Medium and Techniques of Visual Arts

Art Appreciation/ Arts and Humanities │ Module 2.
Medium and Techniques of Visual Arts │Page 1 of 15
Medium and Techniques of Visual Arts

MODULE 2
OVERVIEW
It takes an artist to make art. One may perceive beauty on a daily basis. However, not every beautiful thing that can be
seen or experienced may truly be called a work of art. Art is a product of man’s creativity, imagination, and expression.
No matter how perfectly blended the colors of a sunset are and no matter how extraordinary formed mountains are,
nature is not considered art simply because it is not made by man. Not even photographs or sketches of nature, though
captured or drawn by man, are works of art, but mere recordings of the beauty of nature. An artwork may be inspired
by nature or other works of art, but an artist invents his own forms and patterns due to what he perceives as beautiful
and incorporates them in creating his masterpiece.
Perhaps not everyone can be considered an artist, but surely, all are spectators of art. In deciding what pair of shoes to
buy, we carefully examine all possible choices within our budget and purchase the one that satisfies our beauty and
practical standards. We are able to distinguish what is fine and beautiful from what is not and what is good quality
from poor. This gives us a role in the field or art appreciation.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this module, you are expected to:
1. familiarize oneself of how an artwork is made, put together, organized;
2. determine the meaning conveyed by the art and how an artwork makes life more meaningful;
3. appreciate the vase of self-trust in producing art;
4. compare and contrast the different medium in art production.
LEARNING EXPERIENCES & SELF-ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES (SAA)

ACTIVITY
Identify the artist of the following artworks, choose your answer on the box below
OSMEÑA COLLEGES Module prepared by: R.R. L. Fernandez, LPT, MAEd (CAR)
Art Appreciation/ Arts and Humanities │ Module 2. Medium and Techniques of Visual Arts │Page 2 of 15
ANALYSIS
How did you identify the different artworks? What is your basis?
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What do you think are the materials or techniques did by the artist to these artworks?
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ABSTRACTION
Medium, which comes from the Latin word medium, denotes the means by which an artist communicates his
idea. These are the materials which are used by an arties to interpret his feelings or thoughts. Many mediums have
been used in creating different works of art. The architect uses wood, bamboo, bricks, stone, concrete, and various
building materials. The painter uses pigments on wood or canvas to create reality of nature. A sculpture uses steel,
marble, bronze, metal and wood. A musician uses instruments to produce and communicate a message and a literary
writer uses words. Thus, medium is very essential in arts.
On the basis of medium, the arts are primarily classified as visual and auditory. Visual arts are those mediums
can be seen and which occupy space. These are grouped into two-dimensional (painting, drawing, printmaking,
photography) and three-dimensional (sculpture, architecture, landscape, industrial design, crafts).
The auditory arts are those whose mediums can be heard and which are expressed in time. These are music
and literature. The combined arts are those mediums can be both seen and heard and which exist in both space and
time. These include dance, opera, drama, and film. Along with the music, these are also known as the performing arts,
and art form which depicts a significant event and is presented before and audience. All arts convey meaning and these
may be enjoyed through either the visual or the auditory sense or both.
Technique is the manner in which the artist controls his medium to achieve the desired effect. It is the ability
with which he fulfils the technical requirements if his particular work of art. It has something to do with the way he
manipulates his medium to express his ideas in the artwork.
The Artist and His Medium

The artist thinks, feels, and gives shape to his vision in terms of his medium. When an artist chooses a particular
medium, he believes that his choice can be express the idea he wants to convey. At times, an artist employs more than
one medium to give meaning to his creative production. Oftentimes, the matter of selecting the medium depends
entirely on the artist himself. He normally selects the materials that can be handled with ease, that would best suit his
plan, and adequately bring out the qualities he wants to show. The artist must love, respect, and understand his medium
to make it easier for him to expand his knowledge and improve his skill in his chosen area. The distinctive character
of the medium determines the way it can be worked on and turned into a work of art. The nature of each medium
determines how a work of art may be realized. Stone must be chiseled; metal must be cast; and wood must be carved.
Each medium has its own characteristics which determine the physical appearance of the finished work of art. Wood
can be carved in great detail according to the talent of the sculptor. When finished and varnished is applied, it gives a
smooth and glossy finish. Stone and marble, transformed into a piece of art, can withstand the test of time.
The Artist and His Technique

