LESSON 1: WHAT IS ART: INTRODUCTION AND
ASSUMPTIONS
Art – perennially around us.
Art: Ancient Latin – “ars” (craft or specialized
form of skill, like carpentry or smithying or
surgery” (Collingwood, 1938)).
Ars: Medieval Latin – any special form of book-
learning, such as grammar or logic, magic or
astrology, Collingwood, 1938).
ART IS UNIVERSAL
Literature – provided key works of art.
2 Greek epics taught in school:
 Iliad
 Odyssey
Sanskrit pieces
 Mahabharata
 Ramayana
Art – timeless and universal.
Age – not a factor in determining art.
Dudley et al., 1960 – “art is not good because it
is old, but old because it is good”.
Florante at Laura – teach the beauty of love,
one that is universal and pure.
Ibong Adarna – captured the imagination of the
young with its timeless lessons.
Psalms – we feel in communion with King David.
John Stuart Mill: Utilitarianism (1879) –
enjoyment in the arts belong to a higher good,
one that lies at the opposite end of base
pleasures.
ART IS NOT NATURE
Paul Cezanne – French painter, painted a scene
from reality entitled Well and Grinding Wheel in
the Forest of the Chateau Noir. What he did is
not nature. It is art.
Art – man’s expression of his reception of
nature; man’s way of interpreting nature; not a
nature; made by man.
Nature – given around us, what we find in
nature should not be expected to be present in
art too.
Five blind men
ART INVOLVES EXPERIENCE
Dudley et al., 1960 – Art is just experience. By
experience, we mean the “actual doing of
something”; affirmed that “art depends on
experience, and if one is to know art, he must
know it not as fact or information but as
experience.”
*A work of art then cannot be abstracted from
actual doing. In order to know what an artwork
is, we have to sense it, see or hear it, and see
and hear it.
Degustibus non disputandum est – Matters of
taste are not matters of dispute.
LESSON 2: ART APPRECIATION: CREATIVITY,
IMAGINATION, AND EXPRESSION
Jean-Paul Sartre – famous French philosopher
of 20th century, says the role of art as a creative
work (Greene, 1995)
Collins and Riley, 1931) – refining one’s ability
to appreciate art allows him to deeply
understand the purpose of an artwork and
recognize the beauty it possesses.
The Role of Creativity in Art Making
Creativity – requires thinking outside the box;
used to solve problems that have never
occurred before, conflation function and style.
“It’s More Fun in the Philippines” – used by DOT
(2011) allegedly plagiarized in Switzerland’s
slogan back in 1951.
 Visual Arts – appeal to the sense of
sight, mainly visual in nature.
Collins and Riley, 1931 – artist produce
visual arts driven by their desire to
reproduce things that they have seen in the
way that they perceived them.

Ramon Jimenez Jr. – DOT Secretary, claimed Mediums of visual arts

that it was “purely coincidental”.
 Paintings
Art as an Imagination  Drawings
 Letterings
Albert Einstein – made a significant and major
 Printing
contributions in science and humanity
 Sculptures
demonstrated that knowledge is actually
 Digital imaging
derived from imagination.
 Film – art of putting together
“Imagination is more important than successions of still images in order to
knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we create an illusion of movement.
know now and understand, while imagination Filmmaking focuses on:
embraces the entire world, and all there ever  Aesthetic
will be to know and understand.”  Cultