© Presentation of Content We can say that art is the lifeblood of humanities because it conveys one’s feelings and expressions. Artis the essential factor which motivates an individual to create and appreciate “a thing of beauty.” But before we formally discuss art, let’s look at the etymological meaning as well as the different meanings of art given by the experts. Etymologically, artis derived from the Latin word “ars”, meaning ability or skill. Artis from an Italian “artis” defined as a human or skill. ines art as “The conscious use of Webster's New Collegiate dictionary defi duction of aesthetics objects.” akill and creative imagination especially in the pro Art according to writers and philosophers: “Artis not, as the metaphysicians say, the manifestation of some mysterious idea of beauty of God: it is not, as the aesthetical physiologists say, a game in which man lets off his excess of stored-up energy; it is not the expression of man’s emotions by external signs; it is not the production of pleasing objects, above all, it is not. pleasure; but it is a means of unions among men, joining them together in the same feclings, and indispensable for the life and progress toward well-being of individuals and humanity.” Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy “Art teaches nothing, except the significance of life.” American writer Henry Miller “Art is higher type of knowledge than experience.” Greek philosopher Aristotle “The object of att is to give life a shape.” French dramatist Jean Anouilh “Art is science in the flesh.” French poet and playwright Jean Couteau “All art is social,” because it is the result of a relationship between an artist and his time.” Historian James Adams “Artis the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known. ” Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde Scanned with CamScanner“Art is a discovery and development of elementary principles of nature into beautiful forms suitable for human use.” American architect, interior designer, writer, and educator Frank Lloyd Wright Assumptions about Art 1. Artis everywhere. “Your surroundings, home, personal care, pets, clothing and body are all reflections of how you see and express yourself." - Dr. Christiane Northrup 2. Artis not nature. Art is not nature because art is man-made, It is the creature of man that may reflect a profound skillfulness and craftsmanship. Art can never be natural because nature is evanescent, in constant transformation of change, and yet art is permanent. 3. Artis imitating and creating. Creation in art is the act of combining or re-ordering already existing materials so that new objects will be formed. An artist only copies the things in nature he believes would express his thought and feelings. Art is a process of imitating involving personal assimilation through mind, feeling and style (Barrios, _). 4. Art perfects nature. Artists only enhance things they like and eliminate the undesirable elements in nature to convey thei message of beauty and love, 5. Art is universal. Ittranscends cultures, races, and civilization. As long as human beings exist, art is feasible, alive, and dynamic. 6. Artis timeless Artis timeless because it goes beyond the time of our existence. It is present in every corner of the world to serve basic needs of. mankind, from ancient time to modem world. Further, art is timeless because it continually evolves. Aside from artists birthing new artworks, they also never stop innovating, recreating, reinventing, and reviving works of art. Scanned with CamScannerArt defines time. In watching film, for example, even when you do not have the idea when it was created, the style of directing and filming, the clothing and bearing of the characters, musical scoring and the setting and the plot of the story would make the viewer's guess the period when it was produc While art defines time, time also defines art. It identifies the artwork that Would “click” in a particular time for the particular audience. Having a clearer understanding about art, contemplate on the following universally accepted ideas about art. Art as Expression and Communication Art has grown out of man’s need to express himself. Expression is not limited to the revelation of emotions alone. The personal and social values of the artist and his penetrating psychological insight into human reality are also conveyed through arts. The artist uses symbols which he organizes into some comprehensible equivalent of the experience that he is trying to. convey. If the symbols are understood by his audience, then communication has been established. Art and Experience Three major kinds of experience arc involved in the artistic activity. 1. It starts as an experience which the artist wants to communicate. 2. The act of expressing this experience —that of creating that art object or form. 3. When the work is done, there is the artist’s gratifying experience of having accomplished something significant, On the part of the onlooker or listener, he may kindle an experience which is similar or related to that which the artist tried to express. These include sensory, emotional, and intellectual responses. Art and Beauty A thing of beauty is one which gives us pleasure when we perceive it. The delight that we experience is called aesthetic pleasure, Beauty in terms of art refers to an interaction between line, color, texture, sound, shape, motion, and size that is pleasing to the sens Sometimes beauty is not the artist’s ultimate goal. Art is often intended to appeal to and connect with human emotion, Artists may express something so their 9 Scanned with CamScannerace is stimulated in some way-creating feelings, religious faith, curiosity, audiet 7 interest, identification with a group, thoughts, or creativity, For example, performance art often does not aim to please the audience but instead evokes feelings, reactions, conversations, or questions for the viewer. In these cases, an irrelevant measure of “beautiful” art. acsthetics may be (htps://courses.lumenting,com/boundeless-arthistory/chapter/what-is-art/) Read the short persuasive essay about Nature being a source of inspiration. Reading the Book of Nature The Book of Nature, one writer declared, has pages “ written over with large print or fine print, ar in a variety of language,” Most of us read the large type more or less appreciatively, but fail | decipher the fine lines and footnotes.” However, artists who, most always, are lovers of nature, decode the obscure signs and rea between the lines. And from that, they draw inspiration for their creations. Before he sits down with paint and brush, Amel Azurin, a nature painter for example, immerse himself in Nature, to explore its very heart, to probe its secrets of life- and to realize how all thes fall into a large, universal pattern, Other artists also find inspiration in every little aspect of Nature, reading in each a sense of life, threshold opening into a realm of mystic meanings. In one instance, a poet, writing a poem, saw i the driftwood a metaphor of the human spirit: that though battered in form, it prevails through tim and weather. The artist develops an acute sensitivity to Nature's shapes; leaves in varied forms, gnarle branches and twigs, rounded hills and mountain peaks; to Nature's texture: flower petals, ripene fruit, rocks and stones; to Nature's colors the carpet of emerald green moss, the yellow of ripenin grain in ricefields, the deep blue see sea and sky. Most artists interpret and imitate Nature in its utmost beauty. How best to sump up Nature splendor except through colorful flowers, scenic landscapes, lush forests, vigorous animals, an graceful human forms! Painters, poets, sculptors, and musicians too, find inspiration in Nature. Anyone, for that matter, he takes time out to pause and read closely enough the Book of Nature, will discover in it 2 exhilarating , bewitching something that inspires the sublime in the human spirit. -The New Dimensions in Learning English (Manual) After reading the selection, try answering the given questions below, Guide Questions: 1. What is the image of Nature described in the passage? 2. In what way does the image confirm Nature’s artistry? 3. What feeling or emotion is evoked by the image? 10 Scanned with CamScanner