CHAPTER 2

Art appreciation

The understanding of universal and timeless qualities that identify all great art.

3 LANGUAGES OF ARTS

 Primary Language - This is the language of arts to which we can all respond, given the chance
and some reassurance of its validity.
 Secondary Language - It is made up of the conventions, the traditions and styles, which have
accumulated over the ages.
 Third Language - A language in which this and other books on the arts are written or
documented.

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE WORK OF THE ARTIST

1. STYLE: These represent the style of a period, which maybe the product of the collective feeling of
society or enlightened perceptions as of the leaders of an age.

2. Historical factors: The artist’s search for new perceptions is directly or indirectly linked to his society
and environment.

3. Geographical factors: Artists are basically conditioned and influenced by their place of origin and
ethnicity.

4. Political Psychological/ and Sociological factors: Socio-economic and political systems and behavioral
patterns contribute to the development or change in style in art.

5. Religious factors: The Reformation, the Counter-Reformation, and Humanism brought tremendous.

6. Technological factor: Technology produces new art forms.

THE BASIC RELATIONSHIPS IN ART

• The subject matter

• The artist

• The audience

• The own form

THE FOUR PRINCIPAL APPROACHES TO ART CRITICISM/APPRECIATIONS

• Mimetic (based on the subject matter)

• Expressive (“ “ “ Artist)

• Pragmatic (“ “ “ Audience)

• Formal or Aesthetic (“Form)

ACCORDING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER, ART MAY BE CLASSIFIED INTO TWO TYPES

• Representational / objective Art Examples; (Venus De Milo, Da Vinci, Mona Lisa, Prokofiev’s
peter and the wolf etc.)

• Non-Representational / Non-Objective Art, Examples; (The Pyramids of Egypt, Mondrian’s non-

figurative paintings, the Symphony of Mozart.) Among the major arts, Architecture is most
nearly always non-objective.

SOURCE OF SUBJECT OF ARTS

1. Nature (Landscapes, Seascapes, cityscapes.)

2. Animals (Primitive paintings / sculptures about animals.)

3. History (Historical figures such as rulers, Statesman, leaders and heroes.)

4. Mythology, Legend, and Folklore (Creation of Adam, Homer’s Iliad and the Odyssey.

5. Everyday Life or Genre – Some artists make as subjects people doing simple and ordinary
activities. They have created some of them in painting. (“Planting rice”, and “Laundry woman”)
by Fernando Amorsolo.

APPROACHES TO ART CRITICISM

MIMETIC APPROACH (SUBJECT MATTER)

Mimetic (derived from the Greek word mimesis, meaning imitation.) The merit of the art
lies in its subject; the beauty of the subject and its significance are the basis per aesthetic judgement.

1. REALISM – The work of art is realistic when the presentation and organization of the work is
detailed and natural.
2. ABSTRACTION – to move away or to separate
3. DISTORTION – twisting and elongating the forms to emphasize an intense feeling

THE ARTIST, WRITTER OR CREATOR (EXPRESSIVE APPROACH)

From the print of view of the artist, art is a heart of expression, a media for
communicating an idea, an emotion or some other human expression.

AUDIENCE / READERS (PRAGMATIC APPROACH)

From the view point of the audience, art is experience; what is a painting unless one can
see it what is a sonata unless one can hear it. Art always has an audience is none other than the artist
himself.

FORM (FORMALIST / AESTHETIC APPROACH)

(The manner of imitation, how the subject is handled and presented.)

CHATER 3

MEDIUM OF ART

MEDIUM

• This comes from a Latin word “medium”, denotes the means which an artist communicates his
idea.

• Plural of medium is “media”.

• Medium is very essential to arts.

• Many mediums have been used in creating different works of art.

On the basis of medium, the art is primarily classified as visual and auditory art.

1. VISUAL ART – are art forms that create works that are primarily visual in nature. (e.g., paintings,
sculpture, tapestry, architecture, ceramics and glassware)

2 TYPES OF VISUAL ART

 Two-Dimensional Art
 Three-Dimensional Art

2.) AUDITORY ART – is art that is heard at one particular time. (e.g., music and poetry)

3.) COMBINED ARTS - These refer to events that combine a variety of media or materials which can be
both seen and heard, and which exist in both space and time.

