ART APPRECIATION

Art has been defined in various ways.

Art is derived from the latin word “ars” meaning ability or skills. – J.V. Estolas
Art is taken from the Italian word “artis” which means craftmanship, skill, mastery of
form, inventiveness, and the associations that exist between form and ideas, between
material and technique. -A. Tan
Art is a product of mans need to express himself. -F. Zulueta
Art is concerned itself with the communication of certain ideas and feelings by means of
sensuous medium, color, sound, bronze, marble, words and film. – C. Sanchez
Art is the skillful arrangement or composition of some common but significant qualities
of nature such as colors, sounds, lines, movements, words, stones, wood, etc., to express
human feelings, emotions, or thoughts in a perfect meaningful and enjoyable way. -
Panizo and Rustia
 Forms of arts
Arts- Humanities covered a wide area of subject matter such as the visual arts or fine
arts like painting, sculpture and architecture, literature music and dance. Liberal arts in
college and universities which are included in the humanities are history, philosophy,
theology and all the languages.
 The term humanities derived from the word “humanus” meaning human, refined
and cultured. It is based on the philosophical view of humanism.
 Humanism believed that man should be humanized, socialized and educated to
respond positively to rapid changes. It is in the humanities course where
appreciation of the arts can be strengthened because the artist convey their
thoughts, beliefs, values and feelings through the visual arts, literary arts, dance
and music.
 Art, is very important in our lives, as it is concerned with the communication of
certain ideas and feelings by means of a sensuous medium- color, sound, bronze,
marble, words, film, literature.
 It is varied into representational and non-representational.
 Visual arts, or space arts are those that we perceived with our eye and which
occupy space.
 Auditory or time arts are those that can be heard and are expressed in time.
 Combined arts are those that can be both seen and heard and these exist in both
space and time.

 Visual arts or space arts are those that we perceived with our eye and which occupy
space.

 Auditory or time arts are those that can be heard and are expressed in time.
 Combined arts are those that can be both seen and heard and these exist in both space
and time.

Nature of Art
Four common essentials of art:
 Art must be man made
 Art must be creative, not imitative.
 Art must benefit and satisfy man. Man make use of art in practical life through
artistic principles, taste and skill;
 Art is expressed through a certain medium or material by which the artist
communicates himself to his fellows.
Art appreciation is the ability to interpret or understand manmade arts and enjoy them
either through actual and work-experience with art tools and materials and possession
of these works of art for one’s admiration and satisfaction.
Art appreciation, therefore, deals with learning or understanding and creating arts and
enjoying them.
SUBJECT OF ART
In any art form; painting, music, sculpture, architecture, or dance. There is always a
subject that serves as the foundation of the creation of the work of art.
 The subject of art is varied.
 A subject of art is usually anything that is represented in the artwork.
 Artworks that depict something easily recognized by most people are called
representational or objective arts. Painting, sculpture, graphic arts, literature and
theater arts are generally classified as representational although some paintings
and sculptures are without subjects.
 Artworks that have no resemblance to any real subject are called non-
representational or non-objective arts.
 They do not represent anything and they are what they are.
 Traditional sculptures and paintings have subjects. When looking at a painting or
a statue, one expects to recognize the subject to know what it is about- a dog, a
man or a landscape.
FOUR MAIN FUNCTIONS OF ART
 Aesthetic function- Man becomes conscious of the beauty of nature. He
benefits from his own work and from those done by his fellowmen. He learns to
use love and preserve them for his enjoyment.
 Utilitarian function- With the creation of the various forms of art, man lives in
comfort and happiness. Through art, man is provided with shelter, food, light,
medicine, beautiful surroundings, ornamentals, entertainment, language,
transportation and other necessities. It improves nature through landscape
 gardening, creations of super-highways, and through propagation and
conservation of natural resources.
 Cultural function- Through the printed matter, art transmits and preserve
skills and knowledge from one generation to another. Makes man more civilized
and his life more enduring and satisfying.
 Social function- Through civic and graphic arts, man learns to love and help
each other. International understanding and cooperation are fostered and
nations become more unified, friendly, cooperative, helpful, and sympathetic.

