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Visual arts education

arts Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Visual arts education is a way to learn about many different forms of art.

Bashkirtseff - In the Studio
Bashkirtseff - In the Studio

Students might practice drawing, painting, or making sculptures. They can also learn to make jewelry, pottery, or woven fabrics. Some people study design for things like home furniture or graphics. Today, students even use cameras, video, and computers to create art. Art education is about more than just making things look pretty. It helps students learn to create, to appreciate art, or to do both.

Shimer College art discussion
Shimer College art discussion

This training helps people connect their own feelings to the art they see.

There are many different ways to teach art in a classroom. Some teachers focus on drawing to help students see and interpret the world. This is called an empirical activity because it uses observation. Other teachers want students to use their imagination to create new ideas. Many classes use peer critique, where students talk about each other's work. This helps them find the deeper meaning behind a piece of art. Some schools use a model called Teaching for Artistic Behavior, or TAB.

Archives of American Art - A life class for adults at the Brooklyn Museum, under the auspice of the New York City WPA Art Project - 11039
Archives of American Art - A life class for adults at the Brooklyn Museum, under the auspice of the New York City WPA Art Project - 11039

This model started in Massachusetts in the 1970s. It lets students follow their own interests like real artists.

In the past, artists learned their craft through a system called apprenticeship.

Sweerts, Michael - The Drawing Class - 1656-58
Sweerts, Michael - The Drawing Class - 1656-58

This was often done in a workshop or studio known as an atelier. Students would work closely with a master artist to learn the trade. In the late 13th century, Florentine contracts said masters had to feed and clothe their apprentices. These students were often seen as faithful servants to the master. Learning took a long time and required many steps. Michelangelo once suggested that a young painter spend one year on drawing alone. Then, a student might spend six years grinding colors and preparing panels. Another six years were needed to master painting with fresco or tempera.

Different countries have many unique ways of teaching art. In France, the first academy was founded way back in 1648. In Egypt, the Cairo College of Fine Arts opened in 1908. For a long time, these schools taught Western styles of art. It was not until 1999 that Egyptian students could major in non-European art history. In Argentina, artists formed a group in 1875 to help develop the arts. This group eventually became the National Academy of Fine Arts in 1905. The United Kingdom also started formal art education in the early 19th century. Prince Albert helped create many art schools there to improve design work.

Learning art can actually help your brain in other ways too. Some studies show that art programs can help students do better in other subjects. This is because art activities exercise the right hemisphere of the brain. It helps students learn to think in different ways. Art education also helps people understand different cultures. Students can explore new materials by looking at African or Native-American mask making. By studying how other people create, students gain a better appreciation for the world.

École des beaux-arts (from the live)
École des beaux-arts (from the live)

Whether in a big university or a small studio, art connects us all.

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🖼️ Images & Media (5)
File:Bashkirtseff - In the Studio.jpg
Bashkirtseff - In the Studio.jpg
File:École des beaux-arts (from the live).jpg
École des beaux-arts (from the live).jpg
File:Shimer College art discussion.jpg
Shimer College art discussion.jpg
File:Sweerts, Michael - The Drawing Class - 1656-58.jpg
Sweerts, Michael - The Drawing Class - 1656-58.jpg
File:Archives of American Art - A life class for adults at the Brooklyn Museum, under the auspice of the New York City WPA Art Project - 11039.jpg
Archives of American Art - A life class...
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