ART APPRECIATION 111
Week 1
INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW OF ART
COURSE DESCRIPTION- Art Appreciation is a
three-unit course that develops students' ability to
appreciate, analyze, and critique works of art.
Through interdisciplinary and multimodal approaches
this course equips students with a broad knowledge of
the practical, historical, philosophical, and social
relevance of the arts in order to hone students' ability
to articulate their understanding of the arts
- The course also develops students' competency in
researching and curating (selecting, organizing, and
looking after the items in (a collection or exhibition)
art as well as conceptualizing, mounting, and
evaluating art productions. The course aims to
develop students' genuine appreciation for Philippine
arts by providing them opportunities to explore the
diversity and richness and their rootedness in Filipino
culture.
COURSE OUTCOMES (CO)- At the end of the
course, the students are expected to be able to:
-Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of
arts in general, including their function, value, and
historical significance.
-Define and demonstrate the elements and principles
of design;
-Explain and evaluate different theories of art;
-Situate Philippine arts in a global context.
-Analyze and appraise works of art based on aesthetic
value, historical context, tradition, and social
relevance.
-Mount an art exhibit (concept development
production
and
postproduction,
marketing,
documentation, critiquing).
-Create their own works of art and curate their own
production or exhibit.
-Utilize art for self-expression and for promoting
advocacies.
-Deepen their sensitivity to self, community, and
society.
-Discover and deepen their identity through art with
respect to their nationality, culture, and religion.
-Develop an appreciation of the local arts.
-Latin word ARSwhich means skills/ability
-cover those areas of artistic creativity -embraces the
visual arts, literature, music and dance
-expresses aesthetic ideas by use of skill &
imagination
HUMANITIES
2.
3.
Humanities-came
from
the
Latin
word
humanusmeaning refined, cultured and human. -study
of the different cultural aspect of man, his frailties in
life and how it can be improved --records man’s quest
for answers to the fundamental questions he asks
about himself and about life
Humanities-are expressions of man’s feelings and
thoughts
-emphasizes dignity and worthiness of man and
recognizes creative expressions
-aimed to shape students subjective energies (feelings,
attitudes and aspirations)
DIVISION OF THE ARTS
1.
Visual- arts that are primarily seen, occupies
space
Auditory- heard, timed arts; exist in time
Combined/performing arts- combines visual &
auditory elements
EXAMPLES:
Visual arts: paintings, sculptures and architectures
Auditory arts: music and poetry
Combined: drama & theatre, dancing, cinema & TV,
opera
PURPOSES OF THE ARTS
IMPORTANCE HUMANITIES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
1.
2.
3.
Week 2
4.
5.
MAN NEEDS AN IMAGE OF HIMSELF
UNDERSTANDING OF HIS NATURES
NECESSARY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
A COMPLETE, SOCIAL MAN
PROVIDES MAN WITH A MEASURE OF HIS
OWN PASSION & DESIRE
REGULATE MAN’S BEHAVIOUR
ETYMOLOGY OF ART
ART comes from the Aryan root word AR which
means to put together
Create beauty
Provide decoration
Reveal truth
Immortalize
Express religious values
Record and commemorate experience
Create order & harmony
INPUT
What is Art: Introduction and Assumptions
-In order to function in the complex human
relationships in which we find ourselves, and to
understand human existence, we use variety of
vantage points. When, for example, we meet people,
we usually choose several vantage points from which
to perceive and relate to them: we can see them as
organized systems of chemical components; as
bundles of interacting psychological and social
experiences; as spiritual entities; a combination of
these, or something else altogether. How well we
perceive and respond requires the development of
certain skills. In a sense, these vantage points and
skills are ways of “knowing” human reality or the
“human condition.” Humans have organized these
ways of knowing into categories generally called
science, technology, social sciences, philosophy,
humanities, and fine arts.
-We may say that science seeks to examine reality;
technology uses the discoveries of science to create
tools for making life better; social science studies
people behave; philosophy helps to understand the
meaning of life; and humanities and fine arts try to
describe what kind of creature we are, and how we got
to be this way. Specifically, the arts try to understand
the human condition by drawing upon “creative
impulses” that sometimes communicate through
mysterious channels. Very often the boundaries
between science, technology, social science,
philosophy, and the humanities and fine arts are
blurred. The scientist often defends as much as the
artist on intuition to sense or imagine that there is
something to be discovered.
-Art is something that is perennially around us. Some
people may deny having to do with arts but it is
indisputable that life presents us with many forms of
and opportunities for communion with the arts. A
bank manager choosing what to wear together with
his shirt and shoes, a politician shuffling her music
track while comfortably seated on her car looking for
her favorite song, a student marveling at the intricate
designs of a medieval cathedral during his field trip,
and a market vendor cheering for her bet in dance
competition on a noontime TV program all manifest
concern for values that are undeniably, despite
tangentially, artistic.
-Despite the seemingly overflowing instances of arts
around people, one still finds the need to see more and
experience
more,
whether consciously or
unconsciously. One whose exposure to music is only
limited to one genre finds it lacking not to have been
exposed to more. One whose idea of cathedral is
limited to the locally available ones, finds enormous
joy in seeing other prototypes in Europe. Plato had the
sharpest foresight when he discussed in
the Symposium that beauty, the object of any love,
truly progresses. As one moves through life, one
locates better, more beautiful objects of desire. One
can never be totally content with what is just before
him. Human beings are drawn toward what is good
and ultimately beautiful. This lesson is about this
yearning for the beautiful, the appreciation of the allconsuming beauty around us, and some preliminary
clarifications on assumptions that people normally
hold about art.
Why Study the Humanities?
-For as long as man existed in this planet, he has
cultivated the land, altered the conditions of the fauna
and the flora, in order to survive. Alongside these
necessities, man also marked his place in the world
through his works. Through his bare hands, man
constructed infrastructures that tended to his needs,
like his house. He sharpened swords and spears. He
employed fire in order to melt gold.
-The initial meaning of the word “art” has something
to do with all these craft. The word “art” comes from
the ancient Latin, ars which means a “craft or
specialized form of skill, like carpentry or
blacksmithing or surgery “. Art then suggested the
capacity to produce an intended result from carefully
planned steps or method. When a man wants to build
a house, he plans meticulously to get to what the
prototype promises and he executes the steps to
produce the said structure, then he engaged in art. The
Ancient World did not have any conceived notion of
art in the same way that we do now. To them, art only
meant using the bare hands to produce something that
will be useful to one’s day-to-day life.
-Ars in Medieval Latin came to mean something
different. It meant “any special form of book-learning,
such as grammar or logic, magic, or astrology”. It was
only during the Renaissance Period that the word
reacquired a meaning that was inherent in its ancient
form of craft. Early Renaissance artist saw their
activities merely as craftsmanship, devoid of a whole
lot of intonations that are attached to the word now. It
was during the seventeenth century when the problem
and idea of aesthetics, the study of beauty, began to
unfold distinctly from the notion of technical
workmanship, which was the original conception of
the word “art”. It was finally in the eighteenth century
when the word has evolved to distinguish between the
fine arts and the useful arts. The fine arts would come
to mean “not delicate or highly skilled in arts, but
“beautiful arts”. This is something more akin to what
is now considered art.
-“The humanities constitute on-e of the oldest and
most important means of expression developed by
man”. Human history has witnessed how man evolved
not just physically but also culturally, from cave
painters to men of exquisite paintbrush users of the
present. Even if one goes back to the time before
written records of man’s civilization has appeared, he
can find cases of man’s attempts of not just crafting
tools to live and survive but also expressing his
feelings and thoughts. The Galloping Wild Boar
found in the cave of Altamira, Spain is one such
example. In 1879, a Spaniard and his daughter were
exploring a cave when they saw pictures of a wild
boar, hind, and bison. According to experts, these
paintings were purported to belong to Upper
Paleolithic Age, several thousands of years before the
current era. Pre-historic men, with their crude
instruments, already showcased and manifested
earliest attempts at recording man’s innermost
interests, preoccupations, and thoughts. The
humanities, then, ironically, have started even before
the term has been coined. Human persons have long
been exercising what it means to be a human long
before he was even aware of his being one. The
humanities stand tall in bearing witness to this
magnificent phenomenon. Any human person, then, is
tasked to participate, if not, totally partake in this long
tradition of humanizing himself.
masterpiece, has always captured the imagination of
the young with its timeless lessons. When we recite
the Psalms, we feel in communion with King David
as we feel one with him in his conversation with God.
When we listen to a kundiman or perform folk dances,
we still enjoy the way our Filipino ancestors whiled
away their time in the past. We do not necessarily like
a kundiman for its original meaning. We just like it.
We enjoy it. Or just as one of the characters in the
movie Bar Boys thought, kundiman makes one
concentrate better
Assumptions of Art
1. Art is universal
-Literature has provided key works of art. Among the
most popular ones being taught in school are the two
Greek epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey. The Sanskrit
pieces Mahabharata and Ramayana are also staples in
this field. These works, purportedly written before the
beginning of recorded history, are believed to be
man’s attempt at recording stories and tales that have
been passed on, known, and sung throughout the
years. Art has always been timeless and universal,
spanning generations and continents through and
through.
-In every country and in every generation, there is
always art. Oftentimes, people feel that what is
considered artistic are only those which have been
made long time ago. This is a misconception. Age is
not a factor in determining art. An “art is not good
because it is old, but old because it is good”. In the
Philippines, the works of Jose Rizal and Francisco
Balagtas are not being read because they are old.
Otherwise, works of other Filipinos who have long
died would have been required in junior high school
too. The pieces mentioned are read in school and have
remained to be with us because they are good. They
are liked and adored because they meet our needs and
desires. Florante at Laura never fails to teach high
school students the beauty of love , one that is
universal and pure. Ibong Adarna, another Filipino
-The first assumption then about the humanities is that
art has been crafted by all people regardless of origin,
time place, and that it stayed on because it is liked and
enjoyed by people continuously. A great piece of
work will never be obsolete. Some people say that art
is art for intrinsic worth. In John Stuart
Mill’s Utilitarianism (1879), enjoyment in the arts
belongs to a higher good, one that lies at the opposite
end of base pleasures. Art will always be present
because human beings will always express
themselves and delight in these expressions. Men will
continue to use art while art persists and never gets
depleted.
