Preface
Art Appreciation is an individual grace and wisdom. Through this module students may
learn on how to appreciate the elements of art. Painting, Literature, Music, Dance,
Architecture, Sculpture, Filmmaking and Graphic Design.
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid
surface.
Literature broadly refers to any collection of written or oral work, but it more commonly
and narrowly refers to writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose
fiction, drama, and poetry, in contrast to academic writing and newspapers.
Music is an artform and cultural activity whose medium is sound.
Dance is a performing art form consisting of purposefully selected sequences of human
movement.
Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings and other physical structures.
Sculpture is the art of making two- or three-dimensional representative or abstract
forms, especially by carving stone or wood or by casting metal or plaster.
Filmmaking is the process of making a film, generally in the sense of films intended for
extensive theatrical showing.
Graphic design is the process of visual communication and problem-solving through
the use of typography, photography, iconography and illustration.
With the combination of these elements, art is somehow perfect through the eyes of
the beholder. Something that you see from nature is somehow a perfect creation from God
because God is a perfect artist. A universal artist.
May this module serve as an inspiration to everyone in line of space, shape, color, hue,
harmony, design, sound, and technicalities.
Acknowledgement
As always, the author wishes to thank the following universal writers in one way or
another serve as an inspiration to everyone, especially in line of art, design, shape and colors.
Tabotabo, Claudio V., 2010, Art Appreciation: Introduction to the Humanities,
Mindshapers Co., Inc., Manila
Unknown Author, Art, American Book
Mariano, Laura L. et al, 2013, Literary Genres Within and Beyond the World, Purely
Books Store, Manila
Graphic Design, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_design
The Author would like to express sincere gratitude and million thanks to all the writers,
authors, researchers, that their work of arts, masterpieces and write ups served as our
inspiration in the accomplishment of this module.
Likewise, any text that was/were not properly acknowledged, may the authorities
concerned extend their consideration upon us. Completion of this module complement to the
sacrifices and perspiration extent by each writer. Thank you very much!!!
Dedication
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
1
Lesson 1: Understanding the Functions of Humanities to the Life of Man
2
Lesson 2: Sharpening the Tools for Appreciation
5
Lesson 3: Lines
7
Lesson 4: Styles and Forms of Arts According to Development
11
Lesson 5: Prerequisites to Appreciation
15
Lesson 6: Appreciating the Art of Painting
17
Lesson 7: Art Elements of a Painting
19
Lesson 8: Lines and Circles
22
Lesson 9: 3D Shapes
24
Lesson 10: Head Proportions
27
Lesson 11: Object Drawing and Still Life Composition
31
Lesson 12: Figure Drawing and Portraiture
37
Lesson 13: Appreciating the Art of Literature
43
Lesson 14: Appreciating the Art of Music
47
Lesson 15: Pop and Rap Music Genre
48
Lesson 16: The Art of Dance
50
Lesson 17: Appreciating the Art of Architecture
52
Lesson 18: Appreciating the Art of Sculpture
55
Lesson 19: Appreciating the Art of Movies
57
Lesson 20: Appreciating Graphic Design
59
Additional Reading Materials
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Introduction
Art is the center of culture; all artistic activities of a nation partake to the refinement of
the people so that if one wants to determine the culture of people in a certain town, he will just
count the number of statues. If there are no statues, then he as the idea about the kind of
inhabitants he will encounter in the place. Civilization is not seen on the height of building, fast
trains, or height of technology. It is seen on the number of books produced, reading habits of
people and their taste in art.
Everyone is indulged in art. From childhood to adulthood. Sometimes it is not seen
from them but to some art enthusiasts, it is a clear conviction with the grace, harmony and
tone combined. Beauty, as John Keats stated, ‘Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.’
Sometimes you’re beautiful and graceful, but some did not find it beautiful or
no attraction at all.
With the elements mentioned, painting, literature, music, dance, architecture,
sculpture, graphic design and visual arts, these are the components to make life perfect in
terms of beauty and harmony.
As Henri Poincare mentioned, “The scientist does not study nature because it is useful
to do so. He studies it because he takes pleasure in it, and he takes pleasure in it because it
is beautiful. If nature were not beautiful it would not be worth knowing, and life would not be
worth living.”
The pleasure of studying and embracing art is a personal choice of everyone. Because
sometimes there are some don’t know how to admire the real art. Art, admiration and
aspiration is within it.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 1: Understanding the Functions of Humanities to the
Life of Man
Objectives:
1. Discover the beauty of nature through art.
2. Determine the values and significance of Humanities to everyday life
3. Appreciate and admire the culture of man through Humanities
Specific Objectives:
1. Discuss the importance of Art Appreciation to everyone
2. Explain why Art Appreciation is included in the Tertiary Level
Discussion on What is Humanities
This is one of the required subjects in college. Generally, it is a set of discipline that
includes grammar, philosophy, literature, history and music. The meaning may differ to
different people in different ages.
As the word suggests, man is the center of humanities. The term is derived from the
Latin word humanus, which means human. This concerns humanity; it records or interprets
man's thinking, feeling, regrets, aspirations, failures and what he is supposed to do and not to
do in the world.
Since man is the center, humanities provide him solace from the boring world of
everyday, the privilege that other subjects cannot give. In the world of the academe all other
subjects center on the fulfillment of man's practicalities such as food, clothing, shelter and
others. Humanities are not concerned on these things. Art that is the by-product of humanities
is looking at things beyond matters. In arts man has found a simple relief from the discomfort
brought about by the world of so much unfairness.
Why Study Humanities
The relevance of the subject to the course is the most usual question asked by
students regarding the inclusion of humanities in the curriculum. Well, at first the question
sounds reasonable. It is true that the subject does not direct anyone to finding fortune. It does
not teach anyone how to produce rice, but further into the deep of humanity unsheathes the
question with its credibility. The question becomes a demonstration of a complete ignorance
to the true meaning of life.
If this world is made up only of material things such as food, car, money, sex and
others, then the artists have no right to inhabit this planet. They can live somewhere in the
limbo where perhaps a decent being recognizes the reason of the artists' existence.
To equip students with culture that is necessary to complete his being is the basic
reason why the subject Humanities is included in the curriculum. This is the culture that frees
man from sticking into the madness of the world. Man is highly cultured if he could live happily
beyond the things that satisfy only the practicalities of life. St. Thomas Aquinas said; art is
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
opposite to the practical. Art is not concerned whether man has fine dresses, delicious food
or if he has money. Art is concerned on something that lives beyond matters. Novelists write
without thinking of any monetary return. They do it because there is something that they want
humanity to understand. Student should remember that Total Human Development, as the
meaning of education does not mean to finish a degree, find a job or work abroad and gather
wealth to a heap them then come home to run for a certain political position in his town. Like
the artists men should labor beyond the value of money.
Discussion and Explanation on the Branches of Humanities
The humanities can be grouped generally into three namely: fine arts, practical arts
and performing arts.
The following are considered fine arts.
a. Painting. This is a kind of art, which main process is applying color or pigment to a
surface. There are different mediums and various types of painting. All are discussed
in one of the chapters that follow.
b. Literature. This is a kind of art which main medium are the written words. There are
two main classifications prose and poetry.
The following are considered performing arts
1. Dancing. This combines movements of feet, hands and body in rhythm. Its aesthetic
element is seen on the unity and harmony of movements.
2. Ballet. This is a stage performance of narrating a story by combining dance and music
without a dialogue.
3. Singing / Music. The art of putting together the sounds in order. Its mediums are either
human voices or instruments, or a combination of the two.
4. Movie. Motion picture that blends together the fundamental and vital elements of
music, painting, literature and music.
5. Theatre. This is another form of stage performance of a play or drama which basic
medium is dialogue.
Following are considered practical arts
a. Sculpture. Refers to the breaking, and or piecing together a hard stone or other
Shapeable materials to represent something imagined or real. This is an art presented
in three dimensions.
b. Architecture. This is an art of designing and constructing a building or other type of
Structure. Materials include concrete, brick, wood, steel glass and plaster.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
With the advancement of technology, other forms of arts also emerge. Some of these are
cinematography, graphic arts photography and others, which are not mentioned in the
groupings of art above. There are other forms which the committee on National Artists of the
Philippines had considered. These forms of art are; fashion and design, film and broadcast
art, visual art, mural and historical literature.
Activity
1. Evaluate the importance of these branches of Humanities (Fine Art, Performance Art,
and Practical Arts)
2. Explain why these branches should be studied?
Assignment
1. Bring example, through picture, fine art, performance art, and practical arts)
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 2: Sharpening the Tools for Appreciation
Specific Objectives
1. Discover the purpose of art in man’s life
2. Sharpen the skills in art through practice
Discussion on the Ultimate Purpose of Art
The Unification thought theory argues that we have now a decadent art. This
decadence springs from the fact that we have a decadent culture. Art is the center of culture
so that once a culture is lost art is also lost with it.
