Meaning and Importance of Humanities

E
tymologically, the term “Humanities” is from a Latin word humanus which means
educated. It refers to the learning of arts such as architecture, dance, literature, music,
painting, theatre, and sculpture (Sanches, 2011).They are branches of knowledge that
focuses on the human opinions, and relationships (Machlis, 2003). As a branch of
learning, the artwork is considered as the material object while its creativity and appreciation is
the formal object (Menoy, 2009& Marcos, et al., 2010).

Likewise, Humanities is more concerned on how a person expresses his/her feelings. These
feelings can be in facial manifestations or body movements. Laughing, crying, clenching our
fists, curling our toes, stretching out our fingers, and crossing our arms are representations of
humanities (Menoy, 2009).

As a branch of knowledge, Humanities explores on human conditions through the use of

analytical, critical, or theoretical methods. These methods are in the form of ideas and words
that help makes our life more meaningful. Moreover, Humanities can also be as the study on
how an individual documented and processed his/her experiences particularly in connecting to
others (Stanford University, 2016).Imparting humanities as an academic science is designed to
let our learners (particularly the new generations) become creative and artistic individuals.
Humanities help the students to connect with the community through art exposure like museum
outings, concerts, theatre performance, etc. (Marcos, 2010).

Description of Art Appreciation

When we look around, we see a lot of things that relate to art. Art can come in the form of
many items such as posters, paintings, portraits, covers, and more. People look at art in different
ideas that they want to know more about or may be studying. Art can shows ideas about the past,
what is currently happening and what may happen in the future. It can also show meaning, love,
boredom, and creativity (Ramos, 2012). Art can be meaningful because of the colors, shapes, and
depictions it can create.

Art Appreciation is a way to motivate ideas and allows individuals to illustrate their feelings
when they viewed an artwork. It helps develops critical and innovative skills in thinking and
teaches essential qualities in listening, observing, and responding to multiple viewpoints It also
requires an ability to differentiate what is apparent and what is not (Gargaro & Jilg, 2016 and
Sanger, 2012).

The Creation of Arts

In our life, we experience so much fragmentation of our thoughts and feelings. But, by
creating arts, it brings things back together. We merely make art because of so many reasons,
and we enjoy the process of it.

The word “art” is from a Latin arti, which means craftsmanship, inventiveness, mastery of
form, skill. It includes literature, music, paintings, photography, sculpture, etc. It serves as an
original record of human needs and achievements. It usually refers to the so-called “fine arts”
(e.g., graphics, plastic, and building) and to the so-called “minor arts” (everyday, useful, applied,
and decorative arts). It is the process of using our senses and emotions in making creative
activities (Marcos, 2010). It is a human capability to make things beautiful (e.g., buildings,
illustration, designing, painting, sculpture, and Photography) through the production of his/her
imagination depending on the preparation, theme, medium, and values used.

Significantly, the word artist comes from the French word artiste and the Spanish artista,
which means “performer.” It is someone who creates art that is merely trades and professions by
which different people make their livings (Goines, 2004).

Artist is most often refers to those who create within a context of the fine arts such as acting,
dancing, drawing, filmmaking, painting, sculpture, writing, photography, and music. They are
those who use imagination, and a skill to construct works that may be judged to have aesthetic
importance. Creativity is a characteristic of an artist that progressed in the extent of his/her life to
express feelings. These are all processed in three significant phases namely: Creation of Forms;
Creation of Ideas; and Creation of the Materials (Sanchez, 2011).

a. The Creations of ideas. Artists are usually impressionable persons. They used their
experiences as their basis in the making of dance, picture, a poem, or a play or a song.
For example, a composer may write a song on the developing romance between a man
and a woman, or on the pains of a broken-hearted.

b. The Creations of the Materials. The artist uses different materials or mediums to give
form to an idea. For example, a painter uses pigments; a sculptor uses wood, metal or
stone; an author uses words; and a composer who uses musical sounds to determine the
notes.

c. The Creations of Forms. There are diverse forms used by the artists in expressing their
ideas. It is a medium of artistic expression recognized as fine art. This form is used to
explain the physical nature of the artwork like in metal sculpture, an oil painting, etc.

Functions of Arts

From the very beginning, arts have been part of human history. It described, defined, and
deepened the human experience. In the Prehistoric period for example, peoples performed songs
and dances to gratify their ancestors. Likewise, hunters brushed different figures on the walls of
caves to depict their day to day experiences. Arts also serve several functions which are item
outcome to its purpose (Menoy, 2009), namely:

1. Individual Function- The artists perform arts because of the passion of their respective art
forms. A singer presents a concert for free because of his advocacy and the love of
singing. For example, Regine Velaquez (Asia’s Songbird) is well-known for possessing
extensive vocal range.
 2. Social Function- Man associates with others through his art performance that arouses
social consciousness. Examples of this association are the choral singing, group dancing,
public art exhibits and other practices.

3. Economic Functions- Arts are emerging as a potent force in the economic life of people
assumes an essential role as a direct and indirect contributor to state economies. Example
of this is by generating economic vitality in under-performing regions through crafts,
tourism, and cultural attractions.

4. Political Functions- Art provides a forum for ideas that will lead to employment,
prestige, status, and power. During election period, for example, the candidates created
their artworks (poster) which expresses their propaganda, agendas and political views
about making a stable society.

5. Historical Functions- Art is an essential technique for information to be recorded and

preserved. It serves to document or reconstruct historical figure and events. Most arts that
are in Museums, for example, are filled with amazing stories about the world most
excellent and most creative people who brought us the treasures. By looking at a work of
art’s colors, materials, and symbolism, we can learn about the story and culture that
produced it in the past.

6. Cultural Functions- Art is an articulation and transmission of new information and

values. Example, when you think of Manila, you probably think of Fort Santiago, Luneta
Park, and its world-renowned churches, or the famous Intramuros.

7. Physical Functions- Buildings are artistically designed and constructed to protect their
occupants and make their life inside more meaningful. Architects, Industrial and Graphic
Designers, and Interior Decorators share responsibility in building environment that
balance forms and functions.

8. Aesthetic Functions- Any artwork means beauty. It is visual spice for gracefully adorned
interiors and can bring out the most elegant features of different décor elements. It
reasonably reproduced visual images which communicate through fantastic persuasions
and meaningful words.

Purpose of Art

Creativity or imagination is the primary basis of art. Art is created when an artist produces a
stimulating experience that is considered by his audience to have artistic merit. The artwork is
the visual expression of an idea or experience of an artist, through the use of a medium (Frank,
2011). It allows expression of the individuality of the artist. Through artistic endeavors, we can
share what is important to us with others and can learn about the values of feelings of those
sharing art with us. Some purposes of art are the following (Marcos et al., 2011).
 1. Create Beauty- Art is an expression of our thoughts, emotions, and intuitions. It is the
communication of concepts that cannot be faithfully portrayed by words alone. The
Artist has considered nature as the standard of beauty. The example of beauty can be in a
snowy mountain scene, and the art is the photograph of it shown to the family.
2. Provide Decoration- Artworks are used to create a pleasing environment. It is intended to
beautify things to please and amuse the viewers through its colors and patterns.
3. Reveal Truth- Artwork helped to pursue truth and attempted to reveal about how the
world works. It is a kind of language that allows artists to send a message to the souls of
the recipients that help change their attitudes, their sensibility, and their ethics.
4. Express Values- Arts can illuminate our inner lives and enrich our emotional world.
Through arts, the artist will be encouraged to develop their creativity, challenge, and
communication skills. It also promotes self- esteem and wellness.
6. Commemorate Experience- Art serves to convey the personal experiences of an artist and
record his impression in his work.
7. Create Harmony- An artist makes use of the composition to put an order in the diverse
content of his work.

Classifications of Art

Many changes in the arts took place during the early modern period. Its classification can be
on many characteristics, including form, shape, function, use, or social context. Works of art are
classified in many different ways, namely:

1. Visual Arts- These arts are those forms that create works which are primarily visual
(forms perceived by the eyes). The man can take the beauty of nature through a piece of
paper so that other people may take time appreciating the captured image. Examples of
these arts include:
a. Painting- This form of visual art aims to evoke an emotion from the viewers. It is
practice by applying colors or other media to a surface with a brush or other objects.
b. Sculpture- This form of visual arts characterized as the art of representing an
imagined or observed objects in hard materials such as glass, metals, or wood in three
dimensions.
c. Architecture- This form of art provides us the physical structure we lived. It is a
profound expression of human culture in a particular period, and it will endure and
outlive us in forms of monuments that future generations will study and strive to
understand.
d. Drawing- This form of art enhances the way we see the world around and conditions
us to capture its details in a two-dimensional medium. This has been a critical
element of art throughout history and in the contemporary art world.
e. Photography- This form of art is a process of creating portraits by recording radiation
on a radiation-sensitive medium, such as electronic image sensors or photographic
films.

