ART APPRECIATION (PRELIM) We can only thank arts for its extraordinary services.

only thank arts for its extraordinary services. Without it, we may have been living in
Week 1 emptiness and despair. So join me as we explore more the world of art.
I am truly inspired to guide you throughout this term towards the very goal of this course
which is for you to be able to appreciate art along with the appreciation of one’s talent,
INTRODUCTION TO ART APPRECIATION unleashing of one’s potential and the utilization of art as a way to contribute to the welfare of
There are a lot of changes that happened in this world most especially with the spread of our society and most especially to use art as a platform to positively express oneself.
the novel coronavirus. Right now, being an artist is the best occupation or activity you can
have due to the solitary nature of artistic creation like you can be alone in your studio or Let us continue understanding what this course has to offer by defining art appreciation,
home, you don’t necessarily need to go out that much, it doesn’t mean that you are stuck. humanities and establishing the relationship of both.
Whenever you are painting, you are opening a huge universe so even if you stay at home
and kind of feeling stressed and lonely then think of an escape way to open an infinite world Lesson Proper:
around you, so it’s not solitary, its actually opening doors of imagination so if you’re already Meaning and Importance of Art
an artist or if you already have some experiences or this is your first time, then maybe this is
the right time to start making art. Start using this time efficiently, be creative, explore and Art is a subject under humanities. Since art is subjective in the sense that people differ in
open new doors for your imagination even if you can’t go out. So as you can see, in the their perception of an object or thing. Hence, there can be no one universal definition of it.
situation we have here in the Philippines right now and in other countries of the world, we What may be beautiful and meaningful for some people may be considered as something
are in some sort of confinement, as some are experiencing community quarantine or ugly and meaningless to others. In other words, different authors and writers define art in
lockdowns. We’re not allowed to get out so we’re pretty much stuck so we can just help our various ways as they perceive it. Moreover, the meaning of art has changed throughout
parents, stick together and avoid having too many contacts to avoid spreading the disease. history due to multicultural settings. Thus, every time a new movement in art emerged, the
You may have asked yourselves, what’s the meaning of all this, what’s the meaning of art, meaning of what is art, what is acceptable as art, is being challenged.
what’s the point of studying art? Art is not helping like practically speaking you’re not healing
people you’re not putting on anybody’s table but it can still help by providing spiritual Hereunder are some of the definitions of art given by various authors and writers.
comfort in a way or it can be a source of entertainment. 1. Art is derived from the Latin word “ars,” meaning ability or skill- J.V. Estolas

If you paint a beautiful landscape with just a happy vibe, then you are taking people in 2. Art is a product of man’s need to express himself- F. Zulueta. Emotions need not
another dimension where they can forget all the sufferings in the world, or when you are only be felt but expressed. These are emotions transformed into something that is
painting a harsh painting with dark and a very cruel portrayal, you are also helping maybe beautiful worthy to be shared. Art lets people express their emotions creatively and
understand some sort of hidden message that it may have and may even give a sense of productively.
enlightenment for some people. Whenever you post your funny TikTok videos, you are
giving joy to a lot of viewers. When you sing a beautiful song, you may have touched 3. Art is that which brings life in harmony with the world- Plato. Art is meant to
another person’s heart and probably made him/ her realize some stuff which are worthy to “express only images of good, and to prohibit them from exhibiting the opposite forms
ponder upon. That inspirational poem you originally composed and shared online would of vice and intemperance and meanness and indecency” the main moral concern is the
have probably motivated someone to go on with his or her life. affect of art on minds and development of the character of citizens

Now as we proceed with our lesson, I would like to inspire you to reflect more on the 4. Art is not what you see but what you make others see-Georgia O’Keeffe & Edgar
important roles arts has to play in our society. Imagine for a moment the world without arts, Degas. One of the things that makes a great art is its ability to convey message and its
without music, without cinema, dance, opera, literature, poetry. efficiency to stir up people’s ability to think and interpret the artwork. Its influence or its
impact on the viewers must be considered.
How light art transforms cities and public spaces that world will be a very very dull place.
We create art through the use of imagination, the one thing that distinguishes us as human 5. Art is the right reason of making things. It is the process of creating things that is
beings from other species. Without art, reality would be quite unbearable as we need art in guided by good intention and it does not violate the universal concept of justice.-
order not to perish from the truth. Most of us can attest to how important art is most Aristotle
especially during this pandemic. Some of you would listen to music, watch vlogs and films to
lessen your boredom. Others sing and dance to entertain their friends and families. There There are many reasons to make art. Some make art to make money. Well this is just fine,
are also those who paint and draw to convey their emotions or to sublimate one's but Aristotle has his own standard of what a real art is. For him, the artist must take into
unacceptable feelings and adapt oneself to the present situation. These are just a few of the consideration the impact of a particular artwork to its viewers. It must be created with good
numerous advantages we may get from art. Indeed, we use different media to express intention and for the greater good of all the people and not to demean or to cause
ourselves and to color our lives. injustice/s to the people.

