Senior High School

Senior High School

Contemporary Philippine
Arts from the Regions
Quarter 2 - Module 2
Materials and Application
of Techniques in
Contemporary Arts

FAIR USE AND CONTENT DISCLAIMER: This SLM (Self Learning Module) is for educational
purposes only. Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names,
trademarks, etc.) included in these modules are owned by their respective copyright holders.
The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim ownership over them. Sincerest
appreciation to those who have made significant contributions to these modules.
 What I Know
Pre – test

Multiple Choice. Select and encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. This would explain the intent expression in the artwork?

A. Interpretation C. Description
B. Judgement D. Analysis

2. What kind of question can help you determine if the work is "successful" or not?
A. Does the work please the viewer?"
B. Does the work reflect its background or culture?"
C. Is the piece as good as it can be?"
D. Does the piece say what the artist wanted it to?"

3. One of the steps in art critiquing in which you concentrate on whether the work is
productive or not.
A. interpretation C. description
B. judgement D. Analysis

4. It is when the artist use and manipulate materials to achieve the desired formal effect, and
communicate the desired concept or meaning, according to his or her personal style.
A. Medium (materials) C. judgement
B. Technique D. analysis

5. Why we need to conduct art critiquing?

A. To produce good artwork C. To maximize the use of materials
B. To lessen the cost D. All of the above

6. In what principle of art critiquing identifies a few main themes and explain how the artist
used design elements
A. interpretation C. Description
B. judgement D. Analysis

7. It describes the artwork using fair words.

A. interpretation C. Description
B. Judgement D. Analysis

8. It is a substance out of which a work is made.

A. Medium (materials) C. judgement
B. Technique D. analysis

9. An art that is accompanied by music is called ________.

A. Musical arts C. Pictorial arts
B. Dramatic arts D. Narrative arts

10. Architecture, sculpture, and site a specific work such as installations and public art are
example of ______.
A. Pictorial art C. Environmental art
B. Dramatic arts D. Practical art
 Lesson
Materials (Mediums) and Application of
1 Techniques in Contemporary Arts

What I Need to Know

Artists, craftspeople, and designers use a broad range of materials, techniques, and
processes in their work, sometimes combining traditional craft with contemporary art and
design in innovative ways. Substances or materials used in the creation of works of art, as
well as any production or manufacturing techniques, processes or methods incorporated in
the manufacture thereof. This information includes a description of both the materials used to
create the work and the way in which they have been put together.

Developments in emerging technology have created a variety of new possibilities for

the creative process. The purpose of this lesson is to improve the knowledge, skills and
understanding of learners to work safely and creatively with the resources techniques and
processes associated with their specific pathway. It will allow learners to explore, experiment
and understand the use of a broad range of materials, techniques, and processes.

In the aim of molding the artist within among the learners and in developing distillation
of existing art works. Moreover, the learners can demonstrate their skills and understanding
in order to select and use appropriate materials and techniques. Finally, learners will also
examine the various qualities and characteristics of different art media, critically evaluate and
refine their experiments at different stages. They must learn to critically evaluate and refine
their experiments at different stages of progress.

What’s New
Activity 1: Definition of Terms

Define the following words and use it in a sentence.

1. medium
2. technique
3. artist
4. musician
5. Critique
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 What Is It
Mediums and techniques are not neutral or accidental, but part of the context of the
work. It also dictates to a large degree the forms in which we perceive and respond to the
work of art. In contemporary art, the medium has become largely dependent on conventions;
artists are experimenting and inventing new mediums and techniques, thereby widening the
range of artistic tools. Medium is defined as the material or the substance out of which a work
is made. Through these materials, the artists express and communicate feelings and ideas.
The medium also describes the essence of the type of art as follows:

• Sculptures are made of metal, wood stone, clay, and glass. Sculptures fall within
the category of “three dimensional “arts because they occupy space and have volume.
Pottery is a form of sculpture. Other examples are nudes or figures such as Guillermo
Tolentino’s Oblation, ritual objects such as bulul wood carvings in the Cordillera, or the
santos or carvings of saints in Christian churches.
• Architecture uses wood, bamboo, bricks, stone, concrete, and various building
materials. Buildings are also called “three-dimensional arts because like sculpture,
they occupy space and have volume. However, architecture has the added element of
time since we move into the structures.
• Painting uses pigments (watercolor, oil, tempera, textile paint, acrylic, ink etc.) on
a usually flat ground (wood, canvas, paper, stone wall such as in cave paintings.)
• Prints uses ink printed or transferred on a surface. (wood, metal plates, or silk
screen) that is in keeping with a duplication or reproducing process. Prints and
paintings are further classified as “two dimensional” arts, because they include the
surface or ground on which coloring substances are applied. However, while paintings
are unique and one of a kind, prints can be reproduced in several pre – determined
editions.
• Music is composed of sound and instruments (including the human voice. A T’ boli
chanter sings creation stories in a way that is different from a classical singer or pop
music singer influenced by the Western music scale.
• Dance uses the human body and its movements.
• Theater integrates all the arts and uses the stage, production design,
performance elements, and script to enable the visual, musical, dance and other
aspects to come together as a whole work.
• Photography uses the camera to record outside world
• Film uses the cinematographic camera to record and put together production
design, sound engineering, performance, and screen play.
• Creative writing can be a novel, poetry, nonfiction, and fiction uses words.

The following are the classification of arts base on the mediums.

1. Musical arts include music, poetry and dance that is accompanied by music.
2. Practical arts use for everyday and business life such as design, architecture, and
furniture.
3. Environmental arts occupy space and change in its meaning and function depending
on their categories including architecture, sculpture, and site-specific works such as
installations and public art.
4. Pictorial arts include painting, drawing, graphics and stage and production design.
5. Dramatic arts include drama, performance art, music, and dance.
6. Narrative arts include drama, novel, fiction, nonfiction, music, and dance.

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 Technique is the way in which artists use and manipulate materials to achieve
the desired formal effect, and communicate the desired concept or meaning,
according to his or her personal style. The distinctive character or nature of the
medium determines the technique. For example, stone is chiseled, wood is carved,
clay is modeled and shaped, metal is cast, and thread is woven.
Technique involves tools and technology, ranging from the most traditional
(carving, silkscreen, analog, photography and filmmaking) to the most contemporary
(digital photography, digital filmmaking, music production, industrial design, and
robotics).
For example, the mural
Filipino Struggles
Through History (1963)
by National Artists Carlos
Francisco depicts Andres
Bonifacio leading the
revolution. It takes
advantage of line and
color to communicate
dynamism and intense

https://bit.ly/2JmCJbP
passion, in the
expressionist modern style. The Bonifacio
monument by another Artist, Guillermo Tolentino
(below)on the other hand , make use of the carving
to come up with work that has mass and volume,
enabling him to depict the scene realistically
capturing a moment of stillness when Bonifacio
stands reflectively on a scene of death, but with
grace and dignity befitting a leader in Neoclassic style.(crafted: https://bit.ly/2JmCJbP

Flaudette May Datulin et. Al. Contemporary Philippine Arts of

the Regions p. 89-93)
The art critique is a systematic study and assessment of a piece of art. Although no
two people can have the same reaction to, or view, a work of art in the same way, there are a
few simple principles that can be followed to produce a critical, detailed critique. (crafted:
https://www.wikihow.com/Critique-Artwork)

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A. Description (Describing the work for critiquing) Gather important knowledge about
being a critique. It is the sort of stuff on the label of a museum or gallery, or in an art
book. Knowing the history of a piece will make a major difference in the way you view and
understand it. Start your criticism
by providing the following
information:
• Title of the work
• Artist’s name
• When the piece was created
• Where it was made
• The types of media used to
create the work (e.g., oil paint
on canvas)
• The exact size of the work