Art fueled by the culture of society moves away from its basic purpose that is — to
please God who had been in sorrow since the beginning of the history of humankind. We
cannot ignore the fact that artists today consider more the monetary return and fame from their
artistic work rather than the thought of pleasing their creator. To make this explanation more
specific, how much money does the painter collects from the priest in order to repaint the
church? How much was collected by the local sculpture from the priest to sculpt the image of
the Virgin? The services to make these things should have been free like what Michelangelo
did in the Sistine Chapel.
God is the greatest artist; the universe is His greatest masterpiece. He created the
universe out of the intention to obtain joy. Like God, artists should have also created artwork
for the intention to obtain joy, joy for them as artists endowed with a rare quality, joy for their
fellow humans but above all joy to God.
Clarification on what ‘Beauty’ is
A student may say that many of his classmates are beautiful while the others may give
no comment. Is beauty only in the eye of the beholder? As said, how do we define the
beautiful?
For the Spaniards, according to Prosper Merimee, a woman to be beautiful must have
three dark things, dark eyes, dark eye-lashes and dark eye brow. To a certain village in Africa,
a woman with a longest neck is the most beautiful. Also, in Africa a woman with pouting lips
is beautiful. To the Filipinos, for a woman to be beautiful, she must be white, long hair and
pointed nose. To sum up these characteristics, one will find an appearance of a Caucasoid
woman, a western look. So how could we identify the beauty of ourselves in the national setting
when we consider the western look beautiful? If such are the criteria to determine beauty, then
who are the beautiful in the Philippines? On the contrary, how could one determine if she has
beauty? Anthon Chekhov the Russian playwright said, “if someone says you have beautiful
eyes or beautiful hair, there is only one meaning, you do not have that item you think about.”
Fortunately, it is not the point of argument here. What we have just dealt about was a
pure physical look which is not the only concern of art. God is the greatest artist; there is
nothing ugly in His creation. Beauty is something that is beyond what eyes can see. Beauty is
the value that giver (artist) gives and the receiver (appreciator) receives. It is the value of art
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
that stimulates desire of the appreciator. So, to judge the beauty of a certain work of art, the
stimulation it creates to the appreciator is the parameter.
Harmony in Art
This is about how beauty is achieved by the artist in his work. A work of art has a
purpose, and as we have explained previously, that is to please God and His people. Art like
anything else is a product of different materials or items put together. Achievement of beauty
relies on how these materials or items are arranged or put together by the artist. This
arrangement or putting together all the materials or items depends on the craftsmanship of
the artist. To come up with beauty these materials are arranged or fixed in harmony with the
purpose of the artist. There is no beauty if there is no harmony. There is no harmony if
materials are not put together to meet the purpose of the artist.
Technicalities of Art
Noticeable in the face of Monalisa are lines and forms mingled with colors so as to
produce the greatest painting. The same things are observable in the Eiffel tower. Eiffel tower
is considered one of the greatest achievements in the field of architecture. Its fame attracted
thousands of tourists throughout the world every year. But looking closely at it, one will find
that it is only a combination of lines and forms. It has no color elements, but like paintings, it
has lines and forms.
Lines, forms and colors are the most basic elements of visual arts. All arts have
elements of their own but in visual art, there are always lines and forms. Other elements are
texture and perspective.
Activity
1. From a selection of different faces, Mona Lisa’s, Cleopatra’s, Penelope’s, who has the
most beautiful face? Explain your answer. (Individual Recitation)
2. Explain why the creation of the Lord is a perfect creation? (Graded Recitation)
Assignment
1. Research on the different types of lines and make examples of these lines from an Art
Appreciation book. Answer should be written in your notebook.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 3: Lines
Specific Objectives
1. Create different lines using a simple pencil.
2. Apply different strokes to show hue, tone, and strokes.
Discussion on the Definition of Straight Lines
These are the most commonly used lines both in art and in engineering. Generally,
straight lines imply simplicity. A person is labeled straight if he is simple. He is extremely
opposite to the intricately decorated fellow labeled as baroque.
•
•
•
Vertical. A line rising perpendicularly from a level surface upright. The fact that it is
rising upward, it implies ambition, authority, majesty and respect. Vertical line is seen
in a man standing straight, a tall tree. These are impressions of dignity.
Horizontal. A line in parallel to the horizon. These are lines of repose and serenity,
reclining person, landscape of bodies of water and picture of horizontal lines.
Diagonal. A line running in slanting direction. This imply actions and movements. A
running man, a bull fighting and other actions are pictures of diagonal lines.
Curved Lines
Curved lines suggest grace, movements, flexibility and joyousness. They are never harsh
or stern. They are formed in a gradual change in direction (C. A. Sanchez et al 1989). Curved
lines are of various kinds. They are illustrated below.
•
•
•
Circle. A curve that is loci at all points in the plane and equidistant from a fixed point
called center.
Lunet. A kind of curve line formed like a crescent.
Oblong. A kind of curve identified by its spherical form and elongation in one
dimension.
Creation of Forms and Colors
A combination of different lines would result to a certain form. As discussed previously,
visual arts are only a combination of lines and forms.
Is black a color? It is not a color. Color is a property of light so if there is no light there
is no color.
Lines and forms give structure to a work of art while colors give life to it. There are
three attributes of color namely: hue, value and intensity.
Hue refers to the name of the color itself. When we say the color of the dress is yellow,
we are naming its hue as yellow. Blue, red and yellow are primary hues. Mixing equally the
primary ones produces secondary hues. Secondary hues are orange, green and violet.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Orange is a result of a mixture red and yellow, green by mixing yellow and blue, violet by
mixing blue and red.
Mixing together two hues would result to a new color. For instance, mixing yellow and
orange would result to yellow-orange. Orange and red will produce red orange and so on with
all the hues. To illustrate further the productions of new hue, a color wheel is provided below:
Color Wheel
Some colors are so glaring to the eyes. Others are so soft so that people after they
have looked at the warm colors they looked at the soft ones to neutralize the sight. This refers
to the warm and cool colors.
Red, orange and yellow are warm colors. They associate with the sources of heat
such as sun, light and fire. They imply cheerfulness, joys, actions, life and happiness.
Blue, blue-green, blue-violet are considered cool colors. They to suggest distance,
calm, sober restful and inconspicuous.
Color harmonies refer to the groupings of hues. There are wo kinds namely: related
color harmonies and contrasted color harmonies.
Related color harmonies. This is a combination of several. Is tones of one hue, like
for example orange, tan, brown and others from the orange family. This is the agreement of
different tones. It is also called monochromatic. The other one is called adjacent or neighboring
harmony, two or three neighboring hues on the color circle are used together. For example,
tones of green, yellow and orange can produce a delightful harmony (Sanchez, et. al. 1984).
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Contrasted color harmonies refer to the disagreement opposition of hues. There is
difficulty in combining the opposite hues but when they are properly harmonized, they give a
beautiful effect.
Value
This is the relative lightness or darkness of a color or quality of light and dark.
Practically, knowledge on the value or color helps anyone the best effect he wants to achieve.
A scale provided below to explain further the meaning of value.
Value Scale
Intensity
It is worth remembering that colors have psychological and emotional bearings.
Sometimes emotions are shown on the thickness of the color being applied. This is apparent
in the fauvism form of art. Fauvist like Van Gogh expressed his emotion by thickening the color
of his objects. Red is associate with cheer, warm or happiness. A fauvist to express his feeling
or happiness thickened the red color. This is referred to as the third element of art known as
intensity.
Intensity is the brightness or darkness of color. It can be in the same hue but different
intensity. The color blue can be very thick or bright in the upper portion but can be very dark
in the lower portion. But it is still blue. Intensity can be described as full intensity, two third
intensity, two third neutral and neutral.
There are still other elements of visual arts. Some of them are texture, perspective,
light and darkness or chiaroscuro.
Texture. This is the visual appearance of things. In sculpture this includes the sense
of touch that has something to do with the characteristics of surface. It can be rough or smooth,
fine or coarse, shiny or dull and so on. In painting texture represents the skin, clothes, jewelry
and other objects of the artists.
Perspective. This is the painter's technique to make the object of his art appear as in
the distance or in a depth. To draw a highway, painters used two converging lines. The two
lines of a railway seem to meet in the distance. In a long file of things or people, the figures in
the distance are smaller than those in the foreground. Objects seem to recede into the
distance. This is perspective, the distant appearance of an object.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Chiaroscuro or light and shadow. The word is taken from two Italian words chiaro
which means light and oscuro means dark. This is a pictorial representation using light and
shade without the use of colors.
Activity
1. Combine the different colors to create different color combinations in a short bond
paper. (Individual Recitation)
2. Explain why we need colors in sketching or painting. (Individual Recitation)
Assignment
1. Bring example of Color Wheel and analyze the combinations prepared. (Graded
Recitation)
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 4: Styles and Forms of Arts According to Development
Specific Objectives
1. Discuss the forms of art according to different periods
2. Appreciate the different styles and forms of art.
Discussion on the History of Art
Men had already appreciated art long before they learned to write. Paintings, were
believed to have been mustered before the advent of writing were seen on wall of a certain
cave of Cro-Magnon France.
