Arts and Creativity
Art is the collective expression of human creative activity, usually with an intent to exhibit unique beauty, artistic ability, visual sense, physical power, emotional strength, or specific conceptual notions. This collective expression of artistic capability is commonly referred to as ‘art’. The importance of art extends beyond the individual, and is now acknowledged as a contributing factor in social life. It has also been determined to promote self awareness, improve self-esteem, increase learning and attention span, and stimulate critical thinking. While a degree may not be required to pursue a career in arts, it is always helpful to have some background on the history and early development of the discipline.
The earliest known performance art dates back to the first century B.C., when people started using painting and pottery to make beautiful paintings. People soon realized that by adding a glaze to the surface of the painting, they could make the surface appear more beautiful. Later on, glazing was discovered, and the process of making these beautiful paintings became known as pottery and later into fine ceramics. From there, people started using hollow bones and animal horns as a medium for painting. In ancient Egypt, papyrus paper was discovered which was used by the ancient Egyptians as a drying medium, allowing artists to dry their paints and apply them on the papyrus, which is a rather fragile material.
The arts are an ever-evolving field, constantly undergoing new developments and innovations. One example of this is the invention of the stepper, a tool that allows the artist to create a small scale model from a large piece of sculpture. Modern day artists have created such marvels as the computer animation, 3-D graphics and even motion graphics, combining the use of the two arts into one. This art form has even gone digital, allowing film to be made into a piece of art, such as the movie “The Fantastic Mr Fox”. Nowadays, people are even taking part in online art competitions, such as the “FA Artists Competition”, which encourages contemporary artists from around the world to create artwork in the form of a short video.