2. Performing Arts- These arts are those forms in which the artists used his/her own body,
face, and presence as a medium. Examples of these arts are as follows:
 a. Theatre (Drama) - This form of art uses performers to present the experience of a real
or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place and time.
b. Music- This form of art helps to express our mood and feel the way through our
emotions and ideas. Based on a study, different types of music may be suitable to
different moods though classical music is still recommended as the most calming
music option.
c. Dance- This form of art is expressed through body movement which entails social
interaction, or presented in a spiritual or performance setting.
d. Film- This form of art allows us to explore the complexities of the human situation.
This is used to work out our emotions, to make history comes alive, science is
explained, and literary works are brought into life.
e. Installation Art- The fundamental nature of this form of art is the participation of the
spectators. In this work of art, viewers become active and navigate the work in an
environment that they can experience visually. It also has the capacity of passing on
particular information about any significant event around the world and interactively
represents documentary issues.
f. Opera- This form of art helps to tell stories through music. This is also performed with
a full orchestra composed of the various musical instrument sections. In this art form,
singers and musicians perform a dramatic work by combining text (called a libretto)
and musical score.
g. Stagecraft- This form of art is a technical aspect of theatrical production. This includes
constructing and arranging scenery, hanging and focusing of lighting, the design of
costumes, makeup, and procurement of props, stage management and recording and
mixing of sound.

3. Literary Arts- These arts centered on creative writing and other composition processes
which intended to read. These include prose and poetry (e.g., novels, short stories, sonnet,
ballad, epic, and essay).

The Value of Arts in the Educational System

Knowing and practicing the arts disciplines are fundamental to the development of the minds
and spirits of the students (National Art Education Association, 1994). Arts are inseparable from
education. When early humans drew images on the walls of the caves, the artworks have been
the means of recording human experiences and of making sense of the world. It educates us on
how early people lived and survived. Thus, without the skills in the arts, no one can claim that
he/she is professionly trained.

There are several reasons for the arts to be included in an educational system. It is evident
that involvement in the arts has been shown to help students in their academic, personal, and
social development. Listed below are other details for this assertion.

1. Arts are worth studying because it served to connect our imaginations with the most
profound questions of human existence.
2. Arts are always used because it helps to present issues and ideas to teach, persuade, and
entertain people.
 3. Arts are integral to every person’s daily life because it helps shape our spiritual, political,
economic, cultural, and social environments.
4. Arts are refreshing because it offers unique sources of enjoyment and it investigates
relationships between thought and actions.
5. Arts develop students attitudes because it teaches self-discipline, reinforces self-esteem,
fosters the thinking skills and creativity and values the importance of teamwork and
cooperation.

Class Activities

a. Musical Strokes

1. Divide the class into four groups and talk about how music can evoke feelings that
through art.
2. Let the students listen to a particular tune. Ask what feelings the students think the
musician was trying to convey. Instruct them to draw or sketch in a paper the emotions
they hear from the music. Let them choose different colors in the making of their art and
talk about why the students made the selections they did.
3. As a class, let the students share their artwork. It is interesting to see how students
perceive the meaning of music and how they show feelings in art.

b. Catchy and Creative Art-Slogans

Art-Slogans are powerful marketing tools that can motivate your clients to support your
brand. It is an advertising tag-line or phrase that advertisers create to express the importance and
benefits of their product visually.

Let the students do their creative art for advertisement. Let them use one size of cardboard or
cartolina in making the art-slogan. Below are examples of a catchy product/company slogan:

Choose any of the following slogans listed below and make an art-logo out of it.

1. Addidas- “Impossible Nothing”

2. Disneyland- “The happiest place on Earth”
 3. IBM- “Solution for a small planet”
4. FedEx Corporation- “When there is no tomorro.”
5. Volkswagen- “Think small”
6. Canon EOS- “What we mean is what you see”
7. Nikon- “At the heart of the image”
8. Energizer- “Keep going and going and going”
9. Diesel Jeans- “Be stupid”
10. Jaguar- “Grace, space, pace”
11. AT&T- “Reach out, and touch someone”
12. m&m- “Melts in your mouth not in your hands”
13. Coca-Cola- “Twist cap Refreshment”
14. Visa- “It’s everywhere you want”
15. Burger King- “Have it your way”
16. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) – “Finger licking good”
17. Sony- “Connecting People”
18. NOKIA- “Connecting people”
19. Nike- “just do it”
20. Hallmark- “When you care enough to send the very best”

CHAPTER TEST

Name: _____________________________________ Score: ________________

Course/Year: ________________________________ Date: ________________
Time Schedule: ______________________________

Essay: Answer the following questions below briefly but precisely.

1. Do you consider yourself as an artist? Justify your answer.

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

2. What is the importance of Humanities as a science of Art?

____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

3. How is a work of art produced by an artist? Discuss the process of production.

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
 4. Which of the following classification of art (Visual, Performing, Literary) do you think
you belong? Why?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

5. Why art is also termed as “High Culture”?

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER TEST

Name: _____________________________________ Score: ________________

Course/Year: ________________________________ Date: ________________
Time Schedule: ______________________________

Matching Type: Match Column A with Column B. Write the letter of the correct answer on the
box provided before each item.
Column A Column B

1. It is the process of arranging elements in a way for you to a. Stone

use your senses and emotions.
2. A science which is concerned with the human thought, b. Creation of Ideas
feelings, and relations.

3. It is composed of minerals and can be into material types c. Cultural

according to how they formed.

4. It is an artist’s trait developed in the course of his life to d. Photography

express his feelings.

5. It means “craftsmanship.” e. Creation of materials

6. It refers to a person who engaged in one or more of any f. Sculpture

of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art.

7. A process of art wherein a painter paints a picture from a g. Creation of forms

scene where most people do not think beauty existed.

8. A phase of creating art in which the artist uses materials h. Creativity

to give form to his idea.

9. It is a means of communication to the unknown being i. Humanities

 created and performed by the ancient people.

10. It is where the artists have developed different forms to j. Dance

express the ideas they have work.

11. It is a type of art that marks a two-dimensional medium. k. Artiste

12. It is a type of art that signifies a three-dimensional l. Drawing

artwork.

13. It is an art form of rhythmic movement of the body. m. Arti

14. A function of art which expresses ideas and values. n. Adoration

15. It is an art of creating images by recording radiation on o. Art

a radiation-sensitive medium.

CHAPTER TEST

Name: _____________________________________ Score: ________________

Course/Year: ________________________________ Date: ________________
Time Schedule: ______________________________

Evaluation: In your own words, briefly discuss the following concepts listed below.

1. Humanities
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

2. Art
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

3. Stagecraft
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. Creation of Art
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

5. Purpose of Art
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

6. Visual Art
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

7. Performing Arts
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

8. Literary Arts
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

9. Art Education
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

10. Creative Arts

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 2
 Aesthetic Arts and Crafts
“The beautiful is in nature, and it is encountered in the most
diverse forms of reality. Once it is found, it belongs to art, or,
rather, to the artist who discover it.”
-Gustave Courbet

The Difference between Aesthetic Arts and Crafts

A
esthetics is from the Greek word eisthesis which means “perception.” It is a branch of
philosophy devoted to the study of art and beauty used during the 18 th 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 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 19 th century in Europe as a design reform and as a social
movement motivated by the William Morris. It involves activities related to making things
which require a combination of skill, speed, and patience.

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 Figure 1. William Morris (1834-1896)
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.
1. Sewing- It is the crafts of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle
and thread.
2. Weaving- It is a fabric production method in which yarns are interlaced at right angles to
form a fabric or cloth.
3. Tatting- It is a technique for handcrafting particularly in making durable lace which is
constructed by a series of knots and loops.
4. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

a. Art for Acting. Art may pursue to bring about a certain emotion, to relax or to entertain
the viewer.
b. 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.
c. 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.
d. Art for propaganda (Commercialism). Art is utilized to influence popular ideas or moods
delicately.
e. 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.

_____________________

Class Activities
a. Talent Show

In this show, the students will discover several creative activities and deliberate how art can
be used as a form of communication and as a means to express thoughts and feelings.

Instructions:

1. Prepare the students in showcasing their talents (either in dancing, singing, poetry, or anything
that they can think of). The talent shows are all about showing off something that the students
are proud.
2. Tell the students that the presentation of talent can be in individually, in a pair or the group.
3. Provide an alternative role for those who do not wish to perform, such as being in charge of
the musical and sound effects, being the announcer, or a props man.
3. Give them enough time for the rehearsal. Prepare music and props as needed. Set rule
regarding appropriate costumes as necessary.
4. Introduce each performer and their talent by name before they come on the stage. If students
are acting as announcers, assist them as if possible.

Note: The teacher should prepare follow-up discussions with the students during the next
meeting.

Guide questions for discussion and sharing:

1. How did it feel to perform on stage? What went well?

2. Did the talent show make you feel good? Why and why not?
3. What would you do differently next time? Would you perform again?
4. What was the part about acting in the talent show your favorite?
5. What did you learn from being part of the talent show?

_____________________

b. Art Work

Let the students bring to the class any work of art (like painting, drawing, literary
composition, sculpture, and others) and have them explain what that art is all about. As a class,
discuss how important is the talent in the life of every human being.

__________________

c. Pressed Flower Craft

Materials required

1. Toothpicks
2. Wood 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. Arranged 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.
5. Apply pressure on the flower and hold for a few seconds. Repeat the process till all of the
flowers are fixed.