This art on the wall has an extreme theme of naturalism. Zulueta (1994). They are
reflections of things seen by the hunting cavemen. Mostly, they are pictures of wild animals
and trees. But as shown further, the development of art in the cave was not left behind by the
development of the people from food gathering to food producing. Some paintings contain
symbolic elements as modern arts do. There are paintings of fallen leaves to indicate summer,
zigzag lines probably to indicate mountains or seas fingers made stripes may represent
rainbow.
Renaissance
Rebirth or revival of the classic. This is a movement in art that aims to bring back the
classic art of the Greeks and Romans. But artists of this period were still free to integrate their
own taste into the classic although features of classicism such as balance, harmony,
proportions and intellectual orders were the standard of the time.
Mannerism
According to chronology, Mannerism is situated between the High Renaissance and
Baroque styles at the ending part of the 15th century in Europe; although the term was also
used in the 18th century to refer to the 16th century artists who adhered to their Renaissance
masters. Particularly, it spread to the European places such as; Spain, France, the
Netherlands, Flanders and England.
The term comes from the Italian word, maniera, or “style.” Manner is another word for
ways or means. The mannerists still followed the forms of the artists of the Renaissance. They
followed them as their inspiration and tried to perfect what the renaissance masters had done.
Carrassat and Marcade' (2005) “The mannerists continued to use wood as a support and also
painted on marble, agate, alabaster, slate and sometimes lapis lazuli. They produced a large
number of frescoes with stucco decoration on the vaults and ceilings of palaces, secular
subjects predominate. Ovid's Metamorphoses and great contemporary poems such as
Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered supplied the themes.”
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Susanna and the elders, Alessandro Allori
Baroque Art
It is derived from the word barocco an ill-shaped pearl. The word can be associated to
an overly ornamented thing or person. A person with too much adornment is labeled as
Baroque. Curved and zigzag lines, which express vitality and actions, make fit to the standard
of baroque art. This art flourished in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. Baroque art
rejects straight lines because in art straight lines imply simplicity.
Classicism
Generally, the term refers to a work of art with quality and taste belonging to the
highest. The term also refers to the imitation of Greek and Roman literature, architecture and
art. Artists of Classicism adhered to the traditional aesthetic principle and formalities although
they flavored their works with expression and individuality. Art belonging to this form could be
characterized by its clarity, balance, order, unity, dignity and symmetry. The three columns of
the Greeks are still dominant in Classicism.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Columns
Manila Post Office
Romanticism
This refers to the movement in art and philosophy that began and developed in Europe
in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was said that Romanticism is both an expansion and at the
same time, a reaction against the Enlightenment. Artists of Romanticism emphasized the
individual. It is subjective, irrational, imaginative, personal, visionary and transcendental.
Concerning the subject of Romanticism, Carrassat and Marcade' (2005) said “artists
expressed their own opinion on current events. Their canvasses became vehicles of
ourpouring of extreme, impassioned, strange, melancholic feelings. Their landscapes are
drenched in human emotion, mystery and poetry — a gnarled tree, for example, symbolizes
anguish and pain. The horse became a Romantic motif on account of its spiritedness.”
Gothic Art
This is recognizable by its pointed arch and ribbed vault. Pointed orders exemplify
faith. Every important structure of gothic architecture served to illustrate its upright position
leading to God. Below is illustration of a Gothic Architecture, the San Sebastian Church in
Manila.
San Sebastian Church
Manila
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Modernism
Modernization is characterized by the advancement of technology. This technology
brought several changes to man's lifestyle and this lifestyle gives birth to several artistic
creations.
Some modern arts that come out through recent inventions are photography, industrial
arts, cosmetics and advertising. Cinematography is also an art that emerged together with the
modern innovation of man.
The word modernism comes from the Latin “modo” referring to something which belongs
today. It is a form of artistic experimentation of getting away with what was in the past. It
flourished in the 1940's and 1960's in Paris. It is characterized with simple shapes and modern
artificial materials.
Activity
1. Explain the following:
• Baroque
• Romanticism
• Gothic
• Modern Art
(Individual Recitation)
Assignment
1. Bring example of drawings, in the art styles of Baroque, Gothic, Romanticsm, and
Modernism.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 5: Prerequisites to Appreciation
Specific Objectives
1. Clarify and understand important pointers about art and art appreciation
2. Determine the values of art appreciation
Discussion on the Prerequisites to Appreciation
We have already discussed much about the purpose of art. The artist does not paint
something because he feels like painting. The writer does not write because he likes to write.
There is something in their hearts that they want humanity to understand. We as appreciator
of art have duty to do. We will not just discover art because we feel like doing it. We have a
duty to discover the “something” that artist wants us to understand.
To help you achieve understanding of the meaning of work art, some points are
provided below:
1. Attitude. This refers to your interest in art or to a certain work of art. We cannot do
something what we do not like. In other words, we cannot come into oneness with the
artist if in the first place we do not like art. To make you understand things make
yourself free from any form of evil thoughts, abhor all worldly materials because the
meaning of art does not reside in this world. You try to practice contemplation,
reflection and discernment. Finally, try to seek the value of trueness.
2. Background of the work. If you are going to watch a ballet performance, experts say,
you read the background and other initial details of the story available in the ticket bill
or in posters. This means to say, that before the actual viewing of the art, you already
have a ready knowledge about it. This background includes the situation of the place
and time when that certain work of art was made. It also includes the culture of the
people where the work comes from. For instance, the students after reading the story
“Mahamaya” by Rabindranath Tagore, question the plausibility of the story. The
students could not believe that a living wife is burned together with the dead husband
in a funeral pyre. The comment is a very clear manifestation of the students' ignorance
of the culture and practice of the Indian people. In India, they have a practice called
“suttee” in which a widow is burned with the dead husband. The purpose is to show to
the family of the dead husband, the grief of the wife. The British government in India
considered it a crime so its practice was stopped.
Be sure to know the differences between the culture of the Arabs and those of
the Americans if you want to understand the movie Not without My Daughter. If you
want to understand the Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist, know first the sociopolitical situation of England at the time when Dickens mustered the novel. The same
thing if you want to understand the novel Of Mice and Men by, John Steinbeck know
first the farming situation and the economy of America during the depression time.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
It is necessary to know first the philosophy, religion and even the personal
problem of the artist when he created the work of art. Background knowledge means
knowing the circumstances that motivate the artist to do the work.
3. Empathy. While watching the movie you cannot hold yourself from crying. In such a
situation do not control it, let your tears flow. There is no problem with it. In fact, it is
another way in achieving a successful interpretation of the art. Empathy means
sympathize with the sorrow of the characters. It is a subjective action which through it,
you become more closed and united with the work of art. Then you obtain joy.
4. Health. This refers to the physical condition of the appreciator. No one will believe that
a man suffering from fever or any dreadful disease could come up with a good
appreciation at the time when he is suffering from the disease. Sound body means
sound mind.
5. Location. This is the place where art is appreciated. The place contributes much to
your success. There is a place for drama or ballet performance. Gallery is a right place
to appreciate painting while a silent place like a library is the right place for reading a
novel.
Activity
1. Summarize the importance and background of Art (Graded Recitation)
Assignment
1. Read and analyze one of the elements of art
2. Organize the sequence of the historical background of art from the earliest time to the
present. The answer should be written in your notebook.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 6: Appreciating the Art of Painting
Specific Objectives
1. Reminisce and clarify Van Gogh’s style in painting
2. Develop skills in using different painting materials
Background about Van Gogh’s Painting Style
When Vincent Van Gogh was not able to sleep well one
night, he went out of the house and sat on a hill overlooking the
village. The night was serene and the village lay down free from
any form of disturbance. But the attention of the Dutch painter
was captivated by the beauty of the stars that twinkled above
the patches of farms and dots of houses. He wanted to hold
forever the beauty that he saw. He rushed downhill, and in a
few minutes that elapsed came back bringing his brush, pallet,
paint and canvass. He painted what is celebrated today as
Starry Night. It is one of humanity's sources of inspiration and
the devotion that leads the American singer and composer,
Don McLean to compose the song Vincent.
Painting is an art by applying colors to a surface to present an object imagined or real.
Basic materials of painting are paint, canvass, wood, paper and brush. Mediums are explained
below.
Discussion on the Mediums of Painting
a. Water Color. As the word suggests, it is a combination of coloring materials and water.
