Reviewer in Art Appreciation
Finals
Elements and Principles of Art
The Elements of Visual Arts include Line,
Shape, Form, Space, Color, Texture and
Value.
1. Line - Line is the strongest and most
important and influential. Without line,
there can be no shape. Without shape,
there can be no form. Without form, there
can be no texture and there can be no
pattern. Lines are powerful tools that can
be used smartly to lead the viewer's eyes
towards the point of interest in a
photograph, and alter the overall feeling
and mood of an image. Line can be
considered as the oldest, simplest, and
universal element for creating visual arts.
Kinds of Line
1. Vertical Line- Vertical lines depict
power and strength, stability, simplicity,
poise or stature and dynamism. An
example of a vertical line can be a man
standing, a tall tree, a tall building and
even statues of saints. Some monuments
of heroes with vertical lines suggest honor
and dignity. It also motivates certain
emotion or even sentiments, a deeper
sense of adoration and praise in some
architectural monuments like cathedrals.
2. Horizontal Line- Horizontal lines are
basically associated with rest and repose.
It suggests serenity and quietness,
relaxation. Horizontal line is basically
associated with reflection, stability and
inaction. Landscapes often impart a
feeling of tranquility because of
supremacy of horizontal lines like the
bodies of water meeting the sky in a
sunset scene which is commonly called
horizon. Horizon line is visible
also in a dead man reclining, resting
animals, a serene sea and a cemetery.
3. Diagonal Line- Diagonal lines are lines
of action and movement. It also suggests
impulse, will power, aspiration, passion,
and emotion. Almost all artworks that
suggest actions, are assumed to have
diagonal lines. The degree of an action
depends on the angle of the diagonal
.A woman dancing with a position of forty-
five degrees is in its maximum of action
while weak angles are below forty-five
degrees gives an impression of
uncertainty, instability, insecurity and a
sense of collapse. A man running, a
bended tree because of the wind, an
airplane on its take off, and a flowing river
are all comprised horizontal lines.
4. Curved Line- It is considered as "line of
grace" and "line of beauty". It is
associated with smooth movements like a
graceful dance, simple smile or a branch
of tree bending because the heavy weight
of its fruits, or even curly hair. Curved line
is the most pleasing among the other lines
discussed. It implies softness, and
flexibility. Most common curved line can
be associated with arches, scallops and
spiral that can be easily recognized in
ornamental designs like the Maranao Okir
in woodcarvings like sari-manok.
5. Jagged Line- Jagged lines are
associated with pointed and sharp objects
that signify difficulty and discomfort. They
also shows violence, torture, confusion,
and conflict.
2. Shape- Shape is an enclosed area or
surface. It can be easily identified because
when a line crosses itself or intersects
with other lines to enclose a space it
creates a shape. Shape is the principal
element of identification. For that shape to
be successfully identifiable, it needs to be
in strong contrast with its surroundings so
that it is detached from the clutter around
it. It is impossible to create shape without
using other basic elements. Shape is
responsible in creating the subject in art
even representational or abstract art.
Shape can be two-dimensional and can
be three dimensional. Two-dimensional
exist with height and width, while three-
dimensional exist with height, width and
volume. There are two categories or
classification of shape:
Categories of Shape
A. Geometric Shape- Its origin came
from mathematical perspective. It includes
Circles, Squares, rectangles and triangles.
We see them in architecture and
manufactured items. Geometric shape can
be Rectilinear or Curvilinear. There are
also Geometric shapes in different
cultures and Geometric shapes in
Contemporary arts.
B. Organic or Biomorphic Shape-
Oftentimes we see them in nature and
with characteristics that are free flowing,
informal and irregular. These shapes are
derived from any living organisms. Trees,
flowers, birds, fishes and even sea shells
are organic shapes.
3. Form- It is the overall design of an
artwork. It describes the structure of
shape and object from the different
perspective. The organization of the object
or thing in the entire composition is what
makes form identifiable. Almost all visual
arts are concerned with form since artists
deliberately use forms to crea
te movements that would lead the viewer's
eyes into full attention. Since form
consists of size, height, width and volume,
it always suggests visual weight. In
painting, which is two-dimensional, the
three dimensional or form can be
recognizable if by using illusion and
perspective as well as shading and
modelling. Such as in the case of pyramid.
Pyramid is presented as one triangle, but
when it is viewed from left to right sides
using perspective or if it viewed from the
top, the pyramid represents four triangles.
Sculpture and architecture deal with three colors are: R ed, O range, Yellow, G reen,
dimensional forms. B lue, I ndigo and V iolet or ROY G BIV.