2. Art is not nature.
-In the Philippines, it is not entirely novel to hear
some consumers of local movies remark that these
movies produced locally are unrealistic. They contend
that local movies work around certain formula to the
detriment of substance and faithfulness to reality of
the movies. These critical minds argue that a good
movie must reflect reality as closely as possible. Is
that so?
-Paul Cezanne, a French painter, painted a scene from
reality entitled Well and Grinding Wheel in the Forest
of the Chateau Noir. The said scene is inspired by real
scene In a forest around the Chateau Noir area near
Aix in Cezanne’s native Provence. Comparing the
two, one can see that Cezanne has changed some
patterns and details from the way they were actually
in the photograph. What he did is not nature. It is art.
-One important characteristic of art is that it is not
nature. Art is man’s expression of his reception of
nature. Art is man’s way of interpreting nature. Art is
not nature. Art is made by man, whereas nature is a
given around us It is in this juncture that they can be
considered opposites. What we find in nature should
not be expected to be present in art too. Movies are
not meant to be direct representation of reality. They
may, according to the moviemaker’s perception of
reality, be a reinterpretation or even distortion of
nature.
-The distinction assumes that all of us see nature,
perceive its elements in myriad, different, yet
ultimately valid ways. One can only imagine that
story of the five blind men who one day argue against
each other on what an elephant looks like. Each of the
live blind men was holding a different part of the
elephant. The first was touching the body and thus,
thought the elephant was like a wall. Another was
touching the beast’s ear and was convinced that the
elephant was like a fan. The rest were touching other
different parts of the elephant and concluded
differently based on their perceptions. Art is like each
of these men’s view of the elephant. It is based on an
individual’s subjective experience of nature. It is not
meant, after all, to accurately define what the elephant
is really like in nature. Artists are not expected to
duplicate nature just as even scientists with their
elaborate laboratories cannot make nature.
-Once this point has been made, a student of
humanities can then ask further questions such as:
What reasons might the artist have in creating
something? Why did Andres Bonifacio write “Pagibig saTinubuang Lupa?”What motivation did Juan
Luna have in creating his masterpiece,
the Spoliarium? In whatever work of art, one should
always ask why the artist made it. What is it that he
wants to show?
one only learns about Picasso’s work by looking at it.
That is precisely what Miss Stein did.
3. Arts involve experience.
-In matters of art, the subject’s perception is of
primacy. One can read hundreds of reviews about a
particular movie, but at the end of the day, until he
sees the movie himself, he will be in no position to
actually talk about the movie. He does not know the
movie until he experiences it. An important aspect of
experiencing art is its being highly personal,
individual, and subjective. In philosophical terms,
perception of art is always a value judgment. It
depends on who the perceiver is, his tastes, his biases,
and what he has inside him. Degustisbus non
disputandumest (Matters of taste are not matters of
dispute). One cannot argue with another person’s
evaluation of art because one’s experience can never
be known by another.
-Getting this far without a satisfactory definition of art
can be quite weird for some. For most people, art does
not require a full definition. Art is just experience. By
experience, we mean the “actual doing of something”.
When one says that he has an experience of
something, he often means that he knows what that
something is about. When one claims that he has
experienced falling in love, getting hurt, and bouncing
back, he in effect claims that he know (sometimes)
endless cycle of loving. When one asserts having
experienced preparing a particular recipe, he in fact
asserts knowing how the recipe is made. Knowing a
thing is different from others what the said thing is. A
radio DJ dispensing advice on love when he himself
has not experienced it does not only really know what
he is talking about. A choreographer who cannot
execute a dance step himself is a bogus. Art is always
an experience. Unlike fields of knowledge that
involves data, art is known by experiencing. A painter
cannot produce a work of art if a chisel is foreign to
him. Dudley, et al, affirmed that “aII art depends on
experience, and if one is to know art, he must know it
not as fact or information but as experience.”
-A work of art then cannot be abstracted from actual
doing, In order to know what an artwork is, we have
to sense it, see it or hear it, and see AND hear it. To
fully appreciate our national hero’s monument, one
must go to Rizal Park and see the actual sculpture. In
order to know Beyonce’s music, one must listen to it
to actually experience them. A famous story about
someone who adores Picasso goes something like
this: “Years ago, Gertrude Stein was asked why she
bought the pictures of the then unknown artist
Picasso. ‘I like to look at them’ said Miss Stein”. At
the end of the day, one fully gets acquainted with art
if one immerses himself into it. In the case of Picasso,
-Finally, one should also underscore that every
experience with art is accompanied by some emotion.
One either likes or dislikes, agrees or disagrees that a
work of art is beautiful. A stage play or motion picture
is particularly one of those art forms that evoke strong
emotions from its audience. With experience comes
emotions and feelings, after all. Feelings and
emotions are concrete proofs that the artwork has
been experiences.
Art Appreciation: Creativity, Imagination, and
Expression
-It takes an artist make art. One may perceive beauty
on a daily basis. However not every beautiful thing
that can be seen or experienced may truly be called a
work of art. Art is a product of man’s creativity,
imagination and expression. No matter how perfectly
blended the colors of a sunset are and now matter how
extraordinarily formed mountains are, nature is not
considered art simply because it is not made by man.
Not even photographs or sketches of nature, though
captured or drawn by man, are works of art, but mere
recordings of the beauty in nature. An artwork may be
inspired by nature or other works of art, but an artist
invents his own forms and patterns due to what he
perceives as beautiful and incorporates them in
creating his masterpiece.
-Perhaps not everyone can be considered an artist, but
surely, all are spectators of art. In deciding what pair
of shoes to buy, we carefully examine all possible
choices within our budget and purchase the one that
satisfies out beauty and practical standards. We are
able to distinguish what is fine and beautiful from
what id not and what id good quality from poor. This
gives us role in the field of art appreciation.
Art Appreciation as a Way of Life
Jean-Paul Sartre a famous French philosopher of the
twentieth century, described the role of art as a
creative work that depicts the world on a completely
different light and perspective, and the source in due
to human freedom. Each artwork beholds beauty of its
own kind that the artist sees and want the viewers to
perceive. More often than not, people are blind to this
beauty and only those who have developed a fine
sense of appreciation can experience and see the art
the same way artist did. Because of this, numerous
artwork go unnoticed, artist are not given enough
credit, and they miss opportunities. It sometimes takes
a lifetime before their contribution to the development
of art is recognized. Hence, refining one’s ability to
appreciate art allows him to deeply understand the
purpose of an artwork and recognize the beauty it
possesses.
-In cultivating an appreciation of art, one should also
exercise and development his taste for things that are
fine and beautiful. This allow individuals to make
intelligent choices and decision in acquitting
necessities and luxuries, knowing what gives better
value for time or money while taking into
consideration the aesthetic and practical value.This
continuous demand for aesthetically valuable things
influences the development and evolution of art and
its forms.
Art as a Product of Imagination, Imagination as a
Product of Art
-Frequenting museums, art galleries, performing art
theaters, concert halls, or even mall that display art
exhibition that are free in admission during leisure
time will not only develop an understanding of art, but
will also serve as a rewarding experience. Learning to
appreciate art, no matter what vocation or profession
you have, will lead to a further and more meaningful
life.
-Where do you think famous writers, painters, and
musicians get their ideas? Where do ideas in making
creative solution begin? It all starts in the human
mind. It all begins with mind imagination.
Role of Creativity in Art Making
-Creativity requires thinking outside the box. It is
often used to solve problems that have never occurred
before, conflate function and style , and simply make
life more unique and enjoyable experience . In art,
creatively is what sets apart one artwork from another.
We say something is done creatively when we have
not simply copy imitate another artist work. He does
not imitate the lines, flaws, colors, and patterns, in
recreating nature. He embraces originality, puts his
own flavor into work , and calls it his own creative
piece.
-Yet, being creative nowadays can be quite
challenging. What you thought was your own unique
and creative idea may not what it seems to be after
extensive research and someone else has
coincidentally devised before the idea in another part
of the world. For instance, the campaign ad “it’s”
More fun in the Philippines” used by the Department
of Tourism ( DOT) boomed popularity in 2011, but
later on it was found out that it was allegedly
plagiarized form Switzerland’s tourism slogan “its
More Fun in Switzerland,” back in 1951. In Dot’s
defense former Dot Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr.
claimed that it was “purely coincidental.” Thus,
creativity should be backed with careful research on
related art to avoid such conflicts.
-German physicist Albert Einstein who had made
significant and major contributions in science and
humanity demonstrated that knowledge is actually
derived from imagination. He emphasized this idea
through his words;
-Imagination is more important than knowledge. For
knowledge is limited to all we know and understand.
While imagination embraces the entire world, and all
there ever will be know and understand”.
-Imagination is not constrained by the walls of the
norm, but goes beyond that. That is why people rely
on curiosity and imagination for advancement.
Through imagination, one is able to craft something
bold, something new, and something better in the
hopes of creating something that will stimulate
change. Imagination allows endless possibilities.
-In artist mind sits a vast gallery of artwork. An
artwork does not need to be a real thing, but can be
something that is imaginary. Take for example a
musician who thinks of a tune in his head. The making
of this tune in his head makes it an imaginary tune, an
imaginative creation, an imaginary art. It remains
imaginary until he hums, sings, or writes down the
notes if the tune on the paper, However, something
imaginary does not necessarily mean it cannot be
called art. Artist use their imagination that gives birth
to reality through creation.
-In the same way that imagination produces art, art is
also inspires imagination imagine being in an empty
room surrounded by blank, white walls, and floor.
Would you inspired to work in such a place? Often ,
you will find coffee shops , restaurants, and libraries
with paintings hung or sculptures and other pieces of
art around the room to add beauty to the surroundings.
