Intro to arts

a. Visual arts
• Arts that can be perceived with our eyes

1. The Graphic Arts

• Covers any form of visual artistic representations that are recorded on a two-dimensional
surface.

A. Painting

• the process of applying pigment to a surface

B. Drawing

• the art of representing something by lines made on a surface.

C. Commercial Art

• this includes books, advertisement, signs or posters to promote products or services.

D. Photography

• A chemical-mechanical process by which images are produced by action of light.

Animation

• (from the Latin word, animare, to breathe life into) is the visual art of making a motion
picture from a series of still drawings.

Calligraphy

• First seen in Chinese art, calligraphy is the fine art of stylized writing (viz. the art of
converting Chinese characters into expressive images using responsive rice paper and the
pressure of a tapered brush), which verges on a form of drawing.

Engraving

• A technique of making prints from metal plates into which a design has been incised with a
cutting tool called a burin. Modern examples are almost invariably made from copperplates,
and, hence, the process is also called copperplate engraving.

2. Plastic Arts

• includes all fields of visual arts in which materials are organized into three-dimensional
forms.

A. Architecture

• the art of designing and constructing buildings and other types of structures.
B. Landscape Architecture

• the planning of outdoor areas for human use and enjoyment.

C. City Planning

• planning and arranging the physical aspects of a large or small community.

D. Interior Design

• the design and arrangement of architectural interiors for convenience and beauty.

E. Sculpture

• refers to the design and construction of three dimensional forms representing objects or
shapes

F. Crafts

• Refers to the designing and making of objects by hand for use or for pleasure.

G. Industrial Design

• refers to creating and developing concepts to improve the ergonomics, aesthetics and
functionality of a product

H. Dress and Costume Design

• This covers the design of wearing apparel of all types.

I. Theater Design

• the design of settings, stages or backdrops for dramatic productions

Music

the art of arranging sounds in rhythmic succession

1. Vocal Music
• Music composed primarily to be sung. Voices are sometimes accompanied by instruments.
2. Instrumental Music
• Type of music written for instruments
3. Music combined with other arts

Opera – drama set to music (ex. Puccini’s Madame Butterfly and Turandot)

Musical comedy- like opera, it is also set to music. It is however light and often humorous.

Oratorio and Cantata – sacred music in concert form

Dance

• Involves the movement of the body and the feet in rhythm.

1. Ethnologic

• This includes folk dancing associated with national and cultural groups.

2. Social or Ballroom Dances

• generally performed in pairs. Usually danced to mingle with other people.

3. Ballet

• a formal type of dance which originated in the Royal courts of Middle Ages.

4. Modern Dance

• Contemporary dances reflective of the current trends.

Elements of the Visual Arts

Line

• Line is the extension of a point

• The artist uses lines to represent figures and forms.
• Lines may either be straight or curved.

1. Horizontal Lines

• Lines of repose and serenity.

• They express ideas of calmness.
• Found in reclining persons, landscapes and seascapes.

2. Vertical Lines

• Are lines poised for action

• They are balanced, forceful and dynamic.
• Seen in man standing straight, tall trees

3. Diagonal Lines

• Suggest action and movement

• They give animation
• A running person makes a diagonal line

4. Curved Lines

• Suggest grace, flexibility and femininity.

Colors

3 dimensions of colors
Hue – the dimension of color that gives color its name

Color harmonies

A. Related Color Harmony –

• Monochromatic
• Adjacent

Colors

B. Contrasted Color Harmony – colors that lie opposite each other in the color wheel

2. Value – refers to the lightness and darkness of color

A. Tint – above the normal

B. Shades – below the normal level

Value chart below:

Color

3.intensity – refers to the brightness and dullness of color

Texture

• Deals more directly with the sense of touch

• It has to do with the characteristics of surfaces which can be rough or smooth, fine or coarse

Perspective

• Deals with the effect of distance upon the appearance of objects

• Linear Perspective – the representation of an appearance of distance by means of converging
lines
• Foreshortening- a facet of linear perspective which is applied chiefly to the human figure.
Perspective

• Aerial Perspective – the representation of relative distances of objects by gradation of tone and
color.
• Objects become fainter in the distance due to the effect of the atmosphere.

Space

• Space is more applicable in architecture. The exterior of a building is seen as it appears in space.
• Painting does not deal with space directly.