THE 5 MAJOR ARTS

1. MUSIC

2. LITERATURE

3. PAINTING

4. SCULPTURE

5. ARCHITECTURE
THE MINOR ARTS

1. METAL WORK

2. WEAVING

3. CERAMICS

4. GLASS

5. FURNITURE

6. LETTERING

7. BOOK MAKING

“THE ARTIST AND HIS MEDIUM”

 When an artist uses a medium, he selects which he can express what he wants to say or convey.
 The choice of medium is part of the meaning and it signifies the context of the work’s total
meaning. Thus, it is not neutral or merely incidental to the work.
 The determination of the medium as a part of the artistic inspiration. Moreover, an artist can
think of a specific medium suited to his work.
 The artist loves and respects his medium as itself he uses it because it has certain qualities.

“PROBLEM AND LIMITATION OF MEDIUM”

 What is said of one medium cannot apply to the other media, thus, no work can ever be
imitated or translated from one medium to another medium.
 A description of a scene and a painting of an original scene do not manifest the same
outcome; what they convey becomes different.
 Most often the problem of translation arises in music and literature. Works in foreign
languages are translated into English and vice versa. In the process of translation, something
of the original is always lost or changed.

ELEMENTS OF ART

1.) SHAPES – Shape is an element of art that refers to an area clearly set off by one or more of the
other elements of arts. Shapes are limited to two dimensions - length and width.
A. Geometric Shape: They to be made with a ruler or drawing tool. The square, the circle, the
triangle, rectangle and oval are the five geometric shapes.

B. Organic: Also called free form, are organic shapes which are not regular or even. Their
outlines may be curved or angular, or may be a combination of both.

2.) FORM – Like shapes, forms have length and width. They also-have a third dimension-depth.
Form is an element of art that refers to an object with three dimensions
3.) SPACE – The distance or area between, around, above, below or within things.
4.) TEXTURE – The surface quality or “feel” of an object, its smoothness, roughness, softness, etc.
Texture maybe actual or implied.
 5.) COLOR – Color is the element of art that involves light. It is produced when light waves strike an
object and are reflected into our eyes. It consists of three properties: hue, intensity, and value.

CHARACTERISTICS OF COLOR:

1.) HUE – is the color itself.

2.) VALUE – defines how light or dark a given color or hue can be.

3.) 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.

Scale of Medium

 White, Light Medium Dark Black Sources of Values:

1. The object itself (local color, e.g., the color of the cloth)

2. Creation of value through shadows or reflection of light.

3. Intensity of Saturation: is the brightness or reflection of light

COLOR SCHEMES

 Colors can be combined to produce many interesting and exciting results. Artists make use of
different types of color schemes to create different effects.

1.) MONOCHROMATIC: This scheme uses different values of a single hue.

2.) ANALOGOUS: This color scheme uses colors that are side by side with the color wheel
and share a hue.

3.) WARM OR COOL SCHEME: Warm color schemes with red, yellow, orange colors projects
the sun and its warmth. Artists use blue, green and violet - cool - cool scheme - to make
the preceptors/viewers think of cool items such as ice or grass.

WAYS OF USING COLORS

1. Representational Use - The artist paints object from the real world in hues approximating the
colors, which are present in ordinary illumination, thereby, implying color constancy in the
color of objects.
2.) Impressional Use - Rejects the use of painting or colors in the local order, instead seeks to
render nature with a sensitive perception of the effects of changing conditions of lights on
objects
3.) Decorative or Ornamental Use - This relates to pattern and design (e.g., carpets, textiles, wall
paper) in which colors appear as design components to enhance rhythm and sensuous appeal
4.) Personal Use - Artist uses hues to express his feelings and emotions as well as their spontaneous
impulses and whims. (E.g., red face bears strong feelings)
5.) Scientific Use - Using a consistent format of a colored square of a different hue.
6.) Symbolic Use - The meaning of colors changes from one culture to another and may also vary
from one period to another. (E.g., color of the flag)
CHARACTERISTICS OF COLOR

1. Colors are either warm or cool

2. They differ in intensity and vividness

3. A color is changed by the presence of other colors.

4. Colors have definite psychological and emotional connotations

DIFFERENT KINDS OF LINES

LINES

 A line is an element of art that is defined as the path of a moving point through space.
 It is the simplest, most primitive and most universal means for creating visual arts.
 It also defined as the shape of an artwork.
 Kinds of Lines may be broad, faint, clear or distinct. In general, lines can be either straight or
curved.

HORIZONTAL LINE

 They run parallel to the ground and appear to be at rest projecting a sense of quiet relationship
and contemplation.
 It is associated with the body at rest and thus generally expresses calmness, repose, stability,
and tranquility.
 It should be in the center of the composition which impart a feeling of tranquility and serenity.