CHAPTER TEST

Name: _____________________________________ Score: ________________

Course/Year: ________________________________ Date: ________________
Time Schedule: ______________________________

Essay: Answer the following questions briefly.

1. Do all arts express beauty? Justify your answer.

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2. When can you say that a craft is made with the application of human intelligence?
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3. How Art and Crafts started during the 19th century? Explain.
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4. Do we need to attend formal schooling in order to become a professional artist? Why or why
not?
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5. What is the contribution of William Morris in the realm of arts and crafts?
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CHAPTER TEST

Name: _____________________________________ Score: ________________

Course/Year: ________________________________ Date: ________________
Time Schedule: ______________________________

Identification: Identify the following questions under column B. Write your answer on the
blank provided under column A.

Column A Column B

1. He was a German Philosopher who first used the word

“aesthetics” during the 18th century in Europe.
2. He developed Arts and Crafts as a design reform and social
movement during the 19th century.
3. It refers to the use of visual repetition within a work of art.

4. It is the process of making footwear.

5. It is a method of fabric production in which two distinct sets of

threads are interlaced at right angles to form cloth.
6. It is a traditional Japanese art of paper folding.
7. It refers to typical memorabilia which include photographs,
printed media, and artwork.
8. A principle that relates to the equilibrium of opposing visual
forces.
9. It is a form of woodworking that is used to create wooden
objects on a machine tool known as a lathe.
10. It is an art design that uses plant materials and flowers to create a
pleasing and balanced composition.
Chapter 3
The Western Art History
“Art history looks at art works and the people
who have created them”.

Susan Vreeland

H
istorically speaking, the human instinct to create art is universal. Art is an approach of
a human being to communicate his/her beliefs and express ideas about his/her
experiences. It also provides valuable insights into the past and existing cultures. It
helps us to understand how others have lived and what they valued (Annenberg
Foundation, 2017).

The history of art reflects the remnant of civilization, the study of artworks, and the lives of
artists illuminate much about our shared past. It helps us to discover, authenticate who made a
particular art object (Meyer, 2009). It also helped us to appreciate the stylistic and recognized
development of artistic practices on a large scale and within a broad historical viewpoint.

The history of art also covers the entire history of humankind since prehistoric times. Art is a
product of man’s emotional and intellectual connection with the world. It also aimed to produce
a message which will either provoke an unexplainable consciousness within the hearts of its
viewers or incite wisdom among inquisitive minds. Leroi-Gourhan (1967) lists three primary
domains of the expression of feeling associated to the first periods of humanity that may add to
our understanding of the beginnings of art such as Psycho-physiological impressions; Magic-
religious; and techno-economic.

Art in Prehistoric Civilization

The term “prehistoric” relates to the time before written history. Specifically, the writing
developed in ancient Mesopotamia before 3000 B.C.E., so this period includes visual culture
(paintings, sculpture, and architecture) made before that date (Zucker, 2015). The oldest
recognized decorative art forms come from Africa date back to 100,000 BC.E.

Prehistoric art has four main periods: Stone Age, Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. The
remaining artifacts of this period are small sculptures and cave paintings. During these early
times, different forms of art were created and performed as a sign of communication or adoration
to the deity. This practice shows how cultural and religious factors played little to the
development of the art forms that made the ancient society so famous until now.
 Ancient people often represented their worldviews and beliefs through visual images. Art
emerged with the appearance and the dispersal of entirely modern people through Africa, Asia,
Australia, America and Europe. Paintings, sculptures, engravings, and potteries are expressions
for beauty and complex social and spiritual systems. Prehistoric art like animals are the favorite
subjects of hunters, herdsmen, and breeders.

Prehistoric art is a symbolic system that is an integral part of the culture that creates it
(Honour et al., 2005). Many archaeologists have identified Stone Age art, namely: petroglyphs
(rock carvings and engravings); pictographs (graphic imagery, symbols); ancient sculpture
(totemic statues, ivory carvings); and megalithic arts (performs or any other works associated
with the formation of stones).

The oldest European cave art is the El Castillo Cave

(Cave of the Castle) in Spain. This cave was discovered in
1903 by Hermilio Alcalde del Río, a Spanish archaeologist.
Some Archaeologists argue that artwork inside this cave are
probably a creation of Homo neanderthalensis. Hand
stencils, claviforms (club shapes) and disks made by
blowing paint onto the wall in El Castillo cave found that
date back at least 40,800 years, making them older than
those of the Chauvet Cave in central France, which dated to Figure 2. El Castillo Cave painting, Spain
around 39,000 years (Kwong, 2012).Other old cave painting
sites in France include Lascaux, Grotte de Cussac, Pech Merle, Cave of Niaux, and Font-de-
Gaume.

Stone Tools for Art Making

Stone is formed based on the composition of minerals on it. It classified as Mineral growth,
Sedimentary, Metamorphic, and Volcanic. Sedimentary rocks shaped through the deposition and
compression of particulate matter. On the other hand, Metamorphic rocks changed from the
result of extreme temperature and pressure. Volcanic rocks are from molten igneous magma
(Prindle, 1994).

The tools made of tone were the instruments by which early man developed and progressed.
All human culture founded on the ingenuity and brainpower of our early ancestors in creating
sophisticated tools that enable them to survive. The first stone tools (eoliths- which are now
believed to be naturally produced by geological processes such as glaciation) and other types of
organic materials (wood, bone, ivory, and antler) were about two million years ago. The oldest
human tools were a simple stone chopper, such as those unearth at Olduvai George in Tanzania.
Many Paleoanthropologists (people who study the origins and predecessors of the present
human species) confirmed that the Palaeolithic Man produced four types of tools in creating an
art namely: pebble tools (with a single sharpened edge for cutting or chopping): Bifacial tools
(hand axes); Flake tools; and Blade tools.
 Pebble Tools (Pebble chopper). It is a first cutting device and considered as the oldest type
of tool made by humans. The tool contains a rounded stone struck some blows with a similar
stone used as a pounder, which created a serrated crest that served as a chopping blade.

Bifacial tools. It is a hand ax prehistoric stone tool flake with two faces or sides. These
tools may be oval, triangular, or almond-shaped in form and characterized by axial symmetry.
The cutting edge could be straight or jagged and is used as a knife, pick, scraper, or weapon. The
technique was distinctive of the hand-ax tradition of the lower Palaeolithic period and the
Acheulian culture.

Flake tools. These are hand tools used during Stone Age. They are usually formed by
crushing off a small or large fragment then used as the tool. Both cores and flakes could be as
stone tools. New flakes were very sharp, but quickly became blunt during use and had to be
sharpened again by further flaking, a process called “retouch.”

Blade tools. These are a Stone tool created by striking a long narrow flake from a stone
core. This procedure of cutting the stone and creating the blades is called lithic reduction. After
chipping the blades, they integrated into larger tools, such as spears.

Medieval Arts in Europe

The primitive art of the Western world covers an extensive range of time and place over
1000 years. Specifically, Medieval art in Europe grew out of the artistic culture of the Roman
Empire and the iconographic practices in the church of the early Christian (Oliquiano, 2012).
These sources were mixed with the influential "barbarian" artistic culture of Northern Europe to
make an extraordinary creative legacy. Medieval art portrayed in Pietistic painting (religious art)
displayed in a Ceramics, fresco and mosaic paintings, Goldsmith and Silversmith, Stained Glass,
illuminated manuscripts, metalwork, Tapestry, and Heraldry in churches.

a. Illuminated Manuscripts (Illumination) - They were colorful religious texts which often
use of gold and silver as its main feature. The term illuminate is the Latin word
“illuminate” which means to adorn or to enlighten. It is the embellishment of a
manuscript with bright colors. The artist who produced the impressive artwork on
illuminated manuscripts was called Illuminators.
b. Metalwork- Metalworkers were very skilled in creating religious objects for church
decorations. Experts in Bronze art produced beautiful jewels, sculptures, and even church
doors.
c. Silversmith and Goldsmith- They were excellent artists who created new shapes of
jewelry. The Medieval church demanded to employed silversmiths and goldsmiths in the
church to produce e2222 with small pieces of colored glass, stone or other materials. The
early Christians used ceiling and wall mosaics in their churches and cathedrals.
d. Paintings- Artists who were skillful in Iconography uses Fresco and panel painting with
the religious theme during the medieval period. Fresco is performed mostly on wall
covers or ceilings. Likewise, Panels is a painting which showed on several pieces of
wood that joined together. It is also for the Icons of Byzantine art.
 e. Bayeux Tapestry- It is embroidery in colored wool. It is consists of eight long strips of
unbleached linen, sewn together to form a continuous panel of 230 feet long and 20
inches high.
f. Ceramics- They were hand shaped cooking pots, jars, and pitchers.
g. Stained Glass- It is usually applied exclusively to the windows of medieval churches,
castles, and cathedrals. It creates the primary form of art where small pieces of glass are
arranged to form pictures or patterns which are held together
h. by strips of lead and supported by a hard frame.
i. Heraldry- It is the manner of designing coats of arms and insignia. Specimens of coats of
arms were worked using embroidery, paper, painted wood, stonework and stained glass.

