What is Art?

Art is the product of human imagination and skill. Art adds beauty to our lives, allows individuals to express their emotions in creative ways, and may even lead to social change. Examples of art include visual arts such as drawing, painting, and sculpture, as well as performing arts such as music, dance, and theater. Design, which helps create and decorate the items we use in our daily lives, and architecture, which envisions the buildings we live and work in, are also considered types of art. The study of art history allows individuals to learn about works of art from the past in order to both appreciate these creative efforts and use them as inspiration for additional creative works. The field of art is broad and encompasses many disciplines, but one joining factor is that creating and appreciating art enriches human life and culture.

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Art Topics

Architecture

Read about the importance of architecture in culture and society. Discover resources and courses related to architecture, design, and architectural engineering.

Design

Learn the definition of designing. Understand the elements and principles of design by visiting this page to access design courses and resource materials.

Performing Arts

Read about the performing arts in education and different types of performance arts. In addition, view performing arts courses and homeschooling resources.

Visual Arts

Learn the definition of visual art. Discover the types of visual art forms, such as pictorial and graphic design art. Get access to resources and courses.

Popular Art Resources

Study.com's collection of art resources includes guides and lessons on woodworking, dramatic arts, music, architecture, interior design, graphic design, and more. There are supplemental materials to aid teachers and homeschooling parents in their lesson planning. We also offer classes and tools to help students learn artistic skills independently.

Art Courses

Our art courses provide students with the opportunity to discover and learn about many types of art. From architecture, painting, and sculpture to music, theater, and dance, students will be exposed to many examples of art, learning to define art and appreciate the details of art. These courses make use of videos, text, activities, and quizzes to allow students to engage in many forms of instruction and develop the ability to both create and discuss different types of art.

Intro to Dramatic Art
Art, Music, and Architecture Around the World
Intro to Music
Music Lesson Plans & Activities
World Music & Art Lesson Plans & Activities
Additional Courses

Art Test Prep for Teachers and Students

Test Prep

Students and prospective teachers interested in the arts can take advantage of Study.com's music test prep resources. High school students can prepare for the AP Music Theory exam. Future K-12 teachers can review important musical concepts and teaching methods to prepare for various teaching tests, including the FTCE Music exam and the Praxis Music test. After reviewing these materials, students will be better prepared for these important exams.

Tests
  • AP Music Theory: Exam Prep

    Prepare for the AP Music Theory exam by reviewing scales, keys, modes, aural skills, intervals, melodic and harmonic composition, and more.

For Teachers

For teachers and parents

Art Lesson Plans for Teachers

Engage students with these inspiring and interesting lesson plans, and help your students develop a true love and appreciation for both the performing and visual arts. Whether you are looking for a full course plan or shorter plans to use in conjunction with current course work, there is certain to be something here to enhance a classroom experience. These lesson plans are designed for ease of use and provide a high-quality learning experience for students.

Lesson plans
  • Architectural Structures Study Guide

    Take students on an architectural world tour with these lesson plans. Students will learn about and examine the designs of mosques, temples, cathedrals, castles, and other structures from around the world.

  • Art Lesson Plans & Projects

    Help students develop a love for visual art. These lesson plans and projects cover a wide variety of types of art including photography, fashion design, sculpture, painting, collage, fiber arts, sewing, and more.

  • Performing Arts Lesson Plans

    Introduce students to the world of performing arts. Utilize lesson plans relating to many aspects of theater including exploring plots and playwrights and learning about about ancient Greek drama. There are also plans for dance, speech, and public speaking lessons.

Father and son doing homework

Art Homeschool Curriculum

Homeschooled students can take advantage of the many art classes and resources Study.com offers. Homeschooling parents may wish to explore the lesson plan section for ideas for interesting homeschool experiences in performing and visual arts as well as design and architecture. Students interested in music may wish to prepare for the AP Music Theory exam with Study.com's class on AP Music Theory: Homeschool Curriculum. After learning about reading notes, understanding musical form, rhythm and metric organization, scales, keys, modes, and visual score analysis, students will feel prepared and confident as they take the AP Music Theory exam.

Homeschool solutions Father and son doing homework

Study.com is an excellent program that can help my children learn anything. The incredible library of videos is more than I could have ever hoped for.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the seven different forms of art?

    The seven different forms of art are painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, music, theater, and cinema. The arts all require human imagination and skill.

  • What is art and its purpose?

    Art is creative human expression. It can take many forms including visual and performing arts, design, and architecture. It has many purposes including allowing individuals to express their feelings and ideas, bringing beauty to the world, impacting how people use space and interact with the world, and bringing about social change.