ART APPRECIATION
Basic Assumptions of the Art
- Art has been created by all people at all times, in all
countries and it lives because its well-liked and enjoyed
- Art involves experience; there can never be appreciation
of art without experience.
- Art is not nature; Nature is not art.
Art is made by man;
Art is everywhere.
- Art is man’s oldest means of expression;
- Art as a means of expression & communication.
“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
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.
Popular Art Expressions
VISUAL ARTS
 Appeal to the sense of sight
 Mainly visual in nature
 Is the kind of art form that the population is most
likely more exposed to
 Some mediums of visual arts include paintings,
drawings, lettering, printing, sculptures, digital
imaging, and more.
FILM
 The art of putting together successions of still
images in order to create an illusion of movement,
 focuses on its aesthetic, cultural, and social value
 considered as both an art and an industry
 Techniques: motion-picture camera, animation
techniques, computer generated imagery
 Takes into account many important elements
Performance Art
 Live art
 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
 Four important elements: time, the performers,
where the performance took place, relationship
between the audience and the performers
 Cannot be traded as commodity
Poetry
 Poetry is an art form where the artist expresses
his emotions through words.
 Words are carefully selected to exhibit clarity and
beauty
Architecture
 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.
 Three important elements: plan, construction and
design
Dance
 Dance is series of movements that follows the
rhythm of the music accompaniment.
 A creative form that allows people to freely
express themselves
Literary Art
 focuses on writing using a unique style, not
following a specific form or norm.
 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.
 Considers several elements
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.
Functions of Art
A. 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.
B. 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.
C. 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.
D. 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.
E. 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.
F. 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.
 Art as a Representation
 Art 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
A. 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.
B. 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.
Sources of Subject
 Nature
 Sacred Oriental Texts
 History
 Greek and Roman Mythology
 Judeo-Christian Tradition
ART APPRECIATION
 Other Works of art
Kinds of Subject
 History
 Landscape
 Still Life
 Seascape
 Cityscape
 Animals
 Figures
 Nature
 Myth
 Dreams
 Mythology
 Fantasies
Levels of Meaning
A. 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.
B. 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.
C. 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.
Artists and Artisans
 Robert Henri The Art Spirit (1923) – art when really
understood is the province of every human being
 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
 Middle Ages – Craft Guild
 Guilds – groups of artisans or craftsmen who took
on a particular specialization or trade
 Practice of artists was grounded in the
commitment to work together as a collective
 A special type of fellowship
 An association structured with rules, customs,
rights and responsibilities
 Artisans develops immense skills and expertise in
his craft
Artist and his studio
 An artist's studio is an extension of himself
 Studiolo and bottega
 France – academies and art salons support the
production and discourse around art
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 Industrial revolution – availability and portability of kind of judiciousness in the manipulation of the
materials, reliance on wealthy patrons for material
commission 3. Post Production Stage
 1900s – art was truly liberated from the traditions  Most drawn out
of the past, artists found freedom to articulate  Decided on how it will be circulated
their aesthetic way of creative production  Allowing the artwork to set
 Tweaking
Curators
 Preparing for transport and display
 Role is more of the interpretation and  Promotion and inclusion in publications for
development of the artworks or the colletions discussions
through establishing the significance, relationship
and relevance of these materials
 Ability to research Medium
 Deciding for the display and hanging of materials
for exhibitions  Directly correlates with its composition and
presumed finality of the work
 Institutional curators – affiliated with museum and
galleries  Concrete or tangible
 Independent or freelance curators – have the  Ephemeral or transient
leeway to move around various projects, platforms Technique
and art spaces in a multiplicity of terms
 Reason why art history is described by a seemingly
Buyers limitless example of works of art
 Those who initially assess and survey the artwork  Shows the level of familiarity with the medium
that collectors are interested in being manipulated
 Oversee the sale of the artwork on the behalf of Awards and Citations
the collector
 Those who acquire and purchase artworks for a Order of the National Artist
variety of reasons  Orden ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining
Art Dealers  Highest national recognition given to Filipino
individuals who have made significant
 Whose direct hand is in the distribution and contributions to the development of the Philippine
circulation of the artworks through a variety of Arts
means: direct sales, galleries, auction houses  Fernanado Amorsolo, 1972 – first awardee for
Museums Visual Arts
1) Rank and title
 Display of artworks for the education of the public 2) Medallion
and the appreciation of these objects only 3) Cash awards
4) State funeral and burial at Libingan ng mga
Bayani
Production Process 5) Place of Honor