Famous Artists in Western Europe

The great artists introduced the advancement of arts during the middle periods. During this
era, artists split away from the influences of the Byzantium art style and developed into the
Gothic visual art. The Medieval painters and sculptors were founders of the movement towards
greater realism which culminated in the Renaissance art style. Most famous artists during
medieval period were Donatello, Giotto, Leon Battista Alberti, Cimabue, Filippo Brunelleschi,
Fra Angelico and Lorenzo Ghiberti.

1. Donatello (also known as Donato di Niccolo di Betto Bardi). He was born in 1386 in
Italy. He was the son of Nicolo di Betto Bardi, a wool merchant in Florence. He learned
the fabrication of metals and other substances which known as metallurgy. His most
famous works of art include David, Mary Magdalene, Madonna, Salome, Zuccone, and
St. Mark, St. John the Evangelist and St. George and the Dragon. He also invented a
technique known as schiacciato (shallow relief), which achieved effects of spatial depth.
He died on December 13, 1466.
2. Giotto di Bondone. He was born about 1266 in Vespignano village, Florence. He was
the son of Giorgio Vasari, a small landed farmer. He worked with others artists for the
Cathedral of San Francesco in Assisi and began painting a fresco cycle there with scenes
from the Old and New Testaments. In 1300, he was invited by Pope Benedict XI in
Rome to paint a mosaic over the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica. He died on January 8,
1337, in Florence.
3. Leon Battista Alberti- He was born in Genoa on February 14, 1404, in Italy. As an
Architect, he was hired by Pope Nicholas V in the renovation of the papal palace and of
the Roman bridge of Acqua Vergine. He died in Rome on April 25, 1472.
4. Giovanni Cimabue- He was born in Florence in 1240. He devoted all his time wrapping
his paper and his books with photographs of horses, houses, people, and other various
things he dreamt up. He made mosaics .as well as paintings, which include the frescoes
of New Testament scenes in the upper church of St. Francis of Assisi. He died in 1302.
5. Filippo Brunelleschi- He was born in 1377 in Florence, Italy. He was the son
Brunellesco Di Lippoo, an Italian lawyer and his mother was Giuliana Spini. He was a
sculptor and goldsmith in one of the Florentine workshops. He died on April 15, 1446.
6. Fra Angelico (also known as Beato Angelico, which means "Blessed Angelic One”)- He
was born in 1395 in Florence, Italy. As a Painter, his most famous works of art include
the Annunciation, The Madonna and Saints and the Transfiguration of Christ painting.
 7. Lorenzo Ghiberti- He was born in 1380 in Florence, Italy. He was admitted to the Gold
Guild and started his apprenticeship as a goldsmith in 1392. He started work on the East
Doors of the Baptistery of San Giovanni. The Bronze doors (known as the “Gates of
Paradise”) had 10panels depicting scenes from the Old Testament. He died in 1445.

Most Common Paintings in Classical Greek

During the classical era, most paintings were discovered in panels, tomb, and vases. It
portrays natural symbols with dynamic masterpieces about battle scenes, mythological figures,
and everyday scenes. It also discloses a grasp of linear perspective and naturalist illustration
(Rayos, 2018). Familiar paintings in classical Greek are as follows:

a. Kerch Vase Painting

Kerch Vase is red-figured pottery named after the place where it discovered. Most common
motifs were scenes from the life of women, mythological beings or mythical story or event. This
type of painting used a technique known as polychromy which combined different colors
especially the brilliant one in an artistic manner. The shapes commonly found are:

a. Krater (it is a bowl used for mixing wine and water)

b. lebesgamikos (a container with high handles and lid use to carry bridal bath)
c. lekanis (a low bowl with two horizontal handles and a small, broad foot)
d. pelike (a wine container)

b. Panel Painting

Panel Painting was especially famous for making beautiful altarpieces. This type of
paintings executed on flat panels of wood or metals which can be either a small, single piece or
several boards that are together. The earliest known old panel painting is the Pitsa Panel (dated
between 540 and 530 B.C.E.).

c. Tomb/Wall Painting

Popular Tomb or wall painting during classical period uses either tempera (water-based) or
encaustic (wax) as a method of fresco. Colors in this type are made with grind powder stains in
pure water, dry and set with plaster to become a lasting part of the wall.
 Chapter 4
The Filipino Art and Crafts
“Curiosity about life in all of its aspects, I think, is
still the secret of great creative people”

– Leo Burnett

L
ike in any other country, art influenced the life of the Filipinos and the things that
surround them. The Philippine arts reflect a Filipino society with diverse cultural
influences and traditions of the Malayan peoples such as the Chinese and Indians.
Islamic traditions were introduced to the Philippine Islands in the 14th century.

Likewise, Europe and the United States intensely influenced Filipino artists. However, while
drawing on Western forms, the works of Filipino musicians, painters, and writers are imbued
with distinctly Philippine themes. By expressing the richness of the culture of the archipelago in
all its diversity, Filipino artists have helped in shaping a sense of national identity. Many Malay
cultural traditions have continued until this time despite foreign rule. Muslims and tribal groups
maintained distinct traditions in dance, music, and sculpture.

Indigenous arts in the Philippines are labors of love and patience. The intricate carvings on
wood, metal, stone or glass are products of skillful hands and imaginative minds of the different
tribes of the archipelago. Indigenous musical instruments like the flute, drums, rainsticks, native
guitars, and bells made of bamboo, animal skin, seeds, and seashells. The careful manipulation
of these materials produces sounds and unique instruments used mostly in tribal dances and
rituals (Ramirez, 1999).

Pre-Colonial Art forms in the Archipelago

The arts in the Philippine archipelago had its past and continued to develop by numerous
modern artists. With their different context regarding history, style, cultural symbols, and
meanings, these artworks are portrayed (Estrella, 2017).The following are some known artforms
in the Philippines:

Agung. It is a musical instrument of the Kulintang ensemble which is played by one or two
persons depending on its number. By using a rubber-padded beater, this instrument is performed
on both the boss/knob and the face of the gong.

Banog-banog. It is a dance that portrays hunters shielding in their chickens from the
famishing hawk.
 BlitB’laan. It is a courtship dance of the Bilaan of Davao del Sur mimicking birds during
mating season. The females scurry to safety, burying their heads under their wings (using the
malong), but the aggressive males follow them wherever they go.

Cañao. It is a ritual-dance performed during native feasts or celebrations in the highlands of

the Cordilleras in the Luzon area of the Philippines. It is a symbol of triumph or expectation for
abundant crops.

Gangsa. It is an indigenous musical instrument of the Bontoc tribes of Kalinga, Ifugao in

the mountain regions (the Cordillera) of the northern Philippines.

Inamong. It is an ethnic dance among Tigwahanon Manobos in the Province of Bukidnon

and performed during their harvest time. This type of dance shows a couple, with their bodies
and arms slightly bent forward, mimicking the movement of a pair of flirting among monkeys.

Kadal Iwas. It is a dance performed by the T-boli and Tausug tribes respectively which
mimic a mealtime of monkeys in removing nits and lice from each other. A variation of this
dance is to mimics a monkey who sits on an anthill by mistake and is attacked by angry ants all
over his body.

Kashawing. It is a ritual among the Maranaos and is performed to ensure a good harvest.

Kinabua. It is ritual dance among the Mandaya tribes in Northern Mindanao. This type of
dance portrays the Hawks’ use of sweet songs to lure out the hen and the chicks that are made
into a meal.

Mamakar. It is a Bontoc War Dance performed during the planting season and a bountiful
harvest.

Man-manok. It is a dance performed in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. This type of dance mimics fowls
wherein a tribal blankets that represent the colorful plumage of wild cocks are shown off by the
warriors who intend on winning the attention of the maiden hen.

Mayvanuvanua. It refers to a sacrificial rite performed at the beginning of the summer

fishing season among mataw fishers in Batanes Island. This type of dance is an act of invitation
to capture the fish dorado successfully.

Mumbaki. It is a local term which refers to the “sayer of prayers” among the Ifugaos in
Northern Luzon. These prayers are performed during funerals, wedding, Thanksgiving, and
other celebrations. This is offered to the supreme deity, Maknongan.

Ngilin. It is a cultural dance performed among the Kalinga tribe during Marriage rituals and
other celebrations like the budong (peace pact). This type of dance is played to simulate the
romantic or peaceful interactions of a rooster and a hen.
 Pagdiwata. It refers to a ritual performed among the ethnic group in the north and central
Palawan. The ceremony is held on various occasions including bountiful harvests and weddings.

Pangalay (also known as Sea Gypsies).It is a native dance of the Badjao performed during
weddings and other social gatherings. This type of dance emphasizes the agility of the upper
body wherein the rhythmic bounce of the shoulder with the simultaneous alternating waving of
arms is the essential movement.

Sampak. It is a war dance performed by the Mandaya tribe. This type of dance requires
excellent skill in the handling of a shield, spear, and a sword.

Saut. It is a ritual dance performed by a male Talaanding tribe presenting their expertise in
style and arts in fighting their opponent. This ritual dance is also an offering to their magbabaya
(god).

Talip. It is a courtship dance among the Ifugao. This is performed during the celebration of the
intaneg (wedding). In this dance, the man traps a woman with an attractive blanket to place on
her shapely shoulders.