Artists differ from one another in technique even if they use the same medium. A musician’s technique is his
ability to make music sound the way he wants it. For instance, a pianist may sound different from another pianist even
as they handle the same instrument and play the same musical composition. Technique differs in the various arts. An
artist’s technique in one medium will be quite different from his technique in another. A painter may have a fine
technique in watercolor but a poor one in oil. The distinction between an art and craft may be made of the basis of the
technique used. For an artist, technique is not the end but the means, while craftsman, technique is the end. The making
of a piece of sculpture, for example, is not the same as the making of a chair. While both require technique, knowledge,
and competence, creativity apparently comes into play in the work of the sculptor. The technique, thus, is an important
aspect that distinguishes an art from a craft.
MEDIUMS OF VISUAL ARTS

Painting
Painting is the art of creating meaningful effects on a flat surface by the use of pigments. Different mediums
are used in painting. Each medium exerts a pronounced effect on the finished product, is capable of varied treatment,
and determines its own stroke. These mediums are applied to wet plaster, canvas, wood or paper.
Watercolor - is an ancient painting method in which the paints are made of pigments
suspended in a water-based solution. Watercolor refers to both the medium and the
resulting artwork. Aquarelles painted with watersoluble colored ink instead of
modern water colors are called "aquarellum atramento" (Latin for "aquarelle made
with ink") by experts. However, this term has been more and more passing out of
use.
The traditional and most common support—material to which the paint is applied—
for watercolor paintings is watercolor paper. Other supports include papyrus, bark
papers, plastics, vellum, leather, fabric, wood and watercolor canvas (coated with a
gesso that is specially formulated for use with watercolours). Watercolor paper is
often made entirely or partially with cotton.[4] This gives the surface the
Young Hare, Water color and body
appropriate texture and minimizes distortion when wet. Watercolors are usually
Painting by Albrecht Dürer, Albertina, translucent, and appear luminous because the pigments are laid down in a pure form
Vienna
with few fillers obscuring the pigment colors. Watercolors can also be made opaque
by adding Chinese white
Fresco - is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle
for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting becomes an
integral part of the wall. The word fresco (Italian: affresco) is derived from the Italian adjective fresco meaning "fresh",
and may thus be contrasted with fresco-secco or secco mural painting techniques, which are applied to dried plaster,
to supplement painting in fresco. The fresco technique has been employed since antiquity and is closely associated
with Italian Renaissance painting.
The Creation of Adam, a fresco painting by Italian artist, Michelangelo
Tempera - also known as egg tempera, is a permanent, fast-drying painting medium consisting
of colored pigments mixed with a water-soluble binder medium, usually glutinous material
such as egg yolk. Tempera also refers to the paintings done in this medium. Tempera paintings
are very long-lasting, and examples from the first century AD still exist. Egg tempera was a
primary method of painting until after 1500 when it was superseded by the invention of oil
painting. A paint consisting of pigment and binder commonly used in the United States as
poster paint is also often referred to as "tempera paint", although the binders in this paint are
different from traditional tempera paint.
Tempera is traditionally created by hand-grinding dry powdered pigments into a binding agent
or medium, such as egg yolk, milk (in the form of casein) and a variety of plant gums.
Madonna and the Child,
Duccio, 1284
Pastel - is an art medium in the form of a stick, consisting of powdered pigment and a
binder. The pigments used in pastels are similar to those used to produce some other
colored visual arts media, such as oil paints; the binder is of a neutral hue and low
saturation. The color effect of pastels is closer to the natural dry pigments than that of any
other process. Pastels have been used by artists since the Renaissance, and gained
considerable popularity in the 18th century, when a number of notable artists made pastel
their primary medium. An artwork made using pastels is called a pastel (or a pastel
drawing or pastel painting). Pastel used as a verb means to produce an artwork with
pastels; as an adjective it means pale in color.
Encaustic - also known as hot wax painting, involves using heated beeswax to which
colored pigments are added. The liquid or paste is then applied to a surface—usually
prepared wood, though canvas and other materials are often used. The simplest encaustic
mixture can be made from adding pigments to beeswax, but there are several other recipes
that can be used—some containing other types of waxes, damar resin, linseed oil, or other
ingredients. Pure, powdered pigments can be used, though some mixtures use oil paints A 6th century Encaustic icon
from Saint Catherine’s
or other forms of pigment. Metal tools and special brushes can be used to shape the paint
Monastery, Egypt
before it cools, or heated metal tools can be used to manipulate the wax once it has cooled onto the surface. Today,
tools such as heat lamps, heat guns, and other methods of applying heat allow artists to extend the amount of time they