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From the above definitions of art, it can be concluded that there are several ways of defining
art as there are many people, authors, and writers in the universe. Each definition is Other definitions of art
influenced by the unique perspective of the above authors and writers as well as their own  Ancient Latin, ars (“craft” or specialized form of skill). Art then suggested the
personality and character. capacity to produce an intended result from carefully planned steps or method. (build a
house)
Nevertheless, a glimpse of the above definitions bring us four (4) common essentials of art.
 It is considered as the “Lifeblood” of humanities. Without arts, it is impossible to
 Art is man-made, not God-made. Art is a perceived, conceived idea on many items speak of a human person. As a human person is bound to express his ideas and
designed by man. We are driven to arrange our surroundings which for want of a better thoughts. Such can be done only through medium of expression which is propounded
term we call nature. Art is nature framed by the artist to reveal something specific about by arts. Everything around us, all that you can see is an art, and without it, man cannot
it. It reflects the artist’s view of nature. survive

 Art is creative, not imitative. Art must be creative because it’s a product of our  Any creative skill, a talent, a painting, a design, a colorful creation, an original
imagination. We can use art as an expression of our feelings, emotions and selves. Art composition and a masterpiece. Art can be expressed in many forms and it is
must be not imitative because every piece of art has its own artist. The artist has the commonly manifested by the skills embedded in person. Our innate gifts and talents
property of those artworks. We can adapt other people’s style but not the work itself. are enhanced through different art activities

 Art benefits and satisfies man-when he uses art in practical life through artistic  It is an essential factor that motivates an individual to create and appreciate a
principles, taste, and skill. Let’s take into account the University’s Kaibigan ng thing of beauty. It is impossible to appreciate something without our own standard that
Kalikasan Program (KKP) activity. The main purpose why we implement this program is will help us to give our opinion about a work of art. The existence of standards that we
because of our care for the environment. Do we benefit from this? The benefit afforded have will always motivate us to improve further as to our satisfaction level of arts. In this
to us by the program is enough example to speak of art benefiting and satisfying man. case, it will motivate us to either create and improve further.

 Art is expressed through a certain medium or material by which the artist What are the significance of Humanities?
communicates himself to his fellows. The Spoliarium of Juan Luna would give us a  It introduces us to places we have never visited. It gives us a vicarious experience
message that Spanish friars are too much in handling the Filipino people due to abuses of going to places we have never been before by means of paintings, films, books and
suffered by the latter under their hands. the like.
 It introduces us to ideas that never crossed our minds. By just merely looking at
THE IMPORTANCE OF ARTS TO STUDENTS someone else’s creation, it gives us the opportunity to reflect and or formulate ideas
that never crossed our minds. You may even get to say, “oo nga ano, pwede pala to” or
Arts play a valuable role to students. “ang galing naman ng gumawa dito, magaya nga ito”
 It introduces us to persons we never met. You may never get to experience a face-
Through participation in arts-music, dance, drama, media arts, and the visual arts- to-face interaction or encounter with your favorite artists but you know a lot and you
 Students can develop their creativity, self-awareness, self-confidence, sense of have a lot to say about them for you have been watching them through televisions,
well-being and to learn about their identity hearing about them through radios, and reading about them through
 Arts create a safe space for students to explore talents and build their confidence books/newspapers.
 By showing how others have lived and thought about life, it helps us decide what
Through intense involvement in artistic activities is important in our lives and what we can do to make them better. It gives us the
 Students experience a sense of wonder and joy when learning though the chance to discover other people and their way of living, thinking, and feeling. We get to
arts. Working together for a common purpose teaches students that their see through them how we can improve and decide for ourselves in a way that does not
contribution is important, which is perfect for the collaborative nature of the arts. destroy us, rather to make us reach our potentials and grow as a person.
 Students can be motivated to participate more fully in cultural life. Arts  By connecting us with other people, they point the way to answers about what is
provide a unique platfom to discuss many different cultures, socioeconomic levels, right or wrong, or what is true to our heritage and our history. It’s always nice to
and current events. Through arts, students have a place not only to learn about connect with other people. Through them, we get to learn a lot of stuff like things our
different cultures than their own, but also to ask questions and be more informed immediate family members or friends never taught us or have made us realize. As we
about the daily struggles and realities of people who may seem different. broaden our connection, we enrich our life as well with life lessons and wisdom. Their
 Students are able to gain educational opportunities which they can use later experiences and opinions help us become critical of what is good and bad, what is true
in their career life. By working collaboratively on a project, students learn to to our heritage and history.
communicate more effectively, compromise when necessary, and work hard even  It helps us address the challenges we face together in our families, our
if their role may seem small. communities, and as a nation. It helps us build better relationships and helps us cope
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 with the different adversities of life by means of enlightenment. It inspires us to get
united not divided.
 It develops ones critical and imaginative thinking
It broadens your perspective. You may be able to use your critical and creative thinking
skills to dissect the steps it took to create a world-famous sculpture or painting. In this
scenario, the humanities degree is less about you and more about your ability to appreciate
another person’s hard work. It makes us understand and appreciate the experiences of
others.

Arts and humanities are considered as two of the oldest fields of knowledge available to
man. The difference between the two is often seen with ambiguity. While art is seen as a
more all-inclusive field, humanities, on the other hand, takes into consideration a diverse
and oftentimes unrelated set of disciplines from literature to political history

Both humanities and arts can prepare you to think critically, act creatively, and succeed in a
rapidly changing world.

Week 2

KINDS OF ART
The following are the different kinds of art. Definitions and examples are included below for
you to better understand the lesson.

NATURE OF ART

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1. Art is everywhere. When you wake up in the morning what do you see? When you go Aristotle: Beauty is a symmetry, proportion, and an organic order of parts into united whole.
to school or hangout in Robinsons with your friends what do you see? When you shop For Aristotle, what we can certainly state is that our attraction to another person’s body
in Lazada or shopee for home décor or gadgets or school materials what do you see? increases if that body is symmetrical and in proportion.
Basically, almost everything that we see around us, including the things that we use are
all products of art. *Scientists believe that we perceive proportional bodies to be healthier.

