MABINI COLLEGES, INC.

Daet, Camarines Norte

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

2nd Sem., S.Y.2021-2022

GEC 6- ART APPRECIATION

MODULE 1
Title: ARTWORK and the ARTIST

Name of Student:
Course/ year:
Class Schedule:

Module Overview:

Art Appreciation will introduce students to the visual arts and the variety of art mediums and techniques
used to create two and three dimensional works of art. The purpose of this module is to build a context for
understanding the arts; structurally, socially, culturally and historically with the intention of making art meaningful
to the student’s everyday life.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this module, students can:

 Describe and define the concepts of Art, artwork and artist
 Recognize and exemplify the forms and elements of visual arts
 Realize the function of some art forms in daily life

LECTURE NOTES
Read this…

A. What Art is all about?

“The Well Appointed Life”

H.R Ocampo (1978) FIGURE 1.

Art is often associated with the visual arts paintings and sculpture but in modern sense it is extended to
other creative and expressive human activities which include even those that employ digital and highly technical
creative works like cinema and photography. Art is something that is perennially around us. Some people may
deny having to do with the arts but it is indisputable that life presents us with many forms of and opportunities
for communion with the arts.
A bank manager choosing what tie to wear together with his shirt and shoes, a politician shuffling her
music track while comfortably seated on her car looking for her favorite song, a student marveling at the intricate
designs of medieval cathedral during his field trip, and a market vendor cheering for her bet in a dance competition
on a noontime TV program all manifest concern for values that are undeniably, despite tangentially, artistic.
Despite the seemingly overflowing instances of arts around people, one still finds the need to see more and
experience more, whether consciously or unconsciously.

ETYMOLOGY
The word “at” is rooted from the 13th century French word “art” which means skills. The same
root of the following words that is equivalent to human creativeness:

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 1. Artificial-made by human beings
2. Inert- having no skill
3. Artisan-instructor or master of a human skill.

PHILOSOPHY OF ART
The definition of art has been debated for centuries among philosophers. “What is art?” is the
most basic question in the philosophy of aesthetics which really means “how do we determine what is
defined as art?” This implies two subtexts: the essential nature of art, and its social importance. The
definition of art has generally fallen into three categories: representation, expression, and form.

Art as Representation: Mimesis. Plato first developed the idea of art as “mimesis”, which, in
Greek, means copying or imitation. It is defined as the representation or replication of something
that is beautiful or meaningful. Until roughly the end of the 18th century, a work of art was valued
on the basis of how faithfully it replicated its subject.

“The Ugly Duchess” Quentin Massys

(1513) FIGURE 2

Art as Expression of Emotional Content. Expression became important during the Romantic
Movement with artwork expressing a definite feeling, as in the sublime or dramatic.

“American Gothic”, Grant Wood (1930)

FIGURE 3

Art as Form. Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) was one of the most influential of the early theorists
toward the end of the 18th century. He believed that art should not have a concept but should be
judged only on its formal qualities because the content of a work of art is not an aesthetic interest.

“The Arnolfini Portrait”, Jan van Eyck”

(1434) FIGURE 4

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 Today, all three modes of definition come into play in determining what is art, and its value, depending
on the artwork being assessed.

B. DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF ARTS

Artworks are categorized according to different criteria and most of the times are dependent on the
authors and the critique.

Anthropological- artworks are defined and categorized according to the culture or country they
originated, thus we have:
1. Pre-historic artwork which most of the times is highlighted for its archeological value
more than its aesthetics.
2. Pre-communal or tribal artworks which are creative creation of indigenous and tribal
communities.
3. Asian, Western, Arabian, Mediterranean, French, Italian and etc. and all these categories
refers to the particular regional setting or country they originated.

FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6

Thematic- some reference would consider the philosophy, the principle, the medium and
technique employed by the artists.
According to Critique and Patrons- critique and patron of the arts come from the elite sector of
the society thus the categories marginalize or discriminate other works that they don’t
patronage.
1. High Art and Low Arts- the former of the powerful and the latter is culture of the less
powerful
2. Art and Popular Culture- culture of the elite has aesthetic appeal while the culture of
masses is popular and less appealing
3. High Priced and Low Priced- works of geniuses and popular artist are priced higher while
others struggle to have their work exhibited and bought for the commercial value is less
and it is not then considered as a good investment.
Deconstruction of the aesthetic and real value of Art.

C. PURPOSE OF ART
Recording Appearances
Making the Invisible Visible
Communicating
Delighting

FIGURE 7

D. ANATOMY OF AN ART WORK

Art Work
Subject
Artist
Emotions or Ideas to be expressed
Medium and Technique
Purpose
The Viewer, Patron or Critique
Impression of the Viewer, Patron and Critique

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ARTWORK AND THE ARTIST

A. Different factors that affect the artist and his works

Style- it is the over-all embodiment of the choice of subject matter.
Historical Factors- it is the style of a particular period of time.
Geographical Factors- artists are conditioned by their nationality and so we have categorization
like Italian, American, Dutch or Asian artworks
Political, Psychological and Sociological Factors- influenced by his/her political belief, culture, the
state of mind or a certain philosophy in life.

