Art:

webdesignschoolsguide.com

10 Fascinating Art Forms You’ve Never Heard Of

Art is a concept that people spend their lives trying to pin down. Many come to the conclusion that art cannot be defined. Others claim to have developed a narrow and precise conception of what art really is. Regardless of art’s true definition, artists, art critics and art students alike can agree that it comes in all different forms. An art form is the specific shape or quality an artistic expression takes — for example, some of the most common ones are painting and drawing. What you use to make a piece of art typically helps to determine what form you work within. The world of artistic expression is limitless — you can take nearly anything and turn it into a beautiful work. These 10 fascinating art forms are unique and exciting ways to explore new realms of artistic expression.

1. Sticky Note Art: Sticky notes have become a dynamic medium for artistic expression. From vibrant neon pink to classic yellow, sticky notes offer a beautiful array of color and contrast for any artist. Several artists have employed sticky notes in many different artistic genres. While some use sticky notes to add color and vibrancy to sculptures they’ve designed, others use them in performance art pieces, requesting audience participation with writing on the notes. The uniform square shape translates well to creating pixilated-like portraits (such as the one featured above). In whatever way they are used, sticky notes are a creative and colorful way to express oneself through art.
2. Sand Animation Art: As an art form that cannot be preserved, sand animation is extremely interesting and unique. While most art pieces are meant to outlast their creators, sand art disappears and evolves within mere moments. An artist working within this form creates a series of images by drawing lines and figures with one’s hands in the sand. A sand animator typically utilizes an overhead projector or light board to display their art within the sand. Sand animation is in constant movement and is, therefore, extremely interactive. The audience watches as the images take shape, become masterpieces, and eventually get swept away into something new.
3. Fumage: Simply put, Fumage is a way of painting with smoke. Originating in the 1900s, Fumage is a technique that many famous artists have employed. An artist uses the smoke from the flame of a candle, match, or kerosene lamp to develop different impressions upon a surface. Fumage creates an airy and fluid appearance. Many artists use this effect to add movement and life to landscape scenes or their depictions of living creatures. Jennifer Kincaid, an artist currently using Fumage in her artwork, creates images with the shapes and designs accidently created by smoke.
4. Sound Art: Focused on creating visual art that produces sound, sound artists create a wide variety of pieces. Most Sound Art pieces come in the form of installation, sculpture, or performance. Because Sound Art interacts with both the audience’s visual and auditory senses, it has the amazing ability to illuminate and explore the distinct relationship between vision, hearing, and perception. Some Sound artists construct sculptures that have sounds powered by wind, while others create artistic experiences that fuse sound and visual art.
5. Batik: Similar to the technique of tie dying, Batik is an ancient form of textile coloring, involving natural dyes and wax. In many ways, Batik is the opposite of painting. An artist applies wax to the areas of cloth that he or she does not want color to appear. The cloth is then soaked in dye, where color adheres to all areas of the fabric that do not have wax on them. Batik fabrics have been wildly popular both as clothing and as fine art.
6. Futuristic Art: As technology continues to develop and expand, everyday more and more material becomes outdated. Several artists have begun collecting this material and making it into something new. Deemed "archeologists" of the modern world, these artists use computer parts and electronic equipment to design creative and unique sculptures. Futuristic Art gives new existence to old and outdated electronics, rendering them once again meaningful and alive.
7. Gourd Art: There are many forms of art that involve taking objects you would not be traditionally thought of as art and transforming them in to creative masterpieces. Gourd art involves creating works of art by painting, carving, and cutting dried gourd shells. While this medium may sound strange, it is a tradition that dates back to ancient African and Asia as well as several Native American tribes.
8. Rock Painting: Like gourd art, rock painting involves taking something found in nature and changing the ordinary into something memorable and unique. Artists throughout the world use river rocks and stone as their canvas. Many artists use rock art as a way to demonstrate the natural beauty and rich history the place in which they live holds.
9. Rock Sculptures: Another art form involving ordinary natural objects, rock sculptures are thought to physically and metaphorically represent balance and stability. Artists take rocks and stones and arrange and stack them in an artful and majestic ways. Rock sculptures are forms of interactive and installation art. Many rock sculptures are constructed in their natural place on a beach or trail and left for the passersby to wonder and enjoy.
10. Scratchboard Art: You’ve probably seen scratchboard art at some point without really realizing it. Scratchboard art uses a surface (usually cardboard or some other sort of stiff poster board) that is covered first with a layer of hard white chalk (and sometimes colored chalk) and then painted over with black ink. An artist will use some sort of sharp tool, such as a knife or stylus, to scratch off the black paint and reveal white marks. Because an artist using scratchboard develops their picture with white marks rather than black marks they must create their picture backwards. The process sounds complicated, but is really quite simple to understand. Scratchboard art develops highly detailed pieces with gripping movement and precision.

(source: webdesignschoolsguide.com)

================================================