It is the most commonly used medium of painting particularly among school children
because it is easy to use and available even in the small sari-sari store.
b. Oil. One characteristic of oil painting is its glossy product. It slowly
dries, to give the painter a chance to do some corrections of his
art.
c. Tempera. It is one of the old mediums that persisted through the
ages. It was well used before oil was adopted. Its mineral coloring
is a mixture of egg yolks and ore. This medium is usually applied
to a wooden panel that is made very plain with plaster called
gesso.
d. Pastel. This is a stick paste made of powdered pigment. It looks like a crayon and it is
applied like a crayon. Although it is very easy to avail and very easy to use, it did not
attract the attention of the artists because its finished product is difficult to preserve.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
e. Fresco. It is taken from the word fresh, the art of painting on
fresh plaster. This medium flourished in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Michaelangelo's Sistine chapel and Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper
are examples of fresco painting.
f.
Acrylic. It is a paint which adhesive element is acrylic resin.
Contemporary artists used it because of its quick drying
characteristic. Its good quality is that it preserves the freshness of the
art through the long years.
Activity
1. Using ordinary pencil and bond paper, prepare some sketches/drawings on any of the
following:
• Your own garden
• Your bedroom
• Your living room
Assignment
1. From Google, bring an example of a painting made by any of the following painters:
• Van Gogh
• Michael Angelo
• Leonardo da Vinci
• Fernando Amorsolo
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 7: Art Elements of a Painting
Specific Objectives
1. Organizing the Art Elements of a Painting
2. Appreciate the application of this in a particular drawing or painting
Discussion on the Art Elements of a Painting
Like all the other kinds of arts, painting has also elements of its own which are
discussed briefly below. Knowing them is a prerequisite in appreciating and creating this
particular form of art.
Distance
There are three distances to look for in a painting. The part of the painting closest to
the viewer is called the foreground. The middle ground is the part between the foreground and
the part which is farthest is called the background. It's important to train yourself to look at
each of these distances, one after the other consecutively. In this way, you as the viewer, will
be able to take notice of and see things that you might have missed in the initial viewing of the
painting.
Color
Artists use colors to convey feelings and moods within their painting. They can create
a cheerful mood by placing bright colors next to each other. They can create a calm or gentle
mood by placing soft colors alongside each other. Basically, colors can be divided into warm
(reds, oranges, yellow) and cool (blues, greens and violets) colors. It is interesting to notice
which colors the artist use, which one stands out and how colors make you feel as you view
the painting. When complementary colors (blue and orange, red and green, yellow and purple)
are used alongside each other, they intensify each other and look extra bright. The artist also
uses black to tone down colors (shades) and white to lighten them up (tints).
Painters spend a lot of time studying the way light falls. They often experiment with
light in their paintings simulating natural light or using hidden spotlights to let your focus your
attention on what they want you to notice in the painting. Light affects the color of the subject
and objects in the painting to let it look real and solid if the artist shows the way light falls on
them. Use of light and darkness also conveys particular moods in a painting. It is important to
look for the light sources in the painting and describe their effect on the appearance of the
subjects and on the overall mood it communicates.
Line
Artists use various types of lines (diagonal, curved, vertical, and horizontal) to express
ideas and feelings in their paintings. Be sure to look for various lines in a painting and note
where they are and what they seem to convey.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Shapes
An artist uses shapes to express ideas. They may be circles, triangles, rectangles,
ovals, or squares. When arranged close together they help add energy to a painting. When
placed far apart, they look more serene. It is interesting to find both small and large shapes in
a painting, counting how many you find from each and noting the similarities they may
possess.
Composition
Artists seriously plan how they will arrange elements like color, line and shapes in their
paintings. This is called composition. Some artists make a master plan before they actually
begin the painting. Others plan as they go, deciding how to arrange things as they paint. The
composition helps to draw the viewer's eyes into the picture and guides him/her as he/she
walks through the painting. A composition is often likened to an invisible skeleton that holds
the painting together.
Perspective
Through perspective, artists, convey 3-dimension space. Perspective makes a flat
picture look 3-dimensional and it has depth. How an artist layers the three distances of
foreground, middle ground and background is one way he/she creates perspective. To create
deeper space, an artist may make parallel lines come together. To give the effect of distance,
the artist may make the objects in the background smaller in size, lighter in color or less
detailed.
Symbols
Artists often include symbolic objects in their paintings. A symbol can be defined as
something, which has a special meaning or a special message. Artists use them to express
such ideas as life, death, hope and faith in God. A painting may have hidden meanings within
it as expressed in the symbols the artist uses. For example, the sunflower in Van Gogh's
paintings represents ideas of the sun, the south, and hope. In paintings by Van Dyck, the
sunflower symbolized the king, Charles I.
Understanding and Clarification of Art Elements of a Painting (Summary)
As a painter, especially students who has a flair for painting, must learn the Art
Elements, not only using color, but apply this color to a certain degree of which the distance,
line, color, perspective, must agree with the intensity of the object to establish the sharpness
and brightness that the painter would like to paint. For sure, the message will be clear.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Activity
1. With the color red, blue, and green, use a combination of these three, using different
strokes to see the brightness and sharpness of the color. Use short bond paper for this
activity.
Assignment
1. Color the following sketch / drawing using different color harmonies. Use short bond
paper. To be submitted next meeting.
• A small apple
• A small orange
• A small house
• A dining table
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 8: Lines and Circles
Specific Objectives
1. Discuss the geometrical designs as background of painting
2. Apply this geometrical design through different sketches
Understanding Lines and Circles
In this first exercise you will learn the most fundamental cornerstone of good drawing:
precision of hand and eye. Start by drawing the following geometrical shapes.
As you practice, concentrate on the point of the pencil exactly where the graphite
comes off the pencil onto the paper. Don't be concerned if your attention wanders at first —
just practice coming back to the point of the pencil. You will notice wobbles and blips creeping
into the drawing whenever your attention strays. When you can keep your attention on the
point of the pencil and no other thoughts and expectations intrude, you will find that your
drawing will go smoothly When the eve follows the hand exactly, the hand will perform exactly.
Keep practicing. Always start drawing sessions with five to ten minutes of practice.
A dot
A vertical
line
A triangle
A horizontal
line
A square
A diagonal
line
A five-pointed
star
A circle
A spiral
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Control of the hand is a basic technique you must learn if you are to draw well. The
more you practise the following exercise. the surer your line will be and the greater the
accuracy of your eye in judging space and form.
Draw a
square of
lined up
dots, all the
same
distance
apart and all
in a straight
line.
Draw a
square of
straight
vertical lines,
all the same
length and all
the same
distance
apart.
Draw a
square of
straight
horizontal
lines, all the
same
distance
apart, all the
same length
Draw a
square of
straight
diagonal
lines, all the
same
distance
apart, of
varying
lengths.
Draw a
square of
straight
diagonal
lines, at the
opposite
angle.
Discussion on Line Strokes
Through this circle as shown above, with your pencil, now draw a circle. Continue
drawing circles, trying each time to improve on the one you have drawn before. Keep
practicing until the circle begins to look how you think i should. When it looks fairly good,
practice drawing it more quickly.
Activity
1. Practice drawing different lines in a short bond paper. Disregard the form and shapes
established. Just practice to reach perfection.
2. Present this to your class/online class, and then explain why you preferred that stroke.
Assignment
1. With the exercises above, copy all those exercises using ordinary pencil. (In a short
bond paper) to be submitted next meeting.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 9: 3D Shapes
Specific Objectives
1. Determine the importance of depth and solidity to create good perspective
2. Establish the significance of using light and shadow
Discussion on 3D Shapes
To give the impression of depth and solidity in drawing, you have to use perspective
or shading or both.
A basic illusion of three dimensions and depth can easily be produced. Now try this
next series of shapes.
1. Draw a square.
4. Draw a diamond
or parallelogram.
2. Add three more
parallel lines.
5. Add three lines of
the same length and
in parallel.
3. Join the ends… and you
have a cube. If your lines are
accurate enough it is
impossible not to see a cube.
6. Join the ends –
again. You have a
cube!
As you can see, shading or tone helps to create an illusion of three dimensions or solidity.
7. Shade the two lower
sections of the cube
lightly.
8. Shade one of the lower
sections more heavily.
9. Add a cast shadow — this
fades off from the darkest
section in line with the floor or
surface on which the cube is
standing.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Now see what effect you can get by adding tone to a circle.
10. Draw a circle
...
11. Shade lightly
just over half the
area in a crescent
shape.
12. Shade more
heavily a smaller
area nearer the
edge.
13. Shade the outer edge of
this area more heavily still.
Add a fading off cast
shadow. Now your circle
should look like a sphere.
Discussion on Ellipses
Drawing ellipses is another of those necessities that the aspiring artist has to learn to
do. Unfortunately, there is no foolproof way of drawing them mechanically. You just have to
practice until you become proficient.
Ellipses are continuous curves and at no time do they become
straight edged or create angles. Look at the three elliptical shapes
below. Compare the two incorrect versions, which have almost
straight edges or angles, with the correct version, which has neither.
