MODULE 2
Artist and Artisan
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
1. outline the history of the emergence of artists and artisans;
2. identify and define the different individuals and groups who take on varied roles in
thew world of art and culture; and
3. classify the practices of artists and artisan in terms of form, medium, and technique.
Introduction
In the advent of technology, it is remarkable what has now been made
possible. With a click of a button, an array of overwhelming information is made
available, informing every aspect of human life. In the fast-paced and highly complex
twenty-first century, there is real and nagging fear that soon, everything may very
well be replaced by computers and robots that can arguably do things with more
precision, at a shorter amount of time and less capital in the long term. The nihilist
notion is contested by what are arguably the most resilient qualities of man,
which is his creativity and imagination. And as
long as there is a cultivation of both of these
qualities, no robot or artificial intelligence can
replace man just yet.
Van Gogh's Self-Portrait
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), Dutch
painter who exemplified the idea of artist as
tortured genius. His paintings are
characterized by thick brush strokes, brilliant
colors, and jagged lines, through which Van
Gogh expressed his emotional response to
his subjects rather than providing an
accurate description of them. As a result he
became a leader in the development of
expressionism in painting.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009.
This lesson will introduce the artists who have dedicated their lives to the
cultivation of the arts through the works of great creativity, imagination, and daring
throughout history. It aims to expand his into the wider world of the arts and culture,
wherein other key players and movers are testament to how the production,
consumption, and distribution of arts have changed profoundly.
Your Text. Let’s Get Down to Business!
Read the following text carefully.
Artist and Artisan
An artist is generally defined as an art practitioner such as a painter, sculptor,
choreographer, dancer, writer, poet, musicians, etc. who produces or creates
indirectly- functional Arts with aesthetic value using imagination. Thus, they provide
us paintings, sculptures, dances, music, literary pieces, etc. as the means of provoking
our thoughts, ideas, and emotions that are necessary to discover ourselves and our
being.
Pablo Picasso
Spanish artist Pablo Picasso experimented
with a variety of styles and techniques and
greatly influenced the course of modern art. He
pioneered the movement known as cubism and
invented the artistic technique of collage.
Picasso is widely acknowledged as the greatest
artist of the 20th century.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009.
On the other hand, an artisan is a craftsman such as carpenter, carver,
plumber, blacksmith, weaver, embroiderer, etc. who produces directly functional
and/or decorative arts. They help us in meeting our basic
needs such as food, clothing, dwelling, furniture,
kitchen utensils, and everything that makes our
life easy are crafted by artisans.
Japanese Embroidery
This example of Japanese embroidery is from the
second half of the 19th century. The satin fabric is
embroidered with colored silk and silver gilt thread
in a classical design. The stitches used are long and
short, satin and stem, with knots and couched and
raised work. The piece is part of the collection of the
Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009.
1.1 Artist
A formal Art study would be an advantage but it is not a requirement to
practice art. Acquiring or learning skills in Art is not just taught and learned in a
formal art school but also acquired informally. You may learn to play the guitar not
from a formal workshop but from the neighborhood. Yet, an artist may learn not
entirely from a schooled perspective but can be developed later in life through
curiosity, hobby, or experiences.
Most artists feel free in making their art. they have the real drive to develop a
particular artwork, most often, regardless of potential market and of how people
would respond to its message-they may love, like, embrace or the other way around.
Burton supported this claim when he said that “an artist will do whatever it takes to
make the work right”. “The result may not be pretty; it may even be painful, but it will
be honest” (2011). He added that indeed, real Art moves people. Hence, Stillmunks
said that “the real artist touches the heart and soul of the viewer… an artist takes
something out of his or her heart and soul and places it on that page, canvas, song, or
whatever” (Burton:2011).
1.2 Artisan
People have different perceptions on the importance of artists and artisans in
our society. They are the same in the sense that they both develop works of Art;
hence, they are also different since they address different needs of human beings.
Like the artists, artisans’ works are also noticed and valued-only in different
ways and levels. The relevance and usefulness of the artisans’ works make them
essential in our everyday living. A great part of our survival greatly depends on the
works that the artisans produce. The utilitarian function of artisans’ works gives us
comfort, convenience, ease and happiness in living everyday lives. From our basic
needs to our wants, artisans are there to facilitate easy living.
Artists and Artisans are the pillars of our society. We need artists as much as
we need artisans. They both serve people for a long time by providing us directly
functional Arts.
Being an artist and an artisan, both require skills and technical
competence. It is not important to distinguish which of them we need the most
because they serve society in different ways. The sharing and preservation of
culture’s dynamism greatly depend on them.