Artisan: A worker in a skilled trade, a

craftsperson; (in later use) esp. one using

traditional or non-mechanized methods
(painting, sculpting…no machinery). Now
rare.

Artist versus Artisan

Artist: A person skilled in any of the fine

arts, but now, more generally, a person who
practises any creative art in which
accomplished execution (success) is informed
by imagination (educated inspiration).
Art History
• Before the perfection
of the photographic
image in 1838 by
Louis-Jacques-
Mandé Deguerre, a
French artist and
chemist, art had a
very different
function.
Artist for Sale!
• People
commissioned
artists to render
portraits in order
to preserve
“history” or “facts”
of what people
looked like.
• People also hired
artisans to
decorate churches
and palaces with
beautiful paintings
and sculptures.
Art History
• When these
portraits were
commissioned,
they were often
framed
elaborately with
gilded wood, as a
show of
decadence and
wealth.
 ARCHITECTURE

The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was re-painted during the High Renaissance by
Michelangelo. Originally it was a dark blue sky with golden stars. It was
completed between 1508 and 1512.
Post-Photography
• After photography became widespread, it was the agreed that it was
the “best way” to capture the likeness of something accurately.
• Even though there were talented Realist painters practicing,
nothing could compare to the accuracy and speed of a camera.
• Thus, painting and sculpture became an outdated way of recording
the likeness of people and life.
Post-Photography
Calder
• Painters and sculptors
were forced to think
carefully about their
work, as it was becoming
less and less about
representation, and
more about meaning.
• The movements of
Jeopardy Fact:
painting and sculpture Alexander Calder
became more thoughtful, invented the
and began to experiment Mobile – the
moving sculpture.
with ideas.
Picasso
Contemporary Art
• Today, artists have put so much thought into
what they present as art, that they even
consider what kind of wall their art would be
best on:
▫ Check out the Mona Lisa
Consider the gallery…
OUTSIDE?!?!
Elements of Design
Line
Shape
Form
Space
Texture
Colour
What are they again?
• Elements are parts of a whole, and make up
design.
• The specific elements are: LINE,
FORM, S P A C E , TEXTURE and COLOUR.
• Think of them as “the building blocks” of a work
or piece.
 Line
• Line is first and foremost a
physical mark made.
• It directs a visual path from
one point to another.
• In sculpture, line can define
the solid mass- it serves as the
outline.
• We perceive the “edges” of the
surface as lines.
• In fact, these edges are planes,
and this term should be used
to refer to sculptural forms.
Line in Ceramics
• In sculpture, line can be
etched into the clay…
• Or found visually where
two edges meet.
• A shape is a self contained and defined area.
• It can be either geometric or organic form.
• It is FLAT (or 2D).
• Shapes are the result of closed lines.
• Some primary shapes include circles, squares,
triangles and hexagons all of which appear in
nature in some form or another.

Shape
 Form refers to the
three-dimensional
quality of an object
Form
Choosing a high
gloss or matt
finish, as well as
the initial
material, will
change the way
light hits the
object.

• When light from a single direction (e.g. our sun) hits an object, part of the
object is in shadow.
• Light and dark areas within an image provide contrast that show volume.
• Factors that can affect our feelings towards an image include the direction
of the light source, from above or below, and the gentleness or abruptness
of the half tones.
 Space
• Space is defined and determined
by shapes and forms.
• Positive space is where shapes
and forms exist.
• Negative space is the empty
space around shapes and forms.
• For objects to have a sense of
balance positive and negative
space can be used to counter
balance each other.
• The sculptor must consider the
positive space as well as the
negative space (the area around
and within the structure) when
planning a sculpture.
Relations…
• Space refers to the area around, within, and
occupied by the three-dimensional object, as
well as the way these areas interact.
 Space
This image uses
negative space to help
emphasize the main
subject. Without all of
the negative space, the
main object would be
much less interesting.

• A good artist realizes that the space surrounding

an object (positive space / shape / mass / etc) is
just as important as that object itself.
• Negative space helps define a subject, and brings
balance to a composition.
 Space
• Negative space can
actually be used as the
main subject in a art
piece, sometimes to
the extent where it
takes on an
identifiable shape
defined by its
surrounding positive
space.
 Functionality
Inspired
Space
Creativity
The negative
space in the handle
allows for the
teapot’s “pouring”
ability.

Swiss cheese isn’t

the same without
the holes!
• This photographer uses
negative space to create
an implied subject of
roads crossing in a city-
like environment. Identity
Texture
• Texture is the surface
quality of a shape -
rough, smooth, soft hard
glossy etc.
• Texture can be physical
(tactile) or visual.
Texture in Glazes
• Specialty
glazes that
contribute to
texture
include:
▫ Crackle
▫ Raku
▫ Lizard
▫ Gator
▫ Speckle
 Colour
• Hue: refers to the names of the primary
colours, red, green and blue.
• Value: lightness and darkness of the colour - the
amount of white or black added.
• Intensity: the saturation of the colour.
• Monochromatic colour: use of one colour
where only the value of the color changes.
• Analogous colours: colours that are adjacent to
each other on the colour wheel, e.g. yellow and
green.
 Colour
• Analogous colour:
colours that are adjacent to
each other on the colour
wheel, e.g. yellow and
green.

• Analogous colours next to

each other on the colour
wheel "get along" and are
referred to as being
harmonious.

• Analogous colours are often

used in visual design and
have a soothing affect.
Colour
• Complementary
colours: colours
opposite to each other on
the colour wheel, e.g.
green and red, represent
colours positioned across
from each other on the
color wheel.
• Complimentary Colour
colours exhibit more
contrast when
positioned adjacent
to each other -for
example yellow
appears more
intense when
positioned on or
beside blue or violet.

In the photograph above - green and yellow are analogous colours that
harmonize where as the violet colour of the flowers appears more intense
against a complementary coloured background.
Colour
• Colour is a diverse element.
• Colour can play an
important role in setting a
“mood” for a composition.
• On the colour wheel, there
are “warm” colours and
“cool” colours.
• Colors are called warm or Red, yellow and orange are
cool because of our considered warm colors
association with various whereas blue, green and
elements in our violet are considered cool
colors.
surroundings.
 WARM Colours

• Warm colors include: yellows, red and orange we

associate these with blood, sun and fire.
COOL Colours

• Cool colors include: violet, blue and green because of our association
with snow and ice.
Colour In this photo,
the warm glow
of sunrise
advances where
the cool blue
shadows
recede.

• Photographers can position different colors in an

image to maximize contrast between them and also
to provide perspective.
• Perceptually, cool colors tend to recede into the
distance whereas warm colors appear to advance.