 Four common essentials of art:

Art must be man-made.

 Art must be creative, not imitative.

 Art must benefit and satisfy man. Man make use of art in practical life through artistic
principles, taste and skill;

 Art is expressed through a certain medium or material by which the artist

communicates himself to his fellows.

 SCOPE OF ART
According to Manaois there are two general dimensions of art.
Fine Arts and independent arts
Music

Painting

Sculpture
 Practical arts or useful or utilitarian arts

 Industrial Arts

 Applied or household art

 Civic Art

 Commercial art

 Graphic art

 Agricultural art

 Business art
 

Panizo and Rustia Classified arts into 2 major

division   According to purpose- arts are classified into practical arts or useful arts,
Liberal arts, fine arts, major arts and minor arts.

 According to media and forms- Arts include plastic arts, Phonetic arts, Kinetic arts, Pure
arts and mixed arts.
 Liberal arts- Directed toward intellectual growth, such as in the study of philosophy,
Psychology, literature, mathematics and sciences.

 Fine arts- are focused towards creative activity for the contemplation of the mind and
the uplift of the spirit. Painting, sculpture, architecture are examples of these arts. 

 Major arts- Are characterized by actual and potential expressiveness such as music,

poetry, sculpture.

 Minor arts- are concerned in practical uses and purposes, such as interior decoration
and porcelain art.

 Plastic arts- are developed through space and perceived by the sense of sight. Such arts
include sculpture and decorative materials.

 Kinetic arts- involved the element of rhythm. Dance is a type of this art.

 Phonetic arts- Are directed toward sounds and words as media of expression. Examples
are music, drama and literature.

 Pure arts- Take only one medium of expression like sound in music and color in
painting.

 Mixed arts- take more than one medium such as opera which combine music, poetry
and drama.
 HOW TO CREATE SKETCH

Take control of your pencil

 "If you position your hand closer to the end of the pencil, you have more control and
precision, but heavier strokes (darker markings),"

Avoid smudging

 "When shading, use an extra piece of paper underneath your hand,"

 "This will minimise the amount your hand smudges your pencil lines. If you're right-
handed, start shading from left to right; if you're left-handed, start at the right and
move to the left.

Use a blending stick for smooth shading

"It is possible to create smooth, blended effects using pencils, tissue, cotton. 

Make characters readable

 "Have you ever noticed that every important character in an animation movie is
recognizable from their shadow alone?“

Vary your lines

“Not all lines are equal. Subtle shifts in the width and darkness of your lines will create a
dynamic, visually interesting drawing.

 Create simple lines

 “Simple lines can give directions and guide you before you create heavy lines“

Be careful in using the eraser

 “Not all soft lines are useful, you have to choose which lines will remain. Focus on the
details and carefully erase all the lines that is not need for your subject“

 Perspective -A good perspective drawing gives the impression of

something that is normally perceived by the eye, it looks “natural”.
Perspective in the dictionary means the reproduction of something that is
three-dimensional and is transmitted in a two- dimensional plane.

TYPES OF SKETCHES  
Process sketches. The main purpose is about understanding an assignment.
There is more writing than sketching. A focus is examining problems and
analyzing the context.

 Ideation sketches. Sketches that are created by designers while developing

an idea of a product. Mainly roughly made and without details.

 Explanatory sketches. Created to explain the function, shape, and structure

of a design concept. These are sketches presented to a client. Readable to
everyone.
 Persuasive sketches. Finishing sketches that are usually created in
digital software such as CAD-programs, Adobe Photoshop and others.
Detailed and colorful to influence the audience and sell a design concept.

