MODULE 1

THAT’S ART, SO WHAT?

LESSON 3
WHO IS AN ART?

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:

 Discuss the right perception on artists beyond their physical limitation.

 State the characteristics of an artists and their style that you admire most
 Appreciate the lives of artists and craftsmen; why they create art and for
whom

INTRODUCTION

Artists have a certain kind of power. It does not lie on money or politics,
but, on his or her capacity to influence. The question now is, for what
purpose will that power be used?

“.... there is an art of the future, and it is going to be so lovely and so young that
even if we give up our youth for it, we must gain serenity by it,” Vincent Van Gogh in
his letter to his brother, Theo.

“Self Portrait” 1889, Vincent Van Gogh

Why did Van Gogh dedicate so much of his life to the future achievements of art? His presence
is now often seen in restaurant interiors, in the web, and even on novelty items. The price of his works
has skyrocketed to millions of dollars. His renowned, and a favorite of most, “Starry
Night” rings a bell to a lot of people.

On the other hand, behind Van Gogh’s artistic achievement was a history of
struggle over whether his art would really matter later on. He was also human. He
never saw the pinnacle of his artistic career in his lifetime; but he had a vision and an
artistic mission that we all benefited from.

What if there are no artists such as Van Gogh who would envision the future of
art-making that we all enjoy today? As much as master artworks tell us a lot of stories,
the lives of artists are also as colorful and mysterious. Studying their struggles, issues,
and victories can enhance the way we view art and life in general.
 ACTIVITY & ANALYSIS

In these series of activities, we will try to immerse ourselves in the lives of artists. Be
an active participant and observer in each activity.

1. On artist rivalry

Read this comic strip about a dialogue between Michelangelo and Leonardo Da
Vinci.

To study and draw a perfect human

form, I must dissect cadavers and
study it scientifically! The flesh and
bones are fundamental in the
pursuit of perfection!

Da Vinci

You know this block of marble here,

There is a form to be discovered
Inside it. I must subtract from
His block and let that figure out!
But before that, I shall drink first
For inspiration!
Michaelangelo
Da Vinci: to study and draw a perfect human form, I
must dissect cadavers and study it scientifically! The flesh and bones are
fundamental in the pursuit of perfection!

Michelangelo: You know this block of marble here, there is a form waiting to be
discovered inside it. I must subtract and let that figure out! But before that, shall
drink first for inspiration!
ANALYSIS:

A. This may be just a hypothetical conversation between Leonardo and

Michelangelo in terms of their art-making but the contrast tells us a lot about
their individual approach toward the artistic process.

a.1 If you can meet Leonardo da Vinci today, what kind of person do you think
you would encounter?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
__________________________

a.2 How about Michelangelo? What type of personality does he have?

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
__________________________

a.3 How do you think can artists use rivalry constructively? How about envy?
How can it be used positively?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
__________________________

B. Think of three people you admire and want to emulate. What do you think about
these people, what makes them great? What do you feel when his or her name
comes you’re your mind? Write your reflections below:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
 C. Read this short biographical excerpt about Chuck Close, an artist.

In 1988, a spinal blood clot left Close almost completely paralyzed and
confined to a wheelchair. This posed a great challenge to the artist’s career.
However, with much determination, a device was developed to strap a brush to his
wrist and forearm which allowed him to continue working. Since this method limited
his mobility, he replaced the minute detail of his earlier paintings with a grid of tiles
daubed with colorful elliptical and ovoid shapes. Viewed up close, each tile was
simply a collation of circular shapes and colors, but when seen from a distance, the
tiles come together to form an image of a seemingly “pixelated” human face. In 1998,
the Museum of Modern Art in New York City mounted a major retrospective of
Close’s portraits. Close has been called a Photorealist, a Minimalist, and an Abstract
Expressionist. But most of all, he was an artist ready to face the challenges of his
physical limitations.

ANALYSIS:

What did the article tell you about the artist? What happened to him? How did
he adapt to his disability? What can you reflect on the reality of physical limitations (or
even mental, e.g., dyslexia, depression, schizophrenia) and the challenge that this
poses to artists?