The column of ellipses shows what happens when a circular
shaped object is viewed at various levels. At eye level a circle
appears as just a horizontal line. When the object is lowered, the
ellipse increases in depth while maintaining its width. Lower it further
still and the circle will reappear. You can practise drawing ellipses by
placing a circular object - such as a plate or jug - at eye level. The
shaded area on each of the ellipses (left) is one quarter of the area
of the ellipse bounded by the vertical axis and the horizontal axis.
Your ellipse is incorrect if these quarters are not identical in shape.
However, although each shaded area should be the same shape, it
should be seen as a mirror image vertically, horizontally and
diagonally. If you can observe this distinction when you come to draw
an ellipse, then your drawing is more or less correct. All shapes that
are based on a circle - eg cylinders and wheels - become ellipses
when they are seen obliquely or from an angle.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Activity
1. Using your 3 types of pencils, establish different strokes with the use of depth, light
and shadow. Establish this through the following pictures.
• A small jar in a not so dark place
• A small glass on top of a table
• A big jar placed in a garden
Practice this activity in a short bond paper. (Graded Exercises0
Assignment
1. Based on a particular object, practice sketch or drawing:
• Face of a woman
• A Toyota car
• A garden plant
Drawing should be on a short bond paper. To be submitted next meeting
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 10: The Head: Proportions
Specific Objectives
1. Significance of Head Proportion in Drawing/Painting
2. Create a depth analysis on the head proportion and accuracy of lines.
Discussion on The Head: Proportions
Most of the significant differences evident in the face are due to variations in the fleshy
parts rather than in the underlying bone structure. However, the forehead, cheekbones and
teeth can be more prominent in some people than in others. A child shows a smaller jaw,
which is the last part of the bone structure of the head to develop.
The main divisions proportionally can be clearly seen here. The eyes are half-way
down the head and the length of the nose is about a quarter of the full length of the head. The
mouth is about one fifth of the length of the head from the base of the chin if we measure to
where the lips part. The width of the head when looked at full on and in profile is about threequarters of the length of the head.
When a subject is viewed face on, the distance between the eyes is one-fifth of the
width of the head. The length of each eye from corner to corner is also one-fifth of the width
of the head.
Head Proportion of a Man
Unless there is balding, the hair takes up about half the area of the head. This is
calculated diagonally from the top of the forehead to the back of the neck, as shown.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Head Proportion of a Woman
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
LOOKING AT FIGURES
Notice the almost
straight lines here.
Never be afraid to
draw straight lines
if they are what
you see when you
look at a figure.
Several
lines
might be
necessary
to capture
the shape
correctly.
When a beginner looks at
the human figure, the greatest
difficulty facing him or her seems
to be where to start. There is so
much to see that it can be
confusing. Most artists try first to
visualize the shape of the figure
in its simplest form. That is, to
see its almost geometrical
character.
In the example shown
here, the back is almost
triangular until the point where it
joins the hips. The arms, which
are partially ' foreshortened, are
simple, soft cylindrical shapes.
The head is a slightly square egg
shape.
If the artist can see these
main shapes within, a figure, it
makes the task a great deal
easier.
Definition has been
given to the most
prominent features
accentuated in the
pose, such as the rib
cage
and
the
muscles in the back
and arms.
The basic shape and
areas have been sketched in
first. This is called blocking in the
main shapes. In the second
illustration, the shapes, although
drawn in more detail, retain their
simplicity. The lines are light and
soft so that alterations can easily
be made. This is the stage that
professional artists work really
hard at -correcting and recorrecting to get the shape right.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
The tones have
been built up using
hatching in different
directions to give
depth.
Tone is what gives a drawing its finished
appearance. You will notice that in the
second illustration a light tone has been
applied in large areas. In the final drawing
the darkest tone was worked in first. With
the lightest and darkest tones in place, the
final decision was to work out the variation
in tone between these extremes. Usually
two or three tones are all that are needed
to finish a drawing.
It is difficult to keep viewing a figure as a
whole without someone being there to
constantly remind you, but it is important
not to concentrate exclusively on one area.
If you want to get good at drawing figures,
make an effort to draw each part of the
figure in some detail over a period of weeks
or months. Drawing the same parts over
and over again will only improve them at
the expense of some other area of the
body, and expose your technical
weaknesses.
Activity
1. Practice head proportions on a short bond paper, using an ordinary pencil. Establish
the lines well, from eyes to nose, nose to lips. This exercise is graded.
Assignment
1. Collect pictures (thru Google), of Cleopatra, Monalisa, and then analyze the head
proportions of these pictures.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 11: Object Drawing and Still Life Composition
Specific Objectives
1. Compare object drawing with the lines and shapes that already learned
2. Cite the significance of this object drawing to lines, shapes, and other sketches
Understanding the Background of Object Drawing
In the last section you began to exercise your artistic talents by covering a wide range of
drawing subject matter. Next you will be shown in greater detail how to expand upon and
practice what you have learnt. In addition to consolidating your technical ability, you will be
encouraged to develop further the art of looking.
When you have had plenty of practice you will find yourself noticing all sorts of interesting
details in the objects around you, not just in the ones you attempt to draw. You will discover
that, for an artist, the world is never boring because there is so much to see. Each time you
look at an object, you will discover something new, no matter how many times you may have
looked at that object before. This enhancement of awareness will lead to your perception
deepening, enabling you to penetrate to the essence of seeing.
Objects of Different Materiality:
After you have learnt to draw the shapes of objects correctly in outline, you can then
tackle a variety of objects of different materiality with a view to making still life compositions.
Over the next few spreads. we will look at a range of such objects and the different approaches
you might consider when you come to organize your own arrangements and subject matter.
First, try drawing this fir-cone, which is quite simple in essence but complex in detail. You will
need to use your powers of observation and your ability to see an object as a whole to get this
right.
Clarification on how to do the following:
1. Look hard at the object
and see the whole shape.
Draw the outline as simply
and as accurately as
possible.
2. Now look at the various
parts within the whole.
Sketch in each shape
within the overall shape
you have already outlined.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
3. Once you have a sort of
diagram of the object, you
can draw in the details of
light and shade, the exact
shapes of each part and
give dimension to your
drawing.
Now try an object like a wineglass.
1. Draw the main shape, paying special attention to the
proportion of height to width and the proportion of the stem
to the cup (bowl).
2. Sketch in the main shapes of the
reflections very simply as outlines.
3. Put in the very darkest tones and then work in
lighter and lighter tones; the while of your drawing
paper should be the color of the brightest highlights.
You'll find the approach outlined here quite effective. One point to watch: don't be
confused by the subtleties of the tones, just simplify them. Make sure that the very strongest
edges and shadows are vigorously put in, but be aware of the areas where they don't occur.
In other words, the lines around the objects will not be even because some will be strong and
clear and others soft and indistinct. If you observe this difference and get it right, your drawing
will have much greater depth and dimension.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
With a mechanical object — such as this cassette deck-cum-radio — the main problem
is one of geometry. You must first draw a perspectively correct outline shape (in this case a
rectangular box) which you then have to modify with curved dimensions. As the machine is
man-made, there is a straightforward pattern to it, which you need to divide up simply.
1. Outline the overall shape; try an HB
or B for this. After checking to see that
this looks right, you can rub out the
rectangular structure if you feel
confused by the extra lines. But be
sure not to do this until the curved
shape is in place.
2. Draw in the main
shapes within the
outline. They can be
seen quite clearly,
both along the length
of the machine and in
its depth.
3. Don't worry too much about the
finer points of your drawing until you
are confident about the main shape.
Working out the texture and light and
shade to give the machine height and
depth is more important than the
precision of details, such as push
buttons, knobs, sockets and screens.
Try using a 2B or 4B for the tone. The
variation between the line and tone
will give a richer texture.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
SIMPLE STILL LIFE
Now we're going to try a simple still life arrangement. I have chosen a few oranges in a bowl
for this exercise, because it poses an interesting challenge. The main problem is fitting all the
oranges into the elliptical shape at the top of the bowl. Before you begin to draw what's in front
of you, look at the composition closely for a few minutes to gain a sense of its size and
proportion.
1. First draw the outlines of each piece of
fruit and the bowl. (Refer back to your
practice of drawing ellipses) Concentrate on
getting the ellipse of the bowl right and the
relative proportion of the bowl to the mass
of fruit. Don't worry if the shape of the fruit
isn't exact, just ensure that they fill the
shape of the bowl effectively. At this stage,
the precision of the drawing is not as
important as getting the curves to look like
the fruit.
2. Note the shape of the shadow cast on the
table by the bowl. This will be a similar shape
z the rim of the bowl. Observe the direction
to
from which the light is coming, and then add
the shadows very simply and lightly.
3. Now elaborate on the tones of the shadows
and any reflections in the bowl. As in previous
exercises, use a light tone to block in the
shaded areas. Then work on the variation in
shadow and emphasize any edges that are well
defined to the eye. Don't forget to leave your
paper blank to indicate where the light falls
most brightly.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Don't worry about the quality of the lines and shading when you first try your hand at drawing
this watering can. It is an advantage if the result is a solid and chunky looking object. Accuracy
of shape is good but atmosphere is better still, so don't be afraid to be expansive in your pencil
work. The more battered an object, the less precise in geometric terms do its lines have to be.
