MODULE 2

Artistic Explorations:
Fine Arts, Applied Creativity,
and Subject Dynamics
LESSON 1:
FINE ARTS
“Beauty is in the eye
of the beholder.”
The term fine art was extremely popular in
the 19th century. At that time, most artists
emphasized more in utilizing art as a freedom
of expression.

Fine art may include:

• Painting
• Printmaking
• Sculpture
THE 3 MAJOR FORMS
OF ART
• Visual Arts
• Literature Arts
• Performing Arts
VISUAL ARTS
 VISUAL ARTS
The visual arts are called such because,
being composed in space, they can be
seen. Their appreciation is experienced
through the eyes, primarily, and
through the sense of touch, particularly
in sculpture.
 Two Classes of Visual Arts
• Dimensional Arts (painting,
drawing, printmaking, and
photography)
• Three-dimensional Arts (sculpture,
architecture, landscape, industrial
designs)
LITERATURE ARTS
 LITERATURE ARTS
Literature arts is exceptionally self-expressive
in light of the fact that this creative writing
expresses the writer or an author’s emotions,
feeling, a point of view, and much more. This
form of art is informative yet imaginative
(style of writing), where it generally uses
metaphorical literary dialects, phrase, and
much more.
The main form of literature art
includes:
• Poetry
• Fiction Writing
• Playwriting
• Epic Poetry
PERFORMING ARTS
Performing Arts includes drama, music,
dance, theater, and much more. Performing
Arts like dance generally use sound (music)
as well as body along with expressions.
Unlike the other forms of art, the artist in
the Performing Arts is generally known as
the performer.
INTRODUCTION
TO FINE ARTS
Fine Arts encompass a broad spectrum of
visual and performing arts that are created
primarily for their aesthetic and
intellectual value. Fine Arts serve as a
testament to human creativity, offering a
diverse range of mediums for artists to
convey their thoughts, emotions, and
perspectives.
Key Elements and Mediums:
• Painting
• Sculpture
• Drawing
• Architercture
PAINTING
 Painting
Utilizing pigments on surfaces,
painting is a fundamental form of
Fine Art. Styles range from
realistic representations to abstract
and conceptual works.
SCULPTURE
 Sculpture
Three-dimensional art involves
shaping materials like stone, wood,
or metal into forms that occupy
space, providing a tangible and
immersive experience.
DRAWING
 Drawing
The foundation of visual arts,
drawing involves creating images
using various tools such as
pencils, charcoal, or ink.
ARCHITECTURE
 Architecture
Melding aesthetics and
functionality, architecture is the
art of designing and constructing
buildings and spaces.
 Artistic Movements
Throughout history, fine arts have
witnessed numerous movements that
reflect societal changes and artistic
innovations. Notable movements
include:
● Renaissance: Characterized by a revival of
classical aesthetics and humanism.
● Impressionism: Focused on capturing the
fleeting effects of light and color in the
moment.
● Cubism: Challenged traditional perspectives
by presenting multiple viewpoints
simultaneously.
 Contemporary Expressions
In the contemporary art scene, artists explore
diverse mediums, incorporating technology,
performance, and installations. Digital art,
video art, and conceptual pieces push the
boundaries of traditional definitions,
fostering experimentation and
interdisciplinary collaborations.
ART
CRITICISM
 Art Criticism and Interpretation
Art critics analyze and evaluate artworks,
considering elements like composition, form,
and meaning. Interpretation, on the other
hand, is subjective, allowing viewers to
derive personal meanings from the art they
experience.
 Art Institutions and
Education
Fine Arts are studied and
practiced in various
educational institutions
worldwide. Art schools,
museums, and galleries
contribute to the
preservation, promotion, and
advancement of artistic
endeavors.
 Role in Society
Fine Arts contribute to cultural identity,
fostering creativity, critical thinking, and
empathy. Public art installations, museums, and
galleries provide spaces for communal
experiences and dialogue. Additionally, Fine
Arts intersect with broader societal issues,
serving as a medium for social commentary and
activism.
In essence, Fine Arts act as cultural mirrors, reflecting the stories,
values, and identity of societies. Through their diverse expressions,
artists contribute to the ongoing narrative of humanity, fostering
connections between the past, present, and future.
 LESSON 2:
APPLIED ARTS
The term "applied art" refers to the application
(and resulting product) of artistic design to
utilitarian objects in everyday use. Whereas works
of fine art have no function other than providing
aesthetic or intellectual stimulation to the viewer,
works of applied art are usually functional objects
which have been "prettified" or creatively designed
with both aesthetics and function in mind.
WORKS OF APPLIED
ART COMPRISE TWO
DIFFERENT TYPES
1. Standard machine-
made products which
have had a particular
design applied to them,
to make them more
attractive and easy to
use; and individual,
aesthetically pleasing
but mostly functional.
2. Craft products made by artisans or skilled
workers. Artistic disciplines that are classified as
applied arts include industrial design, fashion
design, interior design, and graphic art and design
(including computer graphics), as well as most
types of decorative art (e.g., furniture, carpets,
tapestry, embroidery, batik, jewelry, precious
metalwork, pottery, goldsmithing, basketry,
mosaic art, and glassware).
 THE HISTORICAL
EVOLUTION OF APPLIED
ARTS:
WEAVING THREADS OF
FUNCTIONALITY AND
AESTHETICS
Understanding the Roots
Applied Arts, with its roots deeply embedded
in human history, has evolved as a dynamic
expression of cultural, societal, and
technological changes. The journey begins in
the annals of ancient civilizations where
practicality and aesthetics converged in
everyday objects, architectural
embellishments, and utilitarian items.
Medieval Artisan
Guilds and
Renaissance
Influence
• During the medieval period, artisan guilds played
a pivotal role in the development of applied arts.
The guild system nurtured skilled craftsmen who
meticulously created items ranging from textiles
to metalwork.
• The Renaissance period marked a significant
turning point, witnessing a revival of interest in
classical art, inspiring applied artists to
incorporate classical elements into their creations.
 Industrial
Revolution and
Applied Arts
The Industrial Revolution brought about
radical changes, transforming societies and
reshaping the landscape of applied arts. Mass
production became a dominant force, impacting
the traditional craftsmanship. Despite this shift,
the applied arts adapted, with designers and
artisans seeking a balance between mass
