CONTEMPORARY FINE ARTS IN THE PHILIPPINE REGIONS

FINE ARTS (Painting, Sculpture, and architecture)

● Artist---- mastery-------material/medium, technique and
craftsmanship
● Materials/Medium- the physical elements of art (paint, stone,
clay, or metal)
● Technique- personal way of using a medium or material
●Craftsmanship – the skill of doing what can be done and the ability to
do it.
What's in a Work of Art?
In art, a medium is the material that artists use to create their art. It's
that simple. Whatever a piece of art is made out of is its medium. The
plural of medium is media. So, one piece of art can be made of one
medium or several media. If you've ever been to an art museum or
➤ Stylized art is a form that has moved away from natural forms and
gallery, you've probably seen those little signs next to each piece that
shapes. It takes natural forms and alters the color, shapes, lines, and
look something like this:
features. Therefore, the art appears similar to the natural state while
'Oil on Canvas' 'Tempera on Wood' 'Ink on Silk'
also looking more dramatic or abstract.
All of these items are media. They describe each item the artist used to
➤ Related Terminology: Art that resembles nothing in the physical
make the art. Therefore, oil and canvas are both media used to
world is called abstract, while art that portrays something recognizable
describe that particular work. Sometimes this can be a very important
(however distorted) is called representational. One may also
part of how the piece of art is interpreted. Different materials carry
distinguish between narrative art (which tells some kind of story) and
different significance. For example, if a certain wood is considered
decorative art (which does not). While a decorative work can be either
sacred, then using it indicates that this piece of art is very special. Or if
abstract or representational, a narrative work must be
an artist uses an uncommon medium, say garbage, it helps that artist
representational.
make a statement.
Devices for Objective Accuracy
1. Correct drawing - The artist sees and understands what he/she is
STYLE/FORM
looking at. It can be acquired by formal studies and serious practice.
Concept of Style is an important one in art, yet can be very confusing –
2. Control and handling of illumination - It is the artist ability to create
the word style has so many meanings.
realistic images through the application of light and shadow in his
In art, when we talk about Style we can be referring to:
painting.
· Art of a particular historical time period (Medieval)
3. Focus - This device is achieved through sharpness or softness,
· Art of a particular nation (Italian Renaissance)
distinctiveness or vagueness of form and contour.
· A particular group of artists (the Pre-Raphaelites)
4. Color - It is mainly connected with the description of the objects.
· The manner of an individual artist (Rubenesque, Titianesque,
The color of the objects varies depending on the amount and source of
Warholesque, Muchaesque)
light they receive.
· A technical or artistic approach (Pointillism, Photorealism,
5. Perspective - It is the pictorial device
abstract, realistic etc…)
➤ SIGNIFICANCE OF STYLE: It allows the viewer to discern the
2. The Style of Formal Order
meaning behind the subject matter and
- This style is associated with stability and permanence. It is exhibited
purpose of the painting.
by its qualities: (a) intellectual order, (b) biomorphic order, and (c)
➤ Stylistic Tendencies- refers to the artists’ inclination towards a
aesthetic order. Biomorphic and aesthetic orders are more applicable
particular characteristics. to sculpture and architecture.
➤ Intellectual Order - This is applied to painting especially in cubism
4 STYLES BASED ON STYLISTIC TENDENCIES
where an intellectual method of analyzing forms is employed by the
painter. The artist presents an arrangement of geometric forms.
1. The Style of Objective Accuracy
Western painters Pablo Picasso and George Braque used this
- This is Art that attempts to accurately represent what we see in the
style. In the Philippines, this style was made famous by Vicente
world around us. Artists imitate appearance to convey moving drama
Manansala.
about human life.
- Realism, Photorealism, Stylization
- The Style of Objective Accuracy can be done by an artist by being a
detached observer or by employing a selective eye.
Detached observer- the artist presents himself/herself as somebody
who selects, arranges, and presents reality without his/her identity
revealed.
Selective eye- the artist makes his/her painting simple by eliminating
details that the eye might see.
3. The Style of Emotion
- This style refers to the expression of feelings.
An artist depicts the following when expressing feelings:
a. Romanticism and emotion – disclosure of personal feelings in
relation to love
b. Dark and chaotic appearance – expression of disappointment,
bitterness, disturbance or uncomfortable feelings
c. Movement and energy with the visual representation of sun, sky, air,
water, and mountain – expression of joy and celebration

4. The Style of Fantasy

- Fantastic art originates in both logical and irrational mental processes.
This art maybe objectively accurate or subjectively distorted.
Illusionism is used in contemporary art to create fantastic images or
substitute real objects for the illusionistic treatment of reality. The
representation maybe surrealistic, mechanical-biological, quasi-cubist,
or reassembling parts of automobile to create a context or meaning.
Minimal craftsmanship is required but planning where to put what to
achieve the creative design depends on the imagination of the artist.
Features of Surrealistic Art
• Dream-like scenes and symbolic images.
• Unexpected, illogical juxtapositions.
• Bizarre assemblages of ordinary objects.
• Automatism and a spirit of spontaneity.
• Games and techniques to create random effects.
• Personal iconography.
• Visual puns.
• Distorted figures and biomorphic shapes.