HUMANITIES 112 ART APPRECIATION

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MODULE 2
AESTHETIC ARTS AND CRAFTS

INTRODUCTION
This chapter will help us understand that "Art" and "craft" are two
contrasting kinds of aesthetic, work organization, and work ideology,
differing in their emphases on the standards of utility, virtuoso skill, and
beauty. Activities organized as craft can become art when members of
established art worlds take over their media, techniques, and
organizations. Conversely, through increased academicism or
subordination of traditional art concerns to exigencies that arise outside an
art world, activities organized as art can become craft.

LEARNING OUTCOME

At the end of the lesson, students are expected to:

• compare and contrast aesthetic arts and crafts;
• identify the types of aesthetic arts and crafts; and
• develop understanding on artistic design and composition and its motivated functions.

PRE TEST

Answer the following questions briefly:

1. Is Art a reflection of our values? Support your answer.
2. Is artistic skill learned or natural?
3. Why is Art considered as a “distinct character and a reflection of society”?

LEARNING CONTENT

The Difference between Aesthetic Arts and Crafts

Aesthetics is from the Greek word eisthesis which means ―perceptional. It is a branch of philosophy
devoted to the study of art and beauty used during the 18th century by Alexander Baumgarten, a German
philosopher. This term also refers to the principles governing the nature and appreciation of beauty, especially in
visual art (Rader, 1979).

On the other hand, the term ―craft‖ comes from a German word Kraft which means ―power‖ or―ability‖.
It is usually employed in branches of the decorative arts or associated artistic practice. It also implies the application
of human skills through the use of a hand. It tends to produce things for various human purposes, and tend to exhibit
their prettiness around a goal external to the object itself (Dutton, 1990).

Arts and crafts started during the 19th century in Europe as a design reform and as a social movement
initiated by William Morris. It involves activities related to making things which require a combination of skill,
speed, and patience.

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William Morris who was born on March 24, 1834, in Walthamstow, England was known
for his pattern designs, particularly on fabrics, and wallpapers. As a proponent of
socialist ideals, Morris believed that a designer should have the skill of any media in
producing designs that intricate intertwining fruit, flower, and foliage pattern. He died on
October 3, 1896, at the age of 62 years old in London, England.

Types of Arts and Crafts

Artists may have unique skills and perceptive abilities, but they are also people with needs and the
motivation to meet those needs. Creating different works of art that are accepted by one’s audience can lead to an
artist’s social acceptance and recognition. Their works of art have been used to create pleasing environments. Arts
and crafts have different types, namely: textile wood, metal, paper or canvass, and plant crafts.

Textile Crafts. The word textile is from a Latin phrase texere

which means “to braid" or "to construct." These also refer to
any craft where you work with fabric, yarn or surface design. It
uses plant or any synthetic fibers in creating practical or
decorative objects. These include the following:

1. Cross-stitch- Stitching can also be a form of natural

pain relief. It is a popular form of counted-thread
embroidery in which X-shaped stitches in a tiled,
raster-like pattern are used to form a picture.
2. Crocket- It is a process of creating fabric from yarn, thread, or other material strands using a crochet hook.
3. Sewing- It is the crafts of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread.
4. Weaving- It is a fabric production method in which yarns are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or
cloth.
5. Tatting- It is a technique for handcrafting particularly in making durable lace which is constructed by a
series of knots and loops.
6. Shoemaking- It is the process of making footwear.
7. Lace- It is an openwork fabric, patterned with open holes in the work, made by machine or by hand.
8. Macramé- It is a form of textile-making which requires very few tools and just some pure knowledge of
basic knotting.
9. Millinery- It is the designing and manufacture of hats.
10. String art- It is an arrangement of colored thread strung between points to form an abstract geometric
design.

Wood Crafts. These refer to a skill that pertains to the woods,

especially in making one's way through the woods or in
hunting, trapping, etc. It also relates to subsistence lifestyles
with implications of hunting- gathering (Horace, 1906). These
include the following:

1. Carpentry-It is a skilled trade in the cutting, shaping,

and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings.
2. Marquetry- It is the art and craft of applying pieces of veneer (thin slices of wood) to a structure to form
decorative designs.
3. Woodturning- It is a form of woodworking that is used to create wooden objects.
4. Wood carving- It is a form of woodworking to form a wooden figure or objects by using a knife or a chisel.
5. Cabinetry- It is a skill in making a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and drawers for keeping various
objects.
6. Upholstery- It is the work of building cushion and cover furniture.