Famous Indigenous Musical Instruments in the Philippines

Aerophones. It refers to any musical instrument which produces sound without the use of strings
or membranes. Examples of these are as follows:

a. Baliing- Nose flutes of the Apayao

b. Bansik - Bamboo flute of the Negrito
c. Kaleleng- a Long bamboo tube of the Bontoc
d. Bulungudyong -Vertical & long flute of the B'laan
e. Kalaleng - Bamboo flute of the Tinggian
f. Lantoy– Nose flute of the Mangyan
g. Palandag (Palendag) – Lip-valley flute of the Bagobo
h. Paldong and Tongali – Lip valley flutes of the Kalinga
i. Pulalo – Lip valley flute of the Mansaka
j. Sahunay - Pipe with reed (clarinet) of the Tausog

Chordophones. It refers to any musical instrument which makes sound by way of trembling
strings stretched between two points. Examples of these are as follows:

a. Faglong – Two-stringed, lute-like instrument of the B'laan

b. Kolitong – Bamboo guitar of the Kalingga
c. Kudlong - Two stringed boat lute of the Bagobo
d. Kudyapi -Two stringed boat lute of the Maranao
e. Kulit-en – Guitar of the Tinggian
f. Pas-ing – Guitar of the Igorot
g. Serongagandi – a Decorated bamboo tube of the Maranao
h. Saludoy –Bamboo guitar of the T’boli
Idiophone. It refers to any musical instrument which produced sound primarily by way of the
instrument's vibrating, without the use of strings or membranes.

a. Afiw –Jaw Harp of the Bontoc

b. Agung - Bossed gong of the Maranao
c. Balingbing – Bamboo buzzer of the Kalingga
d. Bangibang – Percussion bar of the Ifugao
e. Gabbang – Bamboo xylophone of the Tausog
f. Kinaban – Jaw Harp of the Hanunoo
g. Kubing –Jaw Harp of the Ata and Maranao
h. Kulintang - Metal xylophone of the Maranao
i. Kumbing – Jaw Harp of the Manobo
j. Palipal – Bamboo clapper of the Ifugao
k. Tagutok – Decorated bamboo scraper of the Maranao
l. Tanggunggu – Gong chime of the Kalagan, B'laan, Manuvu, Bagobo
m. Tongkaling - Pellet bells or crotal bells of the B’laan

Membranophone. It refers to any musical instrument which produces sound by way of a

vibrating stretched membrane.Most membranophones are drums, such as:

a. Dabakan - Glass shaped drum of the Maranao

b. Gandang – Double headed cylindrical drum of the Maranao
c. Libbit – Conical drum of the Ifugao
d. Sulibao – Conical drum of the Ibaloy

Importance of Philippine Artistic Handicrafts

The Philippines is abundant in natural resources that scattered throughout its islands.
Filipino artist used the parts of trees, plants, and other natural resources as the raw materials and
turned them into simple, yet useful tools or instruments. This type of work is called Artistic
Handicrafts (sometimes called artisanry). Although this type of art changes from time to time it
is still imperative to continue and is preserve due to the following reasons:

1. It promotes our cultural legacy through the use of indigenous materials.

2. It shows an individual's creativity and superior ingenuity.
3. It encouraged producers to produce more raw materials.
4. It generates employment.
5. It developed values of perseverance and resiliency.

Common Handicraft Materials

Every Filipino family owns handicraft products like baskets, brooms, feather dusters, and
other furniture. Likewise, accessories like earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and other clothing
apparel made from native products such as beads, shells, and seeds. These are clear indications
that our handicraft industry is enjoying the patronage of Filipinos.
 Filipino handicraft makers fashion them into accessories, bags, bamboo sofa sets, baskets,
cabinets, clothes, lamp shades, wall décor, and others. The following are the typical materials
needed in the making of Filipino handicrafts:

a. Abaca (Musa Textilis) - It is a tree-like herb resembling the banana plant. It is durable
and dyed in different colors.
b. Bamboo (BambusaSpinosa) - It is for the furniture industry because of its strength and
durability. It is also valuable material for basket and hat making.
c. Buri (CoryphaElata)- It is a palm from which three kinds of fibers, namely buri, raffia,
and until, are taken. It can be dyed merely and woven into many shapes. The buri leaf
is the most flexible material used for making hats, boxes and other novelty items.
d. Caragumoy (Pandanus Simplex) - It is greenish grey as it dries and is used traditionally
in making bags, baskets, hats, and mats.
e. Coconut (CocosNucifera) - It is the most utilized palm in the Philippines. Its cocomidrib
is used primarily as handicraft material for the production of baskets, and brooms
(tingting). The coco shells are used for manufacturing articles such as buttons, coin
banks, lamp shades, pins, and others.
f. Kalas- It is a by-product of the buri palm. Locally, the term "kalas" (which means “to
loosen") refers to the loosened strands of a buri rope. It creates an unusual, rustic pattern
with distinct characteristics from its original material when artistically woven.
g. Leather- It is a material created through the tanning of skins of animals like carabaos,
horses, snakes, alligators, goats, lizards, and others.
h. Pandan-Dagat (PandanusTectorius) - It is a variety of screw pine abundantly distributed
along sandy beaches and coastal brushes in the Philippines.
i. Rattan (Calamus Maximus) - It is the most flexible material used in the manufacturing
industry and been known to extend up to hundreds of meters long.
j. Seagrass (RhynchosporaCorymbosa) – It is a type of grass in shallow salty and brackish
waters. The stems are distinctly triangular, and the leaves are broad and long.

Traditional Handiwork in the Philippines

The following are some handicrafts in the different regions of the Philippines:

1. Jewelry (Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Mindanao Regions). This handicraft is
mostly in Central Luzon region, mainly from the province of Bulacan. You can also find
related of this from Mindanao regions, but down south, you can even get powerful brass
amulets and other accessories.
2. Metal Craft (Southern Luzon and Mindanao Regions). This type of handicraft is in
Southern Luzon region, particularly in the province of Batangas. A very popular metal
craft which is locally and internationally as an excellent source for a portable knife is
called Balisong. Traditional weapons made from brass, bronze, and gold, are also
abundant in the island of Mindanao.
3. Pots and Jars (Ilocos Region).The pots and jars known as burnay can found explicitly in
the province of Ilocos Sur. These creations are made from Grade A clay through a
method that has been practiced by locals since the pre-colonial times.
 4. Woven fabrics (Mindanao Regions). These fabrics are woven traditionally, by
interlacing threads using a manual machine called a loom. One of the common materials
in this region is called malong which is historically used as a skirt and sometimes as a
blanket.
5. Wood Carvings (Cordillera and Southern Luzon Regions). Fantastic wood carvings
produced by the Ifugao in the northern region of the Cordilleras. Often, these wood
carvings are depicting their indigenous gods. Excellent kitchenware like wooden bowls
and utensils are in this region.

Philippine GAMABA Awards

Gawad sa Manlilikhang Bayan Awards or GAMABA is an award that recognizes folk

and indigenous artists who remain loyal to their traditions. This award is managed by the
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) through Gawad ng Bayan
Committee. It began as a project of the Philippine Rotary Club Makati- Ayala but was
adopted by the Philippine government in 1992 and become an institution through a Republic
Act 7335.

This award aims to support and motivate these artists to preserve their artistic heritage
for the present and future generations. These artists are recognized as the Country’s
Intangible National Living Treasure.

To become a National Living Treasure, the candidate must have the following
qualifications:

1. Must be an occupant of an indigenous/traditional cultural community anywhere in the

Philippines that has preserved native customs, beliefs, rituals, and traditions and has
syncretized whatever external elements that have influenced it.
2. Must have involved in a folk art tradition that has been in existence and documented for
at least 50 years.
3. Must have consistently performed or produced over a significant period, works of
superior and distinctive quality.
4. Must acquire a mastery of tools and materials needed by the art, and must have an
established reputation in the art as master and maker of works of extraordinary technical
quality.
5. Must pass on and will pass on to other members of the community their talents in the folk
art for which their group is traditionally known.

