LESSON 5

THE METHODS OF PRESENTING THE SUBJECT OF ARTS

Synchronic Study and Aesthetics

WHAT IS A SUBJECT OF ART?

The subject of art is the matter to be described or to be portrayed by the artist. This may refer to any person,
object, scene or event.

TWO KINDS OF ART AS TO SUBJECT:

 Representational Art or Objective Art – They are those arts which depict (represent) objects that are
commonly recognized by most people. They attempt to copy, even if in a subjective manner, something
that's real. It uses “form” and is concerned with “what” is to be depicted in the artwork.
Moreover, in painting and sculpture, the term "representational art" usually refers to images that
are clearly recognizable for what they purpose to be, such as a human figure, a banana, a tree, and so on.
Such images need not be true to life. So a tree does not have to be green, or even upright, but it
must clearly represent or be recognizable as a tree. By contrast, non-representational or abstract art
consists of images that have no clear identity, and must be interpreted by the viewer.

Examples:
A. Still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which
may be either natural (food, flowers, plants, rocks, or shells) or man-made (drinking glasses, books, vases,
jewelry, coins, pipes, and so on) in an artificial setting.

B. Portraiture (portrait) is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in

which the face and its expression is predominant.
 CITY SCAPE LANDSCAPE
SEA SCAPE


Non-representational Art or Non-objective Art – They are those arts without any reference to

anything outside itself (without representation).

 It is non-objective because it has no recognizable objects. It is abstract in the sense that it doesn’t
represent real objects in our world. It uses “content” and is concerned with “how” the artwork is
depicted.

COMMON METHODS OF PRESENTING THE SUBJECT OF ARTS:

1. REALISM
It often refers to the artistic movement, which began in France in the 1850s. The popularity of
realism grew with the introduction of photography - a new visual source that created a desire for people to
produce things that look “objectively real”. Undistorted by personal bias, realism believed in the ideology
of objective reality and revolted against exaggerated emotionalism. Simply speaking, it is a method of
portraying an art subject according to the objective reality. It depicts what the eyes can see, what the
ear can hear, what the sense faculty may receive.

2. ABSTRACTION

Its etymology is derived from Latin

“abstractus "drawn away," or Latin past participle
“abstrahere:” from ab(s)- "away" + trahere "draw,"
which means "withdrawn or separated from material objects or practical matters."It is totally the
opposite of realism.
In abstract art, the artist does not show the subject at all as an objectively reality, but only
his idea, or his feeling about it (exaggerated emotionalism).
It is all about what the artists feel and what mood they might want to portray. Abstract art is all shapes,
no real-life images, scenery, or objects

FORMS OF ABSTRACTION:

A. Distortion
This is clearly manifested when the subject is in misshapen condition, or the regular shape is twisted
out. It is a form so emphasizing detail to the point that something is no longer “correctly” depicted. Example
is Pablo Picasso’s The Old Guitarist. See how the left shoulder is hitched up so high and the other shoulder
barely exists; how spidery his hands are; and how his head is twisted around unnaturally.

B. Elongation
It refers to that which is being lengthened, a protraction or an extension.
Examples are: El Greco "Christ Crucified and “The Resurrection” .The elegant but somewhat formulaic
work in which the elongated body of Christ seems to float almost birdlike off the cross.
C. Mangling
This may not be a commonly used way of presenting an abstract subject, but there are few artists
who show subject or objects which are cut, lacerated, mutilated, torn, hacked or disfigured.

Detail: Forest Mangle, digital drawing

D. Cubism
It began in the early 1900s when artists such as Georges Braque (French) and Pablo Picasso
(Spanish) began painting in such a way that was far removed from traditional art styles. The Cubists tried to
create a new way of seeing things in art. Many of their subjects, be they people or landscapes, were
represented as combinations of basic geometric shapes - sometimes showing multiple viewpoints of a
particular image. Cubist pictures are therefore often described as looking like pieces of fractured glass.
E. Abstract expressionism
Abstract Expressionism is a modern art movement that flowered in America after the Second World
War and held sway until the dawn of Pop Art in the 1960's. With this movement New York replaced Paris as
the center of the art world.
In a painting, the artists applied paint rapidly, and with force to their huge canvases in an effort
to show feelings and emotions, painting gesturally, non-geometrically, sometimes applying paint with
large brushes, sometimes dripping or even throwing it into the canvas.
 Abstract Expressionism was influenced by the Existentialist philosophy, which emphasized the
importance of the act of creating, not of the finished object. What matters for the artist are the qualities
of the paint itself and the act of painting itself.

3. SYMBOLISM
A symbol is a visible sign of something invisible such as an idea or quality. Symbolism systematically
uses symbols to concentrate or intensify meaning, making the work of art more subjective (rather than
objective) and conventional. For example, a flag is a symbol of a country and it depicts the value of
nationalism; a lion to represent courage and a lamb to represent meekness. The logos and emblems
of business firms and the coat of arms of bishops are also examples of symbolism.
 In the Philippines, we have the “Spolarium” of Juan Luna. The painting shows fallen gladiators
being dragged to an unseen pile of corpses in a chamber beneath the Roman arena. It expresses his anger
over the abuses and cruelties of the colonial rule of the Spanish authorities over the people of his
native country.