1. Preproduction Stage
 Begins with an idea that he wants to express or
National Living Treasures Award
communicate with his audience
2. Production Stage  Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan
 Material manipulation  Republic Act no. 7355
 May take a variety of forms  Finest traditional artist of the land
 Some artworks rely on a precise and skilled  Ginaw Bilog – Ambahan poetry
execution while others need only intuition and a  Masino Intaray – various traditional musical
instruments of the Palawan People

 Samson Sulaiman – kutyapi and other instruments
Elements of Visual Arts
 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.
• 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.
• Has the ability to direct the eyes to follow the movement or
provide hints as to a work's focal point
• 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).
A. Vertical Lines
- Vertical lines are poised for action. They are poised,
balanced, forceful, and dynamic. They express an
impression of dignity
- Connote elevation or height, which is usually taken to
mean exaltation or aspiration for action
- Only vertical lines can be used to express an
orderly feeling
B. Horizontal Lines
- Horizontal lines are lines of repose and serenity.
They express ideas of calmness and quiescence.
- Alludes to the position of the reclined body at rest
- Only horizontal lines can give a feeling of
peacefulness and stillness.
C. Diagonal lines
- Diagonal lines are used to create feelings of
movement or action.
- Convey movement and instability
D. Crooked or Jagged Lines
– reminiscent of violence, conflict or struggle
E. Curved lines
- Curved lines, sometimes referred as S curves,
suggest gracefulness or sexiness.
ART APPRECIATION
Three Main Types of Lines
1. Repetition occurs when two or more lines are drawn within
a corner following the lines of the corner.
2. Lines that are in opposition to each other form a contrast.
3. 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.
• To summarize, including leading lines within a photograph
is a composition technique that can strongly influence the
overall result of an image.
• Leading lines can direct a person’s eye to a main focal
point or, if used incorrectly, can draw the eye away from
the subject or appear to cut a photo in half.
Color
 Color refers to the visual perception of light being reflected
from a surface of an artwork.
 A property of light
 Color theory – Sir Isaac Newton 1666
 In the most basic classification, colors can be divided into
three groups: primary, secondary and tertiary.
Attributes of Color
A. 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.
B. Values – refers to the brightness or darkness of color; used
to create the ilusion of depth and solidarity
C. Intensity – the color’s brightness or dullness; the strength
of the color; vivid/muted
D. Tints are values above the normal
E. Shades are values below the normal.
 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 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
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- Red and White convey unity Kinds of Space

1. Positive space - the areas in a work of art that are the

Texture subjects, or areas of interest.

• Texture is the element that deals more directly with the sense 2. Negative space – areas around the subjects, or areas
of touch. of interest.

• It has to do with the characteristics of surfaces which can be 3. Three dimensional space – can be stimulated
rough or smooth, fine or coarse, shiny or dull, plain or irregular. through a variety of techniques such as shading

A. Implied texture expresses the idea of how a surface Form

might feel. For example, a painting of a blanket might
convey the idea that the blanket is soft.
B. 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.
Perspective
Perspective deals with the effect of distance upon the appearance
of objects, by means of which the eye judges spatial relationships.
Kinds of Perspective
A. 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.
• Shape, Form, and Volume are words that are used to describe
distinct areas or parts of works of art or architecture.
• Shape refers to height and width
• Form refers to height, width and depth
• Form applies to the over-all design of a work of art.
• It describes the structure or shape of an object.
• 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.

• Painters usually show the effect of space and distance Types of Form
by using converging lines and diminishing size.
1. Organic forms
• Parallel lines below the eye level seem to rise to a
- irregular in outline, and often asymmetrical.
vanishing point in the horizon, while those above the
Organic forms are most often thought of as
eye level seem to descend to the vanishing point.
naturally occurring.
• Foreshortening is the representation of objects or -
parts of the body as smaller from the point of view of
2. Geometric forms
the observer.
- those which correspond to named regular
B. Aerial perspective is the representation of relative
shapes, such as squares, rectangles, circles,
distances of objects by gradations of tone or color.
cubes, spheres, cones, and other regular
• Objects become fainter in the distance due to the forms.
effect of the atmosphere. Objects appear to be lighter - Find origin in mathematical propositions
in color as they recede into the distance or VOLUME
atmosphere.
 Volume refers to the amount of space occupied in three
Space
dimensions.
Space refers to how the artist fills the surface on which a work of art  It refers to solidity or thickness.
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.

Space 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 two-dimensional or three-
dimensional.

Sometimes space isn't actually within a piece, but the illusion of it

is.
ART APPRECIATION