production and artistic integrity.
20th Century
and Beyond
The 20th century witnessed a kaleidoscope of
design movements, each leaving an indelible
mark on applied arts. Art Deco brought forth a
celebration of luxury and modernity, while
Bauhaus championed functional and minimalist
design principles. Postmodernism challenged
established norms, leading to a diverse array of
styles and approaches.
Art Deco = French
Bauhaus = German
 Global
Perspectives
 Global Perspectives
The cross-cultural exchange of ideas, fueled
by globalization, has enriched the diversity of
applied arts. Designers draw inspiration from
diverse traditions, merging cultural elements
into innovative creations.
 EXPLORING THE
FUNDAMENTALS OF
DESIGN IN APPLIED ARTS:
CRAFTING VISUAL
HARMONY
Elements of Design
• Balance as the Cornerstone
• Harmony in Diversity
• The Power of Contrast
• Proportion as a Visual Guideline
• Emphasis and Focal Points
• Unity Through Repetition
 LESSON 3:
SUBJECT AND CONTENT
(Medium in Various Forms
of Arts)
 MEDIUMS USED
FOR VISUAL ARTS
 COLOR
The medium of painting is color. Color is
applied on surfaces such as canvas, cloth,
wood, paper and the likes to produce images
and meanings. Pigment is that part of
painting that provides the color, and pigment
is taken from organic sources like trees,
vegetables and other natural elements.
WATERCOLOR
Pigment in watercolor is mixed with
water rather than with oil. It dries
quickly; hence, it is a difficult medium to
control. It is characterized by the
transparency of its texture which is
controlled by the amount of water that the
artist mixes with the paint.
FRESCO
Fresco painting is produced when organic
pigments are mixed with water and applied to
a damp plaster wall. This allows water to
seep into the surface and become a part of the
wall and remains so until the wall falls. This
was the process that Michelangelo used in
painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in
Rome.
TEMPERA
 TEMPERA
Pigments are taken from organic
pigments mixed with egg. It is usually
applied on wooden panels surfaced with
gesso (combination of gypsum and
gelatine). It dries quickly.
PASTEL
 PASTEL
A stick of dried paste made of
pigment ground with chalk
compounded with gum water.
ENCAUSTIC
Encaustic process adds colored pigments
to heated beeswax. The mixture is then
applied to porous surfaces like wood.
This is an ancient technique used to paint
portraits and other images on coffins.
OIL
 OIL
Color pigments are ground and mixed with
linseed oil to produce a liquid-like
constituency whose viscosity (thickness or
fluidness) can be thinned by turpentine or
any other solvent. It is a flexible medium. It
is slow to dry, but it can be applied by any
kind and size of airbrush.
 ACRYLIC
This is the most common medium, easily
accessible and inexpensive. It is versatile as
this synthetic paint may be mixed with water
to tamper thickness or thinness. It is flexible
and can be applied to any space. It is quick to
dry and does not crack or turn yellow with age
 MOSAIC
Mosaic is the art of creating a picture by
assembling pieces of colored glasses, stones,
called “tesserae” and other materials. These
small cubic pieces glued to a surface by glue or
plaster to create images are called tesserae.
Mosaic art was important in the interiors of
cathedrals which depicted the life of Christ or the
various events in the Bible.
 STAINED GLASS
Stained glass art uses assembled pieces of colored
glass to create pictures. The translucent glass
pieces allow light to produce various color values
to affect a glorious atmosphere. These pieces are
assembled with strips of lead or iron placed in
positions that will hold the glass pieces. Subjects
were religious personages and images
complementing the teachings of the Church.
 TAPESTRY
Tapestries were the art forms of royalty, as
tapestry artists were usually members of
royal families who wove these from
expensive silk and gold threads. These
were hung on walls of castles, palaces and
cathedrals.
 DRAWING
Drawings are the outlined
designs of paintings. It is the
most fundamental of the skills
in the visual arts and is the
route artists take to acquire
technique. It often sets the
final designs in paintings, the
rough draft of a proposed
work.
SCULPTURE
Three-dimensional art made by one of four
basic processes:
• carving
• modelling
• casting
• constructing/assemblage
• Carving is a sculptural technique that involves using tools to
shape a form by cutting or scraping away from a solid material
such as stone, wood, ivory or bone.
• Modelling is an additive process. This means a soft material is
worked by the artist to build up a shape or form
• Casting involves making a mould and then pouring a liquid
material, such as molten metal, plastic, rubber or fibreglass
into the mould.
• Constructing/Assemblage, or the assembling of pieces to
produce an artwork.
Carving Modelling
Casting Constructing/ Assemblage
PRINTMAKING
 PRINTMAKING
This involves creating images from ink that
is transferred to paper from another
material, either wooden block or metal plate
that are etched or carved with designs in the
reverse position.
 Planographic printing
(lithography)
The matrix is flat, and the printing
part is treated to hold ink, the other
parts, to repel it
 Mediums of Auditory Arts
Are those whose mediums can be heard and which are
expressed in time.
Definition
of Terms
• Subject Matter - the main theme of a work of art. It
might be a person, place, thing or abstract idea selected by
the writer.
• Iconography - the study of subject matter and symbolism.
Awareness of symbolism can enrich the viewing
experience.
• Style - the characteristic manner of executing the visual
elements used by an artist. It is the distinctive handling of
the elements and media associated with the work of an
individual artist, a school or movement, or specific
culture or time period.
Historical Context - the record of events that affected the artist
and the development of his work - political, social, economic,
scientific, technological, and intellectual background.
Variations in style are sometimes linked to cultural contexts.
• Period style is the general characteristics common to much of the
work from given period of time or cultural phase.
• Regional style is the manner of expression common in the work
of artists working in the same country or area.
• Individual style is the manner of expression used by a particular
artist.
Provenance is the source and history of a work of
art.
o Artist biographical information
o When and where was it made?
o How was it made?
o Where was it exhibited?
o Who bought it? For how much?
o Where is it now?
Content is the meaning of a work of art. It not only
refers to its subject matter and its underlining meaning
or themes.