2. Art is part of one’s life. He/she cannot ignore its presence even if he/she tries to. We Spinoza: A thing is beautiful if we desire it, and desire it because it is good; and if it is good,
are all artists in some ways. Your choice of pairing of clothes is an art. The way you tie it is therefore beautiful. He dismisses beauty as mere sensual content. The standards
your hair is art. The movies you watch, books you read, musics you listen to are all arts. include your desire on that particular thing. Hence, beauty for Spinoza is subjective.
So basically, arts has been part of our day to day life
Idealist: “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” We have different standards of beauty. What
3. ART as expression and communication. Art is the expression of inner feelings, idea, may be beautiful for me may not be beautiful to you. We cannot really judge other people of
thought about something or the environment. Art is created through expressing ones their choices because we perceive things differently and as a matter of fact, matters of taste
feelings, emotions, intuitions, and desires, but it is even more personal than that; it’s are not matters of dispute.
about sharing the way we experience the world, which for many is an extension of
personality. Santayana: Beauty is pleasure objectified. It is when the experience and emotion of
pleasure intertwines with the qualities of the object that beauty arises.
4. Art is not nature. A work of art is man-made whereas nature is given around us.
Although art may closely resemble nature, it can never duplicate nature. It is only man’s With art, beauty has become an artist’s definitive goal. But surprisingly, an artist’s passion
way of interpreting nature. transcends beyond his master pieces. It is his ultimate goal to touch and connect with
human emotion. Artists are able to stimulate their audiences in some way that which would
5. Art perfects nature. Although nature displays order and harmony, sometimes it is in its create feelings, curiosity and interest. It is capable of bringing the audience into another
chaotic state. Artist duplicate things they like and eliminate the undesirable elements in dimension that which play with their thoughts and memories and thus bring beauty in a
nature to convey their message of love and beauty. sensual way.

6. Art and culture are linked. Art is an expression of a particular person or group of TYPES OF BEAUTY
people. Art mirrors the beliefs and practices of a certain group of people. Thus art
reveals not only the identity of the artist but even the society he/she belongs to. Ideal Beauty
One finds from objects or scenes in nature which conforms or approximate to his idea of
7. Art must be universally significant. The works of Rizal and Francisco Balagtas are how beauty should be made or formed, which expectation is the result of man’s
not read because they are old but because they are beautifully written. Arts, regardless accumulated knowledge or total aesthetic experiences. This type of beauty resembles
of its origin, time, and place are liked and enjoyed by people continuously. perfection.

Real Beauty
Week 3 A type of beauty which conforms to the general expectations of man in a particular society,
period and culture according to subject, function or genre that it represents. One best
BEAUTY, CLASSIFICATIONS, AND FUNCTIONS OF ART example for this is Liza Soberano. Liza’s beauty matches the standard/ tastes of Filipino
about being beautiful. However, this does not mean that Liza’s beauty accords with all other
Definitions of Beauty people in other countries.

Webster dictionary: Beauty is an assemblage of perfection through which an object is Natural Beauty
rendered pleasing to the eye. Natural beauty is a type of beauty as found in nature and is not man-made. Objects which
exhibits manifestations that there has been no intervention made by man are qualified under
Plato: Beauty is equated with the sublime identity with good. Basically, for Plato, a thing is this type of beauty.
not considered beautiful if it does not serve a good intention. The same is true to a person
as he/she will be considered beautiful so long as the beauty applies both on the outside and One example for this is the Blue water located in Baggao, Cagayan
on the inside (personality).
Artificial Beauty
This is a type of beauty is realized the moment man tries to make some changes in nature
in order to realize some concept, atmosphere or mood. This is some sort of a corrective

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measure man does to qualify a thing or a person on the standards they have for beauty. An
example of this is the Banaue Rice Terraces. Examples: painting, Sculpture, Architecture, printmaking *The set of “fine arts” are
sometimes also called the major arts, with "minor arts" equating to the decorative arts.
Decorative Beauty
The type of beauty that is realized from the actual physical or material presence of the work Minor Arts
of art. It refers to the decorative function of the work of art that helps beautify the place. An The minor arts include jewelry, silverware, coins, miniature sculptures and carvings - in
example of this is the chapel with impressive lighting Callao Cave (Penablanca Cagayan). short, anything excluded by the "major arts" such as paintings, prints and monumental
sculptures are products of minor arts. The minor arts may be small, but, as the saying goes,
Spiritual Beauty good things come in small packages. It is really hard separate minor from practical arts
This type of beauty is discerned from works of art in which subjects are about religion, or since these works are connected with each other. In a way, we can categorize practical arts
beauty found in noble and virtuous life. This type of beauty surpasses physical beauty. This under minor arts.
type of beauty includes qualities such as joy, love, grace, gentleness, unselfishness and not
only limited to spiritual materials such as the bible and its content, churches and spiritual Major Arts
statues. When we express these Godlike qualities, actively live them, we're actually Major arts are characterized by their actual and potential expressiveness and by a purely
expressing beauty! The picture on the right shows a lot of these qualities. disinterested purpose. Major arts require tremendous amount of training, effort, time and
focus. Although the same demands go with performing a minor art but this classification
Intellectual Beauty demands for a more serious and long-term practice to perform and excel on it. Thus,
This type of beauty is discerned after giving due consideration to points or elements or a requires an extensive training, focus and commitment to practice. Major arts, unlike minor
meaning found beyond the surface or composition’s observable features. Just like how the arts had undergone further development/ enhancement to improve its purpose, hence more
picture on the right illustrates how our medical frontliners are, without a doubt, the biggest mature than minor arts.
heroes during this COVID-19 pandemic. They've sacrificed their time and effort, and even
put their lives on the line, just to make sure that we're safe. Examples: Music, Poetry, Sculpture

CLASSIFICATIONS OF ART According to Media and Form

According to Purpose Plastic Arts

The term "plastic art" - derived from the word "plasticize", meaning "to mould" - describes
Practical or Useful Arts any art form which involves modelling or moulding in three dimensions. The most common
It is concerned with the skills and methods of practical subjects such as manufacture and example of the plastic arts is sculpture. This is because sculptors chip, carve, shape or
craftsmanship. These types of arts are human creations used to produce artifacts, tools, modulate a range of traditional materials, such as marble, granite, sandstone, bone, ivory,
and utensils used in doing household and everyday chores. wood, and terracotta, as well as contemporary materials such as concrete, aluminium, and
foam rubber. These are developed through space and perceived by the sense of sight.
Examples: basket weaving, agriculture
Examples: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture
Liberal Arts
Liberal arts, also referred to as the humanities, includes the study of history, literature, Phonetic Arts
writing, philosophy, sociology, psychology, creative arts, and more. It involves the These are based on sounds and words as media of expression.
development of man’s intellectual reasoning More broadly speaking, students earning a
liberal arts degree learn to formulate effective arguments, communicate well, and solve Example: Music, Drama, Literature
problems.
Kinetic Arts
Examples: Mathematics, Philosophy, Psychology It makes use of rhythmic movement as the elements of expression. It is an art from any
medium that contains movement perceivable by the viewer or depends on motion for its
Fine Arts effect. Canvas paintings that extend the viewer's perspective of the artwork and incorporate
These types of arts are the products of human creative activity as they express beauty in multidimensional movement are the earliest examples of kinetic art.
different ways and media for the satisfaction and relaxation of man’s mind and spirit.
Example: Dance, optical illusion paintings
The term "fine art" refers to an art form practiced mainly for its aesthetic value and its beauty
("art for art's sake") rather than its functional value. Fine art is rooted in drawing and design- Pure Arts
based works

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These are artworks in which the artist utilizes only one and no other medium of expression. Why do artists make art? Obvious answers, "because they choose to, because they want to,
We can use this to categorize the other classifications of arts. This type of art is not as because they need to, because they can." All of these answers all point to the personal
experimental/exploratory as mixed art. It focuses only on one medium probably to require function.
focus or attention to the audiences
Most artists produce work done specifically to satisfy their own desire to produce work. It
Example: Sound in music, Color in painting can be that simple as the artist simply enjoys painting, drawing or sculpting. They are
pleased with their ability to represent the world, and they derive a certain satisfaction from
Mixed Arts doing so. Perhaps the artist finds the process art making, therapeutic. It calms them or
As opposed to pure arts, this type of art uses two or more media to express oneself. It is relieves stress.
playful, exploratory, experimental and provides variety of exposure on different mediums
resulting into a beautiful harmony. You performing arts this pandemic such as vlogging, painting, singing, sculpting or dancing
to reduce the burden and stress is art serving its personal function.
Example: Opera which includes music, drama, and poetry all together.
PHILOSOPHICAL IMPORTANCE OF ART
FUNCTIONS OF ART Philosophy, science and art differ principally according to their subject-matter and also the
Art’s general function is to satisfy our individual needs for personal expression, our social means by which they reflect, transform and express it. In a certain sense, art, like
needs for display, celebration, and communication and our physical needs for utilitarian philosophy, reflects reality in its relation to man, and depicts man, his spiritual world, and the
objects and structures. relations between individuals in their interaction with the world.

Below are the three functions of art. Read carefully and understand the differences between 1. Artistic Integrity
the three. Integrity gives us a foundation from which to draw on for future projects. It serves as our
secret back up system. We automatically know our strength because we have proven it to
Social Function ourselves.
It seeks or tends to influence the collective behavior of people as opposed to one person's
point of view or experience. It is created to be seen or used primarily in public situations. Artistic integrity is generally defined as the ability to omit an acceptable level of opposing,
disrupting, and corrupting values that would otherwise alter an artist's or entities' original
Arts with social function have the power to affect all of us. These would include posters, vision in a manner that violates their own preconceived aesthetic standards and personal
political cartoons, religious paintings, bill boards, in other words, these are created works of values.
art that are targeted to an audience. Even works that we might assume to have been done
merely for the artist’s pleasure may have in fact been painted to serve a social function.  Always painting with passion
 Never copying but taking ideas and tweaking them to make them our own
In Death and the Mother, Kollwitz seems to effortlessly describe a myriad of powerful  Being original…. not normal
emotions exposed in the confrontation of death. The mother appears to be locked in a  Having the courage to take a chance
desperate struggle with a skeletal figure personifying death as she cradles her dying child,  Always remembering your artistic vision comes from your life, your thoughts…. your
trying to keep the figure at bay. The look on her face is shock, more so than fear. It is the courage
shock of realization, that regardless of all her efforts, she cannot save her child. It is final.  Creating a painting because it comes from your soul and not for recognition or prizes
 Being willing to be scared….to create on the edge
Physical Function  To continue creating when doubt in yourself appears
The forms and structures of art make one to live his/her life comfortably. This type of  Doing your very best each and every day
function is the easiest to spot and understand for it can be realized through the objects and
environments we create which fill a utilitarian need. The processes through which a 2. Proportion and Scale
designer arrives at a solution to a problem (an answer to a need) is surely a creative These are the principles of art that describes the size, location, or amount of one element in
process. relation to another. They have something to do with the overall harmony of an individual
piece and our perception of the art.
Examples of work of arts that serves their functions include architecture, jewelry, and
furniture.  Scale is used in art to describe the size
of one object in relation to another,
Personal Function each object is often referred to as a
whole.