This craving and desire to be surrounded by beautiful
things dates back our early ancestors. Cave walls are
surrounded by drawings and paintings of animals they
hunted; wilds boars, reindeers, and bison. Clays were
molded and stones were carved into forms that
resemble men and women; burial jars were created
with intricate design on them. These creative piece
were made not only because they were functional to
men, but also because beauty gave them joy.
Art as Expression
-There may have been times when you felt something
is going on within you, you try to explain it but you
do not know how. You may only be conscious about
feeling this sort of excitement, fear, or agitation, but
you know that just one word is not enough to describe
the nature of what you truly feel. Finally, you try to
release yourself from this tormenting and disabling
state by doing something, which is called expressing
oneself. Suppose this feeling is excitement. It is
frustrating to contain such feeling, so you relieve it by
expressing through shouting or leaping in excitement.
An emotion will remain unknown to a man until he
expresses it.
-Robin George Collingwood, an English philosopher
who is best known for his work in aesthetic,
explicated in his publication The Principles of
art (1938) that what an artist does to an emotion is not
to induce it, but express it. Through expression, he is
able to explore his own emotions and at the same time,
create something beautiful out of them. Collingwood
further illustrated that expressing emotions is
something different form describing emotions. In his
example, explicitly saying “I am angry” is not an
expression of an emotion, but a mere description.
There is no need in relating or referring to a specific
emotion, such as anger, in expressing one’ emotion.
Description actually destroy the idea of expression, as
it classifies the emotion, making it ordinary freedom
to express himself the way he wants to Hence, there is
no specific technique in expression. This makes
people’s art not a reflection of what outside or
external to them, but a reflection of their inner salves.
-There are countless ways of expressing oneself
through art. The following list includes, but is not
limited to, popular art expressions.
Visual Arts
-Creations that fall under this category are those that
appeal to the sense of sight and are mainly visual in
nature. Artists produce visual arts driven by their
desire to reproduce things that they have seen in the
way that they perceived them. We will not be too strict
on the definition since there are other artistic
disciplines that also involve a visual aspect, such as
performance arts, theater, and applied arts, that will be
discussed in detail later on. Visual arts is the kind of
art form that the population is most likely more
exposed to, but its variations are so diverse they range
from sculptures that you see in art galleries to the last
movie you saw. Some mediums of visual arts include
paintings, drawings, lettering, printing, sculptures,
digital imaging, and more.
Film
-Film refers to the art of putting together successions
of still images in order to create an illusion of
movement, Filmmaking focuses on its aesthetic,
cultural, and social value and is considered as both an
art and an industry. Films can be created by using one
or a combination of some or all of these techniques:
motion-picture camera (also known as movie
camera), animation techniques, Computer-Generated
imagery (CGI), and more. Filmmaking simulates
experiences or cerates one that is beyond the scope of
our imagination as it aims to deliver ideas, feeling, or
beauty to its viewers. The art of filmmaking is so
complex it has to take into account many important
elements such as lighting, musical scores, visual
effects, direction, and more. That is why in famous
film festivals and awards such as the Metro Manila
Film Festival and Oscars, a long list of categories is
considered to recognize excellence in the art of
filmmaking.
Performance Art
-Performance art is a live art and the artist’s medium
is mainly the human body which he or she uses to
perform, but also employs other kind of art such as
visual art, props, or sound. It usually consists of four
important elements: time, where the performance took
place, the performer’s or performer’sbody, and a
relationship between the audience and the
performer(s). The fact that performance art is live
makes it intangible, which means it cannot be bought
or traded as a commodity, unlike the previously
discussed art expressions.
Poetry Performance
-Poetry is an art form where the artist expresses his
emotions not by using paint, charcoal, or camera, but
expresses them through words. These words are
carefully selected to exhibit clarity and beauty and to
stimulate strong emotions of you, anger, love, sorrow,
and the list goes on. It uses a word’s emotional,
musical, and spatial values that go beyond its literal
meaning to narrate, emphasize, argue, or convince.
These words, combined with movements, tone,
volume, and intensity of the delivery, add to the
artistic value of the poem. Some poets even make
poems out of their emotions picked up from other
works of art, which in turn produce another work of
art through poetry.
Architecture
-As discussed, art is the pursuit and creation of
beautiful things while architecture is the making of
beautiful buildings. However, not all buildings are
beautiful. Some buildings only embody the
functionality the need, but the structure, lines, forms,
and colors are not beautifully expressed. Thus, not all
buildings can be considered architecture. Take, for
example, the Grand Theatre de Bordeaux where the
functionality of the heatre remains, but the striking
balance of the lines, colors, and shapes completes the
masterpiece. Buildings should embody these three
important elements plan, construction, and design, if
they wish to merit the title architecture.
Dance
-Dance is series of movements that follows the
rhythm of the music accompaniment. It was been an
age-old debate whether dance can really be
considered an art form, here we primarily describe
dance as a form of expression. Dancing is a creative
form that allows people to freely express themselves.
It has no rules, You may say that choreography does
not allow this, but in art expression, dancers are not
confined to set steps and rules but are free to create
and invent their own movements as long as they deem
them graceful and beautiful.
Literary Art
-Artist who practice literary arts use words-not paint,
musical instruments, or chisels-to express themselves
and communicate emotion to the readers. However,
simply becoming a writer does not make one a literary
artist. Simply constructing a succession of sentence in
a meaningful manner is not literary art. Literary art
goes beyond the usual professional, academic,
journalistic, and other technical form of writing. It
focuses on writing using a unique style, not following
a specific form or norm. It may include both fiction
and non-fiction such as novels, biographies and
poems. Examples of famous literary artist and their
work include The Little Prince by Antoine de SaintExupery and Romeo and Juliet by William
Shakespeare.
Theater
-Theater uses live performers to present accounts or
imaginary events before a live audience. Theater art
performance usually follows a script, though they
should not be confused with literary arts. Much like in
filmmaking, heatre also considers several elements
such as acting, gesture, lighting, sound effects musical
score, scenery, and props. The combination of these
elements is what gives the strongest impression on the
audience and the script thus becomes a minor element.
Similar to performance art, since heatre is also a live
performance, the participation of the viewers is an
important element in heatre arts. Some genres of
heatre include drama, musical, tragedy, comedy and
improvisation.
Applied Arts
-Applied arts incorporate elements of style and design
to everyday items with the aim of increasing their
aesthetical value. Artists in this field bring beauty,
charm, and comfort into many things that are useful
in everyday life. Industrial design, interior design,
fashion design, and graphic design are considered
applied arts. Applied is often compared to fine arts,
where the latter is chiefly concerned on aesthetic
value. Through exploration and expression of ideas,
consideration of the needs, and careful choice of
materials and techniques, artists are able to combine
functionality and style.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
artists do use nature as a medium, but art
itself not nature.
Art is made by human beings, and no matter
how close it is to nature, it always shows
that it was made by human beings.
The function of the artists is to understand
the nature of things, to realize the
possibilities in the world, to develop
insights or enlarge imagination by creating
or revealing new subjects.
Art is made by man; Art is everywhere.
Art is man’s oldest means of expression;
Art as a means of expression &
communication.
Week 3
LESSON INPUT
Functions and Philosophical Perspective on Art
-The humanities constitute one of the oldest and most
important means of expression developed by man”.
Human history has witnessed how man evolved not
just physically but also culturally, from cave painters
to men of exquisite paintbrush users of the present.
Even if one goes back to the time before written
records of man’s civilization has appeared, he can find
cases of man’s attempts of not just crafting tools to
live and survive but also expressing his feelings and
thoughts. The Galloping Wild Boar found in the cave
of Altamira, Spain is one such example. In 1879, a
Spaniard and his daughter were exploring a cave
when they saw pictures of a wild boar, hind, and
bison.
PREHISTORIC PAINTINGS
BASIC ASSUMPTIONS OF THE ART
1. Art has been created by all people at all
times, in all countries and it lives because
its well-liked and enjoyed
2. Art involves experience; there can never be
appreciation of art without experience.
3. Art is not nature; Nature is not art.
4. Art is not nature. Art is made by human
beings. Artists frequently find their
inspiration and subject matter in nature, and
-The humanities, then, ironically, have started even
before the term has been coined. Human persons have
long been exercising what it means to be a human long
before he was even aware of his being one. The
humanities stand tall in bearing witness to this
magnificent phenomenon. Any human person, then, is
tasked to participate, if not, totally partake in this long
tradition of humanizing himself.
-According to experts, these paintings were purported
to belong to Upper Paleolithic Age, several thousands
of years before the current era. Pre-historic men, with
their crude instruments, already showcased and
manifested earliest attempts at recording man’s
innermost interests, preoccupations, and thoughts.
-The Galloping Wild Boar found in the cave of
Altamira, Spain.
THE FUNCTIONS OF ART
-Art can function in many ways: As entertainment,
political and social weapons, therapy, and artifact.
One functions is no more important that the others.
Nor are they mutually exclusive: a single artwork can
pursue any or all of them. Nor are these the only
functions of art. Rather, they serve as indicators of
how art has functioned in the past, and can function in
the present. Like the types and styles of art we will
examine later in the book, these four functions are
options for the artist and depend on what the artist
wishes to do with an artwork.
-Greek philosophers Aristotle claimed that every
particular substance in the world has an end,
or telos in Greek, which translates into “purpose”.
Every substance, defined as formed matter, moves
according to a fixed path toward its aim. A seed is
bound to become a full-grown plant. A cocoon can
look forward to flying high when it morphs into a
butterfly. A baby will eventually turn into a grown
man or woman.
-This telos, according to Aristotle, is intricately linked
with function. For a thing to reach its purpose, it also
has to fulfill its function. Man, in Aristotle’s view of
reality, is bound to achieve a life of fulfillment and
happiness, or in Greek, eudaimonia. All men move
toward this final end. However, happiness, the
supposed end of man, is linked with his function,
which is being rational. One can only be happy when
he is rational. This means that to Aristotle, plants can
never be happy because they are not rational as well
as tables and chairs. Man’s natural end, telos, is
connected with his function, which is his rationality.
Moreover, the telos and function of a thing are both
related to a thing’s identity. What makes a table a
table is the fact that it does perform its function and
thereby, reaching its telos. If a table does not have a
surface on which we can put on our books or our
plates and glasses, then it ceases to be a table. The
same goes for the human.
