Art Appreciation

Module 2

Week 2: September 12-16, 2022-| 1st Semester, A.Y. 2022-2023

Introduction
Art is a medium through which people make sense of the world and their
experiences, document their lives, express themselves, and advocate their
convictions. The concepts, history, forms and social relevance of arts and the
production and analysis of works of art would be the focus of this course.
COURSE MODULE

In this module, we will discuss the different forms of art and its elements. By
knowing those, we would know how to categorize art works based on its form and
elements.

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

 Deepen your understanding of arts by identifying the various forms of art

Visual Arts
Visual arts is a form of art made primarily to be seen. It can be appreciated
through or eyes, or through our sense of touch, like in a sculpture. This form of art
includes painting, sculpture, and architecture. Allied visual art forms like prints,
drawings, mosaics and frescoes are related to painting since their images or
subjects are also formed on flat surfaces within defined spatial boundaries or
frames.
In the last 3,000 years, painting and sculpture have gone through tremendous
changes not only in subject matter, but also in the manner the subject/s (or the
absence of a subject) is/are depicted. One of these changes include the emergence
of installation art, performance art, and action painting. among others.
In this part of our discussion, we are going to discuss conventional forms of
painting and sculpture. But first, let’s discuss the elements of visual arts for us to
better understand how visual arts is different from other art forms. The elements of
visual arts are line, color, texture, perspective, space, form, volume, light and
shadow.
Line
Line is an important element that an artist can use. Through the lines of a
painting or a sculpture, the artist can make us know what the work is about. He
uses lines to represent figures and forms.
Prepared by Ruthy Mae B. Valdez
 Lines always have direction. They are always moving. Lines, as used in any
work of art, may either be straight or curved.
Man usually lies face down when asleep or when at rest, and stands straight
when in action. He stands stiff and straight when resistant or stern, and relaxes
when in a playful mood, and the lines of his body fall into easy curves. When a
man is in motion, he bends forward; when he encounters an opposing force, he
braces against it.
Man has learned that certain emotional states always find expression through
COURSE MODULE

definite positions. He associates the emotions with the lines that define their
accompanying positions. When given a work of art, man calls upon his
unconscious mind its accompanying emotional state. A straight line is the basic
framework of many forms, but it suggests efficiency, simplicity and strength. A
straight line only moves in one direction; it may either be horizontal, vertical or
diagonal.
Horizontal lines suggest rest, serenity, or calmness. Horizontal lines are found
in reclining persons, in landscapes, calm bodies of water, and in the distant
meeting of the earth and sky in what is commonly called the horizon.

Vertical lines suggest poise, balance, force, aspiration, exaltation and

dynamism. Vertical lines are seen in a man standing straight, a tall tree, and statues
of saints and heroes, among others. All of them show dignity. It can also be seen in
monumental architecture that express and stimulate a state of being restless.

Diagonal lines suggest action, life and movement. Almost every object in action
Prepared by Ruthy Mae B. Valdez
 assumes a diagonal line. A running person makes a diagonal line with his body and
legs. The degree of action is shown by the angle of the diagonal line.

As masters of any art try to perfect their technique, they are able to work
instinctively, and they are able to freely express themselves through curved lines.
They have also learned to restrict the use of straight lines to certain types of work,
the structural requirements of which are steadiness and force.
COURSE MODULE

Curved lines suggest grace, subtleness, direction, instability, movement,

flexibility, joy and grace. Crooked or jagged lines express energy, violence,
conflict and struggle.
Lines may also be classified into three groups: lines which follow or repeat one
another, lines which contrast with one another, and transitional lines which modify
or soften the effect of others.
Opposing lines consist of straight lines that intersect with each other and form
angles. Repetition occurs when two or more lines are drawn within a corner. Lines
that are in opposition to each other form a contrast. When a curved line cuts across
a corner from an opposition line to another, it forms a transitional line. Transitional
lines modify the sharpness of vertical and horizontal lines, giving harmony to the
work.
In a painting, there should be an organic unity of lines to produce balance and
symmetry, proportion of lengths and width, and rhythm.