Properties of Color

1. HUE - is the name of a color and the

property which distinguishes one color
from another.
4. Space- Space is the surface or the area
The major hues are red, blue, or yellow.
within the artwork. It constitutes the area
2. VALUE - Value is the lightness or
or distance, between, around, above or
darkness of a hue (color).
within things. Artist who deals in painting
The value of a hue can be changed by
and architecture consider space to be of
adding black or white.
great importance. Architecture can be
3. INTENSITY - Intensity is the brightness
considered as art of space. Buildings with
or dullness of a hue (color).
its exterior, interior appears to have a
Pure hues are high-intensity colors. Dull
spacious element. In two-dimensional art
hues are low- intensity colors.
like painting, space includes the
background, the foreground and the
Classification of Color
middle ground for the viewers to visualize
the distance with in the artwork. There are
A. Primary Color- are hues which can be
two kinds of space: Positive space is the
mixed to create all other colors. Primary
space where most likely to be
Colors are basic and cannot be mixed
filled with shadows or color while negative
from other elements. They are to color
space is the empty area in the artwork.
what prime numbers are to mathematics.
One can mix two primaries to get a
5. Color- Color can be considered as the
Secondary Color.
most expressive of all the elements of art.
Colors can be easily recognized in any
visual experience. The primary source of
colors is light. We enjoy the beauty of
nature and things around us through
colors with the aid of light. This light has
vibrating waves that varies in length which
pass through our eyes and produce
B. Secondary Color - are the hues
illumination of colors. The colors that we
between the primary hues on the color
see in objects or things around us varies
wheel. The secondary colors are a
because of the reflection and absorption
combination of equal amount of two
of light. One of our basic understanding
primaries. To get orange, you mix equal
about color spectrum was an experiment
parts of red and yellow. To get Violet, you
conducted by Isaac Newton in 1966
mix equal parts of red and blue. To get
wherein a white light of the sun passes
green, you mix equal parts of blue and
through a prism which reveals an array of
yellow.
colors that we called rainbow. These