AS A THERAPY
-In its therapeutic function, art can be and is used as
therapy for individuals with a variety of illnesses, both
physical and mental. Role-playing, for example, is
used frequently as counseling tool in treating
dysfunctional family situations. In this context, often
called psychodrama, mentally ill patients act out their
personal circumstances in order to find and cure the
cause of their illness. The focus of this use of art as
therapy is the individual. However, art in a much
broader context acts as a healing agent for society’s
general illnesses as well. Artworks can illustrate the
failings and excesses of society in hopes of saving us
from disaster. The laughter caused by the comedy
releases endorphins, chemicals produced by the brain,
which strengthen the immune system.
ART AS ARTIFACT
-Art also functions as an artifact: A product of a
particular time and place, an artwork represents the
ideas and technology of that specific time and place.
As we look back over history, we find in art striking,
and in some cases, the only, tangible records of some
peoples. The insights we gain into cultures, including
our own are enhanced tremendously by such artifacts
as paintings, sculptures, poems, plays, and buildings.
Artifacts connects us to our past, and o human
relations sometimes as old as humanity itself. In this
text, the function of art as artifact- as an example of a
particular culture- takes on a central role. In part Two
we will examine how artists reflect reality in their
artworks. That reflection has much to do with the
cultural perspective in which artists find themselves:
we will go around the world to see and hear how
reality in a variety of cultures found its way into works
of art. A common wisdom asserts that we cannot
comprehensively understand or experience works of
art from other cultures- we cannot grasp the nuances
and subtleties of another culture’s artistic expressions
unless we have been nurtured in that culture. That
wisdom is fundamentally true, but it does not and
should not discourage us from attempting to develop
as sensitive and sophisticated an awareness as our
own cultural perspectives allow. Often art has a
different function in some cultures. For example,
African and Native American art has more to do with
living in harmony with our controlling (super) natural
forces than aesthetic appreciation.
Part of
understanding the art of various cultures is striving to
understand other cultures’ own view of art. This book
seeks to develop a positive response to this concern:
there are thing that we can do to come as close to these
works as possible, with a resulting satisfying and
culturally enriching experience. Sensitive and
sophisticated awareness is the desired result.
Although those who have not grown up in Western,
Asian, African, Islamic or Native American traditions
will not have to intuitive understanding of those who
have, studying art from various times and cultures acts
as an introduction to further study and enhanced
understanding. In turn this can lead to a richly
satisfying. Lifelong experience, in one sense, you can
say art is a complex
-When one speaks of function, one is practically
talking about the use of the object whose function is
in question. An inquiry on the function of art is an
inquiry on what art is for. Alternatively, the answer to
the question “what is it for” is the function of
whatever “it” in the question refers to. Suppose one
asks, what is the Rizal monument for? Why was it
erected in Rizal Park or what then was called Luneta
or Bagumbayan? Is it for pure sentimental value? Is it
for its aesthetic value? Or does it senf a message to
those who witness it? In this string of questions, the
inquirer is hoping to get the function of the piece of
art in Rizal Park.
-When it comes to function. different art forms come
with distinctive function, There is no one-to-one
correspondence between an art and its function. Some
art forms are more functional than others.
Architecture, for example, as an art is highly
functional just like most applied arts. A building as a
work of art is obviously made for a specific purpose.
They Tai Mahal, a massive mausoleum of white
marbel built in Agra was constructed in a memory of
the favorite wife of the then emperor, Shah Jahan. On
the other hand, jewelry-making as an art is known by
its product. The name of the art in those applied artist
basically denoted by its specified function. In this and
other such functional arts, “function is so important
that it has usurped the name of the art on the
identification of individual works”. Other examples
are paintings, poems, statues. The name of the art
basically points toward the direction of the product or
its function.
-On the other end of the spectrum, one can only think
of painting and literature as forms of art that least do
with purely practical values. When one examines and
think of a painting or a work of literature such as a
poem or novel, one looks at the value of the art in
itself and not because of what it can do and benefit us.
Unlike practical art (in pottery, jewelry-making,
architecture, among others) In question lies in the
practical benefits one grains form it ( a pot, a jewelry,
or a house, or building). With painting and literature,
one can only look at the value of the product of art in
and for itself. A poem is beautiful regardless of its
possible
ramification
in
the
society.
JoyceKilmer’s“tree” has maintained its popularity
through the years regardless of its application or
practical benefit. This definitely is not to say that
paintings and literary works can never have any
function. The two masterpiece of our national hero,
Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the Noil MeTangere and El
Filibusterismo serve as a catechist for Filipino
revolutionaries to gather strength in rejecting the
oppressive force of the Spaniards in the Philippines in
the nineteenth century. The novel accrued value and
as a consequences, function. They are functional in so
far they are designed to accomplish some definite end.
In the case of Rizal’s novels, they spelled out a
country’s independence They continue to be treasures
even a hundred years after their supposes functions.
Roughly and broadly, the functions of art are
classified into three; personal9 public display or
expression), social (celebration or to affect collective
behavior), and physical (utilitarian).
PERSONAL FUNCTION OF ART
-The personal functions of art are varied and highly
subjective. This means that its function depend on the
person- the artist who created the art. An artist may
create an art out of the need for self-expression. This
is the case for an artist who needs to communicate an
idea to his audience. It can also be more entertainment
for his intended audience. Often, the artist may not
even intend to mean anything with his work.
-As art may also be therapeutic. In some orphanages
and home for abandoned elders, art is used to help
residents process their emotions or while away their
time. Recently, the use of adult coloring books to destress has been apparent too, now with a lot of designs
being sold in bookstores nationwide. These all fall
under personal functions of art.
SOCIAL FUNCTION OF ART
-Art is considered to have a social function if and
when it addresses a particular collective interest as
opposed to a personal interest. Political art is a very
common example of an art with a social function. Art
may convey message of protest, contestation, or
whatever message the artist intends his work to carry.
Often, art can also depict social conditions.
Photography, as an art form, delivers this kind of
function by taking photos of subjects in conditions
that people do not normally take a look at or give
attention to. Pictures of poverty may carry emotional
overtones that may solicit action or awareness from
their audience. Moreover, performance art like plays
or satires can also rouse emotions and rally people
toward a particular end. In these and more, the social
function of art is apparent.
PHYSICAL FUNCTION OF ART
-The physical functions of art are the easiest to spot
and understand. The physical functions of art can be
found in artworks that are crafted in order to serve
some physical purpose. A Japanese raku bowl that
serves a physical function in a tea ceremony is an
example. Architecture, jewelry-making, and even
interior design are all forms of arts that have physical
function.
Other Functions of Art
-Music as an art is also interesting to talk about in
relation to function. Music in its original form was
principally functional. Music was used for dance and
religion. Unlike today, when one can just listen to
music for the sake of music’s sake, the ancient world
saw music only as an instrument to facilities worship
and invocation to gods. Music also was essential to
dance because music assures synchronicity among
dancers. Moreover, music also guarantees that
marches, in the case of warriors, were simultaneous.
-Today, music has expanded its function and
coverage. Music is listened to and made by people for
reasons that were foreign to early civilizations. There
is now a lot of music that has no connection
whatsoever to dance or religion. Serenade is one
example. People compose hymns of love to express
feelings and emotions. Music is also used as a
wonderful accompaniment to stage plays and motion
pictures. Interestingly, a piece of music can mean a
multitude of meanings to different people, a proof that
as an art, music has gone a long way.
-Sculpture, on the other hand, is another functional art
form that has long existed for various purposes. Just
like music, from the early days of humanity,
sculptures have been made by man most particularly
for religion. People erect status for the divine. In the
Roman Catholic world, the employment of sculptures
for religious purposes has remained vital, relevant,
and symbolic. Sculptures were also made in order to
commemorate important figures in history.
Art as a Representation
-Aristotle, Plato’s most important student in
philosophy, agreed with his teacher that art is a form
of imitation. However, in contrast to the disgust that
his master holds for art, Aristotle considered art as an
aid to philosophy in revealing truth. The kind of
imitation that art does is nit antithetical to the reaching
of fundamental truths in the world. Talking about
tragedies, for example, Aristotle (1902|) in
the Poetics claimed that poetry, music, dance,
painting, and sculpture, do not aim to represent reality
as it is. What art endeavors to do is to provide a vision
of what might be or the myriad possibilities in reality.
Unlike Plato who thought that art is an imitation of
another imitation, Aristotle conceived of art as
representing possible versions of reality.
Art as a Disinterested Judgment
-In the third critique that Immanuel Kant wrote, the
“Critique of Judgment,” Kant considered the
judgment of beauty, the cornerstone of art, as
something that can be universal despite its
subjectivity. Kant mentioned that judgment of beauty,
and therefore, art is innately autonomous from
specific interests. It is the form of art that is adjudged
by one who perceives art to be beautiful or more so,
sublime. Therefore, even aesthetic judgment for Kant
is a cognitive activity.
Art as a Communication of Emotion
-The author of War and Peace and Anna Katerina, Leo
Tolstoy, provided another perspective on what art is.
In his book, What is Art. Tolstoy defended the
production of the sometimes truly extravagant art, like
operas, despite extreme poverty in the world. For him,
art plays a huge role in communication to its
audience’s emotions that the artist previously
experienced. Art them serves as a language, a
communication device that articulates feelings and
emotions that are otherwise unavailable to the
audience. In the same way that language
communicates information to other people, art
communicates emotions. In listening to music, in
watching an opera, and in reading poems. The
audience is at the receiving end of the artist
communicating his feelings and emotions.
THE ARTS AND LIFE
-Sometimes the arts are seen as being peripheral to
real life- they are just frills. In part, the difficulty many
people have in seeing the arts as important in life
results from a lack of familiarity. This has perhaps
been fostered by people both within the arts and the
without, who have tried to make the arts elitists, and
the art gallery, museum, concern hall, theatre, and
opera house privileged institutions open only to the
knowledgeable and sophisticated. Nothing could be
further from the truth. We live either the art-the
principles of artistic activity are everywhere in our
lives. The use of artistic principles and elements of
composition, whether visual or aural, govern the
products we buy, the advertising we see and hear, and
the attitudes we take or that others would have us take.
