Chapter 17. Art

Elements of art: line, shape, form, colour, value (light and dark), texture and space. Principles of design: balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, proportion and unity [45][46].

Colour. Primary colours (traditional pigment model: red, yellow, blue), secondary colours (orange, green, violet) and tertiary colours. Colour harmony includes complementary (opposite on the colour wheel) and analogous (adjacent) schemes. Tints add white; shades add black.

Drawing and composition. Observation, perspective (linear perspective uses vanishing points), proportion, light and shadow, and composition.

Media and techniques: pencil, charcoal, ink, watercolour, acrylic, oil, pastel, printmaking, collage, sculpture, ceramics, photography and digital art.

Art history in outline [45][46]

Prehistoric cave art; ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman art.

Medieval and Byzantine art; the Renaissance (Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael).

Baroque, Neoclassicism and Romanticism.

Impressionism (late 19th century), Post-Impressionism, Cubism (Picasso, Braque), Surrealism and modern and contemporary art.

Asian and Sri Lankan art [47]

Early and classical: sculptures of the Buddha, moonstones and guardstones at Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, and the Sigiriya frescoes (5th century CE).

Temple painting: cave paintings at Dambulla and temple murals of the Kandyan period.

Crafts: masks, lacquerwork, batik, wood carving, handloom textiles and pottery.

Modern art: the “43 Group,” formed in 1943 by artists including George Keyt, Harry Pieris and Lionel Wendt, brought modernist ideas and local themes together; many contemporary artists continue to develop new directions [47].

Appreciation. Describe, analyse, interpret and judge an artwork, considering subject, technique, context and meaning.

Practical work. Keep a sketchbook, plan projects, experiment with materials and reflect on your process.

Review: Name the three primary colours in the traditional pigment model. (Answer: red, yellow and blue.)