“THE SUBJECT OF ART” 

Every work of
art has a subject.
Different Ways or Style of Subject

• REALISM
- the subject is done the way it
actually looks.
Bridal White by Araceli Dans. 2014. Watercolor on paper
Untitled (Still Life with Shells and lace). 2003. Acrylic on canvas
• DISTORTION
- the artist uses his or her imagination
and alters the subject according to his
or her desire.
Fiesta by Norma Belleza. 2012. Oil on canvas
• ABSTRACTION
- the artist breaks apart a subject and
rearranges it in a different manner.
• NON OBJECTIVISM
- there is totally no subject at all – just
an interplay of pure elements like line,
shape or color and so on.
Untitled No. 2 by Roberto Chabet. 1980. Acrylic on paper
“THE ELEMENTS OF ART” 
1. SPACE

- An emptiness which can either be positive or

negative.

Positive space – refers to a space

enclosed in a shape.

Negative space – denotes the

opposite.
2. LINE

- The extension of a point, a short or long mark

drawn or carved on a surface. It is implied path
suggesting –

a. direction: vertical, horizontal diagonal

b. character: jagged curved, series of dots or
broken lines
3. SHAPE and FORM

When the ends of a

line meet, they form a
shape. Shape can also be
described as a figure
separate from its
surrounding area or
background. It can either
be geometric (angular) or
organic (curvy).
4. COLOR

- the most striking art

element that catches the
eye. It is a sensation
created by visible
wavelength of light caught
in a prism. It is a mixture of
organic or synthetic
substances called
pigments, used as paint or
dye.
5. VALUE

- in visual arts, value is the

degree of lightness and
darkness of a color.

- in music, it is called pitch,

which is the highness or
lowness of a tone. The tone
color or timbre refers to the
quality of the sound.
6. TEXTURE

- the surface of an artwork.

A texture can be actual or
tactile, meaning, it can really
be felt by touch; or it can be
simulated or illusory, which
means it can only be seen, not
felt.
“PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN” 
 HARMONY

- this refers to the

wholeness of the design,
the pleasing arrangement
of parts, and the agreement
between parts of a
composition, resulting in a
united whole.
 VARIETY

- pertains to the assortment or diversity of a

work of art.
 RHYTHM

- it is regular,
repeated pattern in
the elements of art.
It is a flow, or
feeling of
movement,
achieved by the
distribution of
visual units or
sound units in time.
 PROPORTION

-elements in a work of
art should have a
relationship with one
another.
This relationship is
called proportion.
 BALANCE

-pertains to the even

distribution of weight. It is
the principle that deals with
equality.
 2 Types of Balance:
• Formal balance or
symmetrical balance –
refers to two sides that
are identical to each
other.
• Informal balance or
asymmetrical balance –
refers to two sides not
identical to each other
yet equal in visual
weight.
Formal balance Informal balance
 MOVEMENT

-a way to convey feelings

and emotions. It is the means
by which dancers make use
of their bodies to express an
inner condition.
 EMPHASIS and
SUBORDINATION

Emphasis – is the
principle that gives
importance or
dominance to a unit or
an area.

This is opposite to
Subordination, which
gives less importance
to a unit or area.
“FORM, CONTENT and CONTEXT” 
 3 KEY ELEMENTS
OF ARTS

 FORM
- the first key
element that a
spectator should
consider in an
artwork is its Form.
 the surface feature
of an artwork. It does
not have anything to
do with the art’s in –
depth meaning.
“What you see is what
you get”, form is just
what is it – nothing
else.
• CONTENT
The next key
element to study in
observing an
artwork is its
CONTENT.
 contains the
subject matter
that carries the
message of the
work.
If form is the
embodiment of the
work, then content
is its substance.
 CONTEXT

- refers to the
varied situations in
which the works
have been
produced or
interpreted.
2 Kinds of CONTEXT in
the Art:
1) Primary Context
- the personal type ,
for it concerns the
sentiments of the
artist – his beliefs,
values, interest,
attitudes and
emotions.
2) Secondary Context
-refers to the place
and period in which
the artist has made his
work: the social,
political, and
economic environment
he is in.
ACTIVITY TIME 
Itak sa Puso Ni Mang Juan by Antipas Delotavo. 1978. Watercolor on paper