 SHADOWS 

Shadows appear on objects in areas where the lighting is blocked or indirect. Before
creating shadows it is important to choose a direction where the light source will come
from. There are two main shadows that are typically drawn – Sunlight, and Cast
shadows. A cast shadow should be big enough to emphasize the shape of an object, but it
shouldn’t be the main subject in a sketch. It also brings an illusion of depth to your
sketches. Keep it simple and fast. If it looks good and the object is in the main focus, then
you have done it right.
 
IMPORTANCE OF DETAILS
ADDING DETAILS TO SKETCHES PROVIDES VITAL INFORMATION FOR
CLIENTS AND OTHER DESIGNERS. DETAILS CAN INDICATE THE
OVERALL SIZE OF AN OBJECT. ALSO, IT CREATES MORE REALISTIC
LOOK OF A PRODUCT YOU ARE CREATING.

SHADING TECHNIQUES
 
Hatching/Parallel Hatching
This can be considered the most basic of all of the shading techniques
included here. It involves creating groups or patterns of parallel lines.
These lines don't have to be completely vertical or horizontal. They can also
be slanted or follow any angle you'd like, as long as this direction is uniform
throughout the area you are shading.
 Cross Hatching
Cross Hatching is like taking parallel hatching to the next level. You create a
first layer of parallel lines (in any direction) and a second layer of lines is
drawn on top in a perpendicular or nearly perpendicular manner. This
technique is probably the quickest of all due to the fact that you are able to
create darker values faster than with the other techniques. I tend to go for
this method most of the time myself. 
 Contour Hatching
This technique involves using lines that follow the curves or lines of the
initial contour/outline drawing. When used correctly, contour hatching
enhances volume and three-dimensionality in a very striking manner
Stippling
When stippling, tone and texture is built up by applying dots in different
densities. This technique takes time and you have to make sure that you
don't start creating lines instead of dots.
 Tick Hatching
This method is similar to stippling but instead of making dots, you make
short lines. In darker areas, lines are placed in an overlapped manner
Woven Hatching
Woven Hatching leads to a very interesting outcome when done correctly.
This technique involves creating sets of short(er) parallel lines in one
direction and then placing another group of parallel lines next to it in a
perpendicular or near-perpendicular directions. Crosshatching can be later
added to add density in areas that require darker values.
  Scribbling
Scribbling is an excellent technique to use when drawing specific subjects
like trees or hair because it not only creates values, but also transmits a
sense of texture

What are the Elements and Principles of Art?

•The elements of art and principles of design are the fundamental pieces that make up an
artwork. Most works of art will make use of any or all of the elements and principles of art. We
often judge art by how effectively the artist used these design fundamentals even before we learn
about them.
 Differences between Elements and Principles of Art
• The elements of art are the building blocks of an artwork: color, line, shape, form, value,
texture, and space. They are the tools artists use when creating an artwork.
• The principles of design are how those building blocks are arranged: contrast, rhythm,
proportion, balance, unity, emphasis, movement, and variety. They are the ways an artist can
organize the elements of art to create a wide range of effects.
 

Elements of Art

 Color- A three-pronged element of art: hue, value and intensity. Color pertains to

the use of hue in artwork and design. Defined as primary colors (red, yellow, blue) which
cannot be mixed in pigment from other hues, secondary colors (green, orange, purple)
which are directly mixed from combinations of primary colors.
 Hue is the color itself.
  Value is the hue’s lightness or darkness and changes when white or black is
added to it. Value, or tone, refers to the use of light and dark, shade and
highlight, in an artwork. Value is directly related to contrast.
 Intensity is the aspect of brightness and purity of a color. High intensity colors are
bold and bright. Low intensity colors are faint and duller.

