MODULE 10

ARTISTIC SKILLS AND

TECHNIQUES TO CONTEMPORARY
ART CREATIONS
ARTISTIC SKILLS AND
TECHNIQUES TO
CONTEMPORARY ART
CREATION
Art is a form of expression that can be conveyed by people
in several different ways. Paintings, Sculptures, and
Drawings are only few types of art that have been around for
hundred years, and that have been conveying with human
emotions. Contemporary arts today produce Artistic Skills
and Techniques in Art Creations.
 Being artistic is the ability that includes skills and talent to
create fine works of art like painting, drawing, sculpting,
musical composition, etc.

Creativity is the ability, skills and talent to use our imagination

to create and solve.

“ A better artist is creative. But,you don’t have to be an artist to

be creative”
There are three techniques that are most relevant in contemporary art today:
 1. COLLAGE
 Collage is the techniques of an art production primarily used in the visual
arts, where the artwork is made from an assemblage of different forms,
thus creating a new whole.

 means “to glue” primary means of combining images

 Collage may sometimes include magazines and newspaper clippings,

ribbons, paints, bits or handmade colored papers, portions of other
artwork or text, photographs, and other found objects, glued to a piece of
paper or canvas.
2. Décollage
In art, it is the opposite of collage. It is a French word which
means “will take off” or to become “unglued” or to become
“unstuck” some parts of existing images. It is also created by
cutting, tearing away or otherwise removing pieces of an
original image. Example of decollage include cut-up
technique. Similar technique is the lacerated poster, a poster
in which one has been place over another or others, and the
top poster or posters have been ripped, revealing to a greater
or lesser degree the poster or posters underneath.
3. Graffiti
It is a form of visual communication, usually illegal,
involving the unauthorized marking of public space by an
individual or group. The common image of graffiti is a
stylistic symbol or phrase spray-painted on a wall by a
member of a street gang, some graffiti is not gang-related.
It is an antisocial behavior performed in order to gain
attention or as a form of thrill seeking, but it also can be
understood as an expressive art form.
4. Land Art

Land art is that which is made use from natural materials:

Stones, water, gravel, fallen tree branches, leaves,
feathers, shells and soil are the most commonly used
materials, but more unusual items like animal bones or
skulls, fur, ice or snow or animal tracks might also be
used.
5. Digital Art
Digital Art falls into three basic categories:
A. Digital painting
-Digital painting is done through painting that uses
brushes much like traditional painting techniques
such as watercolor, oils, impasto, etc. are applied
using digital tools by means of a computer, a graphics
tablet and stylus, and software like painting on a
table or creating artwork digitally on a computer.
B. Digital photography & darkroom
- using cameras, containing arrays of electronic photo detectors to
capture images focused by a lens, as opposed to an exposure on
photographic film - process of using electronic and computing
appliances to capture, create, edit and share

 after a photograph has been created in the camera, it can be

digitally enhanced and edited using special software programs
C. Fractals

Fractals are specialized hand – held glass

prism that adds artistic flare to your images
and video. Fractal Filters are supplementary
tools designed to provide photographers (and
videographers) with new techniques that can
be used to shoot anytime, anywhere.
6. Printmaking
A. Woodcut
-The oldest form of printmaking, woodcut is a relief
process in which knives and other tools are used to
carve a design into the surface of a wooden block.
The raised areas that remain after the block has
been cut are inked and printed, while the recessed
areas that are cut away do not retain ink, and will
remain blank in the final print.
B. Engraving
Engraving is an intaglio printmaking process in
which lines are cut into a metal plate in order to
hold the ink. In engraving, the plate can be made
of copper or zinc. The metal plate is first polished
to remove all scratches and imperfections from
the surface so that only the intentional lines will
be printed.
C. Etching
Etching is an intaglio printmaking process in which lines or
areas are incised using acid into a metal plate in order to
hold the ink. In etching, the plate can be made of iron,
copper, or zinc. To prepare the plate for etching, it is first
polished to remove all scratches and imperfections from
the surface. When the surface is completely smooth, it is
covered evenly with a layer of acid-resistant varnish or
wax, which is called the ground.
D. Lithograph
Lithography is a Planographic printmaking process
in which a design is drawn onto a flat stone (or
prepared metal plate, usually zinc or aluminum)
and affixed by means of a chemical reaction. First,
the design for the lithograph is drawn directly onto
a polished slab of limestone using an oil-based
lithographic crayon or ink.
E. Screen print
Screen printing is a process where ink is forced through a mesh screen
onto a surface. Making certain areas of the screen impervious to
printing ink creates a stencil, which blocks the printing ink from
passing through the screen. The ink that passes through forms the
printed image.