C. Intermediate Color- These colors are
created by mixing a secondary color with
a primary color like red-orange, red- violet,
blue-violet, blue-green, yellow-green,
yellow-orange.
D. Tertiary Color- are created by mixing
two complementary colors or mixing two
colors that are opposite to each other on
the color wheel. One example is orange
combined with green will result to Citron
(yellowish gray), orange mixed with violet
will result to Russet (Reddish Gray) and
green combined with violet will result to
buff (Bluish Gray).
E. Warm and Cool Color- Color can be
associated with warmth and coldness in
which the artist considers in any
composition. All colors can be grouped as
cool colors and warm colors. Warm colors
express warmth; they are red, yellow and
orange like sun, fire and golden fields.
Warm colors are vivid and energetic, and
tend to advance in space. Warm colors
suggest cheerfulness, joy and excitement.
Cool colors have the feel of being cold or
cool; they are blue, violet and green like
sky, sea, and earth. Cool colors give an
impression of calm, and create a soothing
impression. Cool colors depict rest,
serenity and calmness. Warm colors
always seem closer than cool colors and
give an impression of advancing towards
the viewer, that is why it is called
advancing colors while cool colors are
called receding or retreating col
ors. Cool colors are receding colors
because when red, green and blue circles
are in the composition, red seems closest
to the viewer and blue farthest away.
Color Harmony
- is the correct arrangement or
combination of colors. It creates a
pleasing arrangement which is
essential in any visual experience.
It also delivers visual interest and a
sense of order. In visual
experiences, harmony is
something that is pleasing to the
eye. It engages the viewer and it
creates an inner sense of order, a
balance in the visual experience.
When something is not
harmonious, it's either boring or
chaotic. The human brain rejects
what it cannot organize, what it
cannot understand. To achieve
harmony in arts and design it is
necessary to consider Color
Scheme.
Color Scheme
 - In color theory, a color scheme is
the choice of colors. Color
schemes are used to create style
and appeal. A basic color scheme
will use two colors that look
appealing together. More
advanced color schemes involve
several colors in combination,
usually based around a single
color; for example, text with such
colors as red, yellow, orange and
light blue arranged together on a
black background in a magazine
article. There are six formula in
creating style and appeal:
1. Complementary Color Scheme - Colors
that are opposite each other on the color
wheel are considered to be
complementary colors (example: red and
green) Complementary color schem
es are tricky to use in large doses, but
work well when you want something to
stand out. The high contrast of
complementary colors creates a vibrant
look especially when used at full
saturation.
2. Analogous Color Scheme - Analogous
color schemes use colors that are next to
each other on the color wheel. They
usually match well and create serene and
comfortable designs. Analogous color
schemes are often found in nature and are
harmonious and pleasing to the eye. Make
sure you have enough contrast when
choosing an analogous color scheme.
3. Triadic Color Scheme - A triadic color
scheme uses colors that are evenly
spaced around the color wheel. A Triadic
color schemes tend to be quite vibrant,
even if you use pale or unsaturated
versions of your hues. To use a triadic
harmony successfully, the colors should
be carefully balanced. Let one color
dominate and use the two others for
accent.
4. Split-Complementary Color Scheme- is
a variation of the complementary color
scheme. In addition to the base color, it
uses the two colors adjacent to its
complement. This color scheme has th
e same strong visual contrast as the
complementary color scheme, but has
less tension. The splitcomplimentary color
scheme is often a good choice for
beginners, because it is difficult to mess
up.
5. Rectangle or Tetradic Color Scheme -
uses four colors arranged into two
complementary pairs. This rich color
scheme offers plenty of possibilities for
variation. Tetradic color schemes works b
est if you let one color be dominant. You
should also pay attention to the balance
between warm and cool colors in your
design.

