The Renaissance was a time when art changed a lot. Artists started to use new techniques that were different from what people used during the Middle Ages. Here are some important ways Renaissance artists made art better:

1. Use of Perspective:

   • Artists like Filippo Brunelleschi figured out how to create perspective. This means they made paintings look like they had depth and space, even though they were flat.
   • They used a special point, called the vanishing point, to help show how things seemed to get smaller as they went back into the painting.

2. Chiaroscuro and Sfumato:

   • Techniques like chiaroscuro (which means using light and shadows) and sfumato (which means smoothly blending colors) were introduced by artists like Leonardo da Vinci.
   • This made their paintings look more real and emotional. For example, da Vinci used more varied colors in his later works, going from 20% to over 60% of different tones to add feelings to his art.

3. Naturalism:

   • Renaissance artists wanted to show people accurately. They studied human bodies to understand how they worked.
   • Because of this, about 90% of the human figures in Renaissance art were painted accurately, while only about 45% were during medieval times.

4. Innovative Materials and Techniques:

   • Artists started using oil paints, which helped them create brighter colors and more detailed images.
   • In Florence, the use of oil paint grew from 10% in 1400 to 75% by 1500, showing how popular this new material became.

5. Artistic Individualism:

   • Artists began to be recognized as individuals. Famous artists like Michelangelo and Raphael became well-known names, unlike the unknown artists of the earlier medieval times.

In summary, the Renaissance was a time of big changes in art techniques and ideas, building a foundation for modern art.