GAMABA Awardees and Nominees

1. Ginaw Bilog (1993).A native of Oriental Mindoro who faithfully helps preserved the
Hanunuo Mangyan script and their Ambahan poetry.
2. Masino Intaray (1993).A native of Palawan who exemplary shared his skills in basal or
gong music ensemble. He is a musician and epic chanter (Kulilal and Bagit).
3. Samaon Sulaiman (1993). A Maguindanao of Mama SaPano who showed outstanding
artistry and dedication to his chosen instrument, the Magindanao kutyapi.
4. Lang Dulay (1998). A T'boli of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, for her skills in weaving the
abaca ikat cloth known as t'nalak.
5. Salinta Monon (1998). A Tagabawa-Bagobo of Bansalan, Davao del for fully
demonstrating her creative and expressive aspects of the Bagobo abaca ikat weaving
called inabal.
6. Alonzo Saclag (2000). A Kalinga of Lubuagan for his mastery of the Kalinga dance and
the performing arts.
7. Frederico Caballero (2000). A Panay-Bukidnon of Calinog, lloilo for his mastery of
chanting the epic tradition of Central Panay, the Sugidanon.
8. Uwang Ahadas (2000). A Yakan of Lamitan, Basilan for his dexterity in playing Yakan
musical instruments such as the agung, gabbang, tuntungan, and kwintangan.
9. Darhata Sawabi, (2005). A weaver of Parang, Sulu province for helping preserve the art
of “Pissyabit weaving.”
10. Eduardo Mutuc (2005). A Kapampangan from Central Luzon for reviving the metal or
smithcraft of Plateria which is in Spanish colonial era.
11. Haja Amina Appi (2005). A Sama of Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi, for sharing her skills in mat
weaving among the Sama indigenous community.
12. Teofilo Garcia (2012). A casque maker of San Quintin, Abra, Casquefor his skill making
Tabungaw.
13. Magdalena Gamayo (2012). A master weaver of Pinili, Ilocos Norte for his skill in
Weaving known as Inabel.
14. Yabing Masalon Dulo (2016). A master weaver of Polomolok, South Cotabato for his
contribution Ikat Weaving.
15. Ambalang Ausalin (2016). A Yakan master weaver of Lamitan, Basilan for Tennun
Weaving skills.
16. Estelita Tumandan Bantilan (2016). A B’laan master weaver of Malapatan, Sarangani for
preserving the Igem Weaving skills.
17. Whang-od (2017). A traditional tattoo artist (mambabatok) of Buscalan, Tinglayan,
Kalinga.

Other famous Filipino Artists and their Artwork

1. Ang Kiuko (Painting: The Crucifixion)

2. Diosdado Lorenzo (Painting: Still Life Paintings)
3. Fernando Cueto Amorsolo (Painting: Portrait of Presidents- M.Quezon; M. Roxas; and S.
Ozmeña)
4. Guillermo Tolentino (Sculpture: Oblation and the Bonifacio Monument)
5. Hernando Ocampo (Painting: The Contrast)
6. Juan Luna (Painting: Spoliarium)
7. Napoleon Abueva (Sculpture: Allegorical Harpoon)
8. Solomon Saprid ( Sculpture: Tikbalang)
9. Victorio Edades (Painting: The Builders)
10. Vicente Rivera (Painting: Supplication)
 Chapter 5
Paintings
”Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and
paints his own nature into his own nature
into his pictures”

Henry Wards Beecher

Elements of Painting

P
ainting is a style of creating an expression by applying colors to a flat surface or any
mediums like canvas, clay, glass, paper, walls, leaf, paper, or woods. Abstraction or
composition, drawing, and other aesthetics may serve to manifest the expressive and
conceptual intention of the artists (Mayer, 1970). It is an unspoken and mostly unrecognized
dialogue, where paint speaks silently in masses and colors, and the artist responds in moods.
Paint records the most delicate gesture. It tells whether the painter sat or stood or crouched in
front of the canvas (Elkins, 1998). It loaded with narrative content, symbolism, or emotion.

A beautiful painting is not made by photographic likeness, but rather by good composition.
For the artist, the harmony in his/her artwork will depend on the selection of appropriate devices,
peculiar to the medium and the use of certain principles to relate them. A unique style emerges
when an artist recognizes his or her personal preference of dominant design elements and
consciously or unconsciously emphasizes these dominant elements (Ocvirk et al., 2008; Gatto,
2000). The significant aspects of the painting are the line, color, texture, perspective, shapes,
and symbols (Nohay, 2018).

Line. It is the simplest element in the painting. It has a continuous marking made by a
moving point to outlines shape and can contour areas within those outlines. It can suggest
movement (vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and curved). Each line has its meaning: vertical line
stress action, strength, dynamism; horizontal lines means serenity, calmness, stability; diagonal
line express tension, movement; curved lines appear softness, flexibility, gentleness.

Color. The Artists used colors to convey feelings and moods within their painting. It is the
result of wavelengths of lights reflecting of objects. It is composed of three distinct qualities
such as the hue, saturation, and value. Hue is merely the name of the color. Red, yellow, and the
blue are the primary color. Their mixture that produces the secondary colors are green, orange,
and purple.
 Texture. It is a component of two-sided and three-sided designs and distinguished by its
perceived visual and physical properties. It is used to describe the way a three-dimensional work
feels when touched. In two-dimensional models, such as painting, it may refer to the visual "feel"
of a piece (Isaac, 2017).

Perspective. It is an art technique for creating an illusion of three-dimension with depth and
space. Its real goal is creating a viewpoint for the audiences that will best communicate the
subject and serve its particular
message.

Perspective is the same as

“viewpoint” and “position.” It
is what makes a painting seem
to have form, distance, and look "real" (Evans, 2002). It is projected according to its levels
namely: foreground, middle ground, and background.

The foreground is the visual plane that appears closer to the viewers. On the
other hand, the middle ground is the part between the foreground and the part
of which is which is called the background. The foreground of a composition
is the illustrative plane that appears closest to the viewer, while the
background is the plane in a composition perceived farthest from the viewers.
The middle ground is the illustrative plane between the foreground and the
background. The scale of these elements often associates to the dominance in
a picture. The foreground is frequently the most dominant due to the larger perceived size of the
picture objects.

Shapes. It is an element in painting that helps express ideas. It helps to interact, and
independently evoke agitation, purposeful energy, direction, etc.They maybe circles, rectangles,
ovals, or square. It is an area with defined boundary created by a variety of color, value or
texture of the areas adjacent to it.

Symbols. The Artists often include symbolic objects in their

paintings that have a special meaning or a special message. It is
used to express ideas such as death, hope, life, etc.

The Color Wheel and its Categories

Colors play a fundamental role in our lives and how we

respond to our environment. It is the visual perceptual property
corresponding in humans to the categories called blue, green, red,
and others. It has two main types, warm and cool colors.

Significantly, a color wheel (also known as a color circle) is a visual representation of color
arranged based to their chromatic relationship. It is a circle shape that is divided evenly into 12
segments which display different color according to its pigment value. It also shows the
relationship between the primary colors, secondary colors, and complementary colors.Other
colors can also be categorized based on the following:

Complementary Colors. These colors sit contrary to each other on the color wheel.
Because they are opposites, they tend to look lively when used together. When you put
complementary colors together, each color seems more noticeable. Examples of these colors are
red and green.

Analogous Colors. These colors sit next to each other on the color wheel. They tend to look
pleasant together because they are closely related. Orange, yellow-orange, and yellow are an
example of analogous colors.

Neutral Colors. They are sometimes called “earth tones.” These colors don’t usually show
up on the color wheel. Neutral colors include black, white, gray, and occasionally brown and
beige.

Warm Colors. These colors are made with orange, red, yellow or some combination of
these. Colors of the sunset give a feeling of brightness and heat.

Cool Colors. These colors are made with blue, green, purple or some combination of these.
These colors make you think of cool and peaceful things, like winter skies and still ponds.

Symbolism and Meaning of Primary Colors

Colors can affect our actions and emotions and on how we respond to various people, things,
and ideas. Much has been studied and written about color and its impact on our daily lives.

Red Color. This is noted as the warmest of all types of colors. It is most chosen by
extroverts and one of the top choices among males. It is a color which is associated with fiery
heat and warmth and has strong symbolism about life and vitality. It is also essential to human
life because:

a. It increases enthusiasm and interest.

b. It gives more energy.
c. It reinforces action and confidence.
d. It protects us from fears and anxieties.

Blue Color. This is known as the calmest color like that of the sky and ocean. It is the color
of inspiration, sincerity, and spirituality and often the chosen color by conservative people. This
color is important to human life because:

a. It is a sign of calmness and relaxation.

b. It opens the flow of communication.
c. It broadens our perspective in learning new information.
d. It implies solitude and peace.
Yellow Color. This is considered as the easiest color to recognize. It is symbol creativity and
intellectual vitality. It also symbolizes wisdom, happiness and brings awareness and clarity.
The yellow color is vital to human life because:

a. It helps us in making decisions.

b. It relieves us from burnout, panic, nervousness, exhaustion.
c. It sharpens our memory and concentration skills.
d. It protects us from depression.

Mediums in Painting

There are different mediums in paintings used today. It helps to describe the elements that
bind the colors in the paint (Martin, 2004). The following are examples of the methods used in
painting:

1. Oil- It is the type of slow-drying paint that consists of particles of pigment suspended in
drying oils such as linseed oil, poppy seed oil, safflower oil and walnut oil.
2. Pastel- It is an art medium in the shape of a stick or crayons. It consists of pure powdered
color and a binder. Dry pastel can be classified as soft pastels, pan pastels, hard pastels,
and pastel pencils.
3. Acrylic- It is fast drying paint containing pigment suspension in acrylic polymer emulsion
which becomes water-resistant when dry.
4. Watercolor- It is the medium which the paints are made of colors suspended in a water-
soluble vehicle. It is usually transparent and appears luminous because the pigments are
laid down in a relatively pure form with few types of filler obscuring the pigment colors.
5. Ink- It is a liquid that contains colors and dyes and is applied to a surface to produce an
image, text, or design. It is for drawing with a brush, or pen.
6. Encaustic- It is heated beeswax to which colored stains are added. The paste is then
applied to a wood-based canvas.
7. Fresco- It refers to any of several related mural painting types, executed on walls, ceilings
or any other kind of flat surface. The term fresco comes from the Italian word “affresco”
which means “fresh.”
8. Gouache- It is a water-based paint consisting of pigment and other materials designed to
be used in an opaque painting technique.
9. Enamel- It is a paint that air dries to a durable, usually glossy and solid finish. It is used
for outdoor coating surfaces or otherwise subject to variations in temperature.
10. Spray paint- It is the type of paint that comes in a sealed pressurized battle and released
in a fine spray.
11. Tempera- It is a permanent, fast-drying painting medium consisting of colored pigment
mixed with a water-soluble binder method.

