Art Savvy

Art Savvy is a systematic approach to understanding art. It gives you methods to assess a design and really see what the artist was doing. Unlike chaotic art writings, terms are clearly defined, categorized, organized and illustrated. It is designed to answer questions like: What things will allow me to understand art? What are the basic elements? What is concept art? Can you "read" a work of abstract art? Visual literacy is the ability to interpret, negotiate, and make meaning from information presented in art work. Art Savvy gives you this. Defining Terms: Often art terms are not clearly defined, are used interchangeably or get mixed up with other types of analysis. For a thorough exploration of all aspects of art, photos of great works are referenced with color keyed notations to illustrate the 5 easy pieces: 1. Design Elements- Visual grammar, line, shape, form, mass etc. - definitions & how to see them. 2. Organization Principles- How elements are arranged and how this effects the concept. 3. Style- Relation to other groups of work and formulas for design. 4. Technique- How methods and materials are used to impact the concept. 5. Concept- What this piece about. What major themes and elements were used. Assessment techniques in each section of Art Savvy will train your eye to always see these 5 aspects of any artwork. It is not attempting judgments of relevance, philosophy, spiritual meanings and other ethereal aspects that a work may convey. This text poses the question: "What is the basic concept here?" but sticks to pure analysis and leaves all judgment to you and the experts. This field guide is a mini textbook on design principles that will let you understand art