Cornell University
Cornell University: Art, Design, and Visual Thinking
Use the left-hand toolbar of this site to investigate an online textbook for the language of design. It provides visual examples and explanations of line, form, color, color psychology, texture, balance, proportion and many more...
Department of Defense
Do Dea: Art Appreciation: Unit 2: Introduction
In this second unit of a course on Art Appreciation, students are shown how to explain what the meaning of art is, they learn about the function of art in different cultures, why so much value is placed on art and cultural items, and...
![Arts Now Learning: Mona Mesa: What Is Your Opinion? [Pdf] Lesson Plan](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Arts Now Learning: Mona Mesa: What Is Your Opinion? [Pdf] Lesson Plan")
ArtsNow
Arts Now Learning: Mona Mesa: What Is Your Opinion? [Pdf]
For this lesson, 1st graders look at a print of "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo DaVinci and talk about what they see, searching for visual clues to help them form an opinion. They discuss the importance of portrait paintings during the...
ArtsNow
Arts Now Learning: Self Portraits With the Touch of a Finger [Pdf]
In this lesson, students will explore self-portraiture by looking at classical portrait paintings, such as Diego Velazquez's La Infanta Margarita or Raphael's Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione. A close look at these works reveals...
Boston University
Boston University: Putting Value Into Art
Andrew Ward decides to get into the middle of an argument between David Hume and Hume's critic Malcolm Budd about the standard for assessing the value of works of art upon the feeling of pleasure or displeasure. This topic will be a...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Special Topics in Art History: Seeing America
A course on looking at American history through art. Should be cross-checked against smarthistory.org.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Arts and Humanities: Looking at Art
Course covering why art matters, elements of art, and principles of composition.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Arts and Humanities: Art of Asia
A landing page for a course on the art history of Asia.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Arts and Humanities: Art of Africa
A landing page for a course on African art found in regions and in individual countries.
ArtLex
Art Lex: Aesthetics
Definition of "aesthetics" according to ArtLex, a dictionary of art terms. Includes links to other important terms as well. A good place to start.
Other
California State University: Judging Aesthetic Value
Julie Van Camp gets our aesthetic minds in action with this article from the California State University on the court ruling that 2 Live Crew did not infringe upon the copyright of Roy Orbison's song, "Oh, Pretty Woman." Van Camp cites...