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 Proportion has a very similar definition but tends to refer to the relative size of parts abstract that the artists view the subjects in a non-traditional manner. The meaning behind
within a whole. In this case, the whole can be a single object like a person's face or the the picture is not obvious and may not be perceived by all people consistently.
entire artwork as in a landscape. This will be further discussed in the next module Nevertheless, the sake of both types of art is the same - express the thoughts or emotion of
artists.
3. Radiance
It is the quality of an object that makes us want to continue perceiving it. Kinds of Subject
There are many different kinds of subject in a painting. Some of the most common are:
The image Aquinas has in mind here is light. A radiant
object shines before us. This doesn’t necessarily have to 1. Landscapes - An outdoor view of
be actual light. Radiance might involve real light, but it is nature, such as mountains, rivers,
also metaphorical for the quality that captures our attention sky desert, fields or forests. In a
and holds onto it. Landscape, Seascape, or Cityscape,
an artist creates the illusion of a
In viewing art, there are clues that mediate between the artwork and the viewer, allowing the three-dimensional world on a flat canvas or paper.
viewer to more easily comprehend what he is seeing. These clues which are also the three  Landscapes include people, animals, buildings (barns, houses, or sheds), quiet
basic components of a work of art include the subject, content, and form. Starting with the roads or streets. If people or animals are included, they are not the focal point.
SUBJECT which is the visual focus of the image that may be extracted from examining the  Seascapes - A scene at sea (a ship on the water) or a scene including a portion of
artwork. This is the “what”. Next is the CONTENT or the meaning that is communicated by the sea, like waves along the beach. The water (ocean or sea) is the focal point,
the artist or the artwork. This is the “why”. Lastly, we have the FORM which is s the or a larger part of the scene and;
development and configuration of the artwork. The form is how the elements and the  Cityscapes- A scene including city buildings, bridges, streets or traffic lights. A
medium or materials are put together. This is the “how”. Cityscape might include a river or a park surrounded by skyscrapers.

Week 4: Beauty, Classifications, and Functions of Art

2. Still-life - groups of inanimate objects arranged in an indoor setting. The objects
Subject Type themselves are the focal point. In general, almost any object can be included, as long
There are two types of art - representational art and non-representational art. Each of them as it is inanimate(nonliving) and small enough to fit on a table. Occasionally, a live
has different styles of artwork and can be easily distinguished. animal that can be “still” is included (goldfish in a bowl, bird in a cage, sleeping cat). A
Still Life is usually set indoors and contains
a. Representational Art - is the type of art that we see the most. Representational means at least one man-made object, such as a
descriptive, figurative and symbolized. Briefly, it depicts something easily recognized by vase or bowl. Flower arrangements are a
most people. For example, the painting below is called Thunder Magic by Marcia popular object found in Still Life paintings.
Baldwin. People can generally recognize it as a horse without doubt. Although the Cut flowers no longer growing in the garden
using of colour may not be realistic, it represents an actual subject from reality. are considered inanimate. You might see
Painting, sculpture, the graphic arts, literature and the theater arts are generally under some of these objects in a Still Life
this category. Some musical composition has subjects, they are called Program music. painting:

b. Non-Representational Art - The opposite of representational art is complete 3. Animals - Along with the human form, animals were subjects of the earliest art ever
abstraction, where the lines, colors, and shapes themselves are the focus of the created. They are the earliest artworks known to us most especially in cave paintings.
artwork, rather than any existing thing. This is known as non-representational art.
4. Portraits - These have realistic likeness of a person in a sculpture, painting, drawing or
For example, the painting below by Wassily Kandinsky is a great example. Kandinsky may print. Portraits might show only the face, but may
well have intended for this composition to represent something which already exists, but the include part, or all, of the body as well. Portraits
abstraction is so extreme that to most people, it is just an assortment of lines, colors, and may be set inside or outdoors. The subject
shapes. usually fills most of the picture. Some artist’s
portraits do not look realistic. A portrait may be a
Music, architecture and many of the functional arts fall under this type. The kind of music painting, a photograph, or even a sculpture.
without subject may imitate natural sounds. 5. Figures - unlike portraits, the emphasis here is
on human body, either nude.
In short, representational art can describe a physical object clearly and the expression of The two pictures below are examples of a
artists can be easily understood by people. Non-representational art on the other hand is portrait and a figure respectively

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6. Everyday life - this includes a set up similar to what is happening in our daily lives. The draw a perfectly rendered rose or a realistic portrait, but they choose not to. Instead, they
content here must be realistic. choose to express their creativity by creating a visual experience that is freer and more
7. History and legend - legend refers to the story of a definite place, local custom and unencumbered by the weight of objects.
haunted place. Example: Biag-ni-Lam-ang (Ilocano), Biuag and Malana (Itawes)
8. Dreams and fantasies - How a given artist renders the world of dreaming is clearly not Stylistically, abstract art included the movements of Surrealism, Dadaism, Cubism, and
all about fantasy. Images of dreams might also demonstrate, speak to the intellectual, Fauvism.
sexual, social, and artistic values of artist and audience. It is easy to identify a subject
as such for it has magical and unfamiliar contents. a. Distortion
9. Religions and myths- myth refers to the story that deals with supernatural tradition, It is clearly manifested when the subject is in misshapen condition or
men, culture, heroes and beliefs. Ex. Si Malakas at Si Maganda the regular the shape is twisted out. There is an alteration of the
original shape of something.
Look for art pieces around you and identify what are their subjects!
Example: Recumbent Figure 1938 by Henry Moore
Ways of Representing the Subject
1. Realism b. Elongation
Artists working in the Realist style rejected the standards of Romanticism (1800-1850), a It is when the art subject is lengthened, a protracted or an extended much
genre defined by a heightened sense of emotion. Typically, Romantic paintings feature more than the reality.
either mythological figures or sublime scenes of nature. In either case, it glorifies its subjects
—a trait that Realist artists directly dismissed. Example: Gaston Modot (Oil on Canvas), by Amedeo Modigliani

