Art vs. Craft: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Art is a form of creative human expression, conveying emotional or conceptual ideas, while craft involves creating tangible objects with skill and dexterity, often with functional purposes.
Key Differences
Art is often seen as a form of personal expression, capturing the artist's emotions, thoughts, or ideas. It is subjective and open to interpretation, allowing viewers to derive their own meanings. Craft, on the other hand, focuses more on the creation of practical or decorative objects, emphasizing the use of hands and materials. It often involves following certain traditions or techniques, and the value lies in the skill and technique used.
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Dec 12, 2023
Art tends to prioritize aesthetic value and emotional impact, pushing boundaries and often existing for its own sake. It is an expression of creativity and imagination, often without constraints or specific functionality. Craft typically has a practical purpose or function, like pottery, knitting, or carpentry. The beauty in craft is often found in the mastery of technique and the functionality of the final product.
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Dec 12, 2023
The training for artists often involves developing a unique style and voice, focusing on creative processes and conceptual frameworks. Artistic works are often one-of-a-kind. In contrast, craftsmen may undergo apprenticeships or formal training to master specific techniques and skills. Crafts often involve replicable techniques, where the value lies in the precision and consistency of the work.
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Dec 12, 2023
Art is often considered more experimental, with artists exploring and pushing the boundaries of mediums and concepts. It is a platform for personal or societal expression, sometimes without tangible outcomes. Craft is more about preserving traditional methods and skills, with a focus on material and technique. It often results in tangible, usable items, created with a high level of skill and attention to detail.
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Dec 12, 2023
In art, the emphasis is often on the originality and the message or emotion conveyed by the piece. It can exist in various forms like painting, sculpture, or performance. Craft emphasizes the technical skill and the quality of the finished product, such as in woodworking, weaving, or metalworking. The aesthetic appeal in craft is often rooted in the intricacy and quality of the workmanship.
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Dec 12, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
Expressive, conveying ideas and emotions
Functional, creating usable or decorative items
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Training
Focuses on unique style and creativity
Involves mastering specific techniques
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Focus
On originality and emotional impact
On material mastery and practical utility
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Dec 12, 2023
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Art and Craft Definitions
Art
Art is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination.
The art gallery showcased diverse paintings, each reflecting the artist's unique perspective.
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Dec 05, 2023
Craft
Craft refers to the objects made by hand requiring a particular skill and artistry.
The handmade quilts at the craft fair were admired for their intricate designs.
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Dec 05, 2023
Art
Art refers to works created to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.
The sculpture in the park was a stunning piece of art that evoked a sense of calm.
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Dec 05, 2023
Craft
Craft involves skills and methods to create something practical yet artistic.
Glassblowing is a craft that requires both artistic vision and technical skill.
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Art
Art encompasses a diverse range of human activities in creating visual, auditory, or performing artifacts.
The performance art piece combined dance, music, and visual effects.
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Art
The conscious use of the imagination in the production of objects intended to be contemplated or appreciated as beautiful, as in the arrangement of forms, sounds, or words.
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Art
Such activity in the visual or plastic arts
Takes classes in art at the college.
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Craft
An occupation or trade requiring manual dexterity or skilled artistry.
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Art
Products of this activity; imaginative works considered as a group
Art on display in the lobby.
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Craft
The practitioners of such an occupation or trade considered as a group.
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Art
A skill that is attained by study, practice, or observation
The art of negotiation.
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Craft
Ability, skilfulness, especially skill in making plans and carrying them into execution; dexterity in managing affairs, adroitness, practical cunning; ingenuity in constructing, dexterity .
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Craft
Cunning, art, skill, or dexterity applied to bad purposes; artifice; guile; subtlety; shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception .
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Dec 05, 2023
Art
(uncountable) The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colours, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the senses and emotions, usually specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium.
There is a debate as to whether graffiti is art or vandalism.
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Dec 05, 2023
Art
(uncountable) The creative and emotional expression of mental imagery, such as visual, auditory, social, etc.
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Art
(countable) Skillful creative activity, usually with an aesthetic focus.
She's mastered the art of programming.
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Craft
(collective or plural) Handmade items, especially domestic or decorative objects; handicrafts .
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Art
(uncountable) The study and the product of these processes.
He's at university to study art.
