Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for Visual arts and art education for Secondary education

Joan Miró: Beyond the Netherlands

Joan Miró's Dutch Interiors series, particularly Dutch Interior III, exemplifies his unique pictorial language, translating original scenes by 17th-century Dutch painters into his distinctive style. This period marked the consolidation of a new artistic language for Miró, deeply influenced by Surrealism. He was reportedly impressed by Dutch art during his visits to Holland. In these works, colors are exceptionally bright, pure, and flat, while shapes are distorted, acquiring a dreamlike, organic quality. The forms extend across the canvas in a very particular manner.

The Evolution of Miró's Pictorial Language

By this time, Miró had firmly established his pictorial language, which contained elements that displayed...

Reflexive Pronouns

• I = me = myself (e.g., I bought myself a new shirt)
• You = you = yourself
• He = him = himself
• She = her = herself (e.g., She makes all her clothes herself)
• It = it = itself
• We = us = ourselves
• You = you = yourselves
• They = them = themselves

Each other: Used when the action is reciprocal (e.g., Tom and Sue were talking to each other / Tom talks to Sue and Sue talks to Tom).

Vocabulary: Clothes and Commerce

• Baggy jeans: pantalones anchos
• A hooded sweatshirt: polerón con capucha
• A suit and tie: traje y corbata
• A miniskirt: minifalda
• A top hat: sombrero de copa
• Underwear: ropa interior
• Trousers: pantalones de tela
• Wardrobe: guardarropa
• Crop: cultivo
• Denim: mezclilla
• Cheap: barato
• Throw away: desperdiciar

The Dihedral System and Orthogonal Projection

The Dihedral System is a method for representing an object by its orthogonal projections onto perpendicular planes.

Elements of the Dihedral System

• Projection Planes: These are perpendicular, typically consisting of a vertical plane and a horizontal plane.
• Ground Line (Land Line): The intersection between the vertical and horizontal planes.

Representation of Solids and Standard Views

The system facilitates the representation of solids using standard views (projections):

• Elevation (Front View)
• Ground (Plan View)
• Right Profile
• Left Profile
• Rear Elevation

Axonometric Projection Systems

Axonometric projection projects bodies from three-dimensional space onto a plane, often called the picture plane, providing a volumetric...

The Graphic Line

A line is generated by the motion of a point along a path, creating length and width, while thickness is often considered a secondary dimension. The visual qualities of a line depend on its trajectory, which can be straight, curved, broken, or mixed.

Geometric Paths

Straight paths follow mathematical laws and are created using drafting tools. When a graphic line changes direction and returns to its starting point, it generates an area and perimeter, forming shapes such as squares, triangles, and circles. Combining these creates both regular and irregular forms.

Visual Qualities of the Graphic Plane

The form of a plane depends on the line defining its perimeter. Key characteristics include:

• Size: Defined in relation to the graphic

🍳 Eigelb, Kartoffel & Trüffel

1994 Schönhell Riesling Spätlese – Querbach, Rheingau

• Grape: Riesling
• Vinification: Long, slow fermentation in stainless steel; matured extensively in bottle.
• Soil: Deep loess-loam.
• Profile: Dried apricot, honey, white tea, petrol notes, delicate oxidation, incredibly fine acidity.

Why it works: The wine’s gentle maturity mirrors the richness of the egg yolk and potato, while its bright acidity keeps the truffle aromatic and lifted instead of heavy. Age adds umami tones that link naturally with the earthy depth of the dish.

🌱 Schwarzwurzel, Kräuterseitling, Birne & Miso

N.V. “Fait Accompli” – Georg Breuer, Rheingau

• Grapes: Riesling
• Vinification: Multi-vintage solera, partially aged in old oak;

The Primary and Secondary Colors

• Color is an element of visual language.
• Basic colors, when mixed in different quantities and with the addition of black, can imitate reality.

Primary or Fundamental Colors

• These are colors that cannot be achieved by mixing any other colors.

Cyan Magenta Yellow

Secondary Colors or Binary

• Obtained by mixing two primary colors together.

Subtractive Mixture

• When all primary colors are mixed together, they produce a visual sensation close to black.

Color Wheel and Complementary Colors

• The color wheel is a pattern formed by a circular geometric figure, used to sort primary and secondary colors for easy visual comprehension.
• Complementary colors are those opposite each other on the color wheel, meaning they do not contain any

Color Fundamentals

Tone

Tone defines the very quality that has color.

Value

Value refers to when each color or tone of the color wheel is mixed with bright white or black to darken or lighten it.

Saturation

This concept represents the purity or intensity of a particular color, its brightness or dullness.

Color Mixing

Additive Mixture

It is so named because it is produced by adding the primary colors, resulting in white.

Subtractive Mixture

This is the mix where the primary subject is involved. The sum of the three primaries produces a gray or brown color, almost black.

Complementary colors are those that are opposite on the color wheel. When you mix two complementary colors, you are mixing the three primaries.

Tone Revisited

When using various color tones,...

The Golden Rectangle Construction

The Golden Rectangle: Square and mark the midpoint (D) of one side (AB). Join the vertex (C) opposite side D. Use a compass to transfer that distance onto the initial side (D), obtaining the longest side of the rectangle (AC).

Compositional Strengths and Rules

The Four Strengths and the Law of Thirds

Strengths are obtained by drawing lines on the sides; four points (Q) are achieved that relate to the golden section.

Basic Lines of the Frame

The lines must direct the gaze toward the center of interest:

• Horizon: Unless creating a specific effect, the horizon should never divide the frame into two equal halves.
• Vertical: Often suggests the divine or spiritual element.
• Diagonal (Bias): The best resource to break monotony.

Elements of Visual Composition

Visual elements are fundamental components that help us represent shapes, compose designs, and create a sense of volume.

The Point in Art and Design

Characteristics of the Point

The point is often considered the simplest visual element, typically formed where two lines intersect. While often imagined as small and round, a point can have an irregular shape depending on the material used. Points can be employed to create a sense of chiaroscuro and depth.

Expressive Value of the Point

Its color and texture can also be altered within a composition to enhance expressiveness. In a composition, a point placed centrally conveys a sense of balance. Moving it away from the center, however, creates a feeling of movement and instability....

🥣 Pilzbouillon, Flädle & Zitronengras

2024 Rioja Blanco – Gómez Cruzado, Rioja

• Grapes: Mainly Viura with some Tempranillo Blanco
• Vinification: Fermented in stainless steel; short lees aging for texture
• Soil: Limestone-rich clay from the Alto Najerilla
• Character: Fresh pear, white flowers, subtle fennel, and a clean mineral line
• Why it works: The wine’s freshness lifts the lemongrass aromatics, while its soft texture follows the depth of the mushroom broth and the savory Flädle pancake.

🌱 Schwarzwurzel, Kräuterseitling, Birne & Miso

2019 “La Voluptueuse” Chardonnay – Domaine La Croix Montjoie, Vézelay

• Grapes: Chardonnay
• Vinification: Fermented and aged in old French oak, no new barrels; gentle bâtonnage
• Soil: Jurassic limestone