have to work with the material. Because wax is used as the pigment binder, encaustics can be sculpted as well as
painted. Other materials can be encased or collaged into the surface, or layered, using the encaustic medium to stick
them to the surface.
Oil - is the painting process of painting with pigments with a medium of drying oil
as the binder. Commonly used drying oils include linseed oil, poppy seed oil,
walnut oil, and safflower oil. The choice of oil imparts a range of properties to the
oil paint, such as the amount of yellowing or drying time. Certain differences,
depending on the oil, are also visible in the sheen of the paints. An artist might use
several different oils in the same painting depending on specific pigments and
effects desired. The paints themselves also develop a particular consistency
depending on the medium. The oil may be boiled with a resin, such as pine resin
Oldest oil painting in the world, or frankincense, to create a varnish prized for its body and gloss.
Bamiyan, Afghanistan
Acrylic - is a fast-drying painting made of pigment suspended in acrylic polymer
emulsion. Acrylic paints are water-soluble, but become water-resistant when dry. Depending on how much the paint
is diluted with water, or modified with acrylic gels, mediums, or pastes, the finished acrylic painting can resemble a
watercolor, a gouache or an oil painting, or have its own unique characteristics not attainable with other media.
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of putting together small pieces of colored stones or galss
called “tesserae” to create and image. The tesserae to create an image. The tesserae are
most often cut into squares and glued on a surface with plaster or cement. Mosaic is
usually classified as painting, although, the medium used is not strictly pigment. Mosaic
art is an important feature of Byzantine churches. A prominent religious artwork in
Manila done in mosaic is found in the altar of Sta. Cruz Church. It shows a wounded
white lamb, symbolizing Christ, with a stream that flows down directly the tabernacle.
In modern times mosaic has come to be defined as any pattern or image made from
many multiple pieces. Mosaic can be found in a range of forms from traditional murals
and pavements, to contemporary artworks, hobby craft items and industrial and Stag Hunt Mosaic, Pella, Ancient
construction forms. Macedonia
Tapestry
Tapestry is a form of textile art, traditionally woven by hand on a loom. Tapestry
is weft-faced weaving, in which all the warp threads are hidden in the completed work,
unlike cloth weaving where both the warp and the weft threads may be visible. In
tapestry weaving, weft yarns are typically discontinuous; the artisan interlaces each
coloured weft back and forth in its own small pattern area. It is a plain weft-faced weave
having weft threads of different colors worked over portions of the warp to form the
design. Most weavers use a natural warp thread, such as wool, linen or cotton. The weft
threads are usually wool or cotton but may include silk, gold, silver, or other alternatives.
While tapestries have been created for many centuries and in every continent in the
world, what distinguishes the contemporary field from its pre-World War II history is the predominance of the artist
as weaver in the contemporary medium.
Drawing
Drawing is usually done on paper using various medium. It is the most fundamental of all skills necessary in
arts. Drawing has always been considered as a very good training for artists because it makes one concentrate on the
use of line. Shading can also be used to make drawings more life-like and realistic. Some of the world’s best-known
drawings are by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). He drew everything from animals and birds to ideas
for flying machines.
Charcoal, Pencil, Pen and Ink – drawing can be done with different kinds of mediums,
the most common of which is pencil. Pencil leads (graphite) are graded in different
degrees of hardness or softness. Grades are chosen depending on the kind of drawing the
artist will undertake. For linework, hard pencil lead is applied. When working on a
granular surface, soft pencils are used because they invite effects of mass and a texture of
gray. Ink, one of the oldest mediums still in use, offers a great variety of qualities,
depending on the tools and techniques used in application. India ink, which comes in
liquid form, is the favourite medium of comic strip illustrators and cartoonists. Chinese
ink, meanwhile, comes in solid sticks that are dissolve in water before they are used.
Charcoal is a carbonaceous material obtained by heating wood or other organic substances
in the absence of oxygen. It is used in representing board masses of light and shadow.
Like drawing pencils, soft charcoal produces the darkest value, while the hardest produces
the lightest tone. Albrecht Dürer, Self-portrait
at the age of 15
Bistre - can refer to two things: a very dark shade of grayish brown (the version shown
on the immediate right); a shade of brown made from soot, or the name for a color resembling the brownish pigment.
Bistre's appearance is generally of a dark grayish brown, with a yellowish cast. Beechwood was burned to produce the
soot, which was boiled and diluted with water. Many Old Masters used bistre as the ink for their drawings. The first
recorded use of bistre as a color name in English was in 1727; another name for the color bistre is soot brown.
Crayons - is a stick of colored wax, charcoal, chalk or other material used for writing or drawing. A crayon made of
pigment with a dry binder is a pastel; when made of oiled chalk, it is called an oil pastel. A grease pencil or Chinese
