Art Appreciation thoroughly investigates how quality is determined and created by artists in order to evaluate and appreciate art on a deeper level. This course emphasizes why each topic contributes to valuing a piece of art and provides the necessary knowledge to do so. Students are first introduced to the elements and principles of art and the importance of artists’ context and perspective. The course then covers different periods in art history, different techniques in art, and how to research and evaluate art.

This course is an exploration of visual art forms and their cultural connections across historical periods, designed for the student with little experience in the visual arts. It includes brief studies in art history, and in-depth inquiry into the elements, media and methods used in a wide range of creative processes. At the beginning of this course, you will learn a five-step system for developing an understanding of visual art in all forms, based on:

1. Description: A work of art from an objective point of view – its physical attributes and formal construction.

2. Analysis: A detailed look at a work of art that combines physical attributes with subjective statements based on the viewer's reaction to the work.

3. Context: Historical, religious or environmental information that surrounds a particular work of art and which helps to understand the work's meaning.

4. Meaning: A statement of the work's content. A message or narrative expressed by the subject matter.

5. Judgment: A critical point of view about a work of art concerning its aesthetic or cultural value.

After completing this course, you will be able to interpret works of art based on this five-step system; explain the processes involved in artistic production; identify the many kinds of issues that artists examine in their work; and explain the role and effect of the visual arts in different social, historical and cultural contexts.

This is an art history textbook with content covering media, art techniques, and art history. This resource is published by Boise State University.

This is the introduction to the Visual Arts: Tools, Terms, and Topics for Art Appreciation course.It begins with an individual exercise as a beginning point then outlines the sections of the course, assignments and course calendar 

This open resource was created by Texas Woman’s University undergraduate students in an upper-level visual arts course titled Issues in Contemporary Art.  Working in groups, the students created at total of seven lesson plans that explore the themes: Art and Disability, Dark Surrealism, Eco-Art, Expressing Identity with the Human Body, Kitsch in Art, Mental Health/Illness in Art, and The Gaze Sexuality and Perceptions of the Female Body. The themes covered in the lesson plans were student-generated and reflect current student interests in contemporary art.  Each lesson plan contains a curated background reading list, suggested artists and artworks to examine, discussion questions, short artist biographies, and additional resources.  The structure of the lesson plan is modeled after the Art History Teaching Resources (AHTR) (http://arthistoryteachingresources.org/).

Unit 01 covers a set of intellectual tools used to analyze and appreciate visual art. 

Unit 02 focuses on five basic terms used in the analysis of works of visual art. Form, Content, Techniques, Historical Connection, and Value. 

Unit 03 focuses on the kinds of value that works of art have. This unit helps to establish that works of art have many kinds of value. 

Unit 06 takes a deeper look at the techniques of art and allows time for you to explore and watch artists at work.

Unit 07 of the course seeks to develop the research tool, as we engage the various historical lineages of visual art more deeply.

Unit 08 focuses on the development of Modern and Postmodern influences that have shaped the art of today.

In Unit 09 we will return to the primary goal of the course which is to put all of the basic perspectives together. This part of the course allows you to activate your individual voice to show your ability to analyze a work of art from personal observation and to advocate for the work that excites you the most.

Unit 10 includes all of the course exercises and quizzes for the VATTT: Visual Art Tools Terms and Topics Art Appreciation course.