The Nature Of Art

Expressive product made by an artist and it communicates its expressiveness in some way.

The arrangement of visual elements in a work of art.

Relation of one part to another, or of parts to the whole in respect to the size, height, width, and scale.

Aesthetically pleasing equilibrium in the arrangement or combination of elements.

Expressive reproductions of images, persons, or things.

A discussion marked by the expression of opposing views.

The sculpture may be symbolic of something real (imagery). Each part of the sculpture is well proportioned to the others, which makes the piece agreeable to the eye (proportion). The semi-circles help direct the eyes from the bottom-center to up and out (composition). The sculpture has balance because if we were to see it from another view, its pieces would work harmoniously together (balance). From this angle, the sculpture is asymmetrical (design).

Bird in Space: The artist wanted to convey the graceful qualities of the bird. He tried to show the movement of the bird by eliminating all the physical features. Wild Turkey: James Audubon took a realistic approach of his image of a bird. There is almost a scientific purpose seen in the detail and technique of his watercolor of the wild turkey. Audubon wanted to show that even though the painting is of a wild turkey, a less beautiful bird, there is still some beauty to his artwork.

Proportion is the relative size of objects as compared to other parts of the piece. Balance is the arrangement of the elements within the piece that give it an aesthetically pleasing equilibrium for the observer.

Art is work created by a person that communicates a message or displays objects using different tools and techniques. Answers will vary, but should be specific for the opinion question.

It depends on the information the artist wants to transmit. If the artist wants to show the graceful attributes and the motion of a bird, then Bird in Space would be most effective. If the artist wants to show the physical attributes of a bird as it is seen in daily life to most people, then Wild Turkey would be most effective.

Proportion: certain objects are smaller than others to create depth; the objects are all relatively small and proportionate to each other. Composition: bolder colors seem to leap off the page, whereas lighter colors appears to fall back; almost all the objects are vertically (or almost vertically) placed so the eye travels up and down when looking at the piece; there is balance of shape and color. Answer will vary for the artist's message but should be backed by reason.

Symmetry is the aesthetic balance that is achieved when parts of an object are arranged from a real or imaginary line (vertical or horizontal) in the middle of the piece. Each part displayed on one side corresponds with each part on the other side. Symmetry allows the observer's eye to easily view the entire painting, provides balance to the artwork, and makes the elements all exist in agreement with one another. Symmetry can also help the artist convey a message, such as one of calmness.

Although he was asked at customs what the sculpture was, US customs claimed it was not art. They charged him an import duty and labeled it as "kitchen utensils and supplies." Steichen refused to pay the duty because it was a piece of art and pieces of art are not taxed. The case eventually went to the Supreme Court, where it was concluded that the sculpture was a piece of art and Steichen did not have to pay the import tax.