Use of line, form, color, and sound attracts us, calm
us manipulate us to do what others would have us do.
Equally important, the artistic experience is a way of
knowing and communicating. It forms a significant
part of being human.
-The arts and things related to them play an important
role in making the world around us a more interesting
and habitable place. When domestic objects are
developed, practical matters like purpose and
convention are taken into consideration. For example,
electrical plugs fit every wall socket in the United
States. The arts also have conventions: Western
musical scales consist of precisely measured pitches
that differ from each other by an established member
of vibrations per second.
- The design of the Volkswagen “Beetle” is also an
example of the artistic principles appearing in
everyday life. There, repetition of form the oval
reflects a concern for unity, a fundamental
characteristic of art. In the early VW, the front and
rear show a variation on this theme in the windows,
headlights, hood, and bumpers. Later models reflect
the intrusion of conventions that broke down the
strong unity of the original composition. As safety
standards called for the larger bumpers, the oval
design of the hood was flattened to accommodate a
larger bumper. The rear window was enlarged and
squared for increased rear vision.
SUBJECT AND CONTENT
-In the Philippines ‘which is predominantly a nonmuseum-going public, looking at art has always been
a tricky business. This is true not only for novices, but
also at times, confronts the long-time art aficionados.
One of the major hurdles that spoils an individual’s
engagement with an artwork is the notion that in order
to appreciate it, one must be able to extracts specific
image, isolate the artist or maker’s intention, and
unearth a particular meaning. Failure to do so
automatically implies a failure of comprehension and
therefore, failure of the experience. This, however,
relegates art engagement and therefore appreciation to
the very few who had training and instruction in
producing and in reading art. This should not be the
case.
-The primary stage of engaging with art is its
perception. Looking at art is much like any instance
of taking in information or stimulus that originates
from the world around us. For most art forms, the
beginning of engagement is through looking at the
artwork. The eyes play a big role in mechanically
making a vision possible. However, like any tool, it is
but one component. What makes the difference is the
awareness in the process of looking where
subjectively making a vision possible. However, like
any tool, it is but one component. What makes the
difference is the awareness in the process of looking
where subjectively is essential in navigating through
the artwork. Subjectively is illustrated in the way that
selective perception renders one or two details more
prominent than others, prompting the viewer to focus
on some details as essential or as standouts. Even the
disposition or mood of the viewer, his education, his
background, and his exposure to varying context
contribute to what information is taken in and how
they are interpreted. To herd all of these into
coherence and intelligibility, the relationships of
visual details presented, the ideas and feelings that
they cull, and other springs of information may be
consulted.
-In most cases, there are clues that mediate between the artwork and the viewer, allowing the viewer to
more easily comprehend what he is seeing. These
clues are the three basic components of a work of art:
subject, form, and content. These are largely
inseparable from each other and usually related to
each other.
-In this chapter, subject and content will be discussed,
while form will be better examined in Chapter 6. To
differentiate them briefly, subject refers to the visual
focus or the image that may be extracted from
examining the artwork, while content is the meaning
that is communicated by the artist or the artwork.
Finally, the development and configuration of the
artwork—how the elements and the medium or
material are put together ---is the form. In simpler
terms, the subject is seen as the “what”; the content is
the “why”; and the form is the “how”.
-In the field of the sciences, experimentation is the key
to proving a hypothesis or a larger theory. Often, an
experiment is done multiple times to further prove the
reliability of an outcome. Therein, empirical or
observable data in the form of visible or tactile
qualities, events or occurrence, yielding an output or
by product must follow after a step or a series of
processes. In the arts, there are also observable
qualities that the artwork holds that will point to its
subject, and sometimes even to its content. In order to
flesh out what the subject of the artwork is, it is
important to first look at the constituent figures that
are perceivable on the surface of the canvas or the
sculpture, and the manner in which the artist chose to
depict those figures. From these, the type of subject
can then be inferred.
Types of Subject
-One of the most iconic and recognizable paintings all
over the world is the “Mona Lisa” done by Leonardo
da Vinci. Some questions are often raised regarding
this artworks, like “Who is Mona Lisa?” “Why was
Leonardo da Vinci compelled to paint her?” but as
scholars attempt to solve the true identity of the sitter,
it is relevant to note that there is a consensus that the
Mona Lisa—whoever she is—is based on a real
person.
prevailing themes, norms, and practices of specific
historical moments.
-Portraits such as the “Mona Lisa” are good examples
pf what is called representational art. These types of
art have subjects that refer to object or events
occurring in the real world. Often, it is also termed
figurative art, because as the name suggest, the figures
depicted are easy to makes out and decipher. Despite
not knowing who Mona Lisa is, it is clear that the
painting is of a woman that is realisticallyproportioned; only the upper torso is shown; a
beguiling and mysterious smile is flashed; and that the
background is a landscape—probably a view from a
window. Pushing it even further, one can even
imagine a scene in which Leonardo da Vinci
alternates between applying dabs of paint on the
canvas and looking at the sitter in order to capture her
features for the portrait.
-One source of confusion is the notion that nonrepresentational art is the same as abstract art. This is
essential to discuss because it introduces the fact that
representational art and non-representational art is not
a clear-cut divide; rather, they exist is a spectrum. An
abstract work of Pablo Picasso is a great example to
illustrate this. Although he is more known for his
paintings, he also dabbled into other works including
sculptures. Cut metal that is hinged on a metal base,
there is a palpable distortion of the image—whatever
it is—seems to be melting. Even without reading the
title from the caption, mere seconds of looking at the
combination of lines, shapes, and colors of the
sculpture will point to a head of a woman. Even with
the abstraction of the image, this work is arguably
representational. As a guide, an artwork, depending
on the degree of distortion or abstraction , may be
judged as leaning more toward one over the other.
Abstract art is in itself a departure from reality, but the
extent of that departure determines whether it has
reached the end of the spectrum, which is nonrepresentationality —a complete severance from the
world.
-On the other hand, seeing a painting that has nothing
in it but continuous drips of paint or splotches of
colors either confounds the viewer or is readily
trivialized as something that anyone with access to
materials can easily make. This kind of the previously
discussed type of subject, non-representational art is
also often termed non-figurative art.
-Non-representational art does not make a reference
to the real world, whether it is a person, place, thing,
or even a particular event. It is stripped down to visual
elements such as shapes, lines, emotion, and even
concept.
-It is in this light that representational works are often
favored because they are easier to recognize. Viewers
find a greater degree of comfort when what they see
register as something familiar. They then continue to
process this understanding, sometimes even
becoming confident enough to share their insights to
others. It can be argued then that an artist is faced with
a strong persuasion of creating works that veers
toward representational art. However, it is not
-A proponent of non-representational art was Russian
artist Vasily Kandinsky. Although his chosen art form
was paintings, he likened non-representational art to
music, an art form that he was also very keen to. He
asserted that with sounds, musicians are able to evoke
imaginary in their listeners or audiences. Object-free,
he alludes to the sound and spiritual experiences that
music makes possible in his paintings. It is therefore
not surprising that a lot his paintings are inspired by
music and are titled as impression, improvisation, and
composition.
Sources and kinds of Subject
-When hit with a wall or a block, the writer is often
advised to look back and take from what he knows.
From there, a well and wealth of materials may be
drawn, but for artist, where do they source the subjects of their paintings? What do they paint?
-For non-representational art, a higher level of
perceptiveness and insight might be required to fully
grasp the feeling, emotion, or concept behind the
work. It is perhaps easier to infer where the subject
matter comes from if the artwork is an example of
representational art. From the figure(s) depicted in the
artwork, there is already a suggestions to its
inspiration.
-However, in discussing the sources and kinds of
subject in artworks, it is important to note that these
two are often inextricably related. Often, even a
singular source of inspiration can yield multiple
translations. A good starting point is, of course, the
nature.
-There is nothing more rudimentary than human
interaction with the physical world around the artist.
Early childhood often revolves around getting to
know not just the body and what it can do, but also in
getting accustomed to a multitude of sensory prompts
around the artist. Early childhood often revolves
around getting to know not just the body and what it
can do, but also in getting accustomed to a multitude
of sensory prompts around the artist especially those
situated in his environment.
-Artists throughout history have explored diverse
ways of representing nature: from plants to animals;
the qualities of bodies of water and the terrain of
landmasses; and even then perceivable cycles and
changing of seasons. Often, these depictions are seen
as expressions of the sacred or the sacred or the
profane, sired by reality or supplemented by the
artist’s imagination. One artist who was attuned with
nature was Vincent van Gogh. He saw art and nature
as inseparable, often finding solace and happiness in
painting in it (working in the middle of unspoiled
fields) and painting from it (landscapes).
-Other artist with a considerable number of
landscapes and seascapes are Claude Monet, Camille
Pissarro, Paul Cezanne , and JMW Turner. In the
Philippines, National Artist for Painting Fernando
Amorsolo and Fabian de la Rosa gained prominence
from their painted rural scenes such as women in the
fields gathering harvest.
-Unlike in Islam for example, practicing Jews and
Christians were allowed to depict their God and other
important biblical figures: laying visual foundations
in inculcating the faith. But perhaps the influence of
this tradition is most intriguingly manifested in the
architectural marvels that are spread out all over the
world.
-Breaking nature into smaller parts in Jan van Kessal
the Elder who did numerous still lives and small-scale
, highly detailed studies , and scientific illustrations of
flowers , insects, shell, fruits, garland, and bouquets.
-The formative years of church architecture can be
traced in the fourth and fifth century but different
styles and plans were developed since then. Prevailing
ideas and philosophies became resources that were
used by architects to re imagine what the church
should look like. For instance, Gothic churches were
characterized by three things: soaring heights
(ceilings), volume (flying buttresses and ribbed
vaults), and light (bright stained glass windows, airy
and pleasant interiors). Gothic style architecture is
often attributed as the brainchild pf Abbot Suger.
