Art, Architecture, Sculpture, Tattoo, and Graffiti: A Comprehensive Study

Posted on Feb 4, 2025 in Arts and Humanities

Principles of Art

Harmony: The principle of design that creates unity within a work of art.

Variety: The use of differences and changes to increase the visual interest of the work.

Emphasis: The focal point of an image, or when one area stands out the most.

Balance: The way the elements are arranged to create a feeling of stability in a work.

  • Symmetrical: Mirror
  • Asymmetrical: No mirror
  • Radial: Circle

Movement: The creation of action.

Rhythm: A regular repetition of elements that achieves an effect.

Proportion: Scale relation of one part to the whole or of one part to another.

Architecture

3 Goals of Architecture: Durability, utility, beauty.

Planning, Designing, Construction: Both the process and product of planning, designing, and constructing.

Form, Space, Ambiance (What they reflect): Functionality, technology, social, environment, aesthetic ideas.

Manipulation and Coordination of: Material, technology, light, and shadow.

Why Cement is Important: Because it is used as structural material instead of plaster.

Egyptian Architecture (What They Build, With What): Construction of pyramids, temples, and shrines. Used limestone and granite.

Classical Period (Elements): Proportion, detailed, columns.

Byzantine Period: Central dome, cube form, round arches, pediments, decoration, mosaic.

Colonial Period (Difference Between Georgian and American):

  • American: Small porch, crown molding places in the new world.
  • Georgian: Hipped roof, sash windows.

Elements of Architecture (Same Can’t Be Used): Line, shape, color, texture.

Sculpture

Purpose of Sculpture at the Beginning: Fill a human role (represent gods, magical help, sculpture of kings, perfect humans, demon reminder).

Egyptian Sculptures: Of slate, alabaster, and limestone. Based on life after death.

Greek, Changes it Has: From elegant to strong and vigorous, then later to more dramatic.

Rodin Era: Auguste Rodin, capture movement, new techniques, raised surface.

Relief (Raised above background), Inherent (Something inseparable), Iconographic (Illustration of subject through pictures, symbols), Difference Between Carving and Modeling (Carving: Created by removing material. Modeling: Produced by modeling).

Subject Matter: Bible, mythology, history, portrait, landscape.

Technical Information: Material, size, condition.

Aspects of Formal Analysis: Type (low or high relief), technical means (carved wood?), volumes (cube?), line (open), space, color, light, relation of technique and material to form (carving, modeling).

Function, Content, Style:

  • Function: Decoration of collection? Public, private? How is it affected?
  • Content: Interpretation, mood, artist expressed through formal and iconographic elements?
  • Style: Period style, style of the school, style of the artist.

Tattoo

Styles:

  • Irezumi: Dragon, samurai, geishas, oriental tradition, bright, simple.
  • Black and Grey Wash: Black ink shades, portraits.
  • Biomechanical: Alien movie, Swedish, anatomical, neck.
  • Tribal: Deco, lines, feelings, no object.
  • Celtic Knot Work: Black, primary colors, skilled.
  • Fine Line: Small, feminine, thin lines, fine details.
  • New School: Bright colors, bold, based on graffiti.
  • Old School: Roots, simple, flat.

Countries:

  • North America: Common in native tribes, Hurons, sharp bone. Charcoal, black color.
  • South America: Cortez thought Mayan tattoos were the work of Satan.
  • England: Naval soldiers started. Japanese artists. Fine line, sketch.
  • Japan: 1500 years ago, people were heavily tattooed. Identify criminals.
  • Africa: Create holes leaving scars instead of ink.

Graffiti

Materials: Spray paint, marker pens, stencils, regular paint.

Styles:

  1. Public: Clear and easy to read, chipped and cut.
  2. Blockbuster: Straight letters. Minimal color.
  3. Wild-Style: Illegible, complex, arrowhead, create flow.
  4. Semi-Wild: Like public but exaggerated.

Types:

    1. Throw Up: Letter only, 2 colors.
    2. Burner: Complex, skilled.
    3. Tag: 3-5 letters.
  • Stamp: 3D effect.
  • Piece: Large, multicolor.
  • Crew: Groups of graffiti, talent.

Graffiti Used For: Explain accounts of people’s styles of life and assumed relationships.