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We are artists who are enjoying the artistic journey. Our reading and research has made the journey so much more interesting and full of history for us. We wish to share with you what we have learned along the way... |
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Jean-Étienne Liotard, Portrait of the François Tronchin with his Rembrandt-painting, 1757, pastel, 37.5 × 46 cm, Geneva, private collection, Switzerland and France, Rococo Period. |
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Why study Art History?
You may ask, “Why study art history?” This feeling
is often shared by student artists; they cannot see the correlation
between paintings and history timelines and how they can benefit
from this knowledge today.
The student learns to observe the evolution of styles
from within the context of history. This ‘study’ gives
them a foundation and springboard for their own ideas and future
works. However the benefit to the contemporary
student artist is much greater than we realize. As an independent
artist, and one who wishes to create original work without
dependency on a teacher or a classroom, one must develop their ‘critical
thinking skills’. Through the study of art history the novice
artist gains an understanding of what influences their own creativity. |
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In the begining...
When we first begin the artistic journey, we occasionally
think all that is necessary is for us to put the paint
on the surface. Basically ‘what colors do we need
to use?’ For some that's all it takes to make
them happy. But for others, ‘who, what, why, when, and
where?’ fill their vocabulary at every turn. Art for these
artists from time to time holds a deeper and bigger meaning… they
wish to know and experience more.They wish to ask questions
and they want to know how it all began and why. These are the
curious artists who believe their studies can be made more
meaningful if they had a greater understanding of arts historical
origins. |
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The creative process can be a memorable experience especially
if we include with it the history of what we learn. It can
be even more interesting if done at the same time that we gain
our understanding of new techniques and methods. We soon
see that learning art is not only about learning to manage
the paint and the brush; it is often about using the canvas
or surface in the same manner that the writer uses a pen. Understanding
what motivated the artists of antiquity, may serve to inspire
us even today. |
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Where did our artistic roots begin?
As we study the bigger timeline of artistic periods, we may
also see where our artistic roots began. As we reflect on them
in our own personal ways, we learn to understand
how each style evolved. If we learn where the ‘root’ influences
may have come from we get an up close and intimate view
of the ‘whole picture’. By having a glimpse into
the past; perhaps we will see what could have motivated the
artists and what may have prompted their creative decisions.
We will also see how much of their technical developments and
achievements were a direct result of their discovery of new
pigments, materials and surfaces, and as a result of these
discoveries, new painting methods were born. Some of these
were out of pure necessity, while others were invented because
the artist simply wished to be more original. |
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Students who study art history also gain a deeper appreciation
for the cultures and periods that the artists lived in, therefore
gaining additional knowledge about the social structures, the
politics, and the geography of the artist’s homeland
and times. |
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Art history can make our artistic lives much richer… the artist's journey can be one of self discovery. |
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Renaissance Artist ~ Albrecht Durer, Puzzle |
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For your enjoyment, click on the link below for the puzzle. Feel free to share with your friends.
Click this link for the puzzle |
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Title:Janson's History of Art: Western Tradition
Author: Penelope J.E. Davies, Walter B. Denny, Frima Fox Hofrichte,
Joseph F Jacobs, Ann M. Roberts, David L. Simon
ISBN: 0131934554
General Topic: Art History |
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