4. FAUVISM (The Optimistic Realism)

It is derived from the French “les fauves,” which means “the wild beasts.” It is an artistic
movement of the last part of the 19th century which emphasized spontaneity and use of extremely bright
colors. To a fauvist, for example, a tree trunk need not be brown. It could be bright red, purple or
any other color.
 Henri Matisse, French artist, was
known for his use of colour and his fluid,
brilliant and original draughtsmanship. As a
draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but
principally as a painter, Matisse is one of the
best-known artists of the 20th century. He was
initially labeled as a Fauve (wild beast).

5. DADAISM: The Anti-Rational movement

in art

The term “dada” is a French word, which means a “hobby-horse.” A hobby-horse is a child’s toy
consisting of a wooden horse mounted on a stick. With this etymology, we could say that Dadaism is system
of art which is per se “nonsensical.” Some would say it is not an art because it strives to have no meaning
at all.

It started as a Post World War cultural movement against the barbarism of the war. It is a reaction
to what they believed were outworn traditions in art, and the evils they saw in society. It tried to shock and
provoke the public with outrageous pieces of writing, poetry recitals and art exhibitions.

6. FUTURISM (Presenting the subject relates to the future)

 Futurism came into being with the appearance of a manifesto published by the poet
FilippoTommaso Marinetti on the front page of the February 20, 1909, issue of Le Figaro. It was the very
first manifesto of this kind.
Marinetti summed up the major principles of the Futurists. He
and others espoused a love of speed, technology and violence. Futurism was presented as a modernist
movement celebrating the technological future era. The car, the plane, the industrial town were
representing the motion in modern life and the technological triumph of man over nature.

7. SURREALISM
It is an offshoot or a child of dada. It is
also known as “beyond realism,” which revolves
on the method of making ordinary things look
extraordinary. It focuses on real things found in
the imagination or fantasy or it has realistic
subjects that are found in the unconscious mind;
depicting dreamlike images of the inner mind.

8. IMPRESSIONISM [The Emotional Realism]

It
is also

sometimes referred to as optical realism

due to its interest in the actual viewing
experience, including such
things as the effect of color, light and
movement on the
appearance of the objects
depicted in the artworks.
Impressionism focused on
directly describing the visual
sensations derived from
nature. Devotees of Impressionism were not concerned with the actual depiction of the objects they
painted. Instead they were concerned with the visual impressions aroused by those objects.
Claude Monet is widely recognized as the father of the Impressionist movement, and his work
Impression: Sunrise is widely recognized as the first work of this new movement. Fascination with color,
light and movement formed the core of the Impressionism movement.

9. POINTILLISM

This is a style of painting in which the artist use small distinct dots of color forming a figure. This is
also a technique of painting in which small, distinct of color are applied in patterns to form an image.
Moreover, this is the theory or practice in art of applying small strokes or dots of color to a surface so that
from a distance they blend together.

POINTILLISM GRAFFITI

LESSON 6
THE TOOLS TO MAKE ART
Synchronic Study and Aesthetics
PERSPECTIVE: The point of view, angle of vision, or frame of reference. The point
where the artist stands to view his subject as he creates his art work.
HARMONY-is the most essential of all the principles of design for it holds everything in
its proper order. In every home, harmony is so important to bind together all members
of the family. To an individual, harmony adds to one’s personality.
 LESSON 7
THE VISUAL ARTS
The Major Art Genre (PART I)

WHAT ARE VISUAL ARTS?

The visual arts are arts that we see. They are those that we perceived through our eyes. This
category usually includes just things that we see and things that are flat or two-dimensional. Visual arts
are things like paintings, drawings, visual designs, photography, and computer art.
Some forms of visual art, like sculpture and architecture, are three dimensional. A sculptor uses
a material like stone, glass, wood, clay, or even ice to form shapes by either chiseling or carving away certain
sections of the material, or molding the material into a particular shape. A sculptor can also create a
sculpture by putting different materials and objects together.

Because "visual arts" means two-dimensional things, sculpture and architecture come under
separate headings. Likewise, visual works of art stay in one place, unmoving, while we observe them. For
this reason, performing arts-- stage, screen, music, and dance arts--also come under their own
separate headings.
Remember that art is a language all of its own that is different from our normal spoken language.
The language of the visual arts--like the other arts--is feeling: emotion, intuition, and form or idea
without words. Through paintings, drawings, and other visual arts, we can discover worlds of experience
that are all around us--or inside of us--that cannot be described quickly or easily with mere words. The
visual arts can help us give meaning to what seems meaningless and help us recapture feelings and
experiences that we have once had or would like to have again.

What Does Visual Art Include?