There is a definitive sense that pointed to the feeling
of awe on the part of the believer and the perceived
majesty and power of God—all of which happened
during the time when religion was at the heart of
everyday life. This echoes her belief that “art was
central to religious experience.
-Greek and Roman mythology were also ripe with
references: from episodes that transport the viewer to
heroic encounters of Achilles and Aeneas ; the beauty
of Aphrodite and the athleticism of Myron. From
narrators in literature, artist, on the other hand, gave
faces to Greek and Roman deities or the gods and
goddesses whose fates are seemingly as tragic as
those of men. Some of the art forms they took on were
wall paintings or frescos and sculptural works such as
busts, statuaries, and ceramics and pottery, among
others.
-Another integral aspect of human life is the distinct
relationship with a higher controlling power. If the
belief system of Greeks and Roman was polytheism
with a multitude of gods and goddesses, the JudeoChristian tradition stems from a belief in a lone
creator of the universe or what is called monotheism.
This tradition had an immense influence in western
civilization especially in art. Guided by a host of
styles and techniques, various media and art forms
were also experimented with: paintings, frescos,
church architecture (over-all plan of the space, stained
glass windows, tabernacles manuscripts, and other
sacred scriptures, among others.
-Commissioned by Pope Julius II, the intricate fresco
that lines Sistine Chapel was created by
Michelangelo. The immense detail and vast surface he
had to cover had him working on it from 1508 to 1512.
-Proceeding from a kind of a hybrid between literature
and sacred text is India’s miniature paintings. In
Central India, the kind of art that was produced was
deeply rooted in Vedic text such as Upanishads,
Puranas, and other important text like the Sanskrit
epics Mahabharata and Ramayana. Indian artist had a
wide array of materials to work with in showcasing
not just their artistry and skill. The significance of
these paintings rest on its ability to foster devotion and
the observance of a code of ethics through the
visualizations of heroic narratives. These paintings
were small but were highly pictorial, stylized, and
employed a good contrast of colors. Some artists also
included verse from the epic as part of the cartouche
which added interest and meaning to the paintings.
-Historically significant events particularly in the
affairs of humanity are abundant reference for art
production. From early breakthroughs such as the
discovery of fire and the overthrow of geocentric
theory in favor of a sun-entered universe, succeeding
advancements brought about by discovery,
innovation, and man’s incessant search for glory
plotted a dynamic course of history.
-An example is Goya’s EL tres de Mayo which
captures the death of Madrilenes, the local insurgents
during the Peninsular war. Former allies in the
overrun of Portugal and France turned against Spain.
Napoleonic forces invaded Madrid without much
difficulty and the painting captures the dramatic
demise of its people under a firing squad.
-History as a resource for artist in search of subjects,
bring into consideration events that are familiar and
sometimes even common or shared in world context:
the establishment of nations and States (discovery,
conquest, and colonization). These works serve as
documentary and commemorative artworks that they
breed (democracy, liberty, freedom, and rights).
These works serve as documentary leaders and
figures; events as they were recorded to have
happened; and representations of ideologies or values.
-In the history of art it is Important to remember that
the source and kind of subject were not merely a
product of the artist’s inclination and choice. A closer
examination of the various art movements and
artwork created within those movements will indicate
that nations of freedom and independence, which are
presumed to be enjoyed by artist, were not without
limits or restrictions. For instance, a particular kind of
subject and the way it is visually translated may be
traced in relation to the art patrons (those who
commission the artworks), the favored artistic style
and cannons, and more importantly, the norms and
trends prevailing in the artist’s milieu.
-During the Spanish colonial period in the
Philippines, art was predominantly representational.
During the first century of their dominance, art came
as an aid for communication---a means of propagating
religion to locals who spoke a different language. The
visual arts, from paintings to early sculptures such as
Santos and other votive figures and icons, were
created to assist catholic ministry. Existing art and
craft traditions persisted, with some augmented and
infused with foreign influences that were not limited
to the Spanish culture through contact.
-The momentum that secular (or non-religious) art
later gained in the nineteenth century can also be
attributed to this contact, with the opening of the Suez
Canal and the growth of export economy in
agriculture. The consequence of these developments
was the rise of the middle class. With their new-found
economic and social mobility, patrons of the art were
no longer limited to the clergy, but brought about a
demand for coming from these wealthy ilustrado
families. Of interest was the increase in demand for
Commissioned portraits (of an individual or an entire
family), finding it necessary to document themselves
in light of their elevated status. Wearing the most
intricate and elaborate of garbs, significant
adornments such as jewelry and embroidered
implements, among others, completed the Intended
Narrative. This artistic trend cemented the distinction
of artistic such as Simon Flores, Justiniano
Ascuncion, and Antonio Malantic who became the
foremost portraits of the time. Here, it is evident how
during the Spanish colonial period, the subjects of
artworks, even the manner in which they are
translated, were mostly dictated by the patrons who
commission them for religious and secular art.
Content in art
-As outlined in the beginning, in discussing works of
art, the subject may simply be referred to as the
“what”---what is readily seen and relates to the
artworks its inspiration, and the many kinds of
translation. But apart from what is made explicit, to
recognize and grasp the message of the artwork
created in the first place? When this question is asked,
we are after the meaning or message that is expressed
or communicated by the artwork.
-To take on the challenge of understanding the content
of art, it must be reiterated that there are various levels
of meaning. Factual pertains to the most rudimentary
level of meaning for it may be extracted from the
identifiable or recognizable forms in the artwork and
understanding how these elements relate to one
another. Conventional meaning, on the other hand,
pertains to the acknowledged interpretation of the
artwork using motifs, signs, symbols and other
cyphers as bases of its meaning. These conventions
are established through time, strengthened by
recurrent use and wide acceptance by its viewers or
audience and scholars who study then. Finally , when
subjectivities are consulted, a variety of meaning may
arise when a particular work of art is read. These
meanings stem from the viewer’s or audience’s
circumstances that come into play when engaging
with art. When looking at a particular painting for
example, perception and meaning are always
informed (and even colored) by a manifold of context:
what we know ; what we learned; what we experience;
and the values we stand for. It is therefore expected
that meaning may not be singular; rather, a painting
may communicate multiple meanings to its many
viewers. This is what we call subjective meaning of
art.
-Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam” can be read
using various levels of meaning previously discussed.
There, Adam is figured with an aged God, both of
them with an arm stretched and their respective index
fingers appearing to be fixed at an Impending contact.
Apart from God who is wearing a tunic, everyone else
is in the nude. God is afloat, surrounded by drapery
and figures presumed to be angels and cherubs. Adam
on the other hand is earth-bound, sitting and reclined,
positioned diagonally parallel to that of God. From a
factual perspective, Michelangelo depicted a scene
from the creation Story, in particular, the creation of
man. Apart from being a key element of
Michelangelo’s fresco at the ceiling of the Sistine
Chapel, the subject matter suggest that this is an
example of biblical art.
Renaissance artist, Michelangelo unlocked the secrets
and precision of human anatomy assisting in
dissections during his time. For Meshberger, it was
with his medical background and perhaps exposure to
art and history that allow him to catch the symbol,
hidden in Michelangelo’s work.
-This work is indeed iconic, and this is asserted by the
conventional meanings attached to it. Here, the
specific poses of God and Adam (convex and concave
postures, respectively) allude to the correspondence
of the body and the commonly held that man was
created in the image and likeness of God. During this
time the ideas of humanism were underscored and the
art and sciences were furthered. It is therefore
understandable that the classical canons of the form of
the body (ideally proportioned and muscular) are
portrayed, especially by Michelangelo who was first
and foremost a sculptor. Here, the view is that the
greatness of old civilizations such as that of the
Greeks and the Romans may not only be replicated,
but even surpassed. Some art scholars noted how
Michelangelo
exhibited just that—an elevated
artistry---in that the dynamism and energy of the
figures in the Sistine chapel are unlike the works of
predecessors.
FUNCTIONS OF ART & PHILOSOPHY
-An interesting overlap between the conventional and
subjective meanings is the proposal from
gynecologist Frank Lynn Meshberger, whose
published essay appeared in the October 1990 issue of
the Journal of American Medical Association.
Written was his theory that an image and a message
were hidden in plain sight: how the silhouette of God
, the shroud and the drapery that trail behind , all
seemingly align with the shape of the human brain.
According to Meshberger, the work can also be aptly
called “ The Endowment of Adam “ for it brought to
light that as God’s creation, the most important
qualities imparted to man was intellect. Like most
Dance- is series of movements that follows the
rhythm of the music accompaniment.
Dance (French dancier)- generally refers to human
movement either used as a form of expression or
presented in a social, spiritual or performance setting.
Choreography- is the art of making dances, and the
person this called a choreographer.
POPULAR ART EXPRESSIONS
VISUAL ARTS -Is the kind of art form that the
population is most likely more exposed to, but its
variations are so diverse they range from sculptures
that you see in art galleries to the last movie you saw.
Some mediums of visual arts include paintings,
drawings, lettering, printing, sculptures, digital
imaging, and more.
FILM-Film refers to the art of putting together
successions of still images in order to create an
illusion of movement, Filmmaking focuses on its
aesthetic, cultural, and social value and is considered
as both an art and an industry.
Performance Art-Performance art is a live art and the
artist’s medium is mainly the human body which he
or she uses to perform, but also employs other kind of
art such as visual art, props, or sound.
Poetry Performance- Poetry is an art form where the
artist expresses his emotions not by using paint,
charcoal, or camera, but expresses them through
words.
Architecture – is the art of designing and constructing
buildings and other types of structures.It is often
referred to as the “mother of the arts” because it
houses, serves as background for, or occurs in relation
to other fields of art.Materials used include stone,
concrete, brick, wood, steel, glass, and plaster.
Literary Art- goes beyond the usual professional,
academic, journalistic, and other technical form of
writing. It focuses on writing using a unique style, not
following a specific form or norm. It may include both
fiction and non-fiction such as novels, biographies
and poems.
Theater- uses live performers to present accounts or
imaginary events before a live audience. Theater art
performance usually follows a script, though they
should not be confused with literary arts.