https://bit.ly/3eheHul
1. Describe what you see.
Describe the artwork using fair words.
For example, you might say, "This is a small-scale portrait painting of a young
woman, seen from the middle torso up against a dark background. She clasps her
hands in front of her chest and looks up slightly to the right of the audience. She
wears a pink dress and a long veil that falls behind her head. "Avoid using words like
"beautiful," "ugly," "good" or "evil."
2. Discuss the work's elements. Describe the work in details. Talk about how art uses
these five basic elements in art and design: line, color, space, light, and form.
3. Describe how to use the line. Lines in a piece of art may be either explicit or symbolic.
Lines in a piece of art may be either explicit or symbolic. Different types of lines may
produce various moods or effects. The rough, sketchy lines build a sense of movement
and independence, while the smooth, firm lines sound more still and carefully
designed. The arrangement of figures and objects within a scene can indicate a line of
sight or action.
4. Speak about how color is used. Note characteristics such as hue (red, green, blue,
etc.), color (lightness or darkness) and strength. Look at the overall color scheme and
think about how colors fit together. For example, do the colors clash, or are they
harmonious? Does the work use a variety of colors, or is it monochromatic (all shades
of blue, for example)?
5. Describe the use of space in the work. "Space" refers to the areas around and within
objects inside a job. When thinking about space, concentrate on issues like depth and
perspective, overlapping objects, and using empty space versus space filled with
details. When you present a two-dimensional piece of art, like a painting, think about
whether the piece produces the impression of three-dimensional space and depth.
6. Describe the use of light in the work. Light in a work of art may be warm or cold,
bright or dark, natural or artificial. Take some time to think about the role of light and
shadow in the work. When you are thinking about a two-dimensional work, like a
painting, the attention may be on how the artist creates the illusion of light. In a three-
dimensional work, like a sculpture, you might explore how real light interacts with the
work. Is the surface reflective.
7. Make note of the way shape is used in the work. Were the shapes linear, straight
lines and perfect curves in the work, or are they more natural? Is the work dominated
by some single form of shape, or do you see several different shapes?
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B. Analysis (Analyzing the work)
1. Discuss how the work uses the principles of composition. When you've described the
work, it's time to examine it or explain how it all comes together. Start by thinking about how
the work is made up, keeping a few
simple ideas in mind

Balance: How do the colors, shapes

and textures of the piece fit together?
Should they produce a balanced or
harmonious effect, or is the piece in
some way unbalanced?

Contrast: does the job use contrasting

colors, textures, or lighting? Contrast
can also be seen in the use of various
shapes or contours, such as jagged vs.
curved lines or geometric vs. natural
shapes.

https://bit.ly/3eheHul

Movement: Why is the work generating a sense of movement Is your eye drawn in a specific
way through the composition?

Proportion: Do the proportions of the different elements appear as you might expect, or are
they surprising? For example, if the research depicts a group of people, do all of the figures
look bigger or smaller than they would have in real life?

2. Identify the subject of the job. Many of the works of art have one or more points designed
to attract your attention and draw your gaze. For a portrait, this may be the subject's face or
eyes. It may be a centrally located or well-lit object in a still-life.

3. Search for patterns at work. Identify a few main themes and explain how the artist used
design elements (color, light, room, form, and line) to illustrate these themes. Themes could
include things like:
a. The use of a color scheme to give the work a particular mood or meaning.
b. Symbolism and religious or mythological imagery.
c. Repeating images or motifs within a work or group of works.

B. Interpretation (Interpreting the work)

• Try to identify the purpose of the work. In

other words, what do you think the artist was trying to
say with the work? Why did they create the work? Try
to summarize the overall meaning of the work, as you
see it.

https://bit.ly/3eheHul
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• Describe your own approach to work. Talk about how you feel when you're looking at
work. What do you think is the overall mood of the job? Does that remind you of something
(ideas, memories, certain works of art)? Use descriptive language to speak about your
reaction to work. Was the mood at work sad? hopeful? peaceful? Perhaps you'd like to
describe the work as stunning, or ugly?

• Back up your interpretation/ definition with examples. Using examples from your job
summary and review to illustrate why you think and feel the way you do it. Example, “I believe
that James Sant’s portrait of a young bride is intended to give a sense of the bride’s spiritual
devotion. This is indicated by the line of the composition, which draws the viewer’s eye
upward, following the upward gaze of the subject. It is also suggested by warm light, coming
from a source somewhere above the young woman.”

