Art
Vocabulary
Illustrate: The book was illustrated by Robert May.
Foreground: the people, objects, countryside, etc. in
a picture or photograph that seem nearest to you and form its main part
Passion: a very powerful feeling
Abiding: An abiding feeling or memory is one that you have had for a long time
Masterpiece : a work of art such as a painting, film, or book that is made with great skill
Eye-catching: very attractive or noticeable that you can't take your eyes off
Genius: very great and rare natural ability or skill, especially in a particular area such
as science or art, or a person who has this
(An) artistic/creative/musical genius
Monotonous: boring because of always being the same
Contemporary: belonging to the present time
Turquoise: a bluish-green color
Azure: the bright blue color of the sky on a clear day
postmodernism: a style of building, painting, writing etc. developed in the late
20th century, that uses a mixture of old and new styles
Useful phrases
Paintings by contemporary artists covered the walls.
Leonardo's "Last Supper" is widely regarded as a masterpiece.
At school, his early interest in painting developed into an abiding (lasting) passion.
We can sense the warmth of the summer’s day in the bright sunlight.
The picture depicts a turquoise sea, the beautiful silvery sand attracts attention, the
endless blue sky catches your eye, and there is a sense of silence, which is disturbed only
by the sound of the surf.
The landscape of the painting is associated with the vacation, which the viewer wants so
much to spend on the shores of the azure sea, far from the hustle and bustle of daily
worries, plunging into peace and quiet.
Modern painting is increasingly pleased with burning and saturated works.
Modern creativity overcame postmodernism.
In the foreground of the painting is a horse and cart.
Life on the farm was slow and monotonous.
Are you good at art?
Yeah, I have a life-long passion for art. When I was around 15 I took some drawing and portrait
classes. I’ve always dreamed of having my own art gallery, but after a while I gave it up. I still
like to be a masterpiece creator one day.
What kind of art do you like?
I’m mostly attracted to nature paintings, so I love hanging such piece of art at home, as I believe
after a tough day at work they ease people’s mind. Also I’ve been attracted to some new kinds of
paintings recently known as abstract, they are difficult to understand but they look eye-catching
in your living room.
Is art popular in your country?
Not as a career, since artists don’t earn much in my country, I guess it is not considered as a job
here but as a hobby, yeah to a great extent, people usually spend their leisure time taking art
classes and it is a lot more common among women, but art itself is highly respected among the
people of my country.
Have you ever been to an art gallery?
Yeah, once I was invited by a friend to visit his artwork who paints these new painting styles, I
mean abstract and modern, which are kind of ambiguous to me. As I’m not an art specialist, it
was kind of boring to keep looking at one piece of art for minutes and listen to my friends’
descriptions, that’s why I rarely visit art galleries.
What makes a good painting?
I personally believe, a great artwork is the one you can’t take your eyes off. I guess, it is the
balanced harmony of the reflected colors and the delivered thoughts. The colors do bring about
an emotional response which touches people’s mind. Besides the message and the skill involved
in painting can easily tell the story of the artist’s thought.
Why do you think some people enjoy looking at paintings and sculptures and others do
not?
In my view, understanding artwork requires having relevant knowledge. As we can never judge
other professions, art is also a skill which needs a critical eye to watch and enjoy it. Some people
have no knowledge of colors and art messages but art can touch the ones who are looking for
beauty.
Describe a piece of art you like, you should say, what the work of art is?
When you first saw it?
What you know about it?
And explain why you like it?
The most famous painting that I’ve ever seen is Mona Lisa, a portrait painted by the popular
artist, Leonardo Da Vinci in the16th century.
The smile of Mona Lisa has mysterious stories, but the painting has experienced many
adventures, it was first shown in Louvre Museum in Paris but then it was stolen and taken back
to Italy where it was painted, then after a couple of years, it was finally returned to Louvre. I
guess, I first saw it in a magazine, as far as I’ve heard and read, Da Vinci’s famous painting was
highly acclaimed since he was perfectly aware of using shades, besides there are unsolved
riddles in the portrait which made the strongest impression on me as a viewer.
What is the general purpose of art?
As an ordinary person who has a limited knowledge of art, I guess the general purpose of art
would be to provide some beauty. Additionally it is known to everyone that there are many
artists who deliver messages towards art which is considered as a genius way to state their
opinions.
Do you think that art is as important as academic subjects when it comes to educating
children?
Definitely yes, art has a significant role in developing children’s creativity, I mean it is a
beneficial approach to help them think outside the box and come up with bright ideas, so it’s
quite a practical mental practice, especially at an early age.
Some relevant art questions:
How often do you visit art galleries?
Did you learn art at school when you were a child?
What kinds of paintings do people like?
Do you think children can benefit from going to art galleries?
Do you think art classes are necessary? why?
How do you think art classes affect children’s development?
Is it easy to learn how to draw?
What benefits can you get from painting as a hobby?
What kinds of things do you like to draw?
What benefits can you get from painting as a hobby?
How often do you visit art galleries?
What kinds of things do you like to draw?
Is it easy to learn how to draw?
