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An overview of art; The meaning
and importance of art
A. Art from its derivatives:
Ar- Aryan word meaning “to join” or “put together”.
Artis which means “craftmanship, skill, mastery of
form, and inventiveness”. (Italian)
Ars- “ability or skill”. (Latin)
Greek words;
Artizein- “prepare”, and;
Arkiskein- “put together”.
B. The origin of art
The history of art begin with that of humanity. Art
dates back to the time when superstitions and
beliefs in the spirits are still very common.
It was manifested through genres of art.
Artworks are made from the more durable materials
like metal, stone, clay, bone, and glass.
C. The nature of art
We can communicate through art.
Artworks are valuable sources of inspiration.
Through artworks we get a glimpse of the thoughts,
feelings, and beliefs of the people who lived in that
period and the external factors that influenced it.
D. Four essentials of art
1. Art must be man-made.
2. Art must be creative, not imitative.
3. Art must benefit and satisfy man.
4. Art is expressed through a certain medium or
material.
Art appreciation is the ability to interpret or
understand man-made arts for one’s admiration and
satisfaction.
The subject of art
A subject of art is usually anything that is
represented in the artwork. It is varied – it may be a
person, object, scene, or event.
Two Kinds of Subject:
1. Objective Arts
2. Non-objective Arts
E. The Function of art
1. Aesthetic function – Through art man becomes
conscious of the beauty of nature. He learns to use,
love, and preserve the art for his enjoyment and
appreciation.
 Personal – art function as a means
of showing personality - an
extension of oneself.
2. Utilitarian function (Economic, Physical) –
Through art, man can now live with convenience as
his economic needs are satisfied.
3. Cultural function (Historical, Religious) – Through
art, the historical and cultural background of a
certain era/ period are easily shared from one
generation to another.
4. Social function (Psychological, Political) –
Through art, a message can be conveyed or
transmitted from one to another. It foster
understanding and a means of communication.
F. The Scope of Art
1. Fine arts are made primarily for aesthetic
enjoyment through senses.
Examples are: music, painting, sculpture,
architecture, literature, dance, and drama.
2. Utilitarian arts are intended for practical use
through development of raw materials to be utilized.
Examples are: Industrial art, applied/household art,
civic art, commercial art, graphic art, agricultural art,
business art, distributive art and fishery art.
G. Genres of Art
Visual arts (graphic, plastic);
Performing arts (theater, play, dance, music);
Literary arts (short story, novel, poetry, drama);
Popular arts (film, newspaper, magazine, radio,
television);
Gustatory art of the cuisine (food and beverage
preparation); and,
Decorative or applied arts (beautification of houses,
offices, cars, and other structures).
Mixed or Combined arts (opera which combines
music, poetry and drama) more than one medium.
H. Kinds of visual arts
1. Graphic arts, where portrayals of forms and
symbols are recorded on a two-dimensional surface.
Ex. Painting, drawing, photography, printing and etc.
2. Plastic arts, include all fields of visual arts for
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which materials are organized into three- Emphasis

dimensional forms. Is the principle of arts which tends to carry the eyes
from the center of interest or dominant part of any
Ex. Sculpture, architecture, crafts, dress and costume composition to the less important or subordinate
design, etc. parts.

I. Principles of Art
1. Harmony
2. Balance
3. Proportion
4. Rhythm
5. Emphasis

Harmony
Is the principle which produces an impression of
unity through the selection and arrangement of
consistent objects or ideas.

It is the quality which unifies every part of an

arrangement.

Rhythm
Is the regular, uniform or related movement made
through the repetition of a unit or motif.

It is visual movement in a design or arrangement.

Classification of Rhythm:
Formal rhythm – a.k.a uniform rhythm the repetition
of a motif in uniform or regular arrangement.
Informal rhythm – is the repetition of a motif with
variation in its form, size, and arrangement.

Balance
Is a condition or quality which gives a feeling of rest,
repose, equilibrium or stability.

Kinds of Balance
Symmetrical balance (Formal) – is the balance of
equal visual weights placed at equal distances
from the axis.
Asymmetrical balance (Informal) – is the balance of
unequal visual weights, the heavier one being nearer
the axis and the lighter one farther.

Proportion
Is the art principle which shows pleasing relationship
between a whole and its parts and between part
themselves.