Classifications of Painting Styles

 Part of the desire in painting particularly in the 21st century is the variety of available art
styles. The style in painting is in two senses: it can refer to the distinctive visual elements,
techniques, and methods that characterized one’s artwork, and can refer to the movement or
school that associated to the artists. Such classifications include the following styles:

a. Western Styles

Abstraction. It is an art in painting which does not attempt to represent an accurate

depiction of a visual reality but instead use colors, shapes, forms and gestural marks to achieve
its effect. It may be formed by reducing the observable phenomenon, typically to retain only
information which is relevant for a particular purpose.

Expressionism. It is sometimes called emotional realism. In this style, the artists sought to
express meaning or emotional experience rather than physical truth.

Baroque. It is characterized by dynamism (a sense of motion), which is augmented by

extravagant effects (e.g., sharp curves, rich decoration). Among the most significant Baroque
painters areCaravaggio, Rembrandt, Rubens, Velazquez, Poussin, and Vermeer.

Impressionism. It is a type of art presenting the real-life subject with emphasis on the
impression left in the artist’s perception, particularly the effect of light on the object used as a
subject.

Modernism. It is characterized by a cautious rejection of the styles of the past and

emphasizing innovation and experimentation of materials and techniques instead to create better
artworks.

b. Modern Styles

Realism. It is a style of painting practiced before the invention of the camera, where artists
depicted landscapes and humans with as much attention to detail and precision as possible. The
artist’s primary goal is to describe accurately and truthfully as possible what is observed.

Symbolism. It is an art that represents the subject symbolically. For instance, the
“Spolarium” painting of Juan Luna depicts the suffering of the Filipino people from the hands of
the Spaniards. Many works of art included by some writers who cover the Symbolist era were
produced in the middle of the century, or even before.

Fauvism. It refers to art that used brilliant primary colors or color illumination on subjects
like pictures to emphasize comfort, joy, and leisure. It comes from the French word fauves,
meaning “wild beasts” (this name refers to a small group of painters in Paris who exhibited
works notable for the bold and expressive use of pure color).

Cubism. It is a form of abstraction wherein the object is first reduced to cubes and then
flattened into two-dimensional shapes. It has been considered the most influential and powerful
art movement during the 20th century in Paris established by Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso.
 Surrealism. It is a type of art wherein the artist creates dreamlike paintings that filled with
mysterious objects. It is the opposite of abstraction that attempts to portray the conscious mind
through unconventional means.

Chapter 6

Sculpture
“Sculpture is the best comment that a painter
can make on painting”

Pablo Picasso
The Origin of Sculpture

S
Culpture is from the Latin word sculpere which means “to carve.” The tools used in
sculpture are varied and is changing throughout history. It engages our sense
differently than paintings because it occupies space as a three-dimensional mass
through carving, casting modeling or assembling materials (Sheldon, 1968). It has
sought to produce artworks that are as permanent and is working in durable and expensive
materials such as bronze granite, limestone, marble, and stone. More rarely, precious metals
such as gold, ivory, jade, and silver were used for chryselephantine works. More common and
less expensive materials were also used for broader consumption, like cast metals, ceramics,
glass, and hardwoods.

The s culpture has long been one of the most popular forms of fine arts and one of the most
beautiful representations of the humankind. It was also used to represent societal concerns, such
as morality, politics, and religion (Witcombe, 1997). For many of years, scuplture has filled
many roles in human life. For example, the earliest sculpture was made to supply magical help to
trackers, to represent gods, and to hope of making their ancient kings becomes immortal.

Most common purpose of sculpture during the ancient time is associated with religion.
Different images like a human-made object revered for the spirit are familiar in many cultures.
One of the oldest sculptures discovered is an ivory statuette, dating approximately 30,000 BCE
from a cave at Hohlenstein-Stadel, Germany called Löwenmensch (which means a“lion-human”).
This Paleolithic period statue is about 12” tall and depicts a human figure with a feline face.

Another very iconic and famous piece of sculpture is “the Sphinx” of Egypt. This sculpture
of an image of the pharaoh Khafreand is part of a funerary complex for the pharaoh. Egyptian
sculpture and all Egyptian art were on the belief in a life after death wherein the body of their
ruler (the pharaoh) was preserved carefully and buried with some goods with him to provide for
his needs forever. The Egyptians often combined features from various creatures to symbolize
ideas. For example, the head of the pharaoh Khafre is added to the bowing figure of a lion to
form the Great Sphinx. This type of masterpiece suggests the combination of human intelligence
and animal strength. The Great Sphinx of Egypt is an enormous sandstone sculpture, measuring
240’ ft. Long and 65’ ft. High.

Importance of Sculpture

The sculpture is a perceptive-regeneration of reality through the use of three-dimensional

form. As a specialized work of art, its objective is to exemplify a concept by forming a visual
equivalent. Since the shape is the dominant characteristic of sculptures, the human body and
animals have been its primary subject. They are constructed using bronze, clay, ivory as their
mediums.

Likewise, the making of Sculpture is with the idea of expressing religious, personal, and
political views. This kind of artwork is meant to create a sense of patriotism, pride, greatness
and spiritual respect. Statues and sculptures have always been an integral part of museums and
art history. They become more popular as decoration items in private homes and office facilities.
Sculptures and miniatures have also become more popular as decoration items, and in the long
term, valuable art investments.

Types of Sculptures

Bust. A bust is a sculpted and painted representation of the upper part of the human figure
such as the head, neck, shoulders, chest or breast.

Statue. A statue is a life-size or a larger size of a sculpture of a person or an animal, made of

metal, stone or wood. The world's tallest statue is the 420 feet (128 meters) Spring Temple
Buddha in Henan, China.

Architectural. Architectural sculpture is a universal classification used to describe a

structural design such as buildings, bridges, burial chamber and other big projects. It is from a
brand of materials which includes carved stone such as brownstone, cast iron, machine pressed
sheet zinc, terra cotta, concrete and other architectural supplies.

Medium and techniques

Sculpture techniques have the aim of providing practical and technical support through
several procedures. These processes are either additive (added material) or subtractive (material
is removed or carved out). Sculptures primarily use four basic techniques, namely:

Carving. It is a procedure in which the artists cut away objects until reached the desired
form. Various tools are used, depending the materials to be carved and the statue to which the
work has progressed.

a. Stone carving- It is a type of sculpture which requires patience and planning. It is a

shaping activity of pieces of rough natural stone through the use of essential hand tools
like hammer and chisel.
 b. Wood carving- It is the art of shaping objects of wood using cutting tools. It is done
through a specialized carving knife (used to cut or smooth the wood), the slicer saw (used
to cut off chunks of wood), the chisel (used for lines and cleaning up flat surfaces), and
the gouge (used in carving hollows, rounds, and sweeping curves).

Casting. Casting is a method by which a liquid material is usually poured into a frame or
pattern, which contains a hollow cavity of the desired shape, and then allowed to harden. It has
two types, namely:

a. Glass casting- It is a shaping activity of pieces of rough natural stone through the use of
essential hand tools like hammer and chisel.
b. Slip casting- It is a technique for the mass-production of pottery, especially for shapes not
easily made on a wheel.

Molding. Molding sculpture is an additive process. It is the working of soft or plastic

materials(like clay and wax) by hand to build up or shape to create a form.

Assembling. Assembling is an additive process of gathering and joining different materials

to create an assembled artwork. An example of assemblage is Martin Puryear's network of
welded and sandblasted stainless steel tubes whose joints are bound together by strands of silver
and patented bronze.

Basic Sculpture Terms

a. Armature- It is skeleton-like framework used to support the building of paper-mâché, usually

made or stiff wire.
b. Assemblage- It is a three-dimensional art assembly of various materials, often taken from
scraps, junk, or various natural or human-made objects.
c. Base- It is the portion of the work on which the sculpture rest.
d. Craftsmanship- It is a skill with which one uses tools and materials in producing art.
e. Plaster of Paris- It is an excellent white powder which sets hard when blended in the water.
f. Freestanding- It refers to a method when a sculpture is intended to view from all sides.
h. Manipulation- It is a process of shaping an object by a skilled worker.
i. Replica- It refers to a precise reproduction of an artwork.
 Chapter 7

Photography
“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving.
What you have caught on film is captured forever…it
remembers little things, long after you have forgotten
everything.”