The realist style attempts to portray the subject as it is. The artist’s main function is to c. Mangling
describe as accurately and honestly as possible what is observed through the senses. In It is showing subjects which are cut, lacerated, mutilated or hacked with
the process of selection and presentation of his material, he is influenced by his feelings repeated blows.
and thoughts. From the word real, you can identify a painting as such when the image
would appear realistic (“makatotohanan”). Paintings identified as realism are quite usual and Example: The Weeping Woman by Pablo Picasso
familiar as it portrays images from our day to day lives. d. Cubism
It stresses abstract form through the use of cone, cylinder or a sphere at the
2. Abstraction expense of other pictorial elements. The cubists want to show form in their
This is a direct opposite of realism as it does not attempt to represent an accurate depiction basic geometrical shape.
of a visual reality but instead, uses shapes, colours, forms and gestural marks to achieve its
effect. Example: Violin and Paletteby Georges Braque

It is used when the artist becomes so interested in one phase of a scene or a situation that e. Abstract expressionism
he does not show the subject at all as an objective reality, but only his idea, or his feelings In many paintings under the movement of Abstract Expressionism an expression of reality is
about it. Abstract means “to move away or separate”. It deviates from the actual visual expressed in a non-representational statement with line, colour and size as well as the
reality. aggressive mingling of colours, shapes and forms that creates a painting of pure thought
and emotion.
An interesting thing about this type of painting is that most people would say that it is hard
to interpret one. Well actually it’s not. We are just so afraid that we might be wrong, but you It is characterized by great verve, the use of large canvasses, and a deliberate lack of
see, this is actually the beauty of an abstract painting. It is open to interpretation. All it refinement in the application of the paint. Strong color, heavy impasto, uneven brush
requires is an open mind and a big imagination. It requires you to enter the painting and see strokes, and rough texture are other typical characteristics. It is messy and has
where it takes you. Abstract art gives you the freedom to explore the artwork and assign unconventional application of paint usually without a recognizable object.
your own meaning to the piece.
Example: Door to the River by Willem de Kooning
You may have seen myriads of abstract paintings that seem worthless. You may have
encountered lots of highly admired and expensive abstract paintings which you think even a 3. Symbolism
five-year old kid can do. So, does creating and understanding an abstract painting come It is an emblem that assumes new meaning originating from a highly personal and unique
naturally to everyone? The answer to this question is no. What people don't realize is that association in the mind of the creator. Symbolist painters used a wide variety of subjects
the best abstract artists have excellent drawing skills, a finely honed sense of composition, including heroes, women, animals, and landscapes. They
and a deep understanding of the workings of color. Most abstract artists have the ability to typically gave these subjects deep meanings such as love,

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death, sin, religion, or disease. Taking for example the painting below (Spoliarium, by Juan It was developed in Italy. Futurist painters wanted their works to capture
Luna) the speed and force of modern industrial society. Their paintings glorified
the mechanical energy of modern life. Subjects include automobiles,
Spoliarium- The painting, shows how the Filipinos were treated before when they were motorcycles and railroad trains that express the explosive vitality of a
colonized by Spaniards. It shows that they were forced to entertain the Roman oppressors modern city.
and the Spaniards with their lives and sacrifice themselves for the Roman's and Spaniard's
honor. 7. Surrealism
Image result for faamous surrealism artSurrealism has no unified style,
Examples: Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “Crossing the Bar”, Matthew 18: 2-14, Juan Luna’s but, in painting, one can distinguish a range of possibilities falling
“Spolarium” (Exposicion Nacional de Bellas Artes), Bertel Thornwaldsen’s “The Lion between two extremes. At one pole, the viewer is confronted by a world
Monument” that is completely defined and minutely depicted but that makes no
rational sense: realistically painted images are removed from their
At the center of Luna’s painting are fallen gladiators being dragged by Roman soldiers. On normal contexts and reassembled within an ambiguous, paradoxical, or shocking
the left, spectators ardently await their chance to strip off the combatants of their metal framework.
helmets and other armory. In contrast with the charged emotions featured on the left, the
right side meanwhile presents a somber mood. An old man carries a torch perhaps The surrealists claim to create form and images not primarily by reason
searching for his son while a woman weeps the death of her loved one. but by unthinking impulse and blind feeling or even by accident. The
surrealists declare that a magical world- more beautiful than the real
4. Fauvism one-can be created in art and literature.
'The Roofs of Collioure', 1905 (oil on canvas) It was the first
art movement in the 1900’s headed by Henry Martisse and Example: Philosopher's Lamp by Rene Magritte
others such as Andre Derain, Raoul Drify, George Rouault.
The used of extremely bright colors which symbolizes comfort, 8. Expressionism
joy, and pleasure characterized this method. Ex. The Girl from Rat Mort by Maurice de Image result for screaming man paintingThe proponents of
Vlaminck. It is characterized with a radical use of unnatural colors that separated color from expressionism believed in the necessity of a spiritual rebirth for man in
its usual representational and realistic role, giving new, emotional meaning to the colors. It an age that was fast becoming influenced by materialism. The
uses bold brush strokes using paint straight from the tube instead of preparing and mixing it emotional expression in expressionistic painting could be described as
involving pathos, morbidity, violence or chaos and tragedy. It
Imagine trees that don't have to be green and brown, people who are blue and green, and sometime portrays defeat. Expressionism artists used the expressive
red skies in paintings. All of these ideas, which express the feelings of the artist through a possibilities of colour and line to explore dramatic and emotion-laden themes, to convey the
somewhat irrational use of color, create the Fauvist style. qualities of fear, horror, and the grotesque, or simply to celebrate nature with hallucinatory
intensity. They broke away from the literal representation of nature in order to express more
5. Dadaism subjective outlooks or states of mind.
Dada began among artists, writers, and intellectuals who fled to neutral
Switzerland during World War I. The movement was a form of protest against Example: Starry Night by Van Gogh; Screaming Man by Edvard Munch
the society that allowed the bloodshed to take place. It challenged the
perceptions of nationalism, materialism, and rationalism during this “humiliating Week 5: Elements of Art and Principles of Design
age”.
Elements of Arts
The Dadaist reached to what they believed were outworn traditions in art, and the evils they An element is one of those basic visible things. In science, the elements are what
saw in the society. They tried to shock and provoke the public with outrageous pieces of everything thing on the earth has been created from (like those in the periodic table of
writing, poetry recitals, and art exhibitions. The only rule of Dada is not to follow any known elements). In art, it is an element if it is visible and there is nothing more simple or basic to
rules. Still, Dadaist works shared some characteristics: satire and wit, irreverence, and define it. This section contains the Ingredients for a great Composition.
spontaneity. It is playful and highly experimental art.
The Elements of Art are the “tools” that artists use to make art. There are 7 of them:
The name “dada” a French word means “hobby horse”. The best known Dadaist was the 1. Line
French artist Marcel Duchamp. 2. Value
3. Texture
6. Futurism 4. Shape
5. Form

