Notes on Literacy in Art
Learning in one subject area, Science for example, can be enhanced by the study of
another area, say Math. Historians can benefit immensely by borrowing from the great
works of literature to better understand their subject. Artists, more than any other group,
must borrow from all disciplines, in order to truly understand their subject.
The study of Art is not merely a visual practice. Artists draw on historians to place art in
its proper context. Anthropologists build on the foundation set by historians through
different means: the cultural anthropologist develops an understanding of who (the
person or group) created the artwork; the linguist adds to that knowledge through their
study of spoken and written language; archaeologists uncover solid evidence to backup
what anthropologists and historians already know. Scientists and mathematicians can
help to invent new materials for artists to work with and they can work to develop ways to
gain deeper understandings of art. (For example, they can X-Ray old painting to
determine how the artist changed a masterpiece from what he originally created or
determining a date for an excavated pottery shard, to help piece together a lost culture.)
Writers and critics can draw comparisons between different artists or art movements to
help an uninitiated audience better understand what an artist intended. In short, art
encompasses everything.
The intellectual foundation of art is of great importance, but equally important to the
creation or expression of art is a strong visual and technical foundation. The chart below
details, in broad categories, what a student of art needs to know. Information under the
headings Art Practice and Art History should be taught simultaneously.
Students of art should begin simply by being taught to draw. As students gain confidence
and skill, they can begin to learn about color theory. They should be able to explain why
mixing certain colors will provide a specific result. Next, students can begin to mix
drawing skills with color knowledge to create color drawings or paintings. As students
master basic drawing or painting skills, they may strengthen their sense of confidence,
which will help them to move forward as artists and communicators. After grasping 2-D
concepts students can begin to work in 3-D. Clay, paper and wax can help the students to
take their work to a more complex level.
In an art class, all students can have the opportunity to feel successful. A student who
believes he cannot draw may feel more comfortable in projects that do not require drawing
skills, such as ceramic work or Papier-mâché. Students who lack confidence in their
sculptural skills may feel more comfortable writing about or discussing art history. All
students can master basic art skills if they are willing to try and that is all art asks of us.
Learning in one subject area, Science for example, can be enhanced by the study of
another area, say Math. Historians can benefit immensely by borrowing from the great
works of literature to better understand their subject. Artists, more than any other group,
must borrow from all disciplines, in order to truly understand their subject.
The study of Art is not merely a visual practice. Artists draw on historians to place art in
its proper context. Anthropologists build on the foundation set by historians through
different means: the cultural anthropologist develops an understanding of who (the
person or group) created the artwork; the linguist adds to that knowledge through their
study of spoken and written language; archaeologists uncover solid evidence to backup
what anthropologists and historians already know. Scientists and mathematicians can
help to invent new materials for artists to work with and they can work to develop ways to
gain deeper understandings of art. (For example, they can X-Ray old painting to
determine how the artist changed a masterpiece from what he originally created or
determining a date for an excavated pottery shard, to help piece together a lost culture.)
Writers and critics can draw comparisons between different artists or art movements to
help an uninitiated audience better understand what an artist intended. In short, art
encompasses everything.
The intellectual foundation of art is of great importance, but equally important to the
creation or expression of art is a strong visual and technical foundation. The chart below
details, in broad categories, what a student of art needs to know. Information under the
headings Art Practice and Art History should be taught simultaneously.
Students of art should begin simply by being taught to draw. As students gain confidence
and skill, they can begin to learn about color theory. They should be able to explain why
mixing certain colors will provide a specific result. Next, students can begin to mix
drawing skills with color knowledge to create color drawings or paintings. As students
master basic drawing or painting skills, they may strengthen their sense of confidence,
which will help them to move forward as artists and communicators. After grasping 2-D
concepts students can begin to work in 3-D. Clay, paper and wax can help the students to
take their work to a more complex level.
In an art class, all students can have the opportunity to feel successful. A student who
believes he cannot draw may feel more comfortable in projects that do not require drawing
skills, such as ceramic work or Papier-mâché. Students who lack confidence in their
sculptural skills may feel more comfortable writing about or discussing art history. All
students can master basic art skills if they are willing to try and that is all art asks of us.
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| Kathe Welch |
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