Aaron Siskind
The Origin of Photography

T
he word photography is from two Greek words photos or phos, for “light” and graphe,
for “lines” or “drawing.” Therefore, Photography is described as the art in creating or
drawing durable images by recording light using either photographic film or image
sensor (Spencer, 1973). It was first coined by Sir John Herschel in a lecture before the
Royal Society of London, on March 14, 1839. It has become a powerful means of
communication and a mode of visual expression that touches human life in many ways (Eder,
1945).

Importance of Photography

We have always wanted to reproduce the world around us, beginning with cave drawings to
painting on canvas and eventually leading to the invention of photography. Our photographs
share so much about who we are as individuals. It tells what we find beautiful, fascinating,
funny, delicious, meaningful, inspiring. It allows us to showcase our style, interests,
relationships, and adventures, to mark the passage of time. Photography has been used in
advertising, books, magazines, newspapers, television, and in research to convey information and
advertise products and services.

The Digital Era of Photography

Until the present times, photography was quite a problematic type of art to maintain. One
may have cameras with different lenses, manual focus, and complicated settings. However, with
the advent of digital cameras, all this complexity vanished. Digital cameras have a different way
of saving images. Instead of using film, it uses a sensor in to save images onto a digital memory
card or internal storage ((Tolmachev, 2010; Ma, 2017).

Digital photography is the art of manipulating and producing digital pictures. It uses
electronic photodetectors to capture the image focused by the lens. The captured image is stored
as a computer file ready for digital processing, viewing, and publishing.

The technique in photography originated during early-to-mid 1600s. It started from the
camera’s predecessor known as the camera obscura (a Latin word which means “dark room”). It
was a box wherein when the light went through the pinhole it formed an image on the glass.
The famous artists of the Renaissance who use the obscura were Leonardo da Vinci and Michael
Angelo.

In the 1820s, Joseph Niepce, a French scientist improve the lithography, a method of
printing technique which is based initially on the immiscibility of oil and water. Joseph
discovered a way to copy engravings onto glass using a variety of materials (mainly bitumen, a
light-reacting asphalt). When light shined through the paper, it burned an image into dark
bitumen, which created an almost identical image from the original.

In the year 1900, photography became available to everybody. Its fame started with George
Eastman, who was the founder of the Eastman Kodak Company.The first camera open to the
public was the Kodak no 1.

On October 17, 1969, Willard Boyle and George Smith of Bell Laboratories invented the
Charge-Coupled Device (CCD), a type of sensor that is used to capture an image by taking the
light and translating it into digital data.

In December 1975, the first recorded attempt in the building of a prototype digital camera
was made by Steven Sasson, an engineer at Eastman Kodak. This camera weighed 9 pounds and
can record black and white images to a cassette tape. To view the photos, the Kodak engineers
had to develop a unique screen. It was able to capture a .01 megapixel image (10,000 pixels) and
took 23 seconds to record a copy to the tape.

In 1988, the first real digital camera that recorded images as a computerized file was
produced by the Fuji DS-1P. During this year, the first JPEG and MPEG standards were fixed.
These standards set in place a universal format which allowed images (JPEG) and video (MPEG)
to stored in a compressed form which can be recorded to a 16 MB internal memory card.

In 1990, Dycam Model became the first commercially available digital camera. It also sold
the Logitech Fotoman. It used a CCD (Charge Couple Device) image sensor, stored pictures
digitally, and connected directly to a computer for download (Said, 1990).

Rule of Thirds Composition

One of the main factors that differentiate a great photograph from an ordinary one is
composition, or how are objects/ subjects placed in the shot. The Rule of Thirds is a great
compositional technique for making photos more dynamic and exciting. It is also a
compositional rule for painting and photography.

The Rule of Thirds is also known as the guideline which applies to the process of composing
visual images like in painting, designs, and photographs (Meech, 1991). The instruction proposes
that the picture is visualized as divided into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal
lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines, and those essential compositional elements should
place along these lines. Proponents of the method claim that aligning a subject with these points
create more composition, energy, and tension (Peterson, 2003).

The Rule of Thirds asserts that an image is most pleasing when its subjects poised along
imaginary lines which divide vertically and horizontally the image into thirds. It is applied by
aligning a subject with the guidelines and their intersection points, placing the horizon on the top
or bottom line (Krages, 2005).

Likewise, using the Rule of Thirds helps produce nicely balanced easy on the eye pictures.
Also, as you have to arrange things relative to the edges of the frame, it helps get rid of small
subject surrounded by vast space’ syndrome.

Types of Photography

Photography is one of the best favorite pastimes that many of us craved. A photograph is
definitely worth a thousand words and has the power to convey a whole new meaning of a
particular condition. Different pictures are made to share its unique characteristics of selectivity,
instantaneity, and Credibility (Barrett, 2007). There are several types of photography and thus,
several kinds of photographers. The different types of photography require various techniques,
and types of photographer use their talent in their meticulous field of expertise. The following
are some standard photography styles that enjoy a prominent position in the creative world.

Aerial Photography- It refers to the taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated
position. It is acquired through the use of a specialized camera mounted such as fixed-wing
aircraft, helicopters, drones, balloons, kites, parachutes, etc.

Astrophotography- It focuses entirely on taking images from space. This type could vary
from the planets to the stars or any other exciting configurations.
 Commercial Photography- It is a photographic work done for commercial purposes, such
as corporate brochures and leaflets, menus in cafes and restaurants, magazine advertising,
merchandising, and product placement. It has various types such as:

a. Advertising photography- This type of photography is used to highlight a product,

service, brand or an individual, in print advertising (such as magazines, newspapers,
leaflet, etc).

b. Architecture and interior photography- This photography is used in capturing images of

structures and beauty of an interior space in which photographers use lightning
techniques to attract clients.
c. Automotive photography- This photography is utilized by car or automobile companies
and dealerships to promote brand new or existing cars, driving awareness about a car’s
features and benefits to potential clientele.
d. Food photography- This photography is a specialized category of commercial
photography which is used to capture the pictures of various cuisines and menus in an
attractive style.
e. Jewellery photographs- This photography is used in highlighting beautiful images of
bracelets, necklace, ring, and other jewellery items.
f. Journalism photography- This photography is the art of taking photographs which are
considered as attractive and goes along with news topics, to substantiate the news story or
report.
g. Product photography- This photography is used in capturing excellent images to
attractively represents a product in advertising. It sometimes includes people as part of
the product. It attracts people to see someone they know or a face that is likable to a
product.
h. Sports photography- It is a type of photography which is utilized to write sports news,
using excellent cameras that take sharp pictures of players in action.

Fine Art Photography- It refers to highly creative images that have an abstract influence.
These photographs can be equal to an artist’s expression on painting.

Forensic Photography- It is also known as crime scene photography wherein the work of
the photographer is mainly to capture images for an accurate representation of the scene of the
crime.

Headshot Photography- This type of photography focuses mainly on the person’s face.
This is also known as mug shots.

Macro Photography- This type of photography is about close-up images of a specific topic.
It is commonly applied mainly to capture details of organisms or nature that may not be visible
to the naked eye.
 Nature Photography- It encompasses all forms of photography where the main subject has
something to do with nature. It focuses on landscapes, wildlife, underwater, and plants life as
they are in their natural environment.

Nude Photography- It is about the portrayal of the human body in the naked form.

Portrait Photography- It is all about capturing the mood of a person, with an emphasis on
the face and expression of a person.

Still Life Photography- It is all about capturing objects on camera that are deliberately
grouped to create a particular composition. This requires the photographer to have an excellent
lighting technique.

Street Photography- It is all about capturing candid images of public places or even people
in their natural element. It requires the photographer the skill to mingle with people and achieve
the best frames.

Travel Photography- It involves capturing images of a particular landscape, traditions, and

customs or even people from different places.

Essential Components and Features of a Camera

Cameras are beneficial devices and used for the sole purpose of capturing still images, may
it be for leisure or security. Any and every camera has some fundamental parts which are very
crucial for its functioning (Dachis, 2001). Some essential components and features of a camera
are as follow:

1. Aperture- It is an opening in which light travels through and can be adjusted to control
the amount of light that reached the image sensor.
2. Built-in Flash- It is used to capture a shot of dimly-lit views. It may automatically fired
in some modes.
3. Body. It is the housing for the camera.
4. Focus Point Selection Button- It is used to select the position to set the focus (the AF
point) during AF shooting.
5. Hot Shoe- It is the section of the top of the camera and used to attach a flash unit.
6. Lens- It is the eye of the camera.
7. Lens Mount- It is the section for connecting the exchangeable lens to the camera body.
8. Lens Mount Index- It is an align mark on the lens and serves as a basis when you are
attaching or detaching a lens.
9. Lens Release Button- It is a button used when you want to disconnect the lens.
10. Live View Shooting (Movie Shooting Switch) - It is used to turn on or turn off the Live
View function.
11. MENU Button- It is used to display the menu for adjusting the different camera
operations.
12. Multi-Controller Key- It is used to move between the menu items or to move the
magnified display to a different point during image playback.
13. Self-Timer- It is used to delay the time between pressing the shutter button and the
camera taking the subject.
14. Shutter Release Button-It is the button found on many cameras used to take photos.
15. Shutter Speed- It indicates the time interval during which the shutter is open.
16. Viewfinder Eyepiece- It is used to view the image of the subject you want to capture.