INTRODUCTION

TO
READING
VISUAL
ARTS
Prepared by: Lita Manrique Merano
Lecturer

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 MODULE 1

The Meaning, Importance

and
Scope of Visual Arts

Learning outcomes:
At the end of module 1, you should be able to:
1. Explain the importance of visual arts in our daily lives;
2. Identify the different artistic expression of visual arts; and
3. Discuss and differentiate the function and various form of art
in graphic and plastic arts.

“It is not the canvass, the hue, the oil or tempera, but the
contribution of the arts to our life, its suggestions to our
sensations, feelings and imagination”.

Leonel Ventura

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INTRODUCTION
Visual arts is one of the elective subject of the Arts Education Key
Learning Area. The visual Arts curriculum at college education level
builds on the Reading Visual Arts. It assists students in their
acquisitions of artistic and aesthetic experiences, knowledge, skills,
values and attitude, of all which contribute to students’ whole
person development. It also provide a curriculum framework for
college students who take Reading Visual Arts as a subject. The
college Visual Arts curriculum is different from existing Art and
Design syllabus for college education in that it emphasize both art
appreciation and criticism and art making. There is also a greater
emphasis on studying on contextual character of the visual arts.
The college curriculum emphasizes the further development of the
mind to which the visual arts can contribute.

Art-Based Self Introduction

To be able to know the extent of your knowledge of who you are and the extent
of your knowledge about the different dimension and purpose of arts that can
be used for teaching, introduce yourself by doing the direction:

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Draw or paintan artworkthat you thought about representing you to introduce
who you are. Write this art-based self-introduction in the box below.

Reading Guide:
Read the following information to help you attain the learning
outcomes of this unit. Highlight the major ideas or keywords so that
you will not forget them. If you have questions about its contents, do
not hesitate to ask the help of somebody at home or you may message
on messenger so that I may explain it further.

Visual Arts

The visual arts are art form such as painting, drawing, printmaking,
sculptures, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, crafts and
architecture. Many artistic discipline such as performing arts, conceptual art,
and textile arts also involve aspects of visual arts as well as arts of other types.
The visual arts are those that we perceive with our eyes. They may be classified
into two groups; graphic (flat, or two dimensional surface) and plastic arts
(three dimensional surface).
1. The Graphic Arts. Broadly, this terms covers any form of visual artistic
representation, especially painting, drawing, photography, etc. or in which
portrayals of forms and symbols are recorded on a two dimensional surface.
Printers also use the term graphic arts to describe all processes and
products of the printing industry.
a. Painting. This is the process of applying pigment to a surface to
secure effects involving forms and colors. Painting media include oils,
watercolors, tempera, and others. Canvas, wood, paper, and plaster
are some of the surfaces on which paintings are executed.
b. Drawing. Is the art of representing something by lines made on a
surface or the process of portraying an object, scene, or forms of
decorative or symbolic meaning through lines, shading, and textures

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 in one or more colors. Media used include pencil, pen and ink,
crayon, brush and charcoal.
c. Graphic processes. These are processes for making multi
reproduction of graphic works. All processes involve the preparation
of a master image of the drawing or design on some durable material
such as wood, metal, or stone, from which printing is done.
Processes may be classified by the nature of the surface from which
the printing is done: raised (relief); depressed (intaglio); or flat
(surface, or plane).

(1) Relief printing is the process whereby unwanted portions of design

are cut away on the master image.The printed imageis formed by
the remaining surfaces. Examples are linoleum cuts, woodcuts,
and wood engravings. Japanese prints are made from woodcuts.

(2) Intaglio printing is a method of printing from a plate on which

incised lines, which carry the ink, leave a raised impression.

(a) Dry point. Here the artist draws directly on a metal plate with a
sharp needle and scratches lines, or grooves, into the metal.
For each print, ink is rubbed into the grooves and the
unscratched surface is wiped clean. In printing, the in the
grooves is transferred to paper.

(b) Etching. This is the art or process of producing drawings or

designs on metal plates covered with wax. The needle
penetrates wax to the surface of the plate. The plate is then
dipped in acid, which eats the lines into the metal. For
printing, etched (bitten) lines are filled with ink which is
transferred to the paper.

(c) Engraving. This is done on a metal plate with a cutting tool

called a barin, which leaves a V shaped trough. Drawings or
designs on the plate are entirely composed of lines and/or
dots.

(3) Surface printing includes all processes in which printing is done

from a flat (plane) surface.

(a) Lithography is the art or process of printing from a flat stone

or metal plate by a method based on the repulsion between
grease and water. The design is put on the surface. The

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 surface is then treated so that ink adheres only to areas where
drawing has been done; ink is then transferred to the paper in
printing.

(b) Silkscreen. Silk is stretched over a rectangular frame and

unwanted potions in the design are blocked out. Pigment is
forced through the clear areas. For multicolor prints, a
separate screen is used for each color.

d. Commercial Art.This includes designing of books, advertisements,

signs, posters and other displays to promote sale or acceptance of
product, service, or idea.

e. Mechanical processes. These are develop by commercial printers for

rapid, large quantity reproduction of words and pictures in or more
colors.

f. Photography. This is chemical mechanical process by which images

are produce on sensitized surfaces by action of light. Reproduction
maybe in black or white or in full colors of the original.