the process of transferring stencilled design onto a flat surface using a

mesh screen, ink and a squeegee.
7. Mixed Media
In visual art, mixed media is an artwork in which
more than one medium or material has been
employed. Assemblages and collages are two
common examples of art using different media
that will make use of different materials including
cloth, paper, wood and found objects.
 MODULE 9
TECHNIQUES AND
PERFORMANCE
PRACTICES APPLIED
TO ARTS
 Techniques and Performance Practices Applied to Contemporary Arts
1. pahiyas
- Pahiyas is the time when people in Lucban,
Quezon give thanks to San Isidro Labrador
for a good harvest.
-Pahiyas means “décor” Every May 15, the
fronts of houses are elaborately decorated with
brightly colored rice wafer called kiping, a
type of rice dough made from a traditional
recipe.
-When the festival is over, these kiping are
cooked and eaten as rice chips.
-Fruits, grain vegetables, and woven palm hats
are used as decorations.
1. pahiyas
-In the afternoon, San Isidro Labrador’s
image is carried across town in procession
to assure farmers of more bountiful harvest
in forthcoming seasons.
-The highlight of the Pahiyas Festival comes
after the town’s procession where the
spirited tradition of “Kalas” takes place. The
term literally means to romp away the
harvests and decorations from the houses as
a symbol of joy and merriment.
2.Saniculas Cookie Mold Carvings

⮚ Saniculas cookies are arrowroot cookies that have the

image of St. Nicholas
molded on it ergo the name Saniculas.

 St. Nicholas is also known as the “the healer” and the go

to saint for those who need “healing” from illnesses.

 Considered as family heirloom

 Saniculas cookie makers would commission the carvers of

these moulds with one of the kind and also have the initials
of the owner

⮚ The moulds are made of hardwood and are of different

shapes and sizes.
3.Pabalat or Pastillas wrapper cutting art
✔ The word pabalat has two levels of meaning. On a literal note, it pertains
to the pabalat as a product (paper cut-outs).

✔ On a metaphorical level, it connotes the state of the art practice. The art
is not only a cultural product or an artistic expression but also cuts
through some cultural, social, even political discourses and issues.

✔ Pabalat is also a folk art or in Filipino term, siningbayan. It is a folk art

because it originated among the townsfolk reflecting their traditional
culture.

✔ The art practice has also been passed from generation to generation and
its creative elements and aesthetic values mirror the people’s everyday
life
 4.Taka
Taka was pioneered by Paete local, Maria
Piday. During Christmas, Piday was in charge
of the church's decorations. The wooden
angels and cherub mache as an alternative to
the wooden sculptures.
❑ Taka eventually became folk art and was
sold to nearby towns for festivals.
takaan, a carved wooden sculpture, is used as
a mold in making taka.
❑ Brown craft paper is used as a final layer for
taka made for export.
 4.Taka
□ Taka is also painted. The traditional way of painting a taka is to use primary colors, add simple flower motifs and
use repetitive lines and shapes. Gold finish, usually used in angel, reindeer and huge taka is accomplished by
using gilded paper.

❑ Common and traditional subjects of taka includes the manok, kabayo, kalabaw, dalaga (chicken, horse, carabao,
maiden) which is made primarily for local use.

❑ Taka images now include those of Santa Claus, reindeer, giraffes, and other subjects that are in demand.
5.Pagbuburda
✔ The art of embroidery is happily alive and flourishing in
Laguna. Although it is mostly done by women who are wives
of the farmers and fishermen, it is not
uncommon to see fishermen and farmers who are also carefully
and delicately embroidering floral designs during their “off-
season”.
✔ In the highlights of Philippine history, Taal embroidery has
always made an exquisite presence. Former presidents
Diosdado Macapagal and Ferdinand Marcos were usually
seen in Taal-embroidered Barongs. A number of former First
Lady Imelda Marcos’ fabulous ternos were Taal-embroidered.
5.Pagbuburda

✔ Tall embroidery has also adorned garment

accessories and home decor items. Although the
embroidery looks exquisite on jusi and piña
fabric, it’s also dainty on cotton, linen and ramie.
6.Singkaban or Bamboo Art
✔ A fairly new type of Philippine folk art, Singkaban is the art of
shaving bamboo into artful creations that can be used as décor
for arches or for the home.
✔ Singkaban is a local term for bamboo arches elaborately
designed with kayas. It is used as a welcome signage of a
town, city or village in the country.It is widely used as a
decoration during town fiestas in Bulacan.
✔ Skilled craftsmen patiently shaves off the bamboo, layer by
layer, to create curls and delicate twirls of thin bamboo.
Singkaban is usually a celebratory art. Singkaban craftsmen
create these gregariously designed bamboo arches for fiestas,
weddings and other celebrations that involve the entire
community.
7.Puni or Palm leaf folding
✔ Puni is a tagalog term from the province of Bulacan which
means to beautify or decorate with the use of coconut leaf.
Coconut leaves are fashioned by folding, plaiting, braiding and
simple weaving, which may have functional as well as aesthetic
uses.
✔ Puni designs can be categorized according to their uses. The
most common designs are in the form of toys such as birds, fish,
grasshopper, etc.
✔ They are also used as food containers for suman, rice and
various kakanin, the most commonly known is the “puso” and
paraphernalia for religious rituals especially during Palm Sunday
when these designs are used to accentuate the “palaspas”.