Art Appreciation

Module 2
Creativity, Imagination, and Expression

INTRODUCTION:

This module will provide knowledge on creativity, imagination and expression as part of art appreciation. It includes topic on art
appreciation as the way of life, role of creativity in art making, art as a product of imagination, visual arts and other mode of arts.

After successfully completing this module, you should be able to:

1. Differentiated art from nature;
2. Explained how art appreciation is a way of life;
3. Exhibited knowledge about the role of creativity in art making; and
4. Applied the idea of imagination and expression through an art work.

DISCUSSION:

It takes an artist to make art. One may perceive beauty on the daily basis. However, not every beautiful thing that can be seen or
experienced may truly be called a work of art. Art is a product of man’s creativity, imagination, and expression. No matter how
extraordinarily formed mountains are, nature is not considered art simply because it is not made by man. An artwork may be inspired by
nature or other work of art, but an artist invents his own forms and patterns due to what he perceives as beautiful and incorporates them
in creating his masterpiece.
Art Appreciation as a Way of Life

The role of art, as described by a famous French philosopher Jean-Paul Satre, is a creative work that portrays the world in a
completely different light and perspective, and the source is due to human freedom. Each artwork holds a beauty of its own kind, the kind
that the artist sees and wants the viewer to perceive. More often than not, people are blinded with this beauty and only those who have
developed a fine sense of appreciation can experience and see the art the same way as the artist did. Because of this, numerous artworks
go unnoticed, artists are not given enough credit. It sometimes takes a lifetime before their contribution to the development of art is
recognized. Refining one’s ability to appreciate art allows him to deeply understand the purpose of an artwork and recognize the beauty
it possesses. It is a way of life as they say.
To be more appreciative, one must understand through time and experience art itself. It is better to reflect not on how but why an
artist make an artwork or on what is the purpose and meaning of his art that he want the viewer to see and appreciate. Visiting a museums,
art galleries, theaters, even malls or establishment that display art exhibition, or even art being show on the internet will not only develop
an understanding of the art, but will also serve as a rewarding experience. No matter what status, vocation or profession you have,
learning to appreciate art will lead to a fuller and more meaningful life.
The Role of Creativity in Art Making

Creativity requires thinking outside the box. It is often used to solve problems that have never occurred before or simplifying things
or make it complicated depending on how we apply our viewpoints which is enjoyable and unique to us. In art, creativity is what sets
apart one artwork from another. We say something is done creatively when we have not yet seen anything like it or when it is out of the
ordinary.
A creative artist does not simply copy or imitate another work of art. He does not imitate lines, flaws, color, and patterns in
recreating nature. He embraces originality, puts his work, and calls it his own creative piece.
 Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh
Above is an artwork of Vincent van Gogh entitled starry night. If you observe, he apply his own creativity in this artwork by the use
of lines and colors. In reality a starry night does not look like that but still van Gogh decide to use such elements which is a portrayal of
his creativity that he may call his own art work.
Yet, being creative nowadays can be quite challenging. What you thought was your own unique and creative idea may not what it seems
to be, for coincidentally someone has devised what you have done before you make what you think is yours.

For instance, this campaign ad and slogan “It’s More Fun in the Philippines used by the Department of Tourism (DOT) boomed popularity
in 2011, but later on it was allegedly plagiarized or copied from Switzerland’s tourism slogan “It’s More Fun in Switzerland”, back in 1951.
Thus, creativity should be backed with careful research on related art to avoid such conflicts.
Art as product of Imagination

Where do you think famous writers, painters, and musicians get their
ideas? Where do ideas in making creative solutions begin? It all starts in human
mind. It all begins with imagination.
German physicist Albert Einstein who had made significant contributions
in science and humanity demonstrated that knowledge is actually derived from
imagination. He emphasized this idea through His words: “imagination is more
important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and
understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will
be to know and understand.” This only means that imagination allow endless
possibilities.
In an artist’s mind sits a vast gallery of artworks that does not need to be a real thing, but something that is imaginary. Take for
example a musician who thinks a tune in his head. Making of this tune in his head makes it imaginary tune. It remains imaginary until he
hums, sings, or writes down the notes of the tune on paper. However, something imaginary does not necessarily means it cannot be
called art. Artists use their imagination that gives birth to reality through creation.
In the same way, that imagination produces art, art also inspires imagination. Oftentimes, we find places that will boost our
imagination in creating something we like. For example while making our assignments and projects, we often find places like coffee
shops, restaurants, and libraries with paintings and artwork hanging on the wall. As early as the time of our ancestors, men crave to be
surrounded by beautiful things. Cave walls are surrounded by drawings and paintings of animals, clay molded and stones were curved
into forms. These creative pieces were made not only they were functional to men, but also because beauty gave them joy.
Art as Expression

There may have been times when you feel something is going on within you, you try to explain it but you do not know how. You
may only conscious about feeling this sort of excitement or fear, but you know just one word is not enough to describe the nature of what
you truly feel. Finally, you try to release yourself by doing something, which is called expressing oneself. Suppose this feeling is
excitement, you relieve it by expressing through shouting or jumping. An emotion is unknown to man until he expresses it.
An English philosopher Robin George Collingwood explicated in his publication The Principle of Art (1938) that what an artist
does to an emotion in not to induce it, but express it. Through his expression, an artist is able to explore his own emotions and at the
same time, create something beautiful out of them. Expressing emotions in something different from describing emotions. An artist has
the freedom to express himself the way he wants to without describing it. Hence, there is no specific technique in expression, but a
reflection of inner selves.
There are countless ways of expressing oneself through art. The following list includes, but is not limited to, popular art
expressions.
Visual Arts
Visual arts is the kind of art form that the population is most likely more exposed to, but are so diverse – they range from
sculptures that you see in art galleries to the last movie you saw. Some mediums of visual arts include paintings, drawings, letterings,
printing, sculptures, digital and more.
Film
It refers to the art of putting together successions of still images in order to create an illusion of movement. Filmmaking focuses
on its aesthetic, cultural, and social value and is considered as both an art and an industry. It simulates experiences or creates one that
is beyond the scope of imagination and expression as it aims to deliver ideas, feelings, or beauty to its viewer.
Performance Art
Performance art is a live art and the artist’s medium is mainly the human body which he or she uses to perform, but also employs
other kind of art such as visual art, props, or sound. Most popular medium of it is theater and dance.
Applied Art
Applied arts is incorporating elements of style and design to everyday items with the aim of increasing their aesthetic value.
Industrial design, interior design, fashion design, and graphic design are considered applied arts. Through exploration and expression
of ideas, consideration of the needs, and careful choice of materials and techniques, artists are able to combine functionality and
style.
Art is a product of a man’s creativity, imagination, and expression. An artwork may be inspired by nature or other works of art,
but an artist invents his own forms and patterns due to what he perceives as beautiful and incorporated them in creating his
masterpiece. Perhaps not everyone can be considered an artist, but surely, all are spectators of art, which gives us all a role in the
field of art appreciation.
Creativity is what sets apart one artwork from another. While through imagination, an artist is able to craft something bold,
something new, and something better in the hopes of creating something that will stimulate change. Lastly, through expression, an
artist is able to explore his own emotions while at the same time, create something beautiful out of it.

Visual Arts Film

Performance Arts Applied Arts