It is the arrangement of space divisions in pleasing

relationship.
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Medium and Technique
I. Mediums of the Visual Arts
A. PAINTING is the art of creating meaningful effects
on a flat surface by the use of pigments.
1. WATER COLOR is a dry pigment mixed with
water.
2. FRESCO is used on a moist plaster surface with
colors ground in water or a limewater mixture.
3. TEMPERA is a mineral pigments mixed with egg
yolk or egg white and ore.
4. PASTEL is a stick of dried paste made of pigment
round with chalk and compounded with gum
water.
5. ENCAUSTIC this is done by painting with wax
colors fixed with heat.
6. OIL the pigments are mixed with linseed oil and
applied to the canvas.
7. ACRYLIC a synthetic paint is mixed with acrylic
emulsion as binder for coating the surface of the
artwork.
8. MOSAIC is a picture or decoration made of small
pieces of inlaid colored stones or glass called
“tesserae”, which most often are cut into
squares glued on a surface with plaster or
cement.
9. STAINED GLASS this is made by combining many
small pieces of colored glass which are held
together by bands of lead.
10. TAPESTRY this is a fabric consisting of a warp
upon which colored threads are woven by hand
to produce a design, often pictorials, wall
hangings and furniture covering.
11. DRAWING is usually done on paper using pencil,
pen and ink, or charcoal.
12. BISTRE is a brown pigment extracted from the
soot of wood and often used in pen and wash
drawings.
13. CRAYONS are pigments bound by wax and
compressed into painted sticks.
14. CHARCOAL is a carbonaceous material obtained
by heating wood or other organic substances in
the absence of oxygen.
15. SILVERPOINT is a silver stylus.
16. PRINTMAKING a print is anything printed on a
surface that is direct result from duplicating
process.
B. SCULPTURE It is a 3-dimensional work of art which
is formed through different materials such as stone,
jade, ivory, metals, bronze, brass, copper, gold,
silver, lead, plaster, granite, marble clay, glass, wood,
and terra cotta.
1. STONE is the hard and brittle substance formed
from mineral and earth material.
2. JADE is a fine, colorful stone, usually green and
used widely in Ancient China.
3. IVORY which comes from the main parts of tusk of
elephants, is the hard white substance used to make
carvings and billiard balls.
4. BRONZE is one of the oldest alloys of metal
composing chiefly of copper and tin with color and is
one of the most universally popular metals for
sculpture.
5. BRASS, an alloy of copper and zinc, is not properly
used by artists because of its limitations as a
medium.
II. Mediums of the Performing Arts
Music is the art of creating a sound through human’s
voice and different musical instruments.
A. Vocal music is the oldest and natural form of
music. Our voice is produced by the vibrations of the
vocal chords in our voice box.
Voice differs according to timbre (quality) and range.
As to timbre, they are classified into: women’s voices
and men’s voices.
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B. Voice Classification
1. Women’s voice
Soprano – tone is lighter in character, less somber
and frequently more flexible
Alto or Contralto – the tone is richer and fuller
2. Men’s Voice
Tenor – the highest type in men’s voices
Baritone – the voice is between tenor and bass
Bass – lowest and deepest voice quality
III. Medium of literature
Literature an art which is composed of the various
languages of the world.
IV. Methods of Art Production and Presentation
A. Realism - presenting the subject as they appear in
real life. The artist’s main function is to describe as
accurately and honestly as possible what is
observed through the senses.
B. Abstractionism - abstract art moves away from
showing things as they really are. Abstract means “to
move away or separate”.
C. It can be classified into:
Distortion - when the subject is presented in
misshaped or twisted form.
Elongation - subject is stretched or elongated in
form.
Mangling - parts of subject are lacerated, mutilated
or hacked.
Cubism - subject is presented in cubes or other
geometric figures.
Abstract Expressionism - usage of strong color,
brush strokes, rough texture and deliberate lack of
refinement.
Symbolism- subject or theme is represented by
something else or by a visible sign.
Fauvism (Optimistic Realism) - it uses extremely
bright colors.
Dadaism (Shock Realism) - protest against the
Fauves, it presents the subject using dark colors.
Intends to shock the audience. Dada means “Hobby
Horse”.
Futurism - realism in the future. Relates the subject
towards the future.
Surrealism (Beyond Realism) - bizarre context of the
subject that seems like visualization of dreams.
Expressionism (Emotional Realism)- Evokes
emotional response like pathos, chaos, fear,
violence, defeat, morbidity and tragedy. Intense
color, agitated brushwork and violent imagery.
V. Elements of Visual and Performing Arts
A. Elements of Visual Arts
1. Line – series of connected dots.
a. Horizontal – rest, repose, calmness and
serenity.
b. Vertical – show height, stature, and poised for
action.
c. Diagonal – manifest movement, action and
direction.
d. Curved – suggests grace, subtleness, flexibility
and joyousness.
e. Crooked or jagged – express energy, violence,
conflict and struggle.
2. Color – is a property of light.
Three dimensions/attribute of color;
Hue – the dimension of color that gives color its
name.
Intensity – a.k.a chroma or saturation. Refers to the
brightness of color.
Value – a.k.a chiaroscuro, refers to the lightness or
darkness of colors.
Tints – values below the normal.
Shades – values above the normal.
Primary – red, yellow, and blue.
Secondary – green, orange, and violet
Intermediate – red-violet, red-orange, yellow-
orange, yellow-green, blue-green and blue-violet.
Adjacent – colors situated next in the color wheel.
Complementary – colors situated opposite each
other in the color wheel.
Neutral Colors – white, gray and black.
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3. Texture – akin to the sense of touch, the sensation
given from a visual perspective of a two-dimensional
object.
4. Space – area or surfaced occupied by the artwork.
5. Form – it signifies visual weights. This applies to
the over-all design of a work of art.
6. Volume – refers to the amount of space occupied
in three-dimensions.
B. Elements of performing arts
a. MUSIC is an auditory art.
Elements:
1. Rhythm – a basic element of music, the beginning
of music. It is the various length and accentuation of
a series of sounds. Associated with physical motion.
2. Melody – it refers to pitches or tones sounded
one after another in a logical meaningful series. A
succession of tones arranged in such a way as to give
a musical sense. Sometimes called as the memory
element because it is always remembered by a
listener. Associated with mental motion.
3. Pitch – indicates the lowness and highness of
sound and is determined solely by the frequency of
molecular vibrations.
4. Harmony – refers to the manner of sound
combination wherein we add subordinates sounds to
enhance the quality of the main sounds
5. Tempo – refers to the speed of a certain musical
piece.
6. Dynamics – refers to the speed of a certain
musical piece.
7. Timbre – refers to tone quality.
b. DANCE is an art and recreation. It tells a story, a
set of mood, or expresses an emotion.
Elements:
1. Theme is the most basic element of a dance. It
conveys the message of the dance.
2. Design is the pattern of movement in time and
space.
3. Movement refers to the bodily actions of the
dancer that include his steps, gestures of the
arms, hands and body and facial expression.
4. Technique is the skill of movement executed by
the dancer.
5. Music is the auditory background to which a
dancer moves.
6. Costume and body paraphernalia are properties
worn by the dancer that help reflect the message,
customs, beliefs, and setting of the dance.
7. Choreography refers to the figures and steps in
dancing that enable the dancers to perform a
dance in an organized manner.
8. Scenery refers to the background or setting where
the dance is performed to make it more realistic
and enriching.
c. LITERATURE is one of the arts that is expressive of
human feelings.
Specific Elements of Literature
a. Short Story
1. Plot is the sequential arrangement of related
events and actions of which the story is
composed.
2. Characters refer to people or animals that take
part in the action of a story.
3. Point of view refers to how the author or narrator
allows us to see what he wants us to see.
4. Setting could be a locale or place where the event
or action took place; or a feeling that invites
meaning.
5. Theme refers to the message communicated by
the story. Subordinate themes are called motifs.
6. Irony is a contrast among what seems and what is
and could be.
7. Symbolism refers to something that is more than
what it is in reality.
8. Style implies control of material through the use
of literary and figurative languages.
b. Poetry
1. Language refers to poet who uses every resource
of language.
2. Tone refers to atmosphere, feeling, attitude,
stance or the way the poet looks at his subject or
the world.
3. Imagery is the representation of sense experience
or the total sensory suggestion of poetry.
4. Sounds are characterized either as pleasant or
unpleasant.
5. Rhythm and meter is the regular and irregular
patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables,
metrical or rhetorical stress.
Poets who are not particular with rhyme and meter,
uses the “free verse” style.
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6. Thought or meaning refers to the experience the 10. Setting, Scenery , and Lighting.
poem expresses.
7. Shape of the poem refers to the pattern of
arrangement of the words on the page.
8. Speaker the voice that talks to the readers.