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Metal Crafts. These refer to the art of executing artistic designs

in metal for both practical and aesthetic purposes. These arts
are designed for decorative items or functional objects that are
beneficial and useful to us all. These works are of bronze, silver,
gold, tin, copper, lead, brass, and iron. These include the
following:

1. Jewelry- It is a form of personal adornments, such as

brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.
2. Metal Casting- It is a process by which a liquid material (bronze, copper, glass, aluminum, and iron) is
poured into a mold, which contains a hollow cavity of the desired shape, and then allowed to solidify.
3. Welded sculpture- It is an art form in which statue is made using welding techniques.

Paper or Canvas Crafts. It refers to an extremely durable plain-

woven fabric used for making backpacks, tents, marquees, and
other sustainable items. These include the following:

1. Bookbinding- It is the process of physically assembling

a book from some folded or unfolded sheets of paper
or other material.
2. Card making- It is a hand-made technique for
producing greeting cards.
3. Collage- It is a technique where the artwork is made
from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a
new whole.
4. Origami- It is a Japanese cultural art of paper folding.
5. Paper-Mache- It is a composite material consisting of paper pieces or pulp, sometimes reinforced with
textiles, bound with an adhesive.
6. Scrapbooking- It refers to a method of arranging, preserving, and presenting personal and family history
in a book form.
7. Rubber Stamping- It is a craft in which some type of ink made of dye or pigment applied to an image or
pattern that carved, molded, laser engraved or vulcanized, onto a sheet of rubber.

Plants Crafts- These refer to skills using plant parts as the

medium. These include the following:

1. Corn dolly making- It relates to the making of shapes

and figures (known as ‘dollies’) from straw (such as
barley, oats, and wheat).
2. Floral Design- It is the art of using plant materials and
flowers to create a pleasing and balanced
composition.
3. Pressed flower craft- consists of drying flower petals and leaves in a flower press to flatten and exclude
light and moisture.

Principles of Understanding Artistic Design and Composition

Art principles are created by combining art elements. Artists utilize organizing principles to develop forms
that inform. Among the fundamental principle of art are harmony, variety, balance, movement, emphasis, proportion,
and rhythm. Whether analysing or composing artwork, one must have a complete understanding of how art
principles are created (Elsen, 1981).

The Principle of Harmony. When all of the elements of art interact well in an artwork, visual harmony is attained.
This is accomplished by using similar types of geometric shapes, lines or colors within a work of art to create a
unified composition. Likewise, using various cool or warm colors would help to produce a harmonious work of art.

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The Principle of Variety. A stable composition will also demonstrate the principle of variety. It is accomplished by
using differing colors, lines, and shapes within an artwork to make key areas stand out. Artists can use this idea to
direct a viewer’s eye to a place within the art that he or she wants to emphasize.

The Principle of Balance. It refers to the symmetry of opposing visual forces. It is created in a work of art when
colors, forms, shapes or textures are combined harmoniously.

The Principle of Movement. It is the way that an eye moves throughout a work of art. In this work of art, our eye
moves up through the pattern in the rippling surface of the water to the two paddlers. An artist creates a visual
movement to drive the eye to the focal point of the artwork.

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Principle of Emphasis. It refers to the need for an artist to create a focal point within an artwork. This artistic point
is an essential part of a work of art, and the viewer’s eye should drawn to that area.

Principles of Proportion. This principle is created when the sizes of elements in an artwork art are combined
harmoniously. The artist usually tries to make all of the parts in a composition relate logically to each other to depict
the human form within the proper proportion.

Principle of Rhythm. It refers to the use of visual pattern within a work of art. Models within an artwork are created
by repeating certain colors, line or shapes in specific areas. It can also be used to form a variety of texture within a
work of art.

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Motivated Functions of Art

The motivated purposes of art are intentional and conscious actions on the part of the artist. Art may bring
political change or comment on the life in a society. It may also convey specific propaganda, or just as a form of
communication (Holly, 2002). Primary motivated functions of arts are as follows:

• Art for Acting. Art may pursue to bring about a certain emotion, to relax or to entertain the viewer.
• Art for healing. Art is utilized by art therapists, psychotherapists, and clinical psychologists as art therapy.
The end product is a method of curing, through creative acts.
• Art for political change. One of the essential functions of the art of the early twentieth century has been
to use visual images to bring about legislative modification.
• Art for propaganda (Commercialism). Art is utilized to influence popular ideas or moods delicately.
• Art for communication. Art has a goal, directed toward another individual. For example, graphic is a form
of art for communication in which the artist expresses his/her emotions, feelings, and moods

LEARNING ACTIVITY

ACTIVITY No. 1
PRESSED FLOWER CRAFT

Directions: In this learning task, you need to collect flowers available at home. Put them in a book for it to be
pressed. Paste the pressed flowers in a bond paper and come up with your own artistic design. Consider in
crafting your own artwork the insights you have gained from lesson. In the bottom part of the paper, write a short
explanation of your work. Also, try to reflect on your understanding of the lesson.