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6. Space
7. Color
A square becomes a cube
Line
It is a mark on a surface that describes a shape or outline. It can create texture and can be
thick or thin. Line can be actual or implied, such as the horizon line in a Landscape. In order to turn a circle into a sphere, you must shade it. You can’t add another side to it!

Five basic line types – horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curved, and zig zag Value is the degree of light and dark in a design. It is the contrast between black and white
Line quality refers to the description of a line – thick, thin, dotted, etc. and all the grays between. Value applies to colors as well, with all the tints, shades, and
tones between the primary, secondary and intermediate colors.
Horizontal Lines are generally restful, like the horizon, where the sky meets land.
Vertical lines seem to be reaching, so they may seem inspirational like tall majestic trees or Value makes objects appear more real because it imitates natural light. When showing
church steeples value in a work of art, you will need a LIGHT SOURCE.
Diagonal lines tend to be disturbing. They suggest decay or chaos like lightening or falling
trees A light source is the place where the light is coming from, the darkest areas are always on
the opposite side of the light.
Lines can convey emotion as well.
They may show excitement, anger, In order to have a successful drawing, you will need to show a full value range, which
calmness, tension, happiness and means that there are very light areas, middle tones, and very dark areas. This is a way of
many other feelings. Because of giving a work of art Contrast.
this, some are said to be expressive.
In drawing value can be added several ways:
Expressive Lines tend to be found in nature and are very organic.
A. Cross-hatching is when you use irregular lengths of parallel lines that cross over each
Other lines that are very measured, geometric, directional and angular are called other diagonally. The closer together the lines are placed,
Constructive lines. They tend to appear to be man-made because of their precision. the darker the value.

Shape B. Stippling is the use of dots to create shade. This is

Shape is created when a line becomes connected and encloses space. It is the outline or accomplished by placing dots very close together to create dark
outward appearance of something. Shapes are 2 Dimensional (2-D) which means there are values and farther apart to create lighter values.
2 ways they can be measured. You can measure its HEIGHT and its WIDTH. C. Soft shading is when you use your pencil to create soft gradual
movements from one value to the next using full value range.
There are two basic types of shapes
 Geometric shapes have smooth even edges and are measurable. This include the Color refers to specific hues (another word for
square, the circle, the triangle and the rectangle. color) and has properties of Intensity and Value.
 Organic shapes have more complicated edges and are usually found in nature. Leaves, The color wheel is a way of showing the chromatic
flowers, ameba, etc. scale in a circle using all the colors made with the

Form  Primary triad (red, blue, and yellow)

It is a three-dimensional object having volume and thickness. A Form  Secondary colors (orange, purple, and green)
is a shape that has become 3- Dimensional (3-D) Form has HEIGHT, are mixed from the primary colors.
WIDTH and DEPTH--which is the 3rd dimension. Depth shows the  Intermediate (tertiary) colors are a combination
thickness of the object. Forms are NOT flat like shapes are! of a primary and a secondary color (found next
to each other on the color wheel) mixed (blue-
It is the illusion of a 3-D effect that can be implied with the use of light and shading green).
techniques in a 2-D work of art. Form can be viewed from many angles.
When light is reflected through a prism, colors can be seen. These colors are: Red, Yellow,
Turning Shapes into Forms Orange, Green, Indigo, Blue and Violet. (ROY G BIV)
A triangle becomes a cone or a pyramid

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Black and white can be added to produce tints (add white), shades (add black), and tones
(add gray).

Complimentary colors are opposite each other on the color

wheel (yellow, purple). A Triadic color scheme uses 3 colors that are equally spaced apart on the color wheel.

Color can add interest and reality to artwork. The use of a 12- When you use only one color plus its tints and shades, you are using a monochromatic
step color wheel will help us understand color more effectively. color scheme.

Color Wheel A tint is a color plus white

A long time ago, artists decided that these colors would be A shade is a color plus black
more useful to them if they were placed in a wheel fashion.
This became known as the color wheel. Color have temperatures
Colors can convey emotion and feelings too.
There are 3 primary colors: Red, Yellow and Blue Have your ever felt “blue?”
Been “green’ with envy?
These colors are primary for 2 reasons: Called a “yellow” coward?
 They can’t be mixed to be made
 They make all the other colors on the color wheel It is important that artists understand the effects of color when they are trying to get the
 When you mix 2 primary colors together, you get a secondary color. viewers of their art to feel a particular way.
For example:
Warm colors are those that have Reds, Yellows and Oranges. Warm colors seem to
When you mix a primary and a secondary color together you get an intermediate (or tertiary) advance (or come forward) in an artwork.
color. For example:
Cool colors are those that have Blues, Greens and Violets. Cool colors seem to recede (or
Red and Orange= Red-Orange go back into) an artwork.
Yellow and Green=Yellow-Green
Blue and Green=Blue-Green
Red and Violet=Red-Violet
Yellow and Orange=Yellow-Orange
Blue and Violet=Blue-Violet

Color Schemes
Color is divided into groups based on the way they are
placed on the color wheel:
3-4 colors “next-door-neighbors” to each other creates an
analogous color scheme.