c. Novel is a long work of prose fiction dealing with

characters, situations and scenes that represent
real life and the setting and the action is in the
form of plot.
1. Setting covers the time, the place and the
background.
2. Plot is the skeleton or framework which gives
shape and proportion to novel.
3. Theme is the universal truth found in the novel,
the main idea or topic.
4. Characters are the moving spirit of the novel.

d. Drama
1. Plot is the soul of the drama, or its summary.
2. Character/ dramatics personae are make believe
persons, either protagonist or antagonist and whose
personalities are carefully brought out by their
appearance, speech, actions and what other
characters say of them.

Protagonist is the main character, the person who is

attempting to resolve the problem. The conflict the
protagonist faces, frequently involves a struggle with
some forces outside himself (external conflicts) as
with an antagonist, and/or a struggle within himself
(internal conflicts)

3. Conflict in drama, we find a struggle, clash of wills

and conflicts.
4. Irony arises from a recognition of discrepancy
between the expected and actual, the apparent and
real.
5. Theme or idea refers to the dramatic situation
that may be taken from the Bible, myth, legend,
history, or anything familiar to the audience.
6. Climax is the scene or incident that is the fruition
of the accumulated suspense, and that stirs the most
intense feelings or emotions.
7. Music and Spectacle is a theatre convention
which is a part of the total appeal of the drama, and
which shows the relationship of script, actor,
audience, author producer, society, genre, stage and
others.
8. Costumes and Make-up
9. Dialogue the conversation between and among
the characters of the drama.