The Science in Fine Arts

Hi Everyone!

I thought that I would add another Category to my blog here. I want to approach this subject of thought in today’s title as something fun to talk about.

I have had several individuals in the past express to me that they want to learn and understand more about color theory, rendering, drafting, and 3D illustrations. So I am going to post “TC-Fine Arts Tutoring” in nugget formats on various subjects that I have had training and experience in.

Having studied and majored in the Fine Arts (Visual Communications side of Fine Arts) for my Bachelor degree, I do believe that there is a bit of “Fine Science” mixed in there also. Before working on my Bachelor’s, I had worked in the field of interior design/architecture as a Interior Design Intern (with my 2yr. technical degree). My major wasn’t in the arts as most would think. It was actually in science (Associates of Applied Science, Interior Design Technology). I always get a kick out of it. Someone thinks: Interior Design/Decorating =”Fru-Fru-Fluff Stuff”. Well, not with the kind of training taught at my college! We did color theory, material and textiles, drafting (by hand & AutoCAD), isometrics, rendering, and all with an approach with scientific study and investigation. We even went into the intensive study of how to professionally run and manage a business/firm. Yes, even as an “artist/designer”, I do use time management! I will approach each of these subjects in later posts.

Here are the definitions of the words, Fine Arts and Science, by the Oxford American Dictionary:

Since Fine Arts is considered an aesthetic creativity of the intellect (now don’t get lost y’all! ) yet it is an “activity requiring great skill or accomplishment”, how can it not be helped to have the need to “systematically study” the so called “visual aesthetics” in order to reach the level of “Fine”?

What do artists (painters, graphic designers, illustrators, textile designers, mural artists, and etc.) and Interior Designers/Decorators do in common? Before they approach their project they must use their intellect (brain) and study the environment in which their “creative aesthetic” will be used in. Now, some people might address to me, well the “Modern Fine Artists” don’t need to study they just “do it” and use their “feelings” to focus their guidance to create their “great art”. Well, here’s an example, the artists that might “emotionally” throw paint at a canvas and call it Fine Art (not to mention earn a million bucks by it). He/she is using their brain to tell their arm to throw the glob of paint they have in their hand or paint brush. Where’s the emotion in that? They are using intellect without wanting to admit it! So there!

Ok, continuing the intellectual/study part after rabbit trailing a bit: A textile artist must decide what kind of fibers to use for their creation. You don’t want to use silk for designing all-weather durable umbrellas, it wouldn’t work. A decorator must understand the client’s needs, likes and dislikes, and the goals that must be accomplished before they go in and redecorate the interior/exterior.

Then people ask, well what about the “experimentation” side of science, where’s that in art? Um, well, you know all of the questionnaires given out to clients, sketches, drawings, pencil drawings, mock-ups, models, 3d-renditions, sample textile and material swatches and it’s endurance under fire, weather, and abrasion, and etc.? Well, that’s us (Fine Artists) studying the behavior of the subject at hand (our artistic project) and experimenting with it before creating the real thing. Well, I hope most people approach it that way.

I do believe that creativity can be mixed in with systematic structure.

More to come!

Have a great Day!
-Theophania