B. CATEGORIES OF ARTWORKS (detailed discussion of each one on separate modules)

1. Visual Arts
a) It is commonly referred to as two-dimensional
b) Example of this includes mosaic, painting, tapestry, illumination, stained glass, drawings,
sketches, printmaking, and photography.
2. Practical Arts
a) Sculpture
b) Architecture
3. Performing Arts
a) Poetry
b) Music
c) Dance
d) Theatre and Cinema

VISUAL ARTS

Technically are human’s creative activity that can be seen and delight the eyes. It is the element that
maximizes the potent quality of lines, forms, colors, shadows, lights and texture to represent realities in either
distorted, abstract or realist form. These elements of art are generally produced when something is done to the
medium after the technique is carried out.

ELEMENTS OF VISUAL ARTS

FIGURE 8

1. LINES- refers to a point moving at an identifiable path- it has length and direction. It also has width. It
is one-dimensional, however, it has the capacity to either define perimeters of the artwork (edges)
and/or become a substantial component of the composition.
Straight Lines: Vertical, Horizontal, Diagonal
VERTICAL LINES and HORIZONTAL LINES- refers to the orientation of the line.
Horizontal Lines- are normally associated with rest or calm.
Vertical Lines- connote elevation or height, which is usually taken to exaltation or aspiration for action.
Diagonal and crooked Lines- it conveys movement and instability, although the progression can be seen.
Curved Lines- these are lines that bend or coil. They allude to softness, grace, flexibility, or even sensuality.
FIGURE 9: Known for using lines to provide the outline or contour of the figures he portrays in his work, KEITH
HARING first executed the public mural “TODOS JUNTOS PODEMOS PARAR EL SIDA” (Together We Can Stop
AIDS) in Barcelona in 1989.

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FIGURE 10. One of the most important artist is Francisco de Goya. He made use of his medium to articulate his
political views about the ills of society, war scenes, and even he dreamlike and grotesque while still engaging
with was happening around him.

FIGURE 11. Lines may not necessarily be explicit or literally shown. As what many examples will portray, implied
lines may be just as powerful, if not more. In “The Raft of Medusa” the position and orientation of the bodies
are aboard the raft are predominantly diagonal in direction.

2-3 SHAPE and FORM

These two are related to each other in the sense that they define the space occupied by the subject of art.
Shape refers to two dimensions: height and width, while Form refers to three dimensions: height, width, and
depth.
a. Geometric- these shapes find origin in mathematical proportions, these includes shapes such as
squares, triangles, cubes, circles, spheres, and cones.
b. Organic- shapes are those readily occurring in nature, often irregular and asymmetrical.

4 SPACE
It is usually inferred from a sense of depth, whether it is real or simulated. Real space is three-dimensional.

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5 COLOR
One of the elements that enhances the appeal of an artwork. This element is a property of light, as it is
reflected off the object. An upshot of this color theory is the creation of a color wheel.

FIGURE 12

The color wheel corresponds to the first property of color, hue.

a. HUE- this dimension of color gives its name. it can be subdivided into:
Primary colors- red, yellow, and blue
Secondary colors- green, orange, and violet
Tertiary colors- six in total, these hues are achieved when primary and secondary colors are
mixed.
b. VALUE- this refers to the brightness or darkness of color.
Light colors- taken as the source of light in the composition
Dark colors- the lack or even absence of light

FIGURE 13

Tint- this is a lighter color than the normal value

Shade- this is a darker color than the normal value

FIGURE 14

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 C. INTENSITY- this is the color’s brightness or dullness. It is identified as the strength of color, whether it
is vivid or muted.

FIGURE 15

6 TEXTURE
Visual appearance of things
Characteristics of the surface of the art work
Sense perception
Significant in artworks like sculpture and painting
Commercially important in skin, clothes, jewelry and other objects

7 PERSPECTIVE
To adjust and express the distance and depth of the object of the art work
Distant appearance of the object

8 CHIAROSCURO or LIGHT and SHADOW

Using light and shade
Without the use of color

Let’s Wrap It Up
Art is a product of man’s creativity, imagination, and expression. An artwork may be inspired by nature
or other works of art, but an artist invents his own forms and patterns due to what perceives as beautiful and
incorporates them in creating his masterpiece.
In any art appreciation course, the module or lesson on the elements and principles of art are
considered one of the most rudimentary stages in easing the student into a meaningful experience with art,
regardless of its form. The focal point(s) that draw the attention of the viewer is also interesting to note, as this
provides insight as to the interest and values that are of most weight to him or her. These perhaps will help
create a bridge in which a person, who may not normally find pleasure in looking at art, may consider future
engagement with it.

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