6. Square Color Scheme - The square
color scheme is similar to the rectangle,
but with all four colors spaced evenly
around the color circle. Square color
schemes work best if you let one color
be dominant. You should also pay
attention to the balance between warm
and cool colors in your design.
Psychology of Colors
- Colors are known to have varied
psychological and emotional
connotation. Thus, the meaning of
color and its symbolism changes
from one culture to other,
Philippines has distinctive
symbolism and meaning of colors
in the diverse cultural groups.
Christianity has its own meaning of
colors. Thus, artist in the
Philippines have strong influence
from the western world regarding
symbolism and meaning of colors.
PSYCHOLOGY OF COLORS
Black - Death, despair, gloom, sorrow (for
fashion; elegance), mourning a
nd darkness
Blue - Infinity, Freedom, Calmness,
serenity, sadness, peace, masculinity
and loyalty
Brown - Humility, earth, spiritual death,
renunciation of the world
Green - Nature, Freshness, Prosperity,
Hope, Money, life, good health an
d well-being and envy
Orange - Sweetness, Cheerfulness,
energy, food, craving for food
Pink-Femininity and love
Red - Bravery and courage, Energy,
Passion, War, Warm, Ardent love an
d martyrdom
Violet - Royalty, Dull, penance, mourning,
and power.
White - Purity, Clarity, Simplicity, Virginity,
Peace, surrender, meekness, g
oodness and mourning Yellow - Joyful,
Life, Vibrant, Sunshine, Happiness
, warmth and cowardice.
6. Value- Value refers to the intelligent
usage of tint, shades and tones in an
artwork to achieve the desired mood of
the work. Shading, tinting and toning, may
create no boundaries of transition in
surface rendering and when executed
skillfully they appeared to be as realistic
and natural. For architecture an
d sculpture values change because of
light while in painting the values are fixed.
Tint, Shades and Tones If a color is made
lighter by adding white, the result is called
a tint. If black is added, the darker versi
on is called a shade. And if gray is added,
the result is a different tone.
7. Texture- is found in all visual arts. It is
the element that deals primarily with the
sense of touch or the tactile sensation or
stimuli. It is how the surface in a certain
composition feels. Other elements di
scussed like color, line, shape, form and
value can be associated with the sense of
sight. The uniqueness of texture is
distinctive because artists can create
illusions like actual and stimulated which
results into rich and natural characteristics
of artworks. Texture maybe described as
smooth, hard, soft, wet, dry, rough,
slippery, etc.
Kinds of Texture
ACTUAL TEXTURE
- Texture is capable of moving your
deep emotions than any other
elements. It refers to the real
 texture of an object. In such cases
like in architecture and sculpture,
differences in texture can be felt
because of the different materials
used like bronze, marble and ice
for sculpture and bricks, concrete
and polished stone for
architecture. Thus, when it comes
to painting or two-dimensional art,
actual texture are found and felt as
the artist incorporate other objects
like scraps of cloth, bottle cups,
leaves, papers and ot hers.
IMPLIED OR SIMULATED TEXTURE
- Simulated texture is the imitation of
real texture or real objects. It is
obtained through visual effects
with the aid of other elements.
Artists manipulate his medium to
give an impression of texture and
visual effects. Visual texture is an
illusion of texture created by the
artist. Contemporary artists take
simulated texture as a one of the
great challenges in visual art.
Principles of Art
1. Emphasis- In visual art, emphasis or
subordination is the focal point or the
center of interest in an artwork, it catches
our attention so easily while the rest are
subordinated. Usually the artist
intentionally creates something that would
stand out in the whole composition so that
it will grab the attention of the viewer. It
gives importance of what truly matters in
the artwork.
2. Balance
It has something to do with visual weight.
An artist deliberately uses other elements
like value, color and texture to create
visual weight and balance. An illusion of
stability with the proper use of certain
elements is necessary in creating balance.
Weight should be equally distributed on ea
ch side of the center or fulcrum.
Three Kinds of Balance
A. Symmetrical Balance
The most stable among the kinds of
balance is symmetrical Balance or formal
balance. When one side of the
composition mirrors the other.
B. Asymmetrical Balance or Informal
Balance
It is achieved when one side of the
composition does not reflect the design of
the other but visually balanced. It can be
obtained by using large object on the
other side and distribute the size of the
bigger part to form smaller sizes on the
other side. The two sides are visually
equal without being identical.
C. Radial Balance
Radial Balance elements and objects
have a central point. There is a circular
distribution of elements and objects in a
composition.
3. Harmony
Harmony is essential to beauty. It is
achieved by using similar elements and
establishing
pleasing relationship with other elements
through a body of work. Harmony shows
interconnectedness of elements used.
Thus, it gives an uncomplicated look that
may result to unity.
4. Variety
This principle creates an interest and
appeal in a body of work. Using
differences and change may result to
increasing visual interest. An artist may
use variety to make you look at a certain
part or make the artwork more interesting.
Other way to achieve variety is by using
different shapes, textures, colors and
values in your work.
5. Movement
It adds excitement to your work by
showing action and directing the viewer's
eye throughout the picture plane. Other
elements used repeatedly can give impact
to this principle through illusion like, color,
line, form and shape.
5. Rhythm
A regular repetition of elements can
produce implied movement. Artists create
visual rhythm by repeating art elements
and creating patterns. Alternating lights
and darks also give a sense of rhythm.
Visual rhythm makes you think of the
rhythms you hear in music or dance.
6. Proportion or Scale
The comparative relationship of one part
to another with regards to size. It is also
the relationships of the size of objects in a
body of work. Proportions give a sense of
size seen as a relationship of objects such
as smallness or largeness.
7. Unity
It can be accomplished by using all
elements and some principles to create a
pleasing image. Unity is the feeling that
everything in the work of art works
together and looks like it fits.
8. Contrast
Contrast can provide interest and
excitement in an artwork or to any visual
experience. Two things that are very
different create a lot of contrast
(complementary colors, for example).
Artist and Artisan
Artist- is generally defined as an art
practitioner, such as a painter, sculptor,
choreographer, dancer, writer, poet,
musician, and the like, who produces or
creates indirectly functional arts with
aesthetic value using imagination. Thus,
artist provide us with paintings, sculptors,
dances, music, literary pieces and so on,
as a means of provoking our thoughts,
ideas, and emotions that are necessary t
o discover ourselves and our beings.
- Artist are creative individuals who
use imagination and skills to
communicate in an art form. They
use the materials of an art to solve
visual problems. Artist look to
many sources for inspiration and
Exhibit the courage to take risks.
- Some artist are self-taught and
have been called folk -artists
because they are not educated in
traditional aritistic methods. Just
like the artists, the artisans learn
skills and techniques from some
other artists but eventually, both
artists and artisans develop their
own unique styles.
Artisan- is a craftsman such as carpenter,
carver, plumber, blacksmith, weaver,
embroiderer, and the like, who produces
directly functional and/or decorative arts.
Artisans help us in meeting our basi
c needs such as food, clothing, dwelling,
furniture and kitchen utensils; everything
that makes our life easy. The artisan’s
works are useful, relevant, and essential
in our everyday life. They serve us f
or a long time, supplying us directly
functional arts.
- The artisan is basically a physical
worker who makes object with his
or her hands, and who through
skill, experience, and ability can
produce things of great beauty as
well as usefulness. The artist, on
the otherhand, is someone
devoted only to the creative part,
making visually pleasant work only
for the gratification and
appreciation of the viewer but with
no practical value.
Key Components of the Market
The art market is an economic ecosystem
that relies not only on supply and demand
but also on the fabrication of a work’s
predicted, future monetary and/or cultural
value.
Players in the market
1. Curator - A manager or overseer, and
usually a keeper of a cultural heritage
institution.
2. Art Buyer - Knowledgeable in art who
may scout talent for an advertising agency
seeking to em ploy an art director, or who
may look for an art for a collector or a
company.
3. Art Dealer - Person or company that
buys and sells works of art.
- They figure out how much they should
pay a piece and then estimate the resale
price.
4. Private Collection - Privately owned
collection of works, usually a collection of
art.