Definitions of visual art usually encompass the following:

1. FINE ARTS
All fine art belongs to the general category of visual arts. These include activities such
as: Drawing, Painting, Printmaking and Sculpture, along with associated activities like Graphic art,
Manuscript Illumination, Book Illustration, Calligraphy and Architecture.

2. CONTEMPORARY ARTS
The visual arts also include a number of modern art forms, such as: Assemblage, Collage, Mixed-
media, Conceptual-Art, Installation, Happenings and Performance art, along with film-based
disciplines such as Photography,
Video Art and Animation, or any combination thereof. This group of activities also includes high tech
disciplines like computer graphics and giclee prints. Another modern visual art, is the new environmental
or Land art, which also includes transitory forms like ice/snow sculpture, and (presumably) graffiti art.

3. DECORATIVE ARTS & CRAFTS

In addition, the general category of visual arts encompasses a number of decorative art disciplines
and crafts, including: ceramics and studio pottery, mosaic art, mobiles, tapestry, glass art
(including stained glass), and others.

4. OTHER
Wider definitions of visual art sometimes include applied art areas such as graphic design,
fashion design, and interior design. In addition, new types of Body art may also fall under the general
heading of visual arts. These include: tattoo art, face painting, and body painting.

GENERAL TYPES OF VISUAL ARTS:

Here is a list of some visual art forms (ones not considered as sculpture, plays, dance, or the like).
They are listed by mediums--by the types of "canvas" and "paint" used to create them.

PAINTING/DRAWING CARVING/WEAVING ELECTRONIC ART

(2-DIMENSIONAL MEDIUM) (3-DIMENSIONAL MEDIUM) (LIGHT/DIGITAL MEDIUM)
ENGRAVING
OIL/ACRYLIC COMPUTER ART
WOODCUT
CHARCOAL/PASTEL ABSTRACT VIDEO
ETCHING
PENCIL DRAWING WEB ART
STAINED GLASS
WATERCOLOR PHOTOGRAPH/POSTER
MOSAIC
PHOTOGRAPH/POSTER STAGE SETTING
STAGE SETTING
LITHOGRAPH LIGHT DISPLAY
TAPESTRY
SILK-SCREEN CARTOON/COMIC
CARVED DESIGN OR
CARTOON/COMIC DIGITIZED VIDEO
PICTURE

WHAT IS A PAINTING ART?

PAINTING taken literally is the practice of applying pigment suspended in a carrier (or medium)
and a binding agent (a glue) to a surface (support) such as paper, canvas or a wall. However, when used in
an artistic sense it means the use of this activity in combination with drawing, composition and, or, other
aesthetic considerations in order to manifest the expressive and conceptual intention of the practitioner.

Painting is also used to express spiritual motifs and ideas; sites of this kind of painting range from
artwork depicting mythological figures on pottery to The Sistine Chapel to the human body itself.
A person who paints is called either an artist or a painter. Works of painting generally have a
greater market value than the works of pencil and charcoal drawing. This is one of the reasons why painting
is considered a very expensive hobby. The painting is generally expensive to buy when compared to drawing
equipment.

WHAT IS A DRAWING ART?

DRAWING is a means of making an image, using any of a wide variety of tools and techniques. It
generally involves making marks on a surface by applying pressure from a tool, or moving a tool across a
surface using dry media such as graphite pencils, pen and ink, inked brushes, wax color
pencils, crayons, charcoals, pastels, and markers. Digital tools that simulate the effects of these are also
used. The main techniques used in drawing are: line drawing, hatching, cross-hatching, random-
hatching, scribbling, stippling, and blending. An artist who excels in drawing is referred to as
a draftsman or draftsman. A person who draws is called an artist but not a painter.

DRAWING
goes back at least 16,000
years to Paleolithic cave
representations of
animals such as those at Lascaux in France and Altamira in Spain. In ancient Egypt, ink drawings on papyrus,
often depicting people, were used as models for painting or sculpture. Drawings on Greek vases, initially
geometric, later developed to the human form with black-figure pottery during the 7th century BC.

With paper becoming common in Europe by the 15th century, drawing was adopted by masters
such as Sandro Botticelli, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci who sometimes treated
drawing as an art in its own right rather than a preparatory stage for painting or sculpture.

ELECTRONIC ARTS:
These are relatively new to the human race. The visual arts forms of electronic arts include
computer- generated designs, cartoons on TV and videos, and abstract videos--those with no real
people or things in them. Videos and TV with real people and things usually are classified with the stage
arts (the performing arts), along with plays, dance, and musical performances.
A POSTER ARTWORK

Poster is an artwork illustrated to advertise or publicize something. A poster is any piece of printed
paper designed to be attached to a wall or vertical surface. Typically posters include
both textual and graphic elements, although a poster may be either wholly graphical or wholly text. Posters
are designed to be both eye-catching and informative.

Posters may be used for many purposes. They are a frequent tool of advertisers (particularly of
events, musicians and films), propagandists, protestors and other groups trying to communicate a message.
Posters are also used for reproductions of artwork, particularly famous works, and are generally low-cost
compared to original artwork.