VERTICAL LINE

 Vertical line is associated with the body in upright standing position.

 In generally, it expresses poise, alertness, equilibrium, firmness, and strength.
 It signifies a static position though not without tension.
 On the normal plane, it is translated into the qualities of uprightness, integrity, dignity and
formality.
 The vertical line is like the line of the tree or of a man standing.

DIAGONAL LINE

 It is associated with the body forward and charging purposefully towards an objective.
 Signifies energy, dynamism, impulse, will power, aspiration and passion and also emotion.
 It is relational line because it is always relative to something.
 It springs forward and with which it forms an acute angle.

CURVED LINES

 It shows action, life and energy

 Curved Lines are allied to feelings, impulse, spontaneity, play graces, charm eroticism, and
sensuality
  It is eloquent in the expression of feeling because they correspond to the rising and falling of
intonations in speech and songs.

Curved lines may either be single or double, slow or quick

1. Singlecurve lines are but singlearc.

2. Double curve line turns back on itself, an S curve.

3. Quick curve is an arc of a small circle, the type of S curve is a fat baby.

4. Slow curve is an arc of a large circle, the type of a longthin face.

“SARIMANOK” is the best use example of curve lines, it is well-known motif of Maranao’s art.

ZIGZAG LINES

 Is a pattern made up of small corners at variable angles.

 Made from combined diagonal lines
 It can create a feeling of confusion or suggest action.
 It can be described as both jagged and fairly regular.

THE PRINCIPLES OF ART

There are six principles of Art:

- Balance

- Variety

- Harmony

- Proportion

- Movement

- Rhythm

BALANCE – Balance is concerned with arranging elements so no one part of a work overpowers, or
outweighs any other part. In art, balance is either seen or felt by the viewer.

A. FORMAL BALANCE – It is symmetrical balances. The two halves which are mirror images.
B. INFORMAL BALANCE – It is asymmetrical balances. The two unlike elements which seems to
carry equal weight. For example, a small shape pointed bright red will balance several larger
items painted in duller red.

VARIETY – Variety is one of the principles of art concerned with combining one or more elements to
create interest by adding slight changes. By giving a work variety, the artist magnifies the visual appeal
of the work. Of course, every artist knew of the popular credo: “Variety is the spice of life”

HARMONY – Harmony is a principle of art concerned with blending elements to create a calm and
restful appearance.
EMPHASIS – Emphasis is making an element in a work stand out. It can be created by contrast or by
extreme changes in an element.

PROPORTION – Proportion is a principle of art concerned with the relationship of one part to another
and to the whole. It is not limited to size.

MOVEMENT – Artists used this principle to lead the viewer’s eyes throughout the work. It is used to
create the look and feeling of action and to guide a viewer’s eye through the work of art.

RHYTHM – Artists make use of the principle of rhythm which is a principle of art concerned with
repeating elements to make a work seem active or to elicit vibration.

CHAPTER 4

MEANING OF MUSIC

▪ It is the art of combining words into a coherent perceptual experience.

▪ It is the area of combining tones in such a way that is pleasing, expressive, and intelligible.

▪ It is the art of making such combination into composition if definite form.

NATURE OF MUSIC

▪ Music can be made with the voice or by playing an instrument

▪ The first instruments were played more than 35,000 years ago when people blew into shells and
hollow mammoth bones

▪ Rhythm is the pattern of long and short notes. A skillful musician can make the same tune sound
slow and sleepy or loud and jazzy.

▪ Music is written down in a special language. Instead of words, there are notes.

▪ Different countries and regions have very different instruments and styles of music

▪ For the Greek Philosophers, music was a concrete expression of the order or the disorder that is
present in life and reality

▪ Plato contends that musical' harmonies and rhythms imitate basic patterns in the universe and
the soul

▪ Plato said, "musical training is a more potent instrument than any other

PURPOSE/FUNCTIONS OF MUSIC

▪ Provides pleasure and relaxes the senses.

▪ Imitate moral qualities.

▪ Expresses emotions.

▪ A means of communication

▪ Perform a purgative or therapeutic function by releasing pent-up emotions.

PROPERTIES OF MUSIC

▪ Pitch – highness and lowness of a tone

▪ Duration – length of the time, which a sound occupies

▪ Timbre – quality, which enable us to distinguish one sound from another.

▪ Intensity/Volume – loudness and softness of a sound

ELEMENTS OF MUSIC

▪ Melody – series of consecutive tones, varying in pitch and duration, forming a line of individual
significance and expressive value.