Medium and Technique

Medium - refers to materials that are used

by the artist to create a work of art. The
plural of medium is media. and transform
it from its raw state.

Technique - refers to the artist ability and

knowledge or technical know-how in
manipulating the medium. Making an
artwork requires technical competence.
The ability to manipulate is the driving fo
rce in the birthing of a new form or idea.

Recognition and Awards

Gawad sa Manlilikhang Bayan
(GAMABA)
– National Living Treasures Award
Institutionalized in 1992 through
Republic Act No. 7335.
The National Commission for Culture and
the Arts (NCCA), which is the highest
policy-making and coordinating body of
the Philippines for culture and the arts,
was tasked with the implementation. The
award is conferred upon a Filipino citizen
or group of Filipino citizens engaged in
any traditional art uniquely Filipino.
National Artists of the Philippines
- The order of National Artists is
considered to be the highest
national recognition for individuals
who contributed to the
development of the Philippine arts.
The National Commission for
Culture and the Arts and the
Cultural Center of the Philippines
together administer this award.
The President of the Republic of
the Philippines grants this ward to
an artist after both institutions give
recommendations for this
particular artist.
- This began in 1972 when
Presidential Proclamation No.
1001, s. 1972 was enacted to
recognize Filipinos who made
exceptional contributions to the
 Philippine arts and letters. Painter
Fernando
- Amorsolo was awarded was
awarded the same year, making
him the first National Artist of the
Philippines. Truly the Order of
National Artists plays a vital role in
the development of Philippine arts
in the contemporary setting. To
date, there are a total of 73
awardees from the various art
forms. Some of them were
awarded posthumous (after death)
while others were able to receive
their award while still living.