1. Draw in the main shape.
2. Block in the obvious areas of shadow using
one fairly light tone.
3. Now you can really go to work, giving plenty of texture as well as depth of tone to the object.
The surfaces of the can will be worn and dented and have many small marks. Don't try to
smarten them up. Let your pencil line reflect reality by keeping the texture gritty to give the
effect of wear and tear.
With this wicker basket, your major problem will be how not to get lost in the complexity of
what you’re looking at. You need to discover the pattern of the weaving and decide how each
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
piece of basketwork fits into the overall design. Once you have got the pattern worked out,
you will not find the prospect of drawing it so daunting.
1. Draw a skeleton shape, outlining the basic
structure of the main vertical struts and also
the top and bottom of the basket.
2. Now draw the general effect of the weave.
Pay particular attention to the top and bottom
edges.
3. Lightly sketch in the
areas of light and shade,
including the shadow
cast on the surface the
basket is resting on - in
this instance a tabletop.
Lastly, emphasize any
lines that show up more
clearly and where there
are darker tones or
shadows.
Activity
1. Continue practicing any of the figure of the above on a short bond paper, using
different pencil strokes.
Assignment
1. Bring five pieces of short bond paper and three different types of pencil for sketching.
Prepare yourself for Figure Drawing and Portraiture.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 12: Figure Drawing and Portraiture
Specific Objectives
1. Establish a clear drawing of portraiture
2. Practice figures sketch/drawing
Background on Human Figure
The human figure is the hardest and yet most satisfying subject to draw and no artist
ever really exhausts its possibilities. Attendance of a life-drawing class is the best way to learn
how to do this. However, if you are trying to teach yourself, discipline and an eye for detail will
take you a long way. The best way to start is by observing people carefully: the way they
move, sit and stand and how they look in | different lights and from different angles. The great
figurative artists studied the human form for their entire lives without reaching a limit with it, so
there’s plenty of scope!
Discussion on drawing Figures
Before you begin, refer back to the diagrams of proportions in human beings to reacquaint yourself with the basic lessons you’ve learned. Now find pictures of people in various
natural poses and try this exercise.
Carefully trace the
outlines of your
chosen figures.
Now trace
over your
tracings,
breaking
down the
figures to
their
simplest
shapes.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
This way of drawing shows you how to tackle figure drawing using very basic lines to
describe the position of the figure and gradually build a more solid structure around these lines
until you have got a complete figure.
Now trace over your second
tracings, putting in only the absolutely
essential lines in order to show the
movement of the figures. Take a
central line through each figure, draw
the main line of the shoulders, the
main shape of the head and then make
very simple lines to describe the arms
and legs.
Don’t include any other details.
In my examples you can see that for
each figure the head is given simply as
a rounded shape, and a line running
through the torso and legs serves to
give the feel of the pose. Pare down
your drawings to absolute essentials,
as I have done.
DRAWING FROM LIFE
Once you have practiced the previous exercise a number of times and gained in
confidence, you should be ready to tackle drawing a real person. Get a couple of different
people to pose for you for about twenty minutes. Approach your subjects exactly as you were
shown in the previous exercise.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Draw the
essential shape,
movement or pose
first and then try to
fill it out a bit, but
don’t worry about
the detail.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
As you take the figure through the stages - from
simple shape to more detailed figure — you’ll begin to
see how the drawing can be made to work. This does
become easier with practice. Your aim at this point is to
produce fairly good figures that resemble the models in
a general way. Keep your drawings very, very simple, as
I have done here.
Try to do this sort of drawing at least once a week.
1. Block in the main
shapes.
2. Add a little more detail to the
main shapes of each part of the
figure, but don’t draw too heavily.
Experiment with different media for
this: pencil, pen or charcoal.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
STUDYING DIFFERENT POSES
Now try working from photographs or
models with a view to giving yourself
experience of capturing different kinds
of poses. If you can find good
photographs of action poses or poses
with some movement in them, use them
first to trace and then to copy, keeping
the original next to your drawing as
reference.
Get used to looking at the whole shape,
including the shapes enclosed by the
limbs, in order to see the general outline.
The more variety you can get in these
sorts of sketches the better. Get used to
moving your hand quite fast, but
observing closely the essential lines of
the figures. Again, don’t concern
yourself with details. They are not
important at this stage.
The sketches shown here are to give
you ideas of the types of poses you
might like to attempt.
Young men talking.
A girl relaxing,
probably talking
or watching a
video.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Conversation
piece: note the
differences in
these Poses.
A girl dancing.
Lovers
embracing.
Activity
1. Continue practicing sketching figures and some portraiture (To be graded)
Assignment
1. Read about Literature, another type of art. Practice some story-writing or poem writing.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 13: Appreciating the Art of Literature
Specific Objectives
1. Determine the value of literature in terms of Art
2. Appreciate poem and story-writing
Generally everything that is put into writing is considered literature. Novel on science
are written works. Both belonged to literature. But there is something that makes literature
different from the others. Novel is made through the long waves of time. It does to come by
accident. The words in the novel are arranged cleverly with the author’s sweat and blood so
as to produce something we call today as art and it is this artistic side of the novel that
separates it form the book of science.
Novel, short story, poem and essay are printed matters with an artistic element. They
are made of art, which means that there is something in them that humanity must see. Which
means that there is something in them that humanity must see. When a writer pulls out his
pen and picks up an empty piece of paper, there is something in his heart and mind that he
wants humanity to understand.
Our task as audience of art particularly literature is to find out the purpose of the writing
in writing the story, poem, essay or novel. To try this, let us read the story Misery by Anton
Chekhov.
In appreciating literature consider the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Understand the purpose of the writing in writing that certain literary piece.
Understand the role being played by the characters;
Contrast that literature to the other works you have read in the past;
Ask yourself, what happened in the story that will possibly happen in reality.
Stopping by the Woods on the Snowy Evening
By Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here.
To watch his woods fill up with snow
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
The woods are lovely,dark and deep
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Discussion on Stopping by the Woods on the Snowy Everything
The preliminaries in interpreting fiction shall be borrowed in poetry. Do I like the poem
and why? To remember this is only a springboard for further question that aim at unveiling the
hidden meaning of the poem.
Like fiction, poems have rudiments being fixed together. In the poem above, what
pictures are formed in your mind when you have heard the words house, woods, horse and
snow? You may be thinking of something that you know as represented by the words. They
refer to imagery, the picture formed in our mind as we read the poem.
Moving further, you have read the lines like,
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there are some mistake
The horse above can think. It asked if there’s a mistake why his master stopped when
they are still in the wilderness among the fallen snow. This is a kind of figure of speech calls
personification, to personify or by treating the non-human as if human. There are several
figures of speech. Some are the following
Simile: a comparison of two unlike objects by the use of like, as, resembles and others.
E.g.: There is no frigate like a book.
Metaphor: a bold comparison of two unlike things. It is called bold because the word
like is omitted.
E.g.: Life is a walking shadow.
Metonymy: this refers to associating things, or describing one by using the other.
E.g.: You read Shakespeare instead of saying you read that plays of
Shakespeare. The crown instead of the king.
Hyperbole: Exaggerated
E.g.: I saw the ocean kissing the clouds.
I can wait for a thousand years.
Personification: to personify giving human attitude to non-human object
E.g.: The hose asks a question if there is a mistake. The flowers are dancing.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Irony: The meaning is opposite from what is being said.
E.g.: It is good for you to insult me in front of other people.
The people need corrupt government officials.
There are other literary instruments not yet touched in this short discussion. Examining
the last syllable of each line of the poem above will show the delicate braiding of words so as
to produce a sound
...Know
...Though
...Here
...Show
...Queer
...Near
...Lake
...Year
-a
-a
-b
-a
-b
-b
-c
-b
...Shake
...Mistake
...Lake
...Year
...Deep
...Keep
...Sleep
...Sleep
-c
-c
-c
-b
-d
-d
-d
-d
This arrangement of syllables is called rhyming. There are two places for it. One is at
the end of the lines; the other is within the line.
Finally, there are words in the poem, which cannot be classified as figure of speech,
nor rhyming words. What do the word wood, promises and miles mean? They must not be
there as a simple flower without any contribution to the development of a poem.
They are symbols. In the poem, a man was travelling and he passed through the
woods, which were covered with snow. “The woods are lovely dark and deep”. His attention
was then captivated by the beauty of the woods. He stopped and he had an intercourse with
nature. He had almost forgotten everything until the horse shook up its head and he came
back to his senses. He remembered that he had promises to keep and miles to go. He
resumed his journey.
What then is the purpose of the writer in writing this poem? What is it that he wants to
tell us? Live every day is a journey.