marker (UK chinagraph pencil) is made of colored hardened grease. There are also watercolor crayons, sometimes
called water-soluble crayons. Crayons are available at a range of prices and are easy to work with. They are less messy
than most paints and markers, blunt (removing the risk of sharp points present when using a pencil or pen), typically
non-toxic, and available in a wide variety of colors. These characteristics make them particularly good instruments for
teaching small children to draw in addition to being used widely by student and professional artists.
Silverpoint (one of several types of metalpoint) - is a traditional drawing technique first used by medieval scribes on
manuscripts. A silverpoint drawing is made by dragging a silver rod or wire across a surface, often prepared with gesso
or primer. Silverpoint is one of several types of metalpoint used by scribes, craftsmen and artists since ancient times.
Metalpoint styli were used for writing on soft surfaces (wax or bark), ruling and underdrawing on parchment, and
drawing on prepared paper and panel supports. For drawing purposes, the essential metals used were lead, tin and
silver. The softness of these metals made them effective drawing instruments. A traditional silverpoint stylus is made
with a small fine rod of silver, such as jeweler's wire, which is inserted into a wooden rod. Another design is a
silvertipped metal stylus with points on both ends.
Printmaking
Printmaking is the process of creating artworks by printing, normally on
paper. Printmaking normally covers only the process of creating prints that
have an element of originality, rather than just being a photographic
reproduction of a painting. Except in the case of monotyping, the process is
capable of producing multiples of the same piece, which is called a print.
Each print produced is considered an "original" work of art, and is correctly
referred to as an “impression,” not a "copy" (that means a different print
copying the first, common in early printmaking). Often impressions vary
considerably, whether intentionally or not. The images on most prints are
The under wave of Kanagawa, Katsushika created for that purpose, perhaps with a preparatory study such as a drawing.
Hokusai, 1829
Lithography
Lithography is a method of printing originally based
on the immiscibility of oil and water. The printing is from a
stone (lithographic limestone) or a metal plate with a smooth
surface. It was invented in 1796 by German author and actor
Alois Senefelder as a cheap method of publishing theatrical
works. Lithography can be used to print text or artwork onto
paper or other suitable material. Lithography originally used an
image drawn with oil, fat, or wax onto the surface of a smooth,
level lithographic limestone plate. The stone was treated with a
mixture of acid and gum arabic, etching the portions of the
stone that were not protected by the grease-based image. When
the stone was subsequently moistened, these etched areas The Custer Fight, Charles Marion Russells, 1903
retained water; an oilbased ink could then be applied and would
be repelled by the water, sticking only to the original drawing. The ink would finally be transferred to a blank paper
sheet, producing a printed page. This traditional technique is still used in some fine art printmaking applications. In
modern lithography, the image is made of a polymer coating applied to a flexible plastic or metal plate. The image can
be printed directly from the plate (the orientation of the image is reversed), or it can be offset, by transferring the image
onto a flexible sheet (rubber) for printing and publication.
Sculpture
In choosing a subject for sculpture, the most important thing to consider is the material. The materials available
for sculpture are limitless. Each of these materials presents a challenge the sculptor’s creativity.
Stone - is an object made of stone which has been shaped, usually by carving, or
assembled to form a visually interesting three-dimensional shape. Stone is more
durable than most alternative materials, making it especially important in
architectural sculpture on the outside of buildings. Stone carving includes a number
of techniques where pieces of rough natural stone are shaped by the controlled
removal of stone. Owing to the permanence of the material, evidence can be found
that even the earliest societies indulged in some form of stonework, though not all
areas of the world have such abundance of good stone for carving as Egypt, Persia
(Iran), Greece, Central America, India and most of Europe. Stones include sandstone, granite, basalt, marble, and
limestone.
Jade - was prized for its hardness, durability, magical qualities, and beauty.[1]
In particular, its subtle, translucent colors and protective qualities caused it to
become associated with Chinese conceptions of the soul and immortality. With
gold, it was considered to be a symbol of heaven. It is the primary hardstone of
Chinese sculpture. Although deep and bright green jadeite is better known in
Europe, for most of China's history, jade has come in a variety of colors and
white "mutton-fat" nephrite was the most highly praised and prized. Native
sources in Henan and along the Yangtze were exploited since prehistoric times
and have largely been exhausted; most Chinese jade today is extracted from the
northwestern province of Xinjiang.
Ivory - is by no means just obtained from elephants; any animal tooth or tusk used as a
material for carving may be termed "ivory", though the species is usually added, and a
great number of different species with tusks or large teeth have been used. Teeth have
three elements: the outer dental enamel, then the main body of dentine, and the inner
