Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
visual similarities influenced by the time,
place, or personal manner of the artist. We'd
need to decide if an apple would be seen as
a geometric form, as the cubist artists would
see it; if we 'd work on the scenery issues,
like in paintings from the Renaissance or
Mannerism periods; if we'd focus on light
and paint related work, as it was done by
the Impressionist artists; or if we'd create a
generative artwork using programming or
software.
4. The medium informs about the materials,
tools and procedures the artist uses to cre-
ate the work of art. For example, medium
can be described as: 'oil on canvas mounted
on panel,' 'acrylic on canvas,' 'marble
sculpture,' 'paper, pen and ink over chalk
drawing,' or 'polychrome woodblock print
on paper.' We need to secure proper materi-
als, tools, and apply selected techniques for
our representation of an apple. The medium
can depict the differences resulting from a
particular use of materials and tools. For
example, an oil-on-canvas painting will look
differently than an oil-on-paper painting
because a canvas would repel paint, while
paper would absorb it. That is while we refer
to the artwork as 'oil-on-canvas painting'
rather than just 'oil painting.'
5. The design specifies the visual elements and
principles used in the artwork; the planned
organization of the visual phenomena the
artist manipulates. We can cut an apple in
half and focus on pips (seeds) and how they
are placed inside five carpels arranged in a
five-point star. We can picture the repetition
of lines and dots on the apple skin or exag-
gerate irregularities in its design.
tion and layout of a work that defines how
everything is put together using thought-
ful choices. In graphic design and desktop
publishing, composition is usually called a
page layout. Now we would decide on the
arrangement and style treatment of our im-
age of an apple.
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Iconography:
Visual signs, symbols, and
icons contained in the work. In case of an
apple it is extremely rich set of meanings,
connotations, and cultural traditions.
Figure 2 is an example of an analysis of a work
of art: “Head of a Young Man” by Andrea del
Sarto. On the page: http://commons.wikimedia.
org/wiki/File:Andrea_del_Sarto_-_Head_of_a_
Young_Man_-_WGA0384.jpg there is a frontal
view of a “Head of a Young Man” by Andrea del
Sarto (1486-1530) created around 1520. We can
analyze this drawing in terms of the basic art forms.
Figure 2. Andrea del Sarto, Head of a Young Man
(circa 1520, art in public domain)
We may also examine further properties of an
artwork, for example:
•
Composition:
The arrangement of visual
elements in a work of art, the construc-