The Levels of Content in a Work of Art

● Subject matter
● Elements of composition
● Underlying or symbolic meanings or themes
 Realistic Art
• Realism is the portrayal of people and things as
they are seen by the eye or as they are thought to
be without idealization, without distortion.

• Photography. We think of photography as the

most realistic. The technique of shooting,
capturing, and documenting suggests truth and
reality
 Representational Art
Representational Art presents natural form in a
recognizable manner, although not always in
realistic way.
• Naturalistic
• Realistic
• Stylistic
• Expressionistic
Distortion (or warping)
is the alteration of the original
shape (or other characteristic)
of something, such as an object
or image. In the art world, a
distortion is any change made
by an artist to the size, shape or
visual character of a form to
express an idea, convey a
feeling or enhance visual
impact.
Fauvism
is colorful style of
painting developed by
Henri Matisse and
André Derain who used
vibrant colors,
simplified drawing and
expressive brushwork.
Dadaism or Dada was a
form of artistic anarchy
born out of disgust for the
social, political and
cultural values of the time.
It was more a protest
movement with an anti-
establishment manifesto.
• The Form of a work refers to its totality as a work
of art. It is the organization of the elements
including the design principles and composition
of a work of art.
• Formalistic criticism is an approach that
concentrates on the formal concepts such as the
elements and principles, but not content, historical
context of the biography of the artis