root of osteo-dentine. For the purposes of carving the last two are in most animals both
usable, but the harder enamel may be too hard to carve, and require removal by grinding
first. This is the case with hippopotamus for example, whose tooth enamel (on the
largest teeth) is about as hard as jade. Elephant ivory, as well as coming in the largest
pieces, is relatively soft and even, and an ideal material for carving. The species of animal from which ivory comes
can usually be determined by examination under ultraviolet light, where different types show different colours.
Metals - The oldest metal sculpture pieces are made out of copper alloys and bronze. These metals offer the artist
strength while also being malleable. Other metals such as gold and silver are softer, enabling the artisan the ability to
shape the metal with tools and by hammering. Related to the sculpting process is metal casting, where metals can be
poured into a mold. It is thought that metal casting as an ancient art dates back 6000 years with the first works made
out of gold and copper.
Plaster – is such casts was particularly prevalent among classicists of the 18th and 19th centuries,
and by 1800 there were extensive collections in Berlin, Paris, Vienna and elsewhere. By creating
copies of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures held at various museums across Europe in this way,
a reference collection of all the best and most representative sculptural types could be formed, at a
fraction of the cost of purchasing original sculptures, which scholars could consult without
necessarily having to travel abroad to see all the originals. Plaster is composed of lime, sand, and
water.
Clay - is any of a group of malleable substances used in building and sculpting. The material
compositions and production processes vary considerably. Ceramic clays are water-based
substances made from clay minerals and other raw materials. They are baked at high
temperatures in a process known as firing to create ceramics, such as terra cotta, earthenware,
stoneware, and porcelain. Oil-based clays are made from various combinations of oils, waxes,
and clay minerals. Polymer clay is a modelling material that cures when heated from 129 to
135 °C (265 to 275 °F) for 15 minutes per 6 millimetres (1 ⁄4 in) of thickness, and does not
significantly shrink or change shape during the process. Paper clay is handmade or
commercially available clay to which a small percentage of processed cellulose fiber is added.
As medium for sculptor, it has been used during the early times.
Glass - ranges in size from monumental works and installation pieces to wall hangings
and windows, to works of art made in studios and factories, including glass jewelry and
tableware. As a decorative and functional medium, glass was extensively developed in
Egypt and Assyria. Invented by the Phoenicians, was brought to the fore by the Romans.
In the Middle Ages, the builders of the great Norman and Gothic cathedrals of Europe
took the art of glass to new heights with the use of stained-glass windows as a major
architectural and decorative element. Glass from Murano, in the Venetian Lagoon, (also
known as Venetian glass) is the result of hundreds of years of refinement and invention.
The turn of the 19th century was the height of the old art glass movement while the
factory glass blowers were being replaced by mechanical bottle blowing and continuous
window glass.
Wood - has been extremely widely practiced, but survives much less well than the
other main materials such as stone and bronze, as it is vulnerable to decay, insect
damage, and fire. It therefore forms an important hidden element in the art history of
many cultures. The nature of the wood being carved limits the scope of the carver in
that wood is not equally strong in all directions: it is an anisotropic material. The
direction in which wood is strongest is called "grain" (grain may be straight,
interlocked, wavy or fiddle back, etc.). It is smart to arrange the more delicate parts
of a design along the grain instead of across it.
Architecture
Architecture is an art. In its strictest meaning, it is the art of designing a building and supervising its
construction. It may also be regarded as the procedure assisted with the conception of an idea and its realization in
terms of building materials. In its broader meaning, architecture is producing shelter to serve as protection of men in
carrying out his activities–work, recreation, and sleep. One of the primary purposes of architecture is to fulfil man’s
needs. These needs include:
1. Physical needs – shelter (for self-preservation and reproduction) which must have necessities (kitchen,
bedroom, bathroom) and comfort (heat, ventilation, furnishing).
2. Emotional needs – endowed with rich beauty and interest.
3. Intellectual needs – a building for science, education, government, etc.
4. Psychosocial needs – for recognition, prestige, civic, and personal (palaces, skyscrapers, cathedrals, public
buildings, monuments etc.
Identifying a style in architecture is a complex undertaking. The style must accommodate and express function
of the structure. It must also address the future, providing for adaptability and capacity to survive the loss of its original
function. It must also provide for functions which are unknown at the moment of construction.
Factors in the Choice and use of Architectural Materials
1. Structural property – workability with tools when used as construction materials
2. Physical property – use of the material for aesthetic purposes
3. Weakness of the material
4. Longevity of the material – lifespan of the material
5. Other inherent properties
Classification of Architectural Materials

