Module 2

ARTS

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module/lesson, the student/s are expected to:

1. Learn and analyze the concepts of arts and its elements, forms and themes.
2. Differentiate the major constituents of arts.
3. Create or paint an artwork applying the elements of arts

The arts refers to the theory, human application and physical expression of creativity found in
human cultures and societies through skills and imagination in order to
produce objects, environments and experiences. Major constituents of the arts include:
1. visual arts (including architecture, ceramics, drawing, filmmaking, painting, photography,
and sculpting)
2. performing arts (including dance, music, and theatre)
3. literary arts (including fiction, drama, poetry, and prose), and
Some art forms combine a visual element with performance (e.g. cinematography), or artwork
with the written word (e.g. comics). From prehistoric cave paintings to modern-day films, art serves as
a vessel for storytelling and conveying humankind's relationship with the environment.
There are several possible meanings for the definitions of the terms Art and Arts. The first
meaning of the word art is « way of doing ». The most basic present meaning defines the arts as
specific activities that produce sensitivity in humans. The arts are also referred to as bringing together
all creative and imaginative activities, without including science. In its most basic abstract
definition, art is a documented expression of a sentient being through or on an accessible medium so
that anyone can view, hear or experience it. The act itself of producing an expression can also be
referred to as a certain art, or as art in general. If this solidified expression, or the act of producing it,
is "good" or has value depends on those who access and rate it and this public rating is dependent on
various subjective factors. Merriam-Webster defines "the arts" as "painting, sculpture, music, theatre,
literature, etc., considered as a group of activities done by people with skill and
imagination."[5] Similarly, the United States Congress, in the National Foundation on the Arts and
Humanities Act, defined "the arts" as follows:
The term "the arts" includes, but is not limited to, music (instrumental and vocal), dance,
drama, folk art, creative writing, architecture and allied fields, painting, sculpture, photography,
graphic and craft arts, industrial design, costume and fashion design, motion pictures, television,
radio, film, video, tape and sound recording, the arts related to the presentation, performance,
execution, and exhibition of such major art forms, all those traditional arts practiced by the diverse
peoples of this country. (sic) and the study and application of the arts to the human environment.[6]
Art is a global activity in which a large number of disciplines are included, such as: fine arts,
liberal arts, visual arts, decorative arts, applied arts, design, crafts, performing arts,[3] ... We are talking
about "the arts" when several of them are mentioned: "As in all arts the enjoyment increases with the
knowledge of the art".[7]
 The arts can be divided into several areas, the fine arts which bring together, in the broad
sense, all the arts whose aim is to produce true aesthetic pleasure, [8] decorative arts and applied
arts which relate to an aesthetic side in everyday life.[9]
The earliest surviving form of any of the arts are cave paintings, possibly from 70,000 BCE,
but definitely from at least 40,000 BCE.[10] The oldest known musical instrument, the Divje Babe Flute,
is also dated to at least 40,000 BCE, while the earliest surviving literature, the Instructions of
Shuruppak and Kesh temple hymn among other Sumerian cuneiform tablets, are thought to only be
from 2600 BCE.

Visual Arts

The term visual arts encompasses a wide range of forms created by Filipinos. It ranges from
Western-influenced visual art forms to works created by folk and indigenous people. Traditionally,
these visual art forms include painting, sculpture, and architecture. However, there are other
functional visual art forms in the country that need to be appreciated as well. Some of these forms
included advertising art, basketry, metal craft, mat weaving, pottery and textile weaving.
These visual art forms have developed over the centuries. During the 1970’s up to present,
artists started mixing a different media in single artworks. Some of these artworks did not occupy a
limited space or part of a room. In fact, a contemporary visual artwork may occupy a whole room,
filling it with lots of visual stimuli for the viewer. Artists also began using non-traditional materials and
media, such as cloth for sculpture and three-dimensional artworks, and an integration of agar, metal,
and glass. Some visual art form that began before the 1970s are still being created at present. Truly,
these show how artistic and creative Filipinos are.
Each visual art form not only exhibits the skills of the artist, but also showcases the ideas
coming from the mind of the artist. Understanding the different visual elements of art is vital in
appreciating all these visual art forms. Using a visual element of art is vital in appreciating all these
visual art forms. Using a visual element of art in creating an artwork may entail a certain idea or
meaning. Thus, it is appropriate to first review the different visual elements of art before discussing
the different visual art forms.

