I am taking an Art class, and I just cannot get it for some reason. The insturctor keeps requiring that we "compare and contrast" and I just do get how to do this correctly. I look at the paintings and ....nothing. I am not saying that some of them are not just absolutely stunning but to contrast them? ???
2006-07-05 00:04:26 · 11 answers · asked by dodiewayne 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Painting
Compare and contrast simply means listing similarities and differences between the works.
To compare and contrast you have to know a little more about the paintings than what is simply before your eyes.
I study Renaissance art but I've been trained in the fundamentals of Art History and so I'm very familiar with the different genres.
This is how I'd go about comparing and contrasting two works. This is very simplified and you'll get no where if you don't study and have a good background knowledge of art.
1. Look at the titles, painters, mediums, dates, sizes etc of each work.
2. Think what you already know about the artist including other works and background information.
3. Do the dates of the paintings coincide with any important historical dates. They could be connected.
4. What is the subject of the works? Where is the vanishing point located? Where does the light emanate from? Where would the imaginary viewer stand with regard to the work? What type of genre is the work, baroque, renaissance, neoclassical? What's the tonal range? Repetition of colour? Symbols?
These are just a few things to start. When you've done and you've made your lists, you can then go on to talk about any similarities and differences, compare and contrast.
If you need further assistance please ask, this is not an easy subject and to take it lightly is to participate badly.
2006-07-05 08:06:28 · answer #1 · answered by samanthajanecaroline 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
When you're studying art history, the key is to understand the background of the art and the artist. How does a particular painting fit into the whole body of work (meaning, is it similar or is it different)? Like the other answers you've gotten, look at the style of the painting, the techniques that were used. But in order to understand how one piece fits in, you really have to know the time it was created in, the movement, who the artist was and what they were trying to achieve.
For example, we take the Impressionists like Monet for granted now, but at the time, people were striving to paint very much alike. Manet was really the start of the Impressionists, but not because he wanted to start something new. It's just that his paintings were a little off: the perspective wasn't right for a realistic painting, the light direction was weird, etc. Manet was actually rejected from the big Salon show several times because his technique was too different. Then other Impressionists like Monet came along and really worked to break down a subject into pieces. You could easily compare Manet and Monet in several ways: style, technique, color choices, and intent (Manet's influence was unintentional - he was striving to fit in and didn't, while Monet was actively trying to create something different). Knowing more about the background and the time helps you get a better grasp of a particular artist.
Hope this helps a little.
2006-07-06 11:57:57 · answer #2 · answered by Mischa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Comparing and contrasting ... in other words, finding the similarities and differences between the paintings.
Look at the paintings you are trying to compare and contrast. Pay attention to the brush strokes, thickness of paint, subject, mood, title of painting, colors used, etc....and use those to go by to show how those details work to give the painting a similar or different effect. Have fun with the paintings and really say what you think and feel about them...art is all about the interpretation and emotion.
2006-07-05 07:14:23 · answer #3 · answered by Nikita22 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm not sure what compare and contrast means exactly, but the best thing you can for your art is practice, practice, practice. You'll be amazed how much better you get over time and all these little things you don't get now will be child's play in time. even really good artists still struggle with things, you just don't know it.
2006-07-05 07:09:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a secret.
The secret lies in the learning process.
Whether you benefitted from it is based on your attittude.
If you keep saying,'I don't know', 'There is nothing,' etc, there will be nothing and you will never knw nor learn.
It doesn't harm to ask a simple question.
The art teacher will be more than happy to help you.
2006-07-05 09:49:55 · answer #5 · answered by neo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please do not take what the teacher says as a definite instruction on your own expression of any Art medium !..Plenty of blind people are artists ! Have fun exploring your surroundings, paint the feeling of fur or something like that !
2006-07-05 07:11:23 · answer #6 · answered by OB1 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok, that kinda confused me too..I looked the term up and got this:
http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/palmasola/rcccon1.htm
Sounds kinda boring if ya ask me... :(
2006-07-05 07:21:36 · answer #7 · answered by kittyboo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes. being gifted, hard work and practice, which makes it perfect.
2006-07-05 07:14:52 · answer #8 · answered by shih 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to set your mind to it.
2006-07-05 07:15:37 · answer #9 · answered by boy_jam_arch 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
passion
2006-07-05 07:17:13 · answer #10 · answered by hardasrock692003 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