Materials in Nature
These materials are direct products of nature, given as gift to man. Often, these materials may be used directly
without preliminary work of any kind, only requiring shaping and at times, minor conditioning. Examples of these
materials are stone (granite, sandstone, marble, limestone) and wood.
Stone – is one of the oldest and perhaps the most permanent building material. It is used
in most of the great architectures of the world. Concrete is a building material made of
sand and gravel mixed with cement. Like stone, it has high compressive strength. It
doesn’t easily crumble or break down when subjected to heavy weight. It does not rot or
corrode and is fire resistant. For stronger structure, ferro-concrete is used. It is concrete
reinforced with steel.
Wood – is not a permanent material but with proper care, it can last for century. It is the
common building material before the 90s. It owes its popularity to its abundance, relative
durability, and high tensile and compression strength. However, it can be easily destroyed
by moisture, insects and fire when unprotected. A new material, plywood, has greatly
improved the structural possibilities of wood. Plywood, which comes in thin sheets, is
stronger than other wood products. It is also cheap and readily available.
Materials Manufactured by Man
This type of materials constitutes the majority of building materials. It requires the manipulation of man
before it acquires its finished form.
Ceramic Materials – these materials can be manufactured in different ways. Clay can be
used to make bricks, roofing tiles, toilet tiles, and clay pot. Various forms of bricks and
tiles and glasses are available in the market, differing in texture, color, and design. Glass
is a hard, brittle, smooth, and usually transparent ceramic substance. It is manufactured
by fusing together silica and a base of lime or lead oxide at extremely high temperatures.
Metals – in the early years, objects of iron and other metals were cast in form. Today,
rolling and pressing are considered as the most important methods in manufacturing metal
products. The common metals used in architecture are bronze, wrought iron, copper, chrome-nickel steel, aluminum,
monel metal, and nickel silvers.
Concrete materials – these materials are becoming more and more favored among architectural building materials
because of their availability, durability, and flexibility. Concrete has high strength, and surface and texture capable of
contributing to the aesthetic quality of a building. Masonry finishes such as washout finishes utilize cement mortar
mixed with pebble stones, broken glass, etc. and synthetic stones. To produce synthetic stones, broken stones are
hammered to pieces and mixed plastic. After the plastered finish dries and hardens, it is chiseled or pounded with an
axe to expose the stones and give it a rough texture. These materials are smooth, hard, permanent, light, transparent or
opaque, and durable.
Plastics – opened up new architectural forms and designs due to its versatility. Plastics may be sowed, cut, bent, drilled,
and treaded. They can also be molded, cast, extruded, and laminated depending upon their composition or use. Cast
plastics may come as sheets, rods, strips, cylinders, and cones and can be used for walls, ceilings, and doors.
Indigenous Materials
These materials are found in the locality and are widely used in architecture. Some of the indigenous materials
are:
1. Sawali – this material comes from the outer covering of bamboo poles. It is woven into mats and ideal for
cement backing.
2. Coco coir – this by-product of coconut is used to minimize the use of cement and as sandwich panels for
insulation.
3. Bagasse – this is a sugar cane waste used for insulation or cement backing.
4. Abaca – this is a fiber material obtained from the leafstalk of banana plant. Most of these materials are found
in the Bicol region.
5. Bamboo – this indigenous material has low degree of elasticity, low concrete adhesion, and wide variable
moisture content. It is very useful in architectural forms and designs, mainly as reinforcement to concrete.
6. Mud bricks – this material is brittle, has less strength, and cannot stand up well to tension. However, it is the
choice of building material in places with hot, dry climates due to its low thermal conductivity.
APPLICATION
Using the table below, list down as many different visual artworks that you have witnessed. On the second
column, identify what it is for. You can either research this or surmise intelligently. Write them down on the
corresponding column.
Artwork What is it for?
KEY POINTS
✓ Medium refers to the material used by an artist.
✓ Technique is the manner in which the artist controls the medium to achieve desired effect.
✓ Combined arts are those whose mediums can be both seen and heard and which exist in both space and time.
✓ Painting is the artist of creating meaningful effects on a flat surface by the use of pigments.
✓ Architecture is the art of designing and constructing a structure.
✓ Sculpture is the construction of a figure by putting together module segments of the material.
LOOKING AHEAD
Congratulations for making it till the end of this module! If you aced the assessments, I am happy for you. If you
have not reached your desired level of competence, just keep going! Remember that an expert was once a beginner.
The next topic will be Medium and Techniques of Performing Arts. Happy learning!
REFERENCES
Ariola, M. (2014). The Meaning and Importance of the Art. Introduction to Art Appreciation, 14-27. Philippines:
C&E Publishing, Inc.
END OF MODULE ASSESEMENT