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Art
(uncountable) Aesthetic value.
Her photographs are nice, but there's no art in them.
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Craft
Learning of the schools, scholarship; a branch of learning or knowledge, a science, especially one of the ‘seven liberal arts’ of the medieval universities .
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Art
(uncountable) Artwork.
Sotheby's regularly auctions art for millions.
Art collection
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Craft
(uncountable) Skill, skilfulness, art, especially the skill needed for a particular profession .
The craft of writing plays.
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Art
(countable) A field or category of art, such as painting, sculpture, music, ballet, or literature.
I'm a great supporter of the arts.
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Dec 05, 2023
Craft
A branch of skilled work or trade, especially one requiring manual dexterity or artistic skill, but sometimes applied equally to any business, calling or profession; the skilled practice of a practical occupation .
The carpenter's craft.
He learned his craft as an apprentice.
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Art
(countable) A nonscientific branch of learning; one of the liberal arts.
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Craft
(countable) A trade or profession as embodied in its practitioners collectively; the members of a trade or handicraft as a body; an association of these; a trade's union, guild, or ‘company’ .
She represented the craft of brewers.
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Craft
A vehicle designed for navigation in or on water or air or through outer space .
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Craft
(nautical) Boats, especially of smaller size than ships. Historically primarily applied to vessels engaged in loading or unloading of other vessels, as lighters, hoys, and barges.
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Art
The second person singular, indicative mode, present tense, of the substantive verb Be; but formed after the analogy of the plural are, with the ending -t, as in thou shalt, wilt, orig. an ending of the second person sing. pret. Cf. Be. Now used only in solemn or poetical style.
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Dec 05, 2023
Craft
Those vessels attendant on a fleet, such as cutters, schooners, and gun-boats, generally commanded by lieutenants.
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Dec 05, 2023
Art
The employment of means to accomplish some desired end; the adaptation of things in the natural world to the uses of life; the application of knowledge or power to practical purposes.
Blest with each grace of nature and of art.
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Dec 05, 2023
Art
A system of rules serving to facilitate the performance of certain actions; a system of principles and rules for attaining a desired end; method of doing well some special work; - often contradistinguished from science or speculative principles; as, the art of building or engraving; the art of war; the art of navigation.
Science is systematized knowledge . . . Art is knowledge made efficient by skill.
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Craft
Implements used in catching fish, such as net, line, or hook. Modern use primarily in whaling, as in harpoons, hand-lances, etc. .
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Art
The systematic application of knowledge or skill in effecting a desired result. Also, an occupation or business requiring such knowledge or skill.
The fishermen can't employ their art with so much success in so troubled a sea.
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Dec 05, 2023
Art
The application of skill to the production of the beautiful by imitation or design, or an occupation in which skill is so employed, as in painting and sculpture; one of the fine arts; as, he prefers art to literature.
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Dec 05, 2023
Craft
To construct, develop something (like a skilled craftsman).
State crafting; the process of crafting global policing
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Art
Those branches of learning which are taught in the academical course of colleges; as, master of arts.
In fearless youth we tempt the heights of arts.
Four years spent in the arts (as they are called in colleges) is, perhaps, laying too laborious a foundation.
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Craft
(video games) To combine multiple items to form a new item, such as armour or medicine.
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Art
Learning; study; applied knowledge, science, or letters.
So vast is art, so narrow human wit.
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Art
Skill, dexterity, or the power of performing certain actions, acquired by experience, study, or observation; knack; as, a man has the art of managing his business to advantage.
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Dec 05, 2023
Craft
Art or skill; dexterity in particular manual employment; hence, the occupation or employment itself; manual art; a trade.
Ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
A poem is the work of the poet; poesy is his skill or craft of making.
Since the birth of time, throughout all ages and nations,Has the craft of the smith been held in repute.
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Art
Skillful plan; device.
They employed every art to soothe . . . the discontented warriors.
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Craft
Those engaged in any trade, taken collectively; a guild; as, the craft of ironmongers.
The control of trade passed from the merchant guilds to the new craft guilds.
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Art
Cunning; artifice; craft.
Madam, I swear I use no art at all.
Animals practice art when opposed to their superiors in strength.
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Dec 05, 2023
Craft
Cunning, art, or skill, in a bad sense, or applied to bad purposes; artifice; guile; skill or dexterity employed to effect purposes by deceit or shrewd devices.