Form

• Applies to the over-all design of work. It describes the structure or shape of an object.

Volume

• Refers to the amount of space occupied in three dimensions.

• Refers to solidity or thickness.
Organization in the Visual Arts

Harmony

It is achieved by establishing a pleasing relationship between the various elements.

• To relieve monotony, there must be variety.

• Variety is the spice of art.
• Variety is achieved by the diversity of materials used and slight contrasts in color, texture and
shape.

Balance

• Balance is achieved when all parts are equally distributed around a central point
• Refers to the sense of equilibrium.
• There are 2 kinds of balance: Formal and Informal

Formal Balance

• It is also called symmetrical balance

• This is achieved by making both sides exactly alike.
• This kind of balance gives an atmosphere of dignity and formality.
Informal Balance

• Also known as asymmetrical balance

• It is also called occult balance
• More difficult to achieve than formal balance.
• Informal balance suggests spontaneity and movement.

Proportion

• It is determined by a comparison of the sizes of different parts of an object or of an

arrangement.
• Harmonious proportion is achieved when one part of an object does not seem too big or too
small for the other parts

Proportion by Da Vinci

• Eyes positioned halfway down the head

• Top of the ears are in line with the eyebrows
• Bottom of the ears in line with the bottom of the nose
• Pupils in line with the ends of the mouth
Rhythm

• It is the regular or harmonious recurrences of lines, forms and colors.

• Rhythm is organized movement, beat or repetition
• Through the repetition of lines and forms, a pattern is produced.

How to achieve rhythm

• Spacing evenly
• Provide a path for the viewer’s eye to follow.
• Give an illusion of movement

The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hakusai

Emphasis

• Emphasis is produced by the design or form that catches our attention while the rest are
subordinated.
• Emphasis may be defined as giving the proper importance to the parts or to the whole.
• Subordination is the opposite of emphasis.
Mediums of the Visual Arts

Painting

Encaustic

• also known as hot wax painting, involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are
added. The liquid/paste is then applied to a surface—usually prepared wood, though canvas and
other materials are often used.

Tempera

• Tempera, also known as egg tempera, is a permanent, fast-drying painting medium consisting of
colored pigment mixed with glutinous material such as egg yolk or some other size.
• Tends to be yellowish in color
Fresco

• The colors are mixed with water and applied to fresh plaster which absorbs the color.
• Fresco is almost impossible to move
Watercolor

• Pigments are mixed with water and applied to white paper.

• Paper goes well with watercolor.
• Fast-drying quality makes it difficult to make corrections

Oil

• Pigments are mixed in oil.

• The surface that is most ideal is canvas
• Colors are more opaque.
• It does not dry quickly.
• You can make corrections easily

Pastel

• The pigment is bound so as to form a crayon which is applied directly to the surface usually
paper.
• It has no glazed effect.
• The chalk sometimes tends to rub off.
Acrylic

• Newest medium that is used widely by painters.

• Synthetic paints using acrylic emulsion as binder.
• They combine the quick-drying properties of watercolor and the flexibility of oil.

Mosaic

• Small pieces of glass, pebbles, colored stones and tiles that are glued together by an adhesive
such as grout.

Stained Glass

• Commonly used to describe any colored flat glass or any object made of such glass joined by
metal frames.
• The term originally applied to colored or clear flat glass cut to fit an artist's design, on which
details were painted in pigment with a brush.
Tapestry

• Tapestry is a form of textile art, traditionally woven on a vertical loom. However, it can also be
woven on a floor loom as well.

Mediums in Sculpture

2 Process

• Subtractive – the process in which unwanted material is cut away.

• Additive – the construction of a figure by putting together bits of clay or by welding together
parts of metal

Wood

• Cheap and readily available

• It is relatively light and can be made easily into variety of shapes.
• It burns easily. They decay easily
• Cannot be used outdoors

Stone

• Most commonly used for sculpture

• Durable and resistant to the elements
• It is heavy and breaks easily.
• Marble is the most popular stone because of its gloss and smoothness
Bronze and other metals

• The bronze is the most commonly used metal.

• It is light and the figure can support itself in many positions
Ivory

• It is an expensive and rare medium because it uses the tusk of an elephant.

• It cracks
• It is valuable
• The size is limited

Terra Cotta

• Material made of clay

• It easily breaks
• Responsive to a sculptor’s hands and tools