Prepared by Ruthy Mae B. Valdez

 Color
Of all the elements of art, color has the most aesthetic appeal.
Delight in color is a universal human characteristics. Color is a property of light.
When light goes out, color goes with it. The light of the sun contains all the colors
of the spectrum: violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. These colors
are so blended that they yield no sensation of color. When a beam of light passes
through a prism, the different rays of color are separated so that we are able to see
and identify them. When light strikes a surface, some of the color rays are
COURSE MODULE

absorbed while others are reflected. Others pass through, especially when the
object is transparent. Mot surfaces absorb all the color rays except those which
yield a single color sensation, and appear to be of that color.
Texture

Texture is a color element that deals more directly with the sense of touch. It has
to do with the characteristic of surfaces which can be rough or smooth, fine or
coarse, shiny or dull, plain or irregular.

Texture is found in all of the visual arts. A painting, a building, or a sculpture

have textures which are felt and described in a variety of ways. Texture is due
primarily to differences in medium. In architecture, different feel of wood,
concrete and metal determines the texture of the building. A sculptor can also
produce differences in texture in his works. He can leave marks on the surfaces of
a statue or he can polish it to give it a shiny and smooth texture. In a painting,
texture is exhibited through the representation of the skin, clothes, jewelry, or
furniture, among others. Realizing the importance of texture in their works,
painters like Cezzane and Picasso emphasized texture by purposely making
portions of the paintings rough. Together with the other elements, texture can
contribute to the overall effect of a finished work of art.

Perspective

Perspective deals with the effect of distance on the appearance of objects.

Through this, we can perceive distance, and see the position of objects in space.
There are two kinds of perspective: linear perspective and aerial perspective.
Linear perspective is the representation of an appearance of distance by means of
converging lines. For example, a road would appear to the viewer as seeming to
meet at the distance. In this type of perspective, a painter shows the effect of space
and distance by using converging lines and by diminishing the size of an object.
On the other hand, aerial perspective is the representation of relative distances of
Prepared by Ruthy Mae B. Valdez
 objects by gradations of tone and color. Objects become faded or shadowy in the
distance due to the effect of the atmosphere. To get depth or distance, an artist uses
both linear and aerial perspective.

Space

This element is concerned with making sure that everything that can be seen in a
work is functional and purposeful so that it would contribute to make the whole
work a complete wand good work of art. For example, in a set design, no
COURSE MODULE

unnecessary element shall be seen in the set or in the stage; otherwise, the whole
concept of the design will not be successfully achieved.

Form

Form applies to the overall design of a work of art. It describes the structure or
shape of an object. Form directs the movement of the eyes. Since form consists of
size and volume, it signifies visual weight. Every kind of form has its own
aesthetic effect. All the visual arts are concerned with form. Sculpture and
architecture deal with three-dimensional forms. If a sculpture deals with its
exterior form, an architecture deals with both its exterior and interior form. Good
architecture allows outward forms to be governed by what goes on inside them. A
house is a place for a family to live in, therefore the inside should be carefully
designed to meet the needs of a family. If the exterior form of the house expresses
clearly the interior form, the house becomes a good piece of art. A church must
express on the outside that inside is a place of worship, for it to become a good
work of art. Therefore, throughout the use of forms, there’s this guiding principle
that goes, “form follows function. This means that the inner content of purpose or
function governs the outer appearance.

Volume

Volume refers to the amount of space occupied in

three dimensions. It therefore refers to solidity or
thickness. We can actually see it a sculpture, but
volume in visual arts can also be implied. In a two-
dimensional art work, three-dimensional figures may
be seen through the use of some techniques to imply
volume and depth. This is evident in the painting
called “Small Bouquet of Flowers in a Ceramic Vase”

Prepared by Ruthy Mae B. Valdez

 by Jan Brueghel the Elder. In other words, volume is implied in this painting.

Knowing all those elements, here are some of the types of visual arts that
contains those elements:
COURSE MODULE

Drawing Mosaic
Sublime by Ruthy Valdez Betrayal of Christ in Basilica di
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in
Ravenna, Italy

Painting
Spoliarium by Juan Luna

UP Oblation by Guillermo Tolentino

Sculpture

Room Design Tapestry

Prepared by Ruthy Mae B. Valdez

 Digital Art Animation

There are many ways to draw, paint or sculpt, or make any visual art. Ways in
creating such may differ in medium, elements, style or technique. But you would
COURSE MODULE

know if an artwork is a visual arts if it is made to be seen, and if it has one or more
of the elements discussed above.

