgold, who is an African American woman artist. She was born in Harlem,
NYC.
Artists are among a plethora of ages, colors, creeds, sexes, and backgrounds. They are owed the utmost
appreciation and respect as anyone else deserves. Art's qualities of creative power, of form, of color, and of
its international influence have consecrated the human family completely. The beauty of art is that it is
wide ranging, transcendent, and inclusive of a variety of genres. Cubism, Dadaism, Baroque art, African art,
Modernist art, and Post-Modernism art are never monolithic. They encompass the exquisite diversity and
the growth of art throughout the ages. Therefore, art is a field of expression that has stood the test of time.
Art history deals with names such as Loïs Mailou Jones, Leonardo da Vinci, Aaron Douglas, Augusta Savage,
and so many other human beings who desire to utilize their spark of glorious imagination to bless us. I have
participated in painting, sculpting, drawing, and other aspects of art before in my life. Art taught me about
patience, creativity, imagination, and so many other lessons beneficial to the human race in general. Others
in the world have done the same and artistic expression is filled with manifold blessings.

Famous museums worldwide

The Louvre in Paris, France The Metropolitan Museum The Museum of

on the right bank of the of Art (which is located in Contemporary Art of Tokyo
Seine river is the world’s New York City) has collected showcasts artists and
largest museum. It has some artwork since its founding in designers from Japan and
of the most impressive 1870. It is the largest art throughout the world. It has
collection of art in history. It museum in the United States many pieces and massive
holds over one million works of America. It is the second gallery space. It has 45,000
of art. It has about 38,000 most visited art msueum in pieces. Also, it is found with
objects from prehistory to the world with 7.06 million a beautiful sunken garden.
st
the 21 century. It 2016, 7.3 visitors in 2016. It is found in The Atrium is found with
million vistors came into the Manhattan, NYC. It has an many items too. Exhibitions,
Lourve making it the world’s extensive collection of artwork, and other great
most visited art museum. African Asian, Oceanian, components are found in this
From ancient Egyptian Art Byzantine, and Islamic art. It museum.
to Islamic art, it has an has costumes, antiques, and
eccletic display of images. other objects spanning
thousands of years of world
history.
The beauty of art is that it is diverse, its interpretations can be multifaceted, and it improves the fiber of the
world society. They or artists are our critics, our conscience, and their unique perspectives can not only
considerately motivate change, but also grow human civilization into its highest level. Artists work hard and
they readily are unsung. That is why it is precisely important to support and to express profound respect to
sculptors, painters, calligraphy experts, and other creative illustrators. Beyond this, we definitely honor
musicians, writers, and other scholars who show profound creativity, who make us look beyond ourselves
to believe in international cooperation, and to be fearless in their pursuit of human justice. With the events
going onward now, we know that we have a long way to go. Yet, we have succeeded among numerous
endeavors despite the daunting odds before. A group of people caused the Civil Rights and Voting Rights
Acts to be passed. Many people worked together to advance labor rights and other laws promoting
economic rights. The massive sacrifice of these human beings should be acknowledged and appreciated.
That is why I will enthusiastically write, with earnest, about art and a myriad of subjects relevant to the
Universe.

The wonder of art, the glorious principle of democracy, and the journey of life certainly outline the reality
of our own quintessential value as human beings. The monumental sensitiveness of art and its other
hallowed characteristics make us aware of its importance. That is why art must be nourished not only with
large investments (which must be done), but also by us giving solidarity to the great artists who make it
their duty to express their tremendous, awe-inspiring human imagination. The preservation of art is our
duty. Not to mention that it is our duty to preserve our environment, to promote our civil liberties, to
invest in our health, and to speak truth to power despite who is in the White House (especially when the
current resident of the White House in 2018 regularly issue reactionary polemics).

The essence of the social justice credo is to care for our neighbors beyond our own concerns. The artist is
the ultimate challenger of the status quo and art ought to be an independent arbitrator of truth, of grace,
and of social enrichment.

Art will always inspire the world to be better.

By Timothy
In the near future, I will release the following information about Art from Parts 2 to 5.
This work is part of Part 1.

The Art Series

Part 1:
1 An Introduction to Art

Part 2:
2 Early Art (from the beginnings of human history to 1500 A.D.)

Part 3:
3 Modern Art (Art from 1500 A.D. to the Present)

Part 4:
4 The Diversity of Art

Part 5:
5 Legendary Artists and the Meaning of Art
Always Represent