C. Judgement (Judging the work)

• decide whether you think the work is
good. Your aim here is not simply to
determine if the art is "good "or "bad."
Rather, concentrate on whether you think
the work is "productive." Think, for example,
of the following:

• Do you think the illustration expresses

what the artist wanted to say?
• Did the artist make effective use of their
knowledge and techniques?
• Is art original, or is it imitating other
works?

https://bit.ly/3eheHul

3. Explain how you judge the job. When you have agreed on a few elements of the
work to be assessed, clearly demonstrate the focus of your evaluation. You may suggest,
for example, that you judge the piece on how well structured it is, how well done it is
technologically, and how well it expresses the intended mood or themes.

4.Summarize why you think the work has been successful or ineffective. Explain your
decision on the job in a few sentences. Please offer clear reasons for your decision, using
your understanding and analysis of the work. For example, “I believe this work is successful
because the use of light, shape, gesture, and line all work together harmoniously to portray
the mood of the subject.”
As presented above, the different principles and steps in critiquing the artwork, Are
you now ready to critique? What do you thing is the significance of an art critiques?
Are they really helpful? Basically, an art critique allows the artist to understand how
they influence their audience. It also allows the audience/viewer to gain a better
understanding of that artists' work. Moreover, it is also a spur to deciding what you
really think is the meaning, even though disagreement with the critic.

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 What’s More

Activity 2: Summarization
Fill in the table the different principles and steps in critiquing artwork. The first one is
done for you.

Principles Steps
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7
Example: Gather
A.Description important
knowledge
about your
job
B.

C.

D.

What I Have Learned

Activity 3: Exercise on Principles of Critiquing artwork

(The teacher will give rubrics as a tool for scoring)
Critique the picture below applying the different principles in critiquing the art piece
such as;

1. Description
2. Analysis
3. Interpretation
4. Judgement

Spoliarium by Juan Luna ( https://bit.ly/381AzJ5)

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 What I Can Do
Activity 4: Video documentary
(The teacher will give rubrics as a tool for scoring)
Create a video documentary (not more than 4 minutes). Explain your video based on
the different principles in art critiquing.

Summary
The medium also describes the essence of the type of art as follows:
Sculpture, Architecture, Painting, Prints, Music, Dance, Theater, Photography, Film,
and Creative Writing. Medium are also classified by musical, practical, environmental,
pictorial, dramatic and narrative arts.

The desired formal effect is achieved by manipulating materials to

communicate the desired concept or meaning according to the artists’ personal style
is called technique. This can involve tools and technology ranging from the traditional
to the most contemporary techniques. In critiquing certain work of art, description,
analysis, interpretation and judgment are essential steps to learn.

Assessment:
(Post-Test)

Multiple Choice. Select and encircle the letter of the correct answer.
.

1. One of the steps in art critiquing that would explain the intention expressed in the
artwork.
A. interpretation C. description
B. judgement D. analysis

2. It involves tools and technology, ranging from the most traditional to the most contemporary

A. Material C. Technique
B. Judgement D. Technology

3.The material or the substance out of which a work is made.

A. Medium C. Judgement
B. Technique D. analysis

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3. It includes music, poetry and dance that is accompanied by music.

A. Musical arts C. Pictorial arts

B. Dramatic arts D. Narrative arts
4. What is the essence of art critiquing?

A. To produce good artwork C. To maximize the use of materials

B. To lessen the cost D. All of the above

5. What kind of question can help you determine if the work is "successful" or not?
A. Does the work please the viewer?"
B. Does the work reflect its background or culture?"
C. Is the piece as good as it can be?"
D. Does the piece say what the artist wanted it to?

7. It discusses how the work uses the principles of composition

A. Interpretation C. Judgement
B. Technique D. Analysis

8. A step in which you concentrate on whether the work is productive or not.

A. interpretation C. Description
B. Judgment D. Analysis

9. It identifies the purpose of the work

A. Interpretation C. Description
B. Judgement D. Analysis

10. It describes your own approach to work.

A. Interpretation C. Description
B. Judgement D. Analysis