▪ Rhythm – refers to the time element produced by accent and duration of musical sounds.
Accent is stress or emphasis on a note.

▪ Dynamics – force or percussive effects, degree of loudness and softness (forte = loud, messo
forte = moderately loud, piano = soft, pianissimo = very soft)

▪ Harmony – simultaneous sounding of two or more tones.

▪ Tempo – is the rate of speed of a composition of section

▪ Texture – number of tones one is expected to apprehend simultaneously

▪ Color – result of the difference in timbre or quality in a variety of voices and instruments.

▪ Style – this refers to the composer or singer’s way of doing his part

TYPES OF TEXTURES

▪ Monophonic – result when one melody is sung or played with no accompaniment whatsoever

▪ Polyphonic – results when two or more melodies are played together (otherwise known a
contrapuntal music)

▪ Homophonic – result when one melody is supported with harmonies.

PRINCIPLES OF MUSIC

▪ Theme - consists of melodic, rhythmic and harmonic elements, which combine to give musical
idea a distinct character or individuality.

▪ Unity - underlying structure principles when all constituent parts and section of a composition
combine to produce the effects of oneness

▪ Variety - means modification or alteration of essentially the same media

▪ Length - the oneness or shortness of a composition.

 ▪ Structure - either binary or ternary. Binary is a basic musical form consisting of two main
sections which are usually repeated. And ternary from which a common musical form consisting
of three main sections.

MEDIA OF MUSIC

▪ Vocal media - refers to the human voice.

▪ Soprano - high register female voice

▪ Mezzo soprano - medium register female voice

▪ Alto or contralto - low register female voice

▪ Tenor - high register mate voice

▪ Baritone - medium register male voice

▪ Bass - low register male voice

▪ The instrumental media - refers to the musical instruments

FOUR MUSICAL SECTIONS OF AN ORCHESTRA

▪ The Strings

a.) Violin

b.) Viola

c.) Violoncello (cello)

d.) Double Bass

e.) Harp

f.) Lyre

g.) Guitar

▪ The Brass

a.) French Horn

b.) Trumpet

c.) Trombone

d.) Tuba

▪ The Woodwinds
a.) Piccolo

b.) Flute

c.) Oboe

d.) English horn

e.) Clarinet

f.) Bassoon

g.) Saxophone

▪ The Percussions

a.) Cymbals

b.) Tambourine

c.) Xylophone

d.) Drums

MEDIA OF MUSIC

▪ The ensemble medium - produced when two or more performers equally sing.

a.) The orchestra - composed of any group of instrumental performers and/or play a piece of
music. usually under the direction of a conductor.
b.) The symphony orchestra - this is a large ensemble wherein all the types of principal
instruments are included.
c.) Concerto - in this ensemble, one sole instrument is given a dominant role in music.
d.) Band - an instrumental ensemble, large like an orchestra but is exclusively composed of
wind and percussion instrument.
e.) Randall - the most popular instrumental group in the Philippines.
f.) Chamber orchestra applies to small instrumental ensembles. There are only a few
performers for a certain musical part.

KINDS OF MUSIC

▪ Program Music - this kind of music is connected with elements of a story or a poem.

a.) Imitative - music copies the actual sound of the subject

b.) Descriptive - music pictures an event or scene

c.) Narrative - music intends to tell a story or represent a series of related events.

▪ Folk music - the traditional and spontaneous music of people, race, nation or region.
 - Passed down from one generation to another and is generally not a composer's work; it is
traditional music often played by local people.

 Art song - usually composed with a piano accompanied and is often sophisticated.

- It is a work of a composer who is trained in music.

▪ Jazz music - having syncopation and rhythmic background

JAZZ HAS TWO COMMON VARIETIES

• Ragtime - much syncopation, more instrumental, fast tempo.

• Blue - much syncopation, more vocal, slower tempo (ex, Plantation songs and spirituals).

• Hot Jazz - emphasizes spontaneity, intensity uses percussion instruments.

• Cool Jazz - softer, suave, languid, uses string instruments. Jazz playing has two basic forms:

• Free-for-all - each instrument goes its own way in competition with other instruments.

• Take-your-turn - each instrument plays a solo while the other instruments provide a subdued
background.

▪ Classical Music - any musical composition of enduring excellence.

– The opera is the wonderful combination of vocal and instrumental music, ensembles,
soloists, chorus, ballet/ orchestra, scenery, pantomime and acting.