MODULE 2. Medium and Techniques of Visual Arts
Name: ______________________________________________ Course & Year: ___________________________
Address: ____________________________________________ Contact No. ______________________________
How can you utilize the arts to express yourself, your community, and your relation to others?
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What art form/artwork has changed something in your life? Why? Account for the experience.
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Does art always have function? Why? Support your response. Provide your own example.
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SELF AND MODULE EVALUATION

MODULE 2. Medium and Techniques of Visual Arts
Name: ______________________________________________ Course & Year: __________________________
Address: ____________________________________________ Contact No. _____________________________
MODULE EVALUATION
Rate the module using the following:
1- Strongly disagree
2- Disagree
3- Agree
4- Strongly agree
The learning module: 1 2 3 4
Please check appropriate column

was engaging
allowed for self-checking (SAAs)
developed in gradual, manageable steps
provided independent, self-paced learning
contained relevant information I needed
SELF-EVALUATION
Rate the extent of your learning in this module using the scale blow. Check the column corresponding to your rating
in the space provided. Do not hesitate to contact me if you need further assistance.
4- I’m an expert. I understand and can teach a friend about it.
3-I’m a Practitioner. I understand and can cite examples on the topics given.
2- I’m an apprentice. I understand if I get help or look at more examples.
1- I’m a novice. I do not understand the topic.
My learning: 1 2 3 4
I can now
Please check appropriate column

familiarize oneself of how an artwork is made, put together, organized;
determine the meaning conveyed by the art and how an artwork makes life more
meaningful;
appreciate the vase of self-trust in producing art;
compare and contrast the different medium in art production.

Medium and Techniques of Visual Arts

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Medium and Techniques of Visual Arts

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Art Appreciation/ Arts and Humanities │ Module 2.

Medium and Techniques of Visual Arts │Page 1 of 15

Medium and Techniques of Visual Arts

LEARNING EXPERIENCES & SELF-ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES (SAA)

The Artist and His Medium

The Artist and His Technique

MEDIUMS OF VISUAL ARTS

The Creation of Adam, a fresco painting by Italian artist, Michelangelo

Classification of Architectural Materials

Artwork What is it for?

END OF MODULE ASSESEMENT

Name: ____________________ Course & Year: _

Address: ______________ Contact No.

SELF AND MODULE EVALUATION

Name: ____________________ Course & Year:

Address: ________________ Contact No. _

The learning module: 1 2 3 4

Please check appropriate column

Please check appropriate column

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