Introduction to Art – JSS1 Cultural & Creative Arts Lesson Note (First Term)

Art is the use of skill and imagination to express ideas and feelings and to make objects of beauty or use.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. define art in different ways
2. state the origin of the word “art” and how early humans made art
3. list the characteristics of art
4. distinguish between visual and non-visual art and give examples of each
5. state the importance of art to society
6. name some careers in art

What is art?

Art is a human activity in which people use creative and imaginative skills to express ideas about things, people and the environment.

Art can be defined in five ways:

• Self-expression: art is a means of showing inner feelings or ideas about things, people and the environment.
• Skilful use of materials: art means using materials with skill to produce things for human use and pleasure.
• Universal language: art expresses ideas in a way people of every culture can understand.
• Human skill: art is the skill of doing something which is not taught by nature.
• Creative imagination: art is the creative use of imagination to produce objects of beauty.

What is the origin of art?

The word “art” comes from the Latin word “ars”, which means skill or craft.

What art activities did early humans do?

Art can be traced back to early humans, who made pictures and marks in four main ways:

• Cave drawing: they drew on cave walls.
• Rock marking: they made marks on rock surfaces.
• Wood images: they created images on wood.
• Hide painting: they painted on animal hides.

What techniques did early humans use?

• Scratching: drawing lines by scraping a hard point over a surface.
• Engraving: cutting lines into a hard surface such as rock or wood.
• Incised drawing (graffiti): drawing by cutting lines into a surface.
• Painting: using earth colours (red, yellow, black and white) mixed with animal fat.

What are the characteristics of art?

Art has six main characteristics:

• Creative: it involves making something new.
• Expressive: it communicates feelings and ideas.
• Aesthetic: it is concerned with beauty.
• Skilled: it needs practice and technique.
• Universal: it is found in all cultures.
• Imaginative: it goes beyond ordinary thinking.

What are the branches of art?

Art is divided into two main branches: visual art and non-visual art.

What is visual art?

Visual art is the branch of art whose products can be seen and touched.

It has two categories: fine art and applied art.

What is fine art?

Fine art is art created mainly for beauty and self-satisfaction.

• Drawing: creating images with lines and marks.
• Painting: applying colours to surfaces.
• Sculpture: creating three-dimensional forms.
• Architecture: designing buildings and structures.

What is applied art (industrial art)?

Applied art is art that joins beautiful design with a useful purpose.

• Graphics: visual communication design, such as posters and book covers.
• Textiles: fabric and fibre arts, such as weaving and dyeing.
• Ceramics: pottery and clay work.
• Photography: capturing images with cameras.
• Interior design: arranging indoor spaces.
• Furniture design: creating useful seats and tables.
• Industrial design: designing manufactured products.

What is non-visual art?

Non-visual art is the branch of art whose products are not solid objects that can be seen and touched, such as sound, movement and words.

It has two categories: performing art and literary art.

What is performing art?

Performing art is art that uses the artist’s body, face and presence.

• Music: organised sound and rhythm.
• Drama: theatrical performances.
• Dance: movement to rhythm.

What is literary art?

Literary art is art that uses written or spoken words.

• Literature: novels and short stories.
• Poetry: rhythmic and expressive writing.
• Folklore: traditional stories and legends.
• Journalism: news and feature writing.

What is the difference between visual art and non-visual art?

What is the difference between fine art and applied art?

Why is art important?

Art is important because it serves eight main functions in society.

• Means of expression: it shows emotions and personal experiences and shares ideas without words.
• Cultural preservation: it keeps traditional designs, promotes cultural identity, records historical events and shapes cultural values.
• Aesthetic function: it decorates our surroundings and brings beauty into everyday life.
• Educational purpose: it teaches history and culture, develops observation skills and encourages critical thinking.
• Economic value: it gives artists an income, creates jobs and attracts tourists.
• Social function: it brings communities together, aids communication, builds social awareness and can inspire social change.
• Therapeutic benefit: it gives relaxation and recreation, reduces stress and supports mental health.
• Practical application: it produces useful objects, solves design problems and improves daily life.

What materials are used in art?

Artists use five groups of materials.

• Natural materials: wood, stone and clay.
• Manufactured materials: paper, canvas and metal.
• Found objects: recycled items turned into art.
• Digital media: computers and cameras.
• Traditional media: paint, pencils and charcoal.

Who is an artist?

An artist is a person who creates works of art.

• Skill: an artist has developed artistic skills.
• Ideas: an artist expresses ideas through art.
• Culture: an artist contributes to cultural development.
• Work: an artist may work professionally or as a hobby.

What careers are there in art?

Art offers many careers, and ten common ones are shown below.

Evaluation

1. Define art in your own words.
2. State three characteristics of art.
3. What is the difference between visual art and non-visual art?
4. Name two branches of fine art and two branches of applied art.
5. Mention three ways in which art is important to society.

Assignment

Write a short fact sheet on art with these three parts:

1. Four early art techniques used by early humans.
2. The two types of non-visual art, with two examples of each.
3. Five careers in art.