Applied Arts- incorporate elements of style and design
to everyday items with the aim of increasing their
aesthetical value. Artists in this field bring beauty,
charm, and comfort into many things that are useful
in everyday life.
THE FUNCTIONS OF ART
AS A THERAPY In its therapeutic function, art can
be and is used as therapy for individuals with a variety
of illnesses, both physical and mental.
ART AS ARTIFACT Art also functions as an
artifact: A product of a particular time and place, an
artwork represents the ideas and technology of that
specific time and place. As we look back over history,
we find in art striking, and in some cases, the only,
tangible records of some peoples. The insights we
gain into cultures, including our own are enhanced
tremendously by such artifacts as
sculptures, poems, plays, and buildings.
paintings,
PERSONAL FUNCTION OF ART The personal
functions of art are varied and highly subjective. This
means that its function depend on the person- the artist
who created the art.
SOCIAL FUNCTION OF ART Art is considered to
have a social function if and when it addresses a
particular collective interest as opposed to a personal
interest. Political art is a very common example of an
art with a social function. Art may convey message of
protest, contestation, or whatever message the artist
intends his work to carry.
PHYSICAL FUNCTION OF ART The physical
functions of art are the easiest to spot and understand.
The physical functions of art can be found in artworks
that are crafted in order to serve some physical
purpose.
Other Functions of Art Music as an art is also
interesting to talk about in relation to function. Music
in its original form was principally functional. Music
was used for dance and religion. Unlike today, when
one can just listen to music for the sake of music’s
sake, the ancient world saw music only as an
instrument to facilities worship and invocation to
gods. Music also was essential to dance because
music assures synchronicity among dancers.
Other Functions of Art Art as a RepresentationArt
as a Disinterested Judgment Art as a Communication
of Emotion
SUBJECT AND CONTENT
Subject refers to the visual focus or the image that may
be extracted from examining the artwork
Content is the meaning that is communicated by the
artist or the artwork.
TYPES OF SUBJECT
Content in Art
1.
2.
3.
4.
Levels of meaning
Factual
Subjective
Conventional
Representational Art These types of art have subjects
that refer to object or events occurring in the real
world. Often, it is also termed figurative art, because
as the name suggest, the figures depicted are easy to
makes out and decipher. (mona lisa)
Levels of meaning
Non-Representational art This art does not make a
reference to the real world, whether it is a person,
place, thing, or even a particular event. It is stripped
down to visual elements such as shapes, lines,
emotion, and even concept.
Factual pertains to the most rudimentary level of
meaning for it may be extracted from the identifiable
or recognizable forms in the artwork and
understanding how these elements relate to one
another.
Sources of Subject
Conventional meaning, on the other hand, pertains to
the acknowledged interpretation of the artwork using
motifs, signs, symbols and other cyphers as bases of
its meaning. These conventions are established
through time, strengthened by recurrent use and wide
acceptance by its viewers or audience and scholars
who study then.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Nature
History
Greek & Roman Mythology
Sacred Oriental Text
Other works of art
Judeo-Christian Tradition
Kinds of Subject
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
History
Still life
Landscape
Seascape
Animals
Figures
Nature
Myth
Cityscape
Mythology
Dreams
Fantasies
When subjectivities are consulted, a variety of
meaning may arise when a particular work of art is
read. These meanings stem from the viewer’s or
audience’s circumstances that come into play when
engaging with art.
Week 4
INPUT
Artist vs Artisan
The words artist and artisan are often very confusing
for most people although there is a key difference
between the two words. An artist is a person who
performs any of the creative arts. This can range
from painting to music . An artisan, on the other hand,
is a skilled worker who makes things by hand. The
mere definition of the two words can be rather
confusing because both involve the creation of
something. The key difference is that while the
product or output of an artisan has a clear functional
value, this may not be the cased for an artist. The
output can be an expression of the beauty of art itself
without having any functional value. Through this
article, let us examine the differences between an
artist and an artisan.
Who is an Artist?
An artist is a person who performs any of the creative
arts. This captures all forms of art. For an example, a
person who paints can be referred to as an artist. In the
modern world, the term artist is also used for
musicians as well. This is why people often tend to
hear the words ‘young artist,’ through media to refer
to emerging musicians. Here it is important to
highlight that the term artist is not only attributed for
those who create art as an occupation, but also for
those who are skilled in a particular activity such
as drawing.), designing, composing, etc.
The specialty of an artist is that he is able to create art
for the sake of art itself without needing any ulterior
motives. Some artists create their works of art for the
satisfaction of the society in which they live. In this
case, they have to confine to the societal demands and
limitations. However, there are also others who go
beyond the social restrictions and create art for the
pleasure of creating. It is believed that through art the
artist can create a change in society. This is because
art appeals to all senses of people.
Who is an Artisan?
An artisan is a skilled worker who makes things by
hand. This includes various objects ranging from
jewelry to furniture. An artisan should not be
confused with an artist because there is a clear
difference in the things that they create. An artisan is
able to produce something that has a functional value;
although it should not be limited to its use value alone.
However, it must be stressed that there are cases
where the objects created by an artisan has only
decorative value.
Most artisans have the skill of adding aesthetic value
to the objects that they create. This transcends the
object from a mere object of utility. This is why most
handmade objects are much more expensive than
mass-produced objects.
What’s the difference between an artist and an
artisan? This unnecessarily sensitive question is
equivalent to the issue of what constitutes art and what
is designated as craft.
In both cases, the former word essentially refers to the
making of tangible or intangible products as an
expression of creativity and imagination for purely
aesthetic reasons. An artisan, meanwhile, though
spurred by the same impulses, produces crafts, which,
though they may be acquired only for decoration, are
designed to be practical.
Therefore, though some tension between artist and
artisan — between producers of art and designers of
crafts — may exist because of a perceived differential
in their relative cultural status, the technical
definitions are just that: precise distinctions not in
quality or artistic achievement but in function.
The word for the creator of art is the gender-neutral
term artist. (The French form of the word, artiste,
came to apply more broadly to creative professionals,
especially performers, though it also has a pejorative
sense of “pretentious artist.”) By extension, one
talented in any endeavor — even a con artist — may
earn the term.
By contrast, makers of crafts have gender-specific
labels — craftsman and craftswoman — but though
craftsperson is the natural neutral term, many such
practitioners prefer to be called artisans. (The Latin
ancestor of this term is artire, which means “to instruct
in the arts.”)
Other words that ultimately derive from the Latin
word ars (“art”) include artifact, which comes from
the Italian word artifatto and ultimately from the Latin
terms arte and factum (meaning “thing made”),
originally having primarily an archaeological sense
but now referring to anything left behind or
remaining, and artifice, which originally meant
workmanship but, from a secondary sense of
“cunning,” came to refer to deceit or trickery.
(However, artificer remains a synonym for artisan,
although it can also refer to one who contrives or
makes things or ideas.) Artificial, the adjectival form
of artifice, broadly refers to anything not produced in
nature.
Artful once referred exclusively to artistic skill but
later primarily came to mean “dexterous, wily”; in
that sense, the term is best known in the moniker of
the Artful Dodger, an adroit young pickpocket in
Charles Dickens’s novel Oliver Twist. The
antonym, artless, likewise was originally a reference
to a lack of talent but now usually refers to clumsiness
in word or deed.
Arty and artsy both describe artists, but the terms have
developed a pejorative sense of pretension,
and artsy is hyphenated in combination
with craftsy and, worse, fartsy, to refer to someone
with such airs, or a creation of theirs.
Art is used in combination with other terms to denote
subgenres with serious artistic ambitions (“art film,”
“art rock”) as well as artistic movements, as in “art
deco,” a truncation of the French phrase art
décoratif (“decorative art”), and art nouveau (“new
art”); the first letter of each word in these phrases is
often capitalized, especially when associated with
other initial-capped designations. Another movement,
named arts and crafts, is usually initial-capped to
distinguish it from generic references.
The liberal arts are the academic subjects also known
as the humanities. The term liberal stems from the
idea that knowledge of these subjects and the
attendant skills are necessary for free people to know
in order to be productive members of society.
From the phrase “liberal arts” comes the designations
for mastery of coursework known as the bachelor of
arts and master of arts degrees (truncated,
alternatively as “bachelor’s degree,” or bachelor’s,
and “master’s degree,” or master’s). These terms have
no specific relation to art itself, though study and/or
practice of art may be a component of the coursework.
The Artisans and the Guilds
A guild is an association of artisans or merchants who
oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular
area. The earliest types of guild formed as
a confraternities of tradesmen. They were organized
in a manner something between a professional
association , a trade union, a cartel, and a secret
society. They often depended on grants of letters
patent from a monarch or other authority to enforce
the flow of trade to their self-employed members, and
to retain ownership of tools and the supply of
materials. A lasting legacy of traditional guilds are
the guildhalls constructed and used as guild meetingplaces. Guild members found guilty of cheating on the
public would be fined or banned from the guild.
Have you ever wondered why some examples of
artistic and creative production have survived to this
day? Museums are packed with numerous artifacts
and interesting objects from all over the world that
have survived centuries for us all to see. Magnificent
structures that are often appreciated not only for their
historical significance but more so their aesthetic
characteristics that render them unique, become
tourist destinations for those who wish to explore and
see the remarkable façade, interior, and even the
minutest of details up close. Perhaps what made the
difference was the materials, medium, and the
principles behind the process of their creation.
Another contributory factor is the emergence of
technology and knowledge in managing and
conserving all of these objects and structures,
enabling the retention of the integrity of the artwork
and the intention of the artist in terms of the design
and overall aesthetic.
The Artist and His Studio
A good studio for an artist is a very important place.
Creative studios might sometimes look like a pile of
rubbish or a mixed-up room, but this is where famous
artists paintings are born!
Take a look at this assemblage of the greatest artists
and their most intimate working places – their studios.
I bet that you've seen lots of their works in museums
and art history books, but the artist himself, and his
studio, is often left unseen.