Literature
Literature (from the Latin word litera, meaning “acquaintance with letters”)
makes a record of the experiences of man in oral and written form in a manner that
is imaginative, evocative and beautiful. With these qualities, therefore, Literature
does not refer to all kinds of writing but only those that pass the judgments of
artistry. This means that Literature distinguishes between what is “literary” and
what is merely “written.” We can determine if a write up is literary based on the
standards of works that depict meaningful content expressed through imaginative
language. However, standards may vary since Literature, like any other art form, is
judged according to very subjective principles. The standard of judgment will be
more complex when we consider that the Literature of the Western part of the
world have different bases from the standards of the Literature of the East.
Moreover, Literature can either written or oral, also with their own set of
standards. Similarly, however, all Literature will be judged according to its use of
words, orally or in writing, because words are the mediums of Literature.
In this module, we will look into the different literary genre, its use and its
elements. As you can remember in your previous encounter with the word
Literature, it’s divided into two groups: fiction and non-fiction. Another category
divides it into prose and poetry. However, overall, Literature comprises four
general types or genres, each one different in form: fiction, poetry, essay and
drama.

Fiction
Fiction comprises prose works of imaginative narration (i.e. characters and
their stories are invented) that includes the novel and short story. The novel and
short story are narratives, meaning that writers use these forms to tell a story.

Prepared by Ruthy Mae B. Valdez

 The main elements of fiction are setting, character, plot, conflict, point-of-
view, symbol, theme and style. Because literature is an art, there’s no guarantee
that each element will be present in any story. For example, all stories may always
have a setting, but not all stories would have symbols/symbolism.

Poetry
Poetry is unlike fiction in its structure. But like fiction, poetry requires the
careful manipulation of words.
COURSE MODULE

While fiction uses the language of prose (words are spoken like in everyday
language, without any metrical structure), poetry has its own language in concise,
condensed and figurative verse. Poems rely on imagery (visual language) to come
up with meanings and feelings. Because of its condensed nature, poems use words
precisely revealing meanings in many ways, through these words’ connotations. Its
elements are structure, figurative language, sound, imagery.

Essay
An essay discusses or supports a writer’s point-of-view about an idea or claim.
Unlike other literary genre, an essay is not restricted by structure or form.Any
subject can be discussed in an essay. It can be a literary criticism, a review of a
play, a political manifesto, arguments about morality, a biography, observations of
daily life, recollections, or reflections of an author. Subjects are about almost
everything.
Drama

The text of a theater performance is generally written in a genre called

dramatic literature or drama. Drama may be read and enjoyed as a literature, as
many examples of dramatic literature have been written to be read rather than to be
staged. While reading the texts for drama, the reader imagines the actions as if he
sees the drama being performed on stage. However, it is an accepted practice that
drama is performed onstage, for it to be fully enjoyed. So basically, the script that
is used to mount a theatrical production or stage play is called a drama.

Performing Arts

The performing arts include music, dance, and theater, among others. You
would know that an artwork is a performing arts if human performance is its

Prepared by Ruthy Mae B. Valdez

 primary output.

COURSE MODULE

Music - It’s usually called the “language of the soul”. We usually use it to
communicate to others through a beat, sounds of the instrument or human voice,
complimented with the beating of one’s heart and soul. Music during the early
ages was used as a form of chant, and a ritual to celebrate harvest, the start of
hunting period or even for wedding and other traditional practices. Its elements
are:

Pitch - the highness or lowness of a sound, a note or a tone

Rhythm - the arrangement of sounds, silence and pauses

Texture - the overall way on how music sounds, how the musical piece either
of musical instruments or human voices are composed and blended with one
another which can either produce certain density, thickness, range and width
between low and high pitches of human voice or musical instruments

- the “color” of a musical sound; ex.: thickness may refer to the use of
more than one instruments

- it may also be described in terms of number of relationship between

the parts or lines of music, and they are:

~Monophony - a type of texture that has single melody or

tune, with no musical accompaniment nor additional human voice.

