ART TECHNIQUES AND DEFINITIONS: A PRIMER

Welcome to Part 3!

Welcome to the last installment of Art Techniques and Definitions! Our artists work in a wide array of beautiful media here at New Elements Gallery. Learn more about them here!

 

This is an overview of some of the media our artists choose to use. We'll deep dive some of these in the future. But for now, read on to find out about mixed media, fiber art, ceramic and glass art, and handcrafted jewelry.

Kristin Dill, Tulip Poplar

Mixed Media

In visual art, mixed media describes artwork in which more than one medium or material has been employed.

 

Assemblages, collages, and sculpture are three common examples of art using different media. Materials used to create mixed media art include, but are not limited to, paint, cloth, paper, wood and found objects.

 

Mixed media art is distinguished from multimedia art which combines visual art with non-visual elements, such as recorded sound, literature, drama, dance, motion graphics, music, or interactivity.

 

We have some fabulous mixed media artists, including Kristen Dill and Fritzi Huber.

Fiber Art

Fiber art refers to fine art whose material consists of natural or synthetic fiber and other components, such as fabric or yarn. It focuses on the materials and on the manual labor on the part of the artist as part of the works' significance and prioritizes aesthetic value over utility.

 

Modern fiber art takes its context from the textile arts, which have been practiced globally for millennia. Traditionally, fiber is taken from plants or animals, for example cotton from cotton seed pods, linen from flax stems, wool from sheep hair, or silk from the spun cocoons of silkworms. In addition to these traditional materials, synthetic materials such as plastic acrylic are now used.

 

Rachel Frey and Sally Sutton both work in fiber art.

"Change of Plans" triptych by Rachel Frey.This piece is sunny and fun--I would love to see it in a boardroom.

Incredible blue and green functional and decorative ceramic pieces from YiFenn Strickland.

Ceramic and Glass Art

Ceramic art is art made from ceramic materials, including clay. It may take forms including artistic pottery, including tableware, tiles, figurines and other sculpture. As one of the plastic arts, ceramic art is one of the visual arts. While some ceramics are considered fine art, such as pottery or sculpture, most are considered to be decorative, industrial or applied art objects.

 

Glass art refers to individual works of art that are substantially or wholly made of glass.

 

As a decorative and functional medium, glass was extensively developed in Egypt and Assyria. Glassblowing was perhaps invented in the 1st century BC, and featured heavily in Roman glass, which was highly developed with forms such as the cage cup for a luxury market.

Apart from shaping the hot glass, the three main traditional decorative techniques used on formed pieces in recent centuries are enameled glass, engraved glass and cut glass.

 

Great ateliers like Tiffany, Lalique, Daum, Gallé, the Corning schools in upper New York state, and Steuben Glass Works took glass art to new levels.

We have so many talented ceramic and glass artists. Michael Lalone, Kathleen Ryall, and YiFenn Strickland are incredible ceramicists. Otto Rotundo works in glass!

Freshwater Pearl and Seed Beads BOHA Earrings

Handcrafted Jewelry

Handmade jewelry (or handcrafted jewelry) is jewelry which has been assembled and formed by hand rather than using machines.

Handmade jewelry can be made using any materials and techniques, provided they are manually done. Based on the materials used and styles adopted, there are many types of handmade jewelry.

 

  • Wire wrapped jewelry
  • Beaded jewelry
  • Fabricated jewelry
  • Polymer clay jewelry
  • Terracotta jewelry
  • Handmade silver jewelry
  • Handmade gold jewelry
  • Handmade metallic jewelry
  • Paper jewelry
  • Wood Jewelry
  • Resin Jewelry
  • Crochet jewelry
  • Enameled jewelry
  • Engraved jewelry
     

We have a few incredible jewelers, including BOHA Designs and Ann Marie Hodrick.

 

Part One is found here and Two here of Art Techniques and Definitions!

 

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