2 colors that are directly opposite each other (going

across the center) creates a complimentary color
scheme. Texture
It is the way the surface of an object actually feels.
In the artistic world, we refer to two types of texture---tactile and implied

A Split-Complimentary color scheme is a Tactile (or Real) Texture is the way the surface of an object actually feels. Examples would
complimentary color and the two colors on either side of be sandpaper, cotton balls, tree bark, puppy fur, etc.
its compliment.
Implied Texture is the way the surface of an object looks like it feels. This is the type of
texture that artists use when they draw and paint. Textures may look rough, fuzzy, gritty, or
scruffy, but can’t actually be felt.
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 and command attention. This is sometimes referred to as visual impact. Principles of
Space is basically divided into 3 parts: Foreground, Middle Ground and Background design successfully “glue” the artistic elements together.

Generally, the background area is considered to be the upper 1/3 of the picture plane. The Balance – a feeling of visual equality in shape, form, value, color, etc. Balance can be
middle ground area is considered to be the middle 1/3 of the picture plane. The foreground symmetrical (evenly balanced) or asymmetrical and unevenly balanced.
area is considered to be the lower 1/3 of the picture plane.
Symmetrical Balance
Space can be shallow or deep depending on what the artist wants to use. Shallow space is  Achieved by placing identical objects on either side of a central point.
used when the artist has objects very close to the viewer.  Creates a quiet, restful feeling.
 Suggests restraint, orderliness, formality.
Deep Space may show objects up close but objects are shown far away too.  Also called, FORMAL balance.

Positive and Negative space is a way that an artwork is divided. When planning a work of Asymmetrical Balance
art, both areas must be examined so that they balance one another. Drawing items running Achieved by placing different objects of equal visual weight on either side of a central point.
off the page and zooming in on objects are ways to create visual interest within a work.  Creates more interesting arrangements.
 Suggests informality, relaxed.
Positive space is the actual object(s) within the artwork  Also referred to as INFORMAL balance.

Negative Space is the area in and around the objects. It is the “background” and it Rhythm – a sense of movement in which some elements recur regularly. Like a dance, the
contributes to the work of art---you can’t have positive space without negative space work will have a flow of objects (shapes), lines, or colors that will seem sorganized similar to
the beat and rhythm of music.
Let's Make Stuff with d'Arci: Exploring Positive / Negative Space with Notans (Virtual) |
Community Living Campaign It leads the eye from one point to another, creates motion.
Perspective is also a way of showing space in a work of art. Perspective is when the artist
uses a vanishing point on the horizon and then creates a sense of deep space by showing Scale and Proportion
objects getting progressively smaller as they get closer to the vanishing point. Scale relates to the size of a design in relation to the height and width of the area in which it
is placed.
Bird-Eye view of a Railway Station | Perspective drawing architecture, Perspective drawing Proportion relates to the parts of the object and how one part relates to another.
lessons, Perspective drawing Scale
Relates to the actual and relative size and visual weight of the design and its components.
Objects may overlap as well. When objects are overlapped it is obvious that enough space Furniture and accessories must be in scale to the room
had to be in the picture to contain all the objects that have been included.
Proportion
The Design Elements of Composing a Drawing - dummies The Golden Mean – the division of a line or form so that the smaller portion has the same
ratio to the larger as the larger has to the whole.
The Elements of Art in Review
The Elements of Art are the “tools” that artists use to make art. They are the basic Effective Ratios are 2:3, 3:5, 5:8, 4:7, etc.
“foundation” of a good composition Square is the least pleasing shape.
Rectangles are more pleasing, especially with a ratio of 2:3.
Line Value Color Space The creative use of color, texture, pattern, and furniture arrangement can create illusions of
Texture Shape Form properly proportioned space.

Week 6: Principles of Design Center Of Interest/Emphasis

This refers to the area that first attracts attention in a composition. When there is a feature
A principle is something that can be repeatedly and dependably combined and used with that commands attention and makes a design visually interesting. This area is more
the elements to produce some visual effect in a composition. The principles of design are important when compared to the other objects or elements in an artwork. Emphasis can be
the recipe for a good work of art. The principles combine the elements to create an created by placement in the format, contrast of values or more colors.
aesthetic placement of things that will produce a good design. Principles of design help
artists carefully plan and organize the elements of art so that an artwork will hold interest Ways to create emphasis:
 Arrangement of furniture around a focal point.
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 Use of color, texture, or pattern.
 Placement of accessories.
 Use of lighting.
 The point of emphasis should command attention, but not dominate the overall design.

Other features within the room should not compete for the emphasis.

Harmony/Unity/Variety
A composition brought together with similar units or elements. If an artwork were begun
using wavy lines and organic shapes, it would need to be finished with the same types of
line and shapes. A single geometric shape or a single straight line would disrupt the
harmony and unity. Using the combination of wavy lines as well as organic shapes creates
variety in the composition.

There are 2 types of harmony.

 Unity
 Variety
 Unity occurs when all the parts of a home or room are related by one idea. A unified
design has consistency of style.

Variety- when two or more different elements of design are used to add interest to a design.
Variety can be achieved by combining different styles and materials, as long as they are
compatible.

Harmony is achieved when unity and variety are effectively combined.

 Carrying variety too far creates confusion.
 A lack of unity may make a small home seem even smaller.

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