From Salvador Dali's artist studio full of beautiful
women, Pablo Picasso's decorated hall to David
Lynch's industrial looking creative space and Francis
Bacon's utter chaos. All these photos are intentionally
mixed up – you will find both very famous artists and
somewhat less popular painters, sculptors, architects,
and even their Muses. Some of them are
contemporary, but you will also find genius classical
masters as well.
Production Process
The process of creating an artwork does not
necessarily follow a linear progression. One the things
that one must accept is the fact that the arts have
anarchic dimension to it, allowing it to fully harness
its creative potential. The very reason why different
art styles, periods, and movements were made
possible, is because there was a form of flexibility
given to artist in terms of how to conceptualize and
execute their ideas into reality. But this does not mean
there is no guiding principle that governs the general
process of art production.
The process is essentially tripartite: (1) preproduction.
(2) production, and (3) postproduction. The artist
always begins with an idea that he wants to express or
communicate with his audience. It may not
necessarily be fully formulated, and so some form of
exposure, research, and their approaches may be
explored to get the idea long before actually making
the artwork. This process is of course the
preproduction stage. The idea may take a while to
form, or may come as swift as a bolt of lighting.
Some artist, however, birth their ideas when material
manipulation is already underway. This when
preproduction sometimes seep into the production
stage. The execution of the art may take a variety of
forms such as painting, sculpture, tapestry,
photograph, film, a routine (dance), or a track or
composition (music). Even tricky art form such as
conceptual art, which purports to be solely concerned
with the ideas, take a variety of formats, and may even
be harder to pull off. Some artworks rely on a precise
and skilled execution, while others need only intuition
and a kind of judiciousness in the manipulation of
material.
Gathering and sourcing the materials needed for the
creation of the artwork is either subsumed under
preproduction or the production stage. Either way,
materials form one of the most crucial aspects that
inform the direction, quality, and the final output
itself.
The last stage is the most drawn-out, the
postproduction. Once an artwork is finished, it will
then be decided on how it will be circulated not only
in the art world, but the many publics. If the artist
decides that he alone should see the work, then so be
it. But most of the time, if not always, the creation of
the object requires that it be seen, heard, touched,
and/or experienced in a variety of ways. Often, enters
into a new sphere, inside the domain of museum,
galleries, performance halls, theaters, and other art
spaces where interaction can take place. Take note,
however, that approval, enjoyment, or pleasure are
not the sole reactions that an artist intends for his
work. Sometimes, it is repulsion, contempt, or even
grief, which the artist hopes for. Either way, it is
intellectual and emotional reaction that is often the
impetus for creating an artwork. A message is almost
always embedded in the artwork and it is the hope
of the artist that his audience comes cross it, or takes
from it something that is his and his alone.
These are many aspects that go into postproduction.
These may include allowing the artwork to set,
tweaking the artwork, preparing the artwork for
transport and display, and even the promotion and
inclusion of the artwork in publications or
discussions.
Medium and Technique
Like what was previously mentioned, medium is one
of the aspects of art that directly correlates with its
composition and presumed finality of the artwork.
Medium is the mode of expression in which the
concept, idea, or message is conveyed. It may be
concrete or tangible, such as paintings, sculptures,
monuments, and structures; or it may be ephemeral or
something transient, such as a track (recording of
sound), a film, or a performance. The appreciation or
engagement with the artwork is also affected by the
medium spatiotemporally. For concrete works, the
object physically manifest themselves for a prolonged
or lasting period. For epheral works, on the other
hand, it is durational.
A chosen medium must not be expected to yield the
same results. Giving two different artist the same
exact material and the general qualifier of “painting”’
the end product will still vary minimally or in an
exponential scale. This is where technique comes in,
as it is the reason why art history Is described by a
seemingly limitless example of works of art. The
technique of the artwork shows the level of familiarity
with the medium being manipulated. It alludes to the
necessity of additional tools or implements (e.g.,
hammer and chisel may come in handy for sculptors,)
or consideration of time (e.g., behavior of different
kinds of paint especially in drying time requirements),
and the specificity of the site of creation (e.g., indoor
or outdoor production requirements).
Week 5
ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF ART
VISUAL ELEMENTS
THE ELEMENTS OF VISUAL ARTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Lines
Colors
Texture
Perspective
Space
Form
Volume
>The elements of art are the visual components
which are required to create a work of art
>knowing the basics of the elements of visual art
can help any artist to create a well balanced and
beautiful designs
>To develop a more thorough understanding of
artistic composition, one must learn how to
examine and utilize the various art elements
LINE
- Line is a mark on a surface that describes a shape or
outline. It can create texture and can be thick and thin.
Types of line can include actual, implied, vertical,
horizontal, diagonal and contour line.
>Curved, diagonal, dashed or dotted, horizontal,
outline, straight, zigzag, perpendicular, wavy, parallel
>is an important element at the disposal of every
artist.
>always has direction, always moving.
>as used in any work of art, may either be straight or
curved.
>Lines are the first element of art and are continuous
marks that are made on any surface with a moving
point.
>Lines can be used in various ways to create different
compositions.
>A line can be used to express various things or
feelings; it can be used to show various moods or
anything abstract.
>Line serves as an essential building block of art, but
it can also serve as the content itself of a work of art,
or be manipulated to evoke an emotional or
intellectual response from a viewer (Fichner-Rathus,
2010
VERTICAL LINES are poised for action. They are
poised, balanced, forceful, and dynamic. They
express an impression of dignity.
Horizontal lines are lines of repose and serenity.
They express ideas of calmness and quiescence..
Three Main Types of Lines
Lines that are in opposition to each other form a
contrast.
A transition line is a line that connects two workflow
elements. Transition lines allow you to define what
the next step in a workflow will be
COLORS
The Art Element of Color
-Color refers to the visual perception of light being
reflected from a surface of an artwork. >In the most
basic classification, colors can be divided into three
groups: primary, secondary and tertiary.
Attributes of Color
Hue is the term for the pure spectrum colors
commonly referred to by the "color names" - red,
orange, yellow, blue, green violet - which appear in
the hue circle or rainbow. Theoretically all hues can
be mixed from three basic hues, known as primaries.
A color wheel is an abstract illustrative organization
of color hues around a circle, that shows relationships
between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, etc
Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. It
is the quality which depends on the amount of light
and dark in color.
Tints are values above the normal
Shades are values below the normal.
Intensity refers to the brightness or darkness of color.
It gives color strength. When a hue is vivid form, it is
said to be in full intensity. When it is dulled, it is said
to be partly neutralized.
Psychology of Colors
Colors have varied psychological and emotional
connotations.
– Black is associated with death and gloom – White
stands for purity and innocence
– Red is associated with blood, anger and fear
– Green implies happiness and abundance
Meanings of Colors Conveyed by the Rose
•Red is for “I love you”
•Pink conveys “Thank you”
•White says “You are heavenly”
•Coral speaks of desire.
•White roses denote secrecy, reverence and humility.
•Deep pink roses convey gratitude and appreciation.
•Light pink express sympathy, grace and gentility
• Red roses also mean courage and fortitude
• Yellow roses stand for freedom
• Red and Yellow stand for jovial /happy feelings
• Orange roses speak of enthusiasm and desire
• Red and White convey unity
•Parallel lines below the eye level seem to rise to a
vanishing point in the horizon, while those above the
eye level seem to descend to the vanishing point.
•Foreshortening is the representation of objects or
parts of the body as smaller from the point of view of
the observer. Aerial perspective is the representation
of relative distances of objects by gradations of tone
or color.
• Objects become fainter in the distance due to the
effect of the atmosphere. Objects appear to be lighter
in color as they recede into the distance or
atmosphere.
TEXTURE is the element that deals more directly
with the sense of touch.
>applies to how an object feels or appears to feel.
>can be either implied or actual
•Texture is the element that deals more directly with
the sense of touch.
• It has to do with the characteristics of surfaces which
can be rough or smooth, fine or coarse, shiny or dull,
plain or irregular
• Implied texture expresses the idea of how a surface
might feel. For example, a painting of a blanket might
convey the idea that the blanket is soft.
• Actual texture, on the other hand, is texture that can
actually be felt. For example, a ceramic bowl might
feature a carved texture that could be felt when
holding that bowl
SPACE refers to how the artist fills the surface on
which a work of art is created. It can also refer to the
expression of depth within a work of art. When talking
about a three-dimensional object, space is the actual
volume that is taken up by the artwork.
PERSPECTIVE deals with the effect of distance
upon the appearance of objects, by means of which
the eye judges spatial relationships.
Kinds of Perspective
Linear perspective is the representation of an
appearance of distance by means of converging lines.
• It has to do with the direction of lines and with the
size of objects
•Painters usually show the effect of space and distance
by using converging lines and diminishing size.
• Space as an element of art, refers to distances or
areas around, between or within components of a
piece.
• Space can be positive (white or light) or negative
(black or dark),open or closed, shallow or deep and
twodimensional or threedimensional.
• Sometimes space isn't actually within a piece, but
the illusion of it is.
Kinds of Space
• Positive space - the areas in a work of art that are the
subjects, or areas of interest.
• Negative space – areas around the subjects, or areas
of interest Shape, Form, and Volume are words that
are used to describe distinct areas or parts of works of
art or architecture.
FORM applies to the over-all design of a work of art.
• It describes the structure or shape of an object
The Art Element of Form
Form refers to a three-dimensional object. As such,
form is an art term that is only applied to those
artworks that are three- dimensional, such as sculpture
and pottery. Forms, much like shapes, can be
geometric or organic. Geometric forms have hard
lines and edges. Organic forms are curvy and more
free-form Types of Form
• Form and shape can also be described as either
organic or geometric.
• Organic forms such as these snow-covered boulders
typically are irregular in outline, and often
asymmetrical. Organic forms are most often thought
of as naturally occurring.
• Geometric forms are those which correspond to
named regular shapes, such as squares, rectangles,
circles, cubes, spheres, cones, and other regular forms
Ex:
KENNETH
COBONPUE’S
DESIGNS,
Croissant sofa, Amaya CoffeeTable, Yin Yang Chair
VOLUME refers to the amount of space occupied in
three dimensions.
• It refers to solidity or thickness