Fine Art Vs. Applied Art

Since the first cave paintings, artists have been conveying their stories and feelings through different artistic mediums. These mediums include painting, sculpture, drawing, and photography. Art is an integral part of our lives and the world, and it comes in many different forms. Two of the common types of art are the well-known fine arts and applied art.

So what do we refer to when we say "fine art" vs. "applied art"? This article will look in-depth at the similarities and differences between these two types of artwork.

Applied Art Vs. Fine Art

Fine art refers to any form of visual art that cannot be used for commercial or practical purposes. The fine arts typically include mediums such as painting, drawing, and sculpture. On the contrary, applied art refers to artwork created for a valuable end product such as design or decoration (e.g., fabric design).  

What Is Fine Art?

Fine art is traditionally defined as any form of visual art that is not considered a trade and cannot be used for commercial or practical purposes. It is artwork created only to be enjoyed and viewed for its artistic merits, such as a painting and sculpture. Fine art can be appreciated for its own sake rather than its practical function.

What Is Applied Art?

Applied art is any form of art created with a specific practical purpose in mind. This type of art can be found in various mediums, such as design, decoration, and even advertising. Applied art is often used for commercial or utilitarian purposes, such as product design or architecture. Applied arts can be referred to as both crafts or commercial arts. Historically the applied arts were considered the low arts, while fine art was considered high art. 

Differences Between Fine Art And Applied Art

While all art has commonalities there are several key points that distinguish fine art from applied art. Here are some more differences between fine arts and applied arts. 

Fine art is often not created to be sold commercially. It is designed to be exhibited or displayed in a private collection, gallery, or museum for people's admiration and enjoyment. The applied arts must be commercially viable to sell, usually en masse rather than as an original or one-of-a-kind work.

Fine artworks are often more abstract, featuring bold colors and wild shapes. Applied arts such as design and decoration may sometimes feature abstract images (e.g., artists like Mondrian). Still, they are more realistic a lot of the time, featuring images that resemble things in the real world. 

Historically, fine art is a form of entertainment that does not have any practical impact on our daily lives. However, applied arts such as design and decoration often have a practical application to apply to products or objects that we use every day.

While fine art does not need to be commercially viable, it is usually more highly valued than applied art, and Fine art is therefore generally more expensive than applied art. The price of a painting or sculpture by an artist like Picasso, for example, could be millions of dollars due to the fact that it is rare and highly talented artists are hard to find. 

This does not mean that applied arts such as design and decoration cannot be expensive; they can! For example, the design of the new iPhones was done by Apple and therefore cost millions of dollars. 

Fine art can be multi-media, meaning it is made up of different mediums, while applied arts are generally made with one material type (e.g., fabric design is made on fabrics). 

Applied arts are often made to be used or worn, while fine arts are typically intended to be statically displayed and admired. 

Finally, applied arts are often created by a team, and they're not associated with a single artist. You do not find an artist's name on the final product. Instead, the item may be sold under a brand name. Fine arts, however, are often connected to famous artists, for example, a painting by Monet or a sculpture by Rodin. 

What Are The Similarities Between Fine Art And Applied Art

There are several similarities between fine art and applied art. Firstly, both types of art can be used for decorative purposes.

Secondly, fine art and applied art can be used to communicate ideas or messages and can be used to evoke emotions in the viewer.

Fine art and applied art can utilize the same materials and skills to create beautiful artworks, and some artists will work as both fine artists and commercial artists making applied artworks.

 Finally, both types of art can create a sense of beauty in the world. They are both types of art that are very important in our world. To explore fine art from contemporary artists, visit an Eden Gallery location or our online art gallery.