You have that crooked wisdom which is called craft.
The chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.
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Art
The black art; magic.
In America, literature and the elegant arts must grow up side by side with the coarser plants of daily necessity.
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Craft
A vessel; vessels of any kind; - generally used in a collective sense.
The evolutions of the numerous tiny craft moving over the lake.
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Art
The products of human creativity; works of art collectively;
An art exhibition
A fine collection of art
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Art
The creation of beautiful or significant things;
Art does not need to be innovative to be good
I was never any good at art
He said that architecture is the art of wasting space beautifully
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Craft
The skilled practice of a practical occupation;
He learned his trade as an apprentice
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Art
A superior skill that you can learn by study and practice and observation;
The art of conversation
It's quite an art
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Craft
A vehicle designed for navigation in or on water or air or through outer space
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Art
Photographs or other visual representations in a printed publication;
The publisher was responsible for all the artwork in the book
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Craft
People who perform a particular kind of skilled work;
He represented the craft of brewers
As they say in the trade
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Art
Art is the use of skill and creativity in the production of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences.
Her art installation used light and shadows to create an immersive experience.
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Dec 05, 2023
Art
Art is a skill at doing a specified thing, typically one acquired through practice.
He mastered the art of storytelling, captivating his audience every time.
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Dec 05, 2023
Craft
Make by hand and with much skill;
The artisan crafted a complicated tool
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Craft
Craft is an activity involving skill in making things by hand.
Her craft in pottery was evident in the beautifully shaped vases.
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Craft
Craft is the quality of design and work shown in something made by hand.
The carpenter's craft was evident in the detailed woodworking of the cabinet.
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Craft
Craft is a profession that requires particular skills and knowledge of skilled work.
The blacksmith's craft has been honed over years of practice and dedication.
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Dec 05, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is the main purpose of craft?
The main purpose of craft is the creation of functional or decorative items.
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Dec 12, 2023
Can art be functional like craft?
While art can be functional, its primary focus is on expression and aesthetics.
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Dec 12, 2023
Is skill equally important in both art and craft?
Skill is important in both, but the focus in art is on creativity, while in craft it's on technique and functionality.
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Dec 12, 2023
Can the same person be an artist and a craftsman?
Yes, a person can be both an artist and a craftsman.
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What defines art?
Art is defined by creative expression and emotional impact.
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Dec 12, 2023
How does training differ for artists and craftsmen?
Artists often focus on developing a unique style, while craftsmen focus on mastering specific techniques.
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Dec 12, 2023
Are digital creations considered art or craft?
Digital creations can be considered both, depending on their purpose and execution.
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Dec 12, 2023
Are all handmade objects considered crafts?
Most handmade objects are considered crafts, especially if they involve skilled work.
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Dec 12, 2023
How do art and craft contribute to culture?
Both contribute to culture by preserving traditions and fostering creative expression.
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Is it easier to learn art or craft?
The ease of learning depends on individual aptitude and interests.
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Dec 12, 2023
Can art and craft overlap?
Yes, there can be an overlap where craft becomes artful and art incorporates craft techniques.
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Dec 12, 2023
How is the value of art and craft determined?
Art's value is often subjective, based on creativity, while craft's value is based on skill and functionality.
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Dec 12, 2023
Can craft be considered a form of art?
Craft can be considered a form of art, especially when it transcends functionality and expresses creativity.
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Dec 12, 2023
How has technology impacted art and craft?
Technology has expanded the possibilities and accessibility of both art and craft.
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Dec 12, 2023
How do social and cultural contexts affect art and craft?
They influence the themes, techniques, and appreciation of both art and craft.
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Dec 12, 2023
Can art and craft be used for social commentary?
Yes, both can be powerful mediums for social commentary and reflection.
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Dec 12, 2023
Do art and craft require natural talent?
Both can benefit from natural talent but also require practice and development.
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Dec 12, 2023
Do art and craft have different audiences?
They can have different audiences, but there is also a significant overlap.
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Dec 12, 2023
Can art and craft be self-taught?
Both can be self-taught, though guidance can enhance skill and understanding.
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Dec 12, 2023
Is the appreciation of art and craft subjective?
Yes, the appreciation of both art and craft is often subjective.
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Dec 12, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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