We have promises to keep or obligation and duty to do. But along the way as we do
those obligation, some interruptions come. These interruptions can be an invitation or anything
else that would lead you to non-compliance of the duty. But a flash of reminder comes to the
mind that will put you on the edge whether to go on with the invitation or to leave it in behalf
of the duty. You have the choice.
On the way to school for instance, a friend comes and invites you to a party. You know
that the party is good. It is tempting. Then you remember that you’re on the way. To school.
It’s now time to decide. Just say then that you have promises to keep and miles to go. Excuse
yourself and follow the path to the performance of your duty.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Activity
1. Write a short poem on any of the following
• A tree
• My favorite dog
• My favorite sport
You may have a free verse or with measurement
Assignment
1. Recall your favorite song, or instrumental music. With this song, get ready to sing in
front of the class or through online.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 14: Appreciating the Art of Music
Specific Objectives
1. Discuss the value of music
2. Appreciate the beauty and harmony of music
Introduction
Like dance, music in the ancient period has something to do with spirits. People sang
to appease the spirits, to ask favor or to give thanks. Music then was made vocally without
accompaniment. It was only composed of a human voice. Slowly some musical instruments
came. How they came, mankind can only speculate. As man's lifestyle progresses so do the
musical instruments. However, its effect to the listeners from the past to the present does not
change.
Musical Sounds
Sound is the most basic medium of music. It is produced either through a voice of
instrument, or a combination of both. This is about mediums of music, which are all discussed
in the following pages. Right here let us discuss the properties of musical sound. There are
four properties of sound namely; pitch, duration, volume and color (timbre) (C.A. Sanchez et
al 1982).
1. Pitch. This refers to the place of tone in the musical scale. This also refers to
the highness or lowness of tone.
2. Duration. Sound is a result of vibrations. Duration as a property of sound
refers. to the length of time over which vibration is maintained.
3. Volume. Refers to the softness or loudness of sound.
4. Timbre tone color. This has something to do with the quality of sound. The
quality of tone or color. Quality of sounds depends on the size, shape and form
of instrument. The places where a musical performance is done is also a
contributing factor to the quality of sound. An instrument built for acoustic
purposes can produce a sound with a high fidelity to the purpose of the
musicians than in any ordinary places.
Activity
1. Listen to a recorded music from the internet, then analyze the quality of music
rendered.
2. Based from what you have heard, explain the kind of music that you’ve listened to.
(Individual recitation)
Assignment
1. Read about different types of music genre. Analyze and explain each type.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 15: Pop and Rap Music Genre
Specific Objective
1. Differentiate the genre of Pop from Rap music
2. Evaluate the value of each genre
Discussion on Pop Music
Pop music or popular music usually with audience of young people was already well
participated since the 50's. Although this kind of song was conducted in a concert by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra, it is still and always known and inaugurated by the rock in roll.
It is the most popular in the market so its category as pop.
In Great Britain, the Beatles towered the pop music in the 1960's, in America it was
Elvis Presley who topped it, the followed by other singer, singles or bands. With the advent of
computer or technology in general, pop musicians were very quick to adjust to the situation so
that categorized under pop come the hip-hop and the rap.
Discussion on Rap
This is a popular type of music which started in the streets of New York among the
high school students. It looks like an incantation or a chant, but to describe it well, try to listen
to destroyed turn table. Its sound is almost an exact tune of a rap. was in 1983 that the "It's
like that," by RUN D.M.C. trio school mates from borough of Queens sold 500,000 copies.
Now on your own, try to write rap and sing it, but be sure to look around to see if you
are alone, and then do it in any school program. If they don't recognize you, you volunteer and
sing your rap. They will like it.
Tips on Appreciating Rap Music
•
Get the meaning of the song. It sounds difficult to do b there is no other way to
appreciate its beauty. It is an a and like all the other kinds of art it's meaning should
deciphered. If it is hard for you to understand while it being sung, it is your job to secure
a copy of the song. On a copy is on hand play its recorded tape at the same time read
the lyrics.
•
Observe the singer on stage. It is possible only dun concert, or rap contest. (Today its
emergence has brought another possible competition on the field of music), or another
occasion when a rapper is requested to perform. Try to see if the rapper gestures in
consonance with h song.
Do it by yourself. This book assumes the principle that art is more appreciated if the
one who appreciates it does it personally. For instance, if it is literature you like get ball
pen, a piece of paper and write. The same thing in music. You can appreciate it if you
yourself sing.
•
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Activity
1. Pick a pop or rap song online. Listen to the song and understand its meaning, explain
it in two to three sentences (Individual Recitation)
Assignment
1. Research on different types of dance. Find the commonality of each type of dance.
You can use the internet.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 16: The Art of Dance
Specific Objectives
1. Discuss the history of dance
2. Appreciate the value of dance as an element of art
Discussion on Dancing
Right after harvest, the Subanun of Sindangan Zamboanga Del Norte holds a sevenday festivity, a thanks giving to the gods. This feast is called buklug this is a kind of feast which
program of activities is centered on dancing on a wooden flat form called buklugan.
Dance throughout the ages is connected with the supernatural being. Ancient people
danced to show their gratitude to the gods, or to ask favor from the gods. Modern man dances
because he likes it. Children on the street dance as a natural response to the beating of sounds
played nearby, or an old man taps his feet in harmony with the music around while he peers
down over his cup of coffee.
Dance can be both an art and a form of recreation. As an art, dance may interpret a
story, a history or an expression of mood. Ballet is example for dance as an art. The gestures
of a ballet dancer can simulate a soaring eagle and can let audience feel what Juliet felt as
she beholds the dying Romeo.
Unity, the universal element of art is basic to dancing. Dancing is beautiful and
glorifying to see if there is a perfect harmony of movement. If one member of the group of
dancers makes a mistake in movement, the whole presentation is instinctively ruined. In
dancing going against unity is a grievous act, grievous because it brings the whole art to a
total downfall.
This element of unity does not only refer to the harmony of gestures or motions. Other
elements of dance such as: design, music, costume and properties should always cling to
each other in accordance with the theme of the dance.
Tips Appreciating the Art of Dance
1. Theme. This is the most important component of dancing as well as of the other forms
of art. This has something to do with message being portrayed by the dancers. It tells
the audience what the dance is all about.
2. Design. Refers to the sketch how the message is to be presented by the dancers. This
includes movement, rhythm, beat, time and space.
3. Movement. This is the action of the dancers, the motion of the feet, the swinging of
the arms, turning of head and even facial expression and gestures to indicate feeling
such as anger, happiness and others.
4. Technique. The mastery of the dancers in performing the movement. Mastery includes
the keeping of the grace in doing the actions, which is always governed by the theme
of the dance.
5. Music. Ordinarily this serves as the background of the dancers to add beauty to the
presentation. But music also serves as guide or motivation of the dancers.
6. Costume and Properties. The visual effects usually for cultural dancing. Costume
helps the audience interpret the message of the dance. This includes weapons such
as spear and shield, which signify periods and regions.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
7. Choreography. This is the organization of movements to maintain harmony. A
successful dance presentation depends on how rigid it choreographs which means
that it undergoes strict practice and rehearsals.
Activity
1. Demonstrate/Show some dance step that you learned P.E. Class before and then
show to your class some dance steps. (Individual Recitation)
Assignment
1. Read some materials on architecture.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 17: Appreciating the Art of Architecture
Specific Objectives
1. Discuss why architectural design is important
2. Appreciate the architectural designs by famous Architects (Example: San Sebastian
Church by Genaro Palacios)
Discussion on Architecture
This is a combination of the architect's art and engineer's skill. It needs engineering
skills in translating the creative thought of the designer or architect. It is an art though the basic
justification for its conception is not solely to express creative thinking. A building is
constructed to answer some purpose.
People in different ages and cultures have distinct needs. These needs have resulted
to various architectural designs. The Greeks for instance are familiar with their three kinds of
columns namely: Ionic, Doric and Corinthians, while the Romans are familiar with their arch
and building covered by a dome. Filipinos are identified by their Nipa Hut and Bahay Na Bato.
There are different concepts of designing. Frank Lloyd Wright is known with his Site
and Structure. For Frank Lloyd Wright the place where a structure is to be put up should be
considered first. He does not like too much paint. For him a structure must appear to be a part
of the Earth that it seems to be a portion of the land that simply springs up. Another is the
concept of Mr. Sullivan which turned into a dictum, the known Form follows Function.
Speaking of creativity, our task as audience of art is to find out the aesthetic side of
architecture and not its practical utilities. Appreciation is more meaningful if one who
appreciates puts his hands into what the artists are handling. We will not only see the Idea of
the artist. We will try to create a similar idea. Once an idea is created, we will translate it into
something visual. This was how designers began their career. They sat and looked around.
Then a holistic understanding of the space was developed.
Before going to this task of appreciating the art of Architecture, let us first review some
technicalities and illustrations of this certain form of art. Following are illustrations of the three
Greek columns and some pictures of finished Architectural works.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Corinthian Column
Ionic Column
Doric Column
The Roman Pantheon
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Observe the dome that is the most distinct characteristic of the Roman Architecture,
while the Greeks are known for their columns.