2. The Plastics Arts. This group includes all fields of the visual arts in which
materials are organized into three dimensional forms.

(a) Architecture is the art of designing and constructing buildings and other
types of structures. Varied materials used include stone, concrete, brick,
wood, steel, glass and plaster. Architecture 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 such as painting, sculpture,
interior design, landscape architecture, and city planning.
(b) Landscape Architecture is planningoutdoor areas for human use and
enjoyment, especially gardens, parks, playgrounds, golf courses. Chief
materials are plants, trees, shrubs, flowers, vines, and ground cover.
(c) City Planning. This refers to planning and arranging the physical aspects
of a large or small community. Structures and areas concerned with all
phase of living and working are attractively and efficiently organized and
related.
(d) Interior Design. The term is used to designate design and arrangement of
architectural interiors for convenience and beauty. It includes
backgrounds (wall, floors, ceilings) furnishing and accessories. Design of

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 wallpaper, furniture, textile for curtains, and upholstery are important
fields of interior design.
(e) Sculpture refers to the design and construction of three dimensional
forms representing natural objects or imaginary (sometimes abstract)
shapes. Common materials are stone, wood, clay, and metal; but ivory,
jade, wire, string, and other materials are also used. Sculptures of
figures are called statues.
(f) Crafts. The term refers to the designing and making of objects by hand
for use or for pleasure. It includes such fields as ceramics, jewelry,
leatherwork, and weaving. If these fields are mass produced, they are
classed as industrial design.
(g) Industrial Design refers to design of objects for machine production.
Examples are designs for automobiles and household appliances.
(h) Dress and CostumeDesign This covers the design of wearing apparel of all
types dresses, coats, suits, shoes, ties, etc.
(i) Theater Design is the design of setting for dramatic productions.

Importance of Visual Arts

Helps in school work visual arts also affects student s academics as their
learning skills improve with the practice of arts and crafts. This helps
students expand their knowledge about visual arts. Visual arts education
helps students in analysis, judgment skills and improves their own art form.
Visual art has various forms that help to let out human emotions and skills.
Widely appreciated through painting visual skills are essential for a refined
workforce. Implemented in school education, these arts can help students in
bringing out creativity as well as developing an overall personality.
Students, performing arts help them in fundamental thinking while
improving their psychological as well as creative aptitude.

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 lithography commercial art
engraving theater design sculpture
industrial design visual art dry point
city planning relief painting etching
landscape architecture drawing
painting architecture
plastic art
graphic art

Directions: Identify what is being asked in the following sentences.

Pick your answer inside the heart written above. Write
in your answer sheet.

-------1.Process of printing from flat a form stone or metal plate by a

methodbased on the repulsion between grease and water. ------
2. Design on the plate are entirely composed of lines and dots.
------3. Settings for dramatic production.
------4. Designs for automobiles and house hold appliances.
------5. Figures are called statue.
------6.Planning and arranging the physical aspects of a large or
small community.
------7. This painting unwanted portion of design are cut away on
the master image.

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------8. Producing drawing or designs on metal plates covered with
wax.
------9. Planning outdoor areas for human use and enjoyment.
------10.Forms of decorative or symbolic meaning through lines,
shading and texture in or more colors.
------11.It is a flat or two-dimensional surface and covers any form
of visual artistic representation especially painting,
drawing, and photography.
------12. This art describe those that we perceive with our eyes.
------13.This is a process of applying pigment to a surface to secure
effects involving forms and colors.
------14. It is referred to as the “mother of the arts”.
------15.This group of visual art in which material s are organized
into three –dimensional forms.

Directions: Cite at least five (5) a work of art in your home. Identify
and explain its features(plastic or graphic arts) in your own words.
Why do you call it a work of art.Write legibly.The table below shows
how you grade your teacher.

General Assessment Table

Points 10 8 5 3
The essay The essay The essay The essay has an
contains stiff topic contains a contains a logical inconsistent
Organization sentences and a logical and and appropriate organization.
controlled appropriate organization.
organization. organization. The writer uses
The writer uses
clear topic
clear topic
sentences. sentences.

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 The essay The ideas mostly The writer’s The writer’s
contains a clearly flow and message is message is only
Content stated and motivate a understandable incomprehensible
focused thesis compelling this format. infrequently, and
statement. reading. the paper
appears
disorganized.
The essay is The essay is The format has The writer makes
clear and mostly focused few mistakes and an effort to use
Ideas focused. The and contains a is easy to read. various
work holds the few useful conventions,
reader’s attention. details and including spelling,
Besides, the quotes. punctuation,
relevant details capitalization,
and quotes enrich grammar usage,
the thesis and
statement. paragraphing.
The essay
contains multiple
errors.

References:
Josefina V. Estolas (Arts for fine Living)
Custodiosa A. Sanchez Ph.D. (Revised Edition)
Note:

FORMAT IN ANSWERING YOUR MODULE

This is how you will pass your output in a one whole sheet of yellow pad paper:

✓ Date:
✓ Name:
✓ Name of teacher:
✓ Year/course/block
✓ Title of Output

Write legibly. Legibly means capable of being read and understood. For subject details, please refer to syllabus

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