Ex.: lullaby

~Heterophony - composed of two or more instruments or

human voices playing or singing the same melody, but each instruments and
singers vary in rhythm and speed. Ex.: Second voice

~Polyphony - various and independent use and applications

Prepared by Ruthy Mae B. Valdez
 of melody lines working and blending together , either sung or played at the
same time. In polyphony, different group of singers are classified according
to their pitch, all sings together at a different or similar time. Ex.: Choral
music which is accompanied with instruments singing at a different time, or
acapella wherein human voice is also used as musical instruments, singing at
a different time

~Homophony - a type of musical texture wherein the melody

is provided or supported by choral accompaniment like other singers in a
COURSE MODULE

choir.

Melody - the succession of tones, sounding after another in logical and

meaningful arrangements; this is what a listener always remembers

Tempo - the speed of a certain musical piece

Dynamics - the degree of strength, and volume of the sound. It refers to the
force or control when music is either played from soft to loud.

Expression - this is not something that other books or resources will mention,
but as a listener or audience of a musical performance, this element is very
important. The expression of the emotion seen in the face and heard in the
voice of an artist must match the story or interpretation of the song or music.

Dance - If music is the language of the soul, dance is a communication that uses
the movement of the body. During the early period, dances, just like music, are
part of traditional and religious rituals. From being traditional, dances are now
used for recreation or for healthy living. Its elements are theme, movement,
music, and spectacle (the costumes, props and set design that enriches the
performance).

Prepared by Ruthy Mae B. Valdez

COURSE MODULE

Theater - it is concerned with acting out dramas or the scripts written by

playwrights onstage; it is either in a form or musical or straight plays. Its elements
are: script, actors, action, music/sound effects, costumes, props, set design, and
audience.

Cinema

In January 1, 1897, the Philippine cinema was said to have been introduced in the
Philippines by the Spaniards, a year after the Lumiere brothers initially showed their
cinematographe (French word). According to Martin (2019), the Lumiere brothers
"invented a camera that could record, develop and project film.” The Spanish equivalent
of cinematographe is cronofotografo which was later changed to cinematografo and was
later shortened to cine. Cinema is the process of capturing images videos using a camera,
and projecting that on screen. Cartoons, news, commercial, industrial films, educational
films, social documentaries and home movies are among its types. Its elements are plot,
physical, psychological and dramatic time, space (the contributory factors in
achieving realness of the scene through the use of different camera angles), and

Prepared by Ruthy Mae B. Valdez

 music/sound effects.
Physical time refers to the time taken by an action as it is being filmed and as it is flashed
on the screen. It can be distorted through slow motion, accelerated motion, or reverse
motion. Psychological time refers to our emotional expression of the duration of the
action that we experience as watch a film, like in suspense movies. When we watch those
kinds of movies, time passes so slow for us as we immediately want a resolution for the
conflict happening in the movie. Lastly, dramatic time refers to the time taken up by the
events depicted in the films. The cinema may use a story line that will cover a single day
COURSE MODULE

in the life of a character or the whole story of civilization to connect the present with the
past to fully appreciate and understand the story. Dramatic time also includes story that
embraces long period that may be used as flashbacks, prologue or epilogue. Others use
dramatic time by making use of repetition of the same events.

References
 Ariola, M. (2008). Introduction to art appreciation, A textbook in humanities.
Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Inc.
 Fernandez, S. (2016). The Human image in the Arts. Iligan City: IPAG-Artists
Resource Management.
 Lumen. (N.D.) Boundless arty history, Visual Elements.
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-arthistory/chapter/visual-
elements/
 Pla, E. (2011). Elements of poetry.
https://elsapla.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/poetry-elements-partial-list.pdf
 Reid, R. (N.D.) The 6 elements of fiction.
https://thewritepractice.com/elements-of-fiction/
 Southeast Missouri State University. (N.D.). Elements of fiction. http://cstl-
cla.semo.edu/hhecht/the elements of fiction.htm

Prepared by Ruthy Mae B. Valdez