1.
Corinthian Columns, National Museum,
Intramuros
Ionic Columns, Manila Central Post Office,
Intramuros
Activity
1. With Toy Clay at home, prepare a sculpture of a simple building or nipa hut. Then
discuss the architectural design. (Individual Discussion)
Assignment
1. Read materials about Sculpture.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 18: Appreciating the Art of Sculpture
Specific Objectives
1. Discuss the value of sculpture
2. Appreciate the beauty of sculpture based on the structured design
Discussion on Sculpture
To think of transforming a hard stone into a fine face of a girl seems so difficult to do.
But there is nothing impossible in the hands of the artists.
Sculpture is another area of art, which is three-dimensional. Audience can appreciate
sculpture from all sides. Its usual subjects are the natural form, especially human and animal.
Like all fields of humanities, sculpture has also a meaning which audience should decipher.
But to understand fully and to appreciate well the beauty of sculpture, it is best to examine first
the rudiments that comprise its being.
Kinds of Sculpture
Sculpture is classified into two. It is classified as freestanding or round
if it has no background support. It can be viewed from all sides, or one can
go around it. Example is the figure below.
Free Standing Lorenzo Ruiz
Relief
A sculpture is classified as relief if it has a background
support. This means that the image is being held or projected
from its background.
Andres Bonifacio Shrine
Activity
1. Prepare a sculpture/lilok using Toy Clay on any of the ff:
a. Dog
b. Cat
c. Human Figure
Present this to your classmates and then tell something about the figure.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Assignment
1. Read some materials about movies or filmmaking.
2. Discuss the art involved in movie-making.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 19: Appreciating the Art of Movies
Specific Objectives
1. Visualize a particular film and then do some evaluation based on some elements of art
2. Appreciate the value of this form of art through the combination of light and shadow
and other technical aspects of filmmaking
Discussion on Art of Movie-making
Movie could be described as a form of art with the intention of presenting a story
through the recorded scenes. Movie records scenes; unfortunately, with such a definition
alone it is very hard for us to see and verify art in it. Mere recording of scenes cannot produce
art. There may be business in it, but there is no art. People in the industry insist the artistic
side of a movie. They even come to the point of producing "bold" movies in the name of lift If
its end is met by a mere recording of scenes, then perhaps the scene of a man and a woman
at the height of sexual act could be classified as art. The artistic side of a movie relies on the
intention of the movie makers and on how this intention is presented in the recorded scenes.
The difference between art and pornography is this; art intends to inspire for perfection while
pornography intends to excite sexual desires.
Gerald Mast (1986) argues that "the finished movie is not just a story, but a story told
in a certain way, and it is impossible to separate what is told from how it is told." The art of
movie comes in depending on how the camera shapes the scenes so as to produce beauty in
the telling of the story it wants to tell. A good movie is best described as it says something and
it says well. There Is a message and the message is presented in a very interesting way.
At any rate we have accepted movie as an art, and since it is girt, it cannot go away
from the universal determinant of time. Time Is needed to perfect a work before it is considered
art. There is no classic in a hurry; time dictates beauty. You can make the thing but (H the
passage of time can call it art.
Film making we are told is very complex. The fifteen minutes show you watch on the
screen is produced in a number of hours and even days. Actors are artists, and to perfect their
art they need to practice to understand their role in the story. They need to rehearse their parts
in the next shots. It needs time to set up things. If the movie being filmed for example is about
war, things should be put in order. There must be damaged objects, buildings, trucks or burned
planes. There must be a bellowing black smoke, sprawling dead soldiers and more. To fix
such needs, a number of days are required before the actual filming.
We are also told that film making is not only complex; it is very expensive so that its
artistic side is forgotten. The people who invest millions for a single production are business
men, and business men could not wait. A single minute delay means a loss to their expected
return.
These considerations should be put in balance if movie meant to be taken as art.
Business men must learn to wait. But there are other considerations. These are culture and
psychology.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Culture
When communism was at the height and America was trying its best to combat it, a
movie Killing Fields came out. What was it the movie producers tried to tell the world? Was it
about the evil of communism? They say that movie on espionage like James Bond is not as
attractive as it was to the audience in the past. They further say, James Bond ends with end
of the cold war.
These movies injected an idea into the audience that Africa is a place to be feared of.
It is a place of immeasurable mountains, man-sized scorpions swallowing baboons, lynch
leopard, while men are uglier and more feared. A person ignorant about the realities of Africa
will accept these descriptions without a second thought, unaware that what are seen on screen
are all lies which the movie makers persisted because they found it a very lucrative form of
business. There is no art in it; business men could not produce art, and they are always
hungry. They only study their prospective patrons and feed them with what they long for.
Business men are not concerned on the artistic taste of the audience and besides, the
business men have no taste at all. They cover the truth about Africa. They do not want people
to accept the fact that Africans are people with their own culture and refinement. To recall, the
Blue Train the most modern form of land transportation is found in Africa. Dignitaries of the
world go there just to take a ride in it and try to experience riding a modern train. Vaugham
also named the movies used as instrument of imperialism of the west. Sanders of the River
starred by Paul Robeson, Men of Two Worlds, Where no Vultures Fly, Mau Mau and Safari.
Psychology
Feminist critics and psychologists discovered the place of women in the American
made movies. Women according to critics are treated as inferior kind. They belonged to the
kitchen, or they are meant to work the lesser tasks.
Women are not directly taken as sex symbol. But more than anything else theories on
Psychoanalysis forwarded by Jacque Lacan found women in many American movies serving
as voyeuristic item. Movie makers found women attractive to male audiences.
Activity
1. Watch a particular short movie, whether Filipino or foreign, and then analyze or criticize
some if its elements. (Individual Graded Recitation)
Assignment
1. Study on how to prepare Graphic Design and Visual Arts.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
Lesson 20: Appreciating Graphic Design
Specific Objectives
1. Evaluate graphic design and other forms of visual arts
2. Appreciate the value of tone, design, color, and harmony through these arts
Short on Discussion on Graphic Design and Visual Art
Graphic design is the process of visual communication and problem-solving through
the use of typography, photography, iconography and illustration. The field is considered a
subset of visual communication and communication design, but sometimes the term "graphic
design" is used synonymously. Graphic designers create and combine symbols, images and
text to form visual representations of ideas and messages.
They use typography, visual arts, and page layout techniques to create visual
compositions. Common applications of graphic design include corporate design (logos and
branding), editorial design (magazines, newspapers and books), wayfinding or environmental
design, advertising, web design, communication design, product packaging, and signage.
Short History of Graphic Design
The origins of graphic design can be traced from the origins of human existence, from
the caves of Lascaux, to Rome's Trajan's Column to the illuminated manuscripts of the Middle
Ages, to the neon lights of Ginza, Tokyo. In "Babylon, artisans pressed cuneiform inscriptions
into clay bricks or tablets which were used for construction. The bricks gave information such
as the name of the reigning monarch, the builder, or some other dignitary". This was the first
known road sign announcing the name of the governor of a state or mayor of the city.
Skills in Graphic Design
1. Typography. Typography includes type design, modifying type glyphs and arranging
type.
2. Page Layout. Page layout deals with the arrangement of elements (content) on a page,
such as image placement, text layout and style.
3. Printmaking. Printmaking is the process of making artworks by printing on paper and
other materials or surfaces.
4. Strategy. It is important for a graphic designer to understand their clients' needs, as
well as the needs of the people who will be interacting with the design.
Activity
1. Practice graphic design by making a sample Magazine Cover. Present your work to
the class. (Individual Presentation)
Assignment
1. Prepare for a long test in preparation for your final exam.
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books
Tabotabo, Claudio V., 2010, Art Appreciation: Introduction to the Humanities,
Mindshapers Co., Inc., Manila
Unknown Author, Art, American Book
Mariano, Laura L. et al, 2013, Literary Genres Within and Beyond the World, Purely
Books Store, Manila
Website
Graphic Design, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_design
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Art Appreciation (Humanities)
About the Author
The author completed her Masteral Degree in Educational
Management at Marikina Polytechnic College. Now she is
completing her dissertation and hopefully to finish this December
of 2020.
Prof. Laura Mariano
The author was able to teach at Lyceum of the Philippines University, then a part-timer
of Far Eastern University, University of the East, University of Ramon Magsaysay School,
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Technological University of the Philippines, Imus
Institute, University of Perpetual Help-System Dalta Molino Campus, University of Makati,
Quezon City Polytechnic University, Technological University of the Philippines and DCS
Manila.
She was able to publish two books, Literary Genres, and Writing in the Discipline, used
as textbooks in two universities. She also received an award for Outstanding Faculty, in DCS
Manila and Outstanding Faculty, in FEU Manila.
At present, she is teaching at Cavite State University, Bacoor Campus, teaching
General Education subjects.
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