FORM
 Form may be created by the forming of two or more shapes or as three-
dimensional shape (cube, pyramid, sphere, etc.). It may be enhanced by tone,
texture and color. Form is considered three-dimensional showing height, width
and depth. Examples of these are sculpture, theatre play and figurines.
 For painters and draftsmen, form is the element of art that renders a three-
dimensional  form in two dimensions. In a lot of ways it is the heart of an art
object — the form itself. It can enclose a volume and includes height, width and
depth. A cube, a sphere, a cylinder and a pyramid are all different forms. Forms
can also be formless— abstracted and free-flowing.

LINE
 Line is most easily defined as a mark that spans a distance between two points
(or the path of a moving point), taking any form along the way. As an art
element, line pertains to the use of various marks, outlines and implied lines in
artwork and design, most often used to define shape in two- dimensional work.
 Lines can be two- or three-dimensional, describing form or the form itself,
implied, or abstract. Creating a series of parallel lines to indicate form is a
technique known as hatching. Crosshatchingindicates more than one set of these
lines laid overtop of each other at angles to model and indicate tone.

Shape
 Shape pertains to the use of areas in two-dimensional space that can be defined
by edges, setting one flat specific space apart from another.
 Shapes can be geometric (e.g.: square, circle, triangle, hexagon, etc.) or organic
(such as the shape of a puddle, blob, leaf, boomerang, etc.) in nature.
 Shapes are defined by other elements of art: Space, Line, Texture, Value, Color,
Form. The element of art that is two-dimensional, flat, or limited to height and
width. Usually a shape is enclosed.

Space
 Space is the area provided for a particular purpose. It may have two dimensions
(length and width), such as a floor, or it may have three dimensions (length,
 width, and height). Space includes the background, foreground and middle
ground. Space refers to the distances or areas around, between or within
components of a piece.
 Two types of space: Positive space refers to the space of a shape representing
the subject matter. Negative space refers to the space around and between the
subject matter. Space is the element of art through which both positive and
negative areas are defined or a sense of depth is achieved in a work of art.

Texture
 The texture is the quality of a surface or the way any work of art is represented. Lines and
shading can be used to create different textures as well. For example, if one is portraying
certain fabrics, one needs to give the feeling of the right texture so that it closely
resembles what the artist is trying to convey.
 This aspect of art defines the way an art object or an element in a
composition feels or looks as if it would feel if touched.

Principles of Art
 If the elements of art are your tools, the principles of art are how you put them to
work. It is where the style of art manipulates its substance. Rhythm, harmony,
balance, contrast, movement, proportion, and variety are the principles of art.
 Balance The way the elements are arranged to create a feeling of stability in
a work.
 Symmetrical Balance The parts of an image are organized so that one side
mirrors the other.
 Asymmetrical Balance When one side of a composition does not reflect the
design of the other.
 Artists combine elements to add a feeling of equilibrium or stability to a work of
art. Symmetry and asymmetry are manifestations of balance.

Emphasis is the focal point of an image, or when one area or thing stand out the most.
 Contrast- A large difference between two things to create interest and
tension.
 Areas of contrast are where a viewer’s eye are usually first drawn. Artists will
combine elements to stress the differences between those elements


Rhythm and Movement A regular repetition of elements to produce the

look and feel of movement.
Rhythm of art describes the movement in or of an artwork. Rhythm is created by the
variety and repetition of elements in a work of art that come together to create a visual
tempo or beat.
Movement is used to create the look and feeling of action in an artwork. It guides the
viewer’s eye throughout a piece. A sense of movement can be varied lines, repetition of
elements, and gestural mark-making among many more.

 Pattern and Repetition

 Repetition of a design.
 This is the uniform repetition of an element of art or combination of
elements. Anything can be turned into a pattern through repetition.
 

Unity When all the elements and principles work together to create a pleasing image.
Harmony- This is achieved when the elements of an artwork come together in a
unified way. Certain element are repeated yet still look and feel similar. Not monotony
and not chaos, harmony is that perfectly honed combination of both.

Variety
The use of differences and change to increase the visual interest of the work.
The principle of art concerned with diversity or contrast is that of variety. Variety is
brought about by using different colors, sizes and shapes in a work of art. It is the
partner of unity. Artists seek the balance between the two.
 

Proportion The comparative relationship of one part to another with respect to

size, quantity, or degree;
Within the realm of the elements and principles of art, proportion is the relationship of
elements in an artwork to the whole and to one another.

Art in the Philippines

The art of the Philippines refers to the works of art that have developed and
accumulated in the Philippines from the beginning of civilization in the country up to
the present era. It reflects to its society and non-Filipinos the wide range of cultural
influences on the country’s culture and how these influences honed the country’s arts.
The art of the Philippines can be divided into two distinct branches, namely, traditional
arts, and non-traditional arts. Each branch is further divided into various categories
with subcategories.
 
Traditional arts
Non-traditional arts
Traditional arts
Traditional arts – bearers of traditional arts can be nominated as Gawad Manlilikha ng
Bayan (GAMABA), equal to National Artist.
Folk architecture – including, but not limited to, stilt houses, land houses, and aerial
houses
Maritime transport – boat houses, boat-making, and maritime traditions
Other artistic expressions of traditional culture – including, but not limited to, non-
ornamental metal crafts, martial arts, supernatural healing arts, medicinal arts, and
constellation traditions

 Non-traditional arts
Non-traditional arts – bearers of non-traditional arts can be nominated as National
Artist, equal to Gawad Manlilika ng Bayan.
Dance – including, but not limited to, dance choreography, dance direction, and dance
performance.
Music – including, but not limited to, musical composition, musical direction, and
musical performance
Theater – including, but not limited to, theatrical direction, theatrical performance,
theatrical production design, theatrical light and sound design, and theatrical
playwriting
Visual arts – including, but not limited to painting, non-folk sculpture, printmaking,
photography, installation art, mixed media works, illustration, graphic arts,
performance art, and imaging
Literature – including, but not limited to, poetry, fiction, essay, and literary/art criticism
Film and broadcast arts – including, but not limited to, film and broadcast direction,
film and broadcast writing, film and broadcast production design, film and broadcast
cinematography, film and broadcast editing, film and broadcast animation, film and
broadcast performance, and film and broadcast new media
Architecture and allied arts – including, but not limited to, non-folk architecture,
interior design, landscape architecture, and urban design
Design – including, but not limited to, industrial design, and fashion design.
 

Architecture
The vernacular architecture of the Philippines is diverse and developed
according to the traditions, history and influences exposure experienced by
each culture or society.
They ranged from simple Bahay Kubo which is the basis of all Filipino
cultural architecture which gave way to houses like Bahay na bato, up to the
palaces such as Torogans, fortifications like the Classical Kota’s
and Idjangs, Colonial Forts and mega structure such as Banaue Rice
Terraces which is built from carving of the mountain walls, and Mosques in
Mindanao.
Architectures like Baroque was adopted to the Filipino culture, making
their own interpretation through the Filipino culture climate and
environment. One of the product of Filipino Baroque is the Earthquake
Baroque, which is especially designed to adapt to the earthquake prone
environment of the Philippines.

Weaving
Philippine weaving involves many threads being measured, cut, and
mounted on a wooden platform. The threads are dyed and weaved on a
loom.

Before Spanish colonization, native Filipinos weaved using fibers from

abaca, pineapple, cotton, and bark cloth. Textiles, clothes, rugs, and hats
were weaved. Baskets were also weaved and used as vessels of transport
and storage, and for hunting. These baskets were used to transport grain,
store food, and catching fish.
They also used weaving to make just about all of the clothing that was worn.
They weaved rugs that they used for quilts and bedding. The quality of the
quilt/bedding was based on how soft, how tight together, and the clean
pattern. The patterns were usually thick stripes with different colors and
with a nice pattern.
However, during Spanish colonization, Filipinos used fabric called nipis to
weave white clothing. These were weaved with decorative, flower designs.

Prehistoric cave drawings were discovered in

numbers of sites in Philippines. The notable ones are those
in Angono Petroglyphs is located in a shallow rock shelter. It measures 63
meters wide, 8 meters deep and a maximum height of 5 meters.
It has been created due to faulting and formed in volcanic soil during the
Quaternary period. There are 127 drawings in the form of animate and
static figures of circular or dome-like head on top of a ‘V’ shaped torso
distributed on a horizontal plane on the rock wall area measuring 25 meters
by 3 meters. Only 51 of the total 127 drawings are distinct.
Due to the complexity and plurality of the drawings, it is suggested that the
drawings on the rock were not only created by a single individual. the
figures engraved on the rockwall probably carved during the late Neolithic,
or before 2000 BC.

Artistic paintings
Introduced to Filipinos in the 16th century when the Spaniards arrived in
the Philippines. During this time, the Spaniards used paintings as visual aid
for their religious propaganda to spread Catholicism throughout the
Philippines.
In short, due to the Spanish occupation of the Philippines and the Church’s
supervision of Filipino art, the purpose of most paintings in the Philippines
from the 16th to the 19th century were to aid the Catholic Church.

Calligraphy
The Philippines has numerous indigenous scripts collectively called as suyat. Various
ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines prior to Spanish colonization in the 16th
century up to the independence era in the 21st century have used the scripts with
various mediums.
By the end of colonialism, only four of the suyat scripts survived and continue to be used
by certain communities in everyday life. These four scripts are hanunó’o/hanunoo of
the Hanuno’o Mangyan people, buhid/buid of the Buhid Mangyan
people, apurahuano/tagbanwa of the Tagbanwa people, and palaw’an/pala’wan of
the Palaw’an people.
All four scripts were inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme, under
the name Philippine Paleographs (Hanunoo, Buid, Tagbanua and Pala’wan), in 1999.
The presence of paper documents in the classical era of the Philippines is also backed by
a research of Dr. H. Otley Beyer, father of Philippine anthropology, stating that Spanish
friars ‘boasted’ about burning ancient Philippine documents with suyat inscriptions, one
of the reasons why ancient documents from the Philippines are almost non-existent in
present time. The ivory seal is now housed at the National Museum of the Philippines.
Sculpture
The religion of the Ifugao people is based on ancestor worship and the
veneration of spirits and gods of nature. Rice deities are particularly
revered.
These bululs are activated through ritual, the bulol guardian figures are
believed to contain spirits capable of ensuring abundant harvests,
increasing rice yields and protecting against catastrophe. 
The Sarimanok is a legendary bird of the Maranao people who originate
from Mindanao. It comes from the words sari and manok. Sari means cloth
or garment, which is generally of assorted colors. Manok means “chicken”.
The Sarimanok is the legendary bird that has become an ubiquitous symbol
of Maranao art. 

Dramas Many towns have their own versions of

the Senakulo, using traditional scripts that are decades or
centuries old. A version is held at the Cultural Center of
the Philippines, sponsored by the Department of Tourism. 
 

Martial arts
The Arnis, also known as Kali or Eskrima, is the national sport and martial
art of the Philippines. The three are roughly interchangeable umbrella
terms for the traditional martial arts of the Philippines (“Filipino Martial
Arts”, or FMA) that emphasize weapon-based fighting with sticks, knives,
bladed weapons and various improvised weapons as well as “open hand” or
techniques without weapons.
It is also known as Estoque (Spanish for rapier), Estocada (Spanish for
thrust or stab) and Garrote (Spanish for club). 
 

PotteryTraditional pot-making in certain areas of the Philippines would

use clay found near the Sibalom River. Molding the clay required the use of
wooden paddles, and the clay had to be kept away from sunlight. Native
Filipinos created pottery since 3500 years ago. They used these ceramic jars
to hold the deceased.