Materials required

1. Toothpicks
2. Glue
3. Container to hold the glue
4. Pressed flowers (any home-made or purchased air dry presses; microwave presses; or traditional
method of pressing in books)

Instructions
1. Arrange the pressed flowers on the paper, but do not glue anything.
2. Pour a small amount of glue into a shallow dish or container for easy access.
3. Start sticking the flowers on the bottom layer of the arrangement.
4. Turn the pressed flower over so that the glue is facing down and carefully place the flower on the paper.
Apply pressure on the flower and hold for a few seconds. Repeat the process till all of the flowers are fixed.

ASSESSMPut your output in a 1 whole sheet of paper (8.5x11), include the name, major, date and module
no. title. Write a short description of your artwork. Capture it using your camera and save in a PDF File
with file name of your name and module no.
Quiz
Identification; Identify the following.
1. It is the art of using plant materials and flowers to create a pleasing and balanced composition.
2. It is a technique where the artwork is made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new
whole.
3. Art is utilized to influence popular ideas or moods delicately.
4. It is the work of building cushion and cover furniture.
5. It is a process of creating fabric from yarn, thread, or other material strands using a crochet hook.
6. Who was born on March 24, 1834, in Walthamstow, England was known for his pattern designs,
particularly on fabrics, and wallpapers?
7. It consists of drying flower petals and leaves in a flower press to flatten and exclude light and moisture.
8.

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9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

REFERENCES

SBCTC & Lumen Learning. (n.d.) Art Appreciation. Retrieved Last March 18, 2021 from
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/masteryart1/
Ernesto Thaddeus M. Solmerano, Art Appreciation, First Edition, Copyright 2019
Sanchez, C.A. et al (2012), Introduction to the Humanities, Rex Book Store
Constantino,Bienvenido B. Jr.,(2014), Arts Across Time and Border
Cabasaan, William J. Jr., (2014), Humanities Philosophy and History of Arts
Tabotabo, Claudio V. et al. (2013), Introduction to the Humanities and the Basic of Arts Appreciation
Regado, C. and Mendoza, J. (2013) Art Appreciation: Introductory Reading on Humanities Focus on Philippine Art
Science

RUBRICS

Understanding
The artwork is The art work is The artwork shows The artwork shows
Demonstration that planned carefully; planned little evidence of no understanding
instructions understanding of adequately; understanding the of the concepts and
and most concepts and understanding of concepts and instructions.
concepts are instructions is some concepts and instructions.
understood. shown. instructions shown.
Craftsmanship/
Skill The artwork shows The artwork shows The artwork shows The artwork shows
good craftmanship, average below average poor craftmanship
Neatness, precision, with some attention craftmanship and craftmanship and and no attention to
care. to detail. attention to detail. little attention to detail.
detail.
Creativity/
Originality The artwork The artwork The artwork The artwork lacks
demonstrates demonstrates an demonstrates little evidence of
Inventiveness, some personal average amount of personal personal
expression of ideas expression and personal expression and expression.
and imagination. logical problem expression. problem solving
solving skills. skills.

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Effort Advanced Proficient Moderate Below Basic

What it takes to The student put The student put The student put The student put
finish the project as forth the effort forth the effort forth the effort forth no effort or the
well as required to required to finish required to finish project was not
possible, complete the the project; used the project; completed; class
time dedicated to the project well; used class time usedclass time time was not used
project inside and/or class time well. adequately. adequately. well.
out of class.

ANSWER KEY
1. Floral design
2. Collage
3. Art form propaganda
4. Upholstery
5. Crocket
6. William Morris
7. Pressed flower craft
8. Principle of proportion
9. Corn dolly making
10. Textile crafts
11. William Morris
12. Principle of rhythm
13. Principle of variety
14. Paper or canvass crafts
15. Principle of movement

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