ABSTRACTION

The content of the abstraction is adapted from the book of:

Roldan, A.N., et.al., Art Appreciation,2019

The Artistic Process

Unlike the common notions that artists are too spontaneous, laid back, and
unsystematic, individual art practitioners do need to have sets of procedures and
disciplines. Even the most spontaneous ones work with a process, however simple
and succinct. Artists are also thinkers and even great inventors and scientists. The
creative process is also a problem-solving approach involving a lot of systems of
knowledge. Art can cover a lot of subject matters from science, philosophy, and even
practical living. It can also be applied to such areas of knowledge. As Einstein said,
“After a certain high level of technical skills is achieved science and art tend to
coalesce in aesthetic, plasticity, and form. The greatest scientists are artists as well”.
The diagram does not necessarily precede artistic creation, but it comprises the
elements that tie-up together in the conception of a tangible art form:
Rivalry, Envy, and Artistic Preferences

The issue of rivalry and comparison is not new to the art scene. This may sound
negative, but it can actually yield some positive things. Let us take for example the
rivalry between Leonardo and Michelangelo. What they were arguing about actually
gives us a broader understanding of the arts. We cannot say that one artistic process
is better than the other, but we can truly see that both resulted in major contributions
to the development of Visual Arts. In addition, lots of artists can become discouraged
by envy, especially if the envied person seems to be way ahead of his contemporaries.
However, envy can have a constructive effect if taken in a different way. As a famous
adage says “good artists copy, great artists steal”.

Inclusivity of Artists

In the previous activity, we came to realize how artists are also subject to human
frailties. There is Chuck Close’s paralysis, Van Gogh’s mental health condition, and
Jackson Pollock’s problem with chronic drinking which caused his death. Working with
art is not always working on a dream job: settling up an easel in a studio overlooking
a breathtaking view. It is actually the very opposite. It is a daily wrestle between
survival and passion. It does not always promise monetary returns, often side jobs are
needed to survive a life as an artist, especially in a third world country as ours. Hence,
the pressures of life along with the demands of art-making are cause some
psychological and physical stress to the artist’s life.
 Hans Prinzhom produced a book about the Artistry of the Mentally III. This is a
good contribution to the vision of dignifying people with disabilities or incapacities

Democratization of culture, which is evident in the 2019 edition of Cultural

Center of the Philippines (CCP) Encyclopedia, has blurred the line between high and
low art. Hence, we should also strive to change our attitude toward those who are
considered the elite of the art scene because of their own art-making. The craftsmen’s
craft and the non-degree holder artist deserve the same value or valuation as those
given to works hanging on the pristine while walls of museums and galleries.

Added Insight: Valuing of Artist’s Process and Work through Money

We have seen how in the latter part Van Gogh’s life, which was actually his
death, the value of his works shoot up to millions of dollars. Why do we equate money
with the value of art? Why the need to spend money on art? When we consume
something, it means we either need it or want it. But have we wondered how we spend
our money and on what? More often, we do not see the point in buying art because of
our problem with taste. How is this? Let us take for example our fondness for fast food
and branded but overpriced items. What we buy also defines what we value. If we do
not value our health, naturally we will just buy whatever we crave. But, if we value our
well-being, we buy things that are good for our physical bodies. Hence, if art reflects
our nobility and highest potential, how do we value it in terms of expenditure?

APPLICATION AND ASSESSMENT

Write a short biography of an artist whom you know but is not yet
established in the art scene. How would you promote him or her? From
the biography, imagine yourself creating exhibit notes printed on nice
glossy paper together with some of his or her work. How would you present him or her
in a way that is convincing to your target audience or market? You will be rated using
the rubric on page 38.

Use the space below for your publication material complete with text and
photos.
Rubrics for Explanation
Criteria Outstanding - 4 Proficient - 3 Basic - 2Below
Expectations - 1
Critical Rich in content; Substantial Information Rudimentary
Thinking insightful information; is thin and and superficial;
analysis, evidence of common little analysis,
synthesis and analysis, place; synthesis or
evaluation, clear synthesis and attempts, evaluation; little
connection is evaluation: made at or no
made to real; - general analysis, connections with
life situations or connections synthesis any other
to previous are made, but and material or are
content. are evaluation; off topic.
sometimes connection
too obvious s are
or not clear. limited,
vague
 generalitie
s are
posted
Personal Entries are high Connects Little Clack of
Reflection quality ideas and evidence connection to
consisting of thoughts to of personal personal life.
personal personal life; connection
reflections that Evidence of s need
connect personal further
between real - connection to explanatio
life, learning, earning, n or
and reading. community. justification
.
Surface An occasional Few Obvious Obvious
Features grammatical or grammatical grammatic grammatical or
stylistic error. or stylistic al or stylistic errors;
errors. stylistic errors make
errors; content very
errors difficult to read.
interfere
with
content.
by:albany.edu/images