Art and Its Visual Elements

In order to understand how to describe a painting or a sculpture, it is important to comprehend

first the visual elements of art. These visual elements of art are line, color, shape, space, value,
texture, time and motion.

Element 1 - Line

Line is the most basic element of art. Without line the other elements couldn’t exist so let's
start here and then we will gradually go more advanced. A line can be thought of as a moving dot. If
the dots overlap, it’s a solid line, if they don’t it’s a dotted line. A line has a beginning and an end and
by its existence, creates an edge. If a line joins up it forms an outline (also called a contour). An
outline creates a shape. Lines can be: Long or short Thick or thin
A thick line gives emphasis and advances while a thin line recedes.
 Straight
Straight lines on the other hand are more mechanistic and dynamic and rarely found in
nature.

Curved
Curved lines change direction gently with no sharp angles and suggest comfort and ease to
the viewer. Curved lines most often relate to the natural world.

Zigzag
Zigzag lines alter direction fast and create feelings of unrest, turmoil and movement.

Diagonal
Diagonal lines, give movement and dynamism to a composition.
 Horizontal
Horizontal lines create the feeling of stability and calm.

Vertical
Vertical lines give the impression of height and strength and often have a spiritual connotation.

Imaginary
Lines can be imaginary or implied; for example line of sight can be a very strong albeit invisible line
along which the viewer’s eye travels. Also a pointing finger can send the viewers eye on a journey
through the painting.
 Three Dimensional
Lines alone can also be used to create a three dimensional effect, (depth, in a 2-dimensional artwork.
Hatching lines (straight or curved) are used to turn shape into form using value as seen the works of
the masters like Rembrandt.
In summary lines can:
 Describe 2-dimensional shapes and 3-dimensional forms
 Create feelings of movement and emotion
 Create value and thereby show the direction of light
 Change 2-dimensional shapes into 3-dimensional forms with value
 Depict texture

Element 2 - Shape
When a line meets up to enclose a space, a shape is formed. Shapes can be:
Geometric or
Organic

Shapes are 2-dimensional, i.e. they have height and width but no depth e.g. a square. The best way
to remember the shape element is to think of an outline.

Positive or Negative Shapes

The object you draw on your page is a shape enclosed in a frame. This frame may be a box
you drew to designate the edges of your drawing area or the edge of the page if you didn’t draw a
box. The object you draw is the positive shape. The rest of the space in your box (or if you didn’t draw
a box then the rest of the page) is called negative shape.

Element 3 – Form/Form

Form is the next step up from shape as we now add depth to it to create a three dimensional form. A
square (shape) vs a cube, a triangle vs a cone etc. etc. Form encloses volume i.e. height, width as
well as depth.
In drawing and painting form can only be implied because they are 2-dimesional (flat) media. Artists
must use tricks to fool the viewer’s eye so as to create the illusion of the third dimension i.e. depth.
This is known as Trompe l’oeil and is achieved using tools like value (shading), colour and contour
lines. Here you can see how shading has been used to create the illusion of 3-dimensional objects on
a flat wall:

Like shapes, forms can be geometric or organic. Organic forms are common in nature while geometric
forms are more characteristic of architecture and man-made items. Nature however also uses
geometric forms on occasion. Examples are crystals and honeycombs.

Element 4 - Space
Space is what lies between, around or within an object. To show space in a 2-dimensional medium
the artist must use techniques to create the illusion of space between items that are in reality on a flat
surface. How do artists create this feeling of space between objects?

Overlapping
When an object is drawn or painted on top of another object the viewer’s eye interprets this as one
object being in front of another implying there must be a space between them.

Placement
Objects higher up in the picture plane will seem to the viewer’s eye to be
further away than objects placed low down in the picture frame.
Size
Smaller objects look as if they are further away than larger objects. Notice
how much smaller the house is in relation to the flowers.

Detail
The further away an object, the less detail is visible to the viewer. By purposely reducing the
amount of detail in an object it will appear further away than an object with greater detail.

Colour and Value

Objects in the distance usually appear cooler (bluer) and lighter in colour. Close up objects
appear warmer and darker in value.

Perspective
Can be used to create the feeling of depth on a 2-dimensional surface. The most commonly
used perspective types are linear and 2-point perspective.

Negative Space
Space can be either positive or negative in the same way as shapes can. Negative space is
all around the object, which is the (positive space) subject of the painting. Negative space is very
important and an artist must plan the negative space as carefully as the main subject. Is there enough
negative space to give the subject room to “breathe” or does it appear boxed in? Negative space can
be cut to a minimum or eliminated entirely for a very close up and intimate focus on the subject. It can
be greater on one side than the other, or greater at the top or bottom. All choices which will affect how
the viewer sees the overall composition.

Element 5 - Value
 Value is how light or dark something is. There is a scale of light and dark from pure white
through to pitch black. The value of a colour depends on how light or dark it is compared to the value
scale. Getting the values right is more important than getting the colours right in painting. Value is
what makes it possible to show 3-dimensional forms in a 2-dimensional surface. By increasing
differences in value, contrast is increased as well. A highlight will look brighter when surrounded by a
dark value. Decreasing contrast will make objects visually recede into the picture plane and draw less
attention. The focal point of a painting is where you want to add the most contrast as this high contrast
automatically draws the viewer’s eye.

If a painting is done on the lower (darker) edge of the value scale it is called a “low key”
painting. Low key paintings give rise to a heavy, mysterious, dramatic, sometimes brooding feeling in
the viewer.

By contrast “high key” paintings take their range of values from the upper end of the value
scale and create emotions of lightness, quickness, spirituality etc. Most paintings however use the full
range of values from light to dark. Value is what artists use to portray light and form. The further from
the light the darker the value.

How value changes determines the form of an object. If there’s a gradual transition in value it
conveys to the viewer that the surface is gently rounded. This is called a soft edge. If however there is
a rapid transition between values it means there is an edge. This is called a hard edge. Value is also
used to create shadows which show light direction and anchor the object, preventing it from appearing
as though it is floating.
 Element 6 - Colour

Colour is created when light is reflected into the viewer’s eye. In art, colours are arranged on
a colour wheel. The colour wheel was developed by Isaac Newton who took the colour spectrum and
bent it into a circle. The colour wheel shows primary colours, (colours that can’t be mixed), secondary
colours (made by mixing two primaries) and tertiary colours (made by mixing a primary and secondary
colour). Colour theory helps the artist to mix desired colours from primary colours. It’s only a theory
and can’t be proven but it is nevertheless useful to the artist. Colour theory is based on the colour
wheel, colour value and on which colours work well together - also called colour schemes.

There are various colour schemes which define the primaries. The most common is the Red,
Yellow, Blue model. Another popular scheme uses Cyan, Magenta and Yellow as the primaries. There
are several other and each works well in different situations. Colour is described by its hue – red,
green etc. (Hue the name we give a colour.) A colour has intensity called chroma, also known as
saturation, brightness or purity. The more pure the colour is (less of other colours mixed in), the more
intense or saturated it is. In painting only small amounts of saturated colours are usually used as
accents. Too much saturated colour can give a garish result. The chroma of a colour is not the same
as its value.

Colours also have value. Value is how light or dark the colour is, as discussed in Element 5
above. Each colour falls on the value scale from light to dark. Yellow would be near the top (light end)
of the scale while purple would be found near the bottom end. To change the value of a colour you
follow the Colour Mixing Rules.
Color Schemes
1. Monochoromatic – this color scheme involves using the same hue but with
different gradients of value.

2. Analogous – The analogous color schemes entails the use of three or four
adjacent colors in the color wheel.

3. Complementary – The complementary color scheme involves the use of a

color and its complement – meaning the color located opposite of the first
color.

4. Split-complementary – this color scheme is a close relative to the

complementary color scheme. But instead of using the color’s complement,
this scheme users the two
5.
Element 7 – Texture

Actual texture is the way an object feels to the touch. Drawing or painting texture on a 2–
dimensional, flat surface is a challenge for artists. The artist must instead convey the illusion of the
actual texture to the viewer on the flat surface. How this is done is by the careful use of value and
specific marks / brush strokes which then mimic the actual texture. Every textured surface reflects
light in a very particular way. Think of the difference in texture between a chrome ball and a concrete
ball. The artist, through careful observation and the use of light and dark values, recreates this actual
texture visually on the picture plane.

It is possible to create actual 3D texture on a flat surface by the addition of texturing

compounds which create a raised surface. Impasto paste is one way or you could even add sand etc.
to the paint. Even thick paint will leave the texture of the brush marks for the viewer to see.
It is also possible to create patterns by the repetition of shapes that creates 2D texture. This is often
used in Op Art. (Optical Art).

Element 8 – Time and Motion

Movement in the visual arts can either be an illusion or an actual motion. An illusion of
movement is more common in two-dimensional artworks. On the other hand, actual motion is easily
seen in kinetic, sculpture, a type of sculpture that moves with the wind or are vibrating with the
surrounding air.

A. PAINTING
Painting refers to the process of applying color on a flat surface. Forms can be created using
a wide variety of materials such as watercolor, acrylic, ink, oil, pastel and charcoal. Surfaces for
painting include wood, canvas, cardboard and paper. Painting is considered two-dimensional,
meaning it only has height and width.

Forms of Painting
1. Easel painting
2. Murals
3. Telon painting
4. Jeepney and calesa painting
5. Collage

Easel Painting – the most common form of painting. As the name implies, this involves applying color
to a board or canvas that is fixed on an upright support called an easel. Easel painting are meant to
be framed and hanged on a wall after creating them.
 An example of an easel painting
Murals – is described as a huge wall-sized painting. During the 1980’s, some artists believed that the
mural should be used to impart messages to increase social awareness especially to issues at that
time. However a new form of mural , a portable mural, was developed in order to prevent the mural
from being erased from the wall. Nowadays, murals are created by younger artists through outreach
programs carried out by organizations. Just like during the 1980’s, these murals are still impart
messages on nationalism and on social awareness.

An example of mural or “wall art”

Telon Painting – A telon is described as a backdrop or background for the stage . These backdrops
are used for komedya, sarswela, and sinakulo which are popular forms of theater in the country.
Nowadays, telon is still used in presentation during carnivals, fiestas, festivals, and religious
celecrations.

Jeepney and Calesa Painting – Jeepney painting evolved from calesa painting. In a typical jeepney,
a logo number or painting is covered near the driver’s seat, as well as near the seats adjacent to it.
Typical subject matter of jeepney painting ranges from landscapes to scenes from comic books.
Collage – This refers to a form of painting that involves combine images in a single artwork. This
entails cutting and pasting materials such as wallpaper, fabric, tin foil and other relatively flat materials
onto a board or canvas.

THEMES OF PAINTING
There are eight themes of visual art particular painting, these are:
1. Genre 5. Portraits
2. Historical 6. Nudes
3. Interiors 7. Religious
4. Landscapes 8. Still Life

Genre Painting – portrays people in daily activities. Subjects include planting and harvesting rice, a
young woman singing in front of guests, barong-barong, vendors and fiestas. During the
contemporary period, genre painting took several directions. One of these new approaches is folk
genre, which mainly focuses on the everyday activities of the folk. Another approach is using the style
of cubism in depicting folk or urban subjects. On the other hand, folk-naïve is another style wherein it
uses a lot of color and spontaneity. This was inspired by children’s art.

Historical Painting - depicts scene from the past. It often has a lesson concerning national values.
Interiors – refers to painting of the space inside of a part of a house or a building. This usually reveals
the social class of the family living in their particular house, as well as the traits of the people living in
it.

Landscapes – paintings that portray natural scenery or urban scenes. Mixed media is now used in
creating landscape paintings. Closely related to landscapes are seascapes, which focus on large
bodies of water, particularly the ocean or the sea.

Portraits – paintings portraying one or more specific individuals. This usually portrays the physical
characteristics of the subjects and seeks to show an understanding of that person’s character

Nudes – portray the unclothed human figure. Nowadays, a wide variety of materials and styles can be
used in painting nudes. Nude painting sessions are conducted in galleries.
Religious Painting- common subjects of religious painting include a lone religious image, lives of the
saints, and scenes based from the scriptures like the nativity scene and the station of the cross.

Still Life – refers to a painting that depicts natural or man-made objects that form a composition in a
natural setting. There are still modern artists who did still life paintings, such as Ang Kiukok, Federico
Aguilar Alcuaz, and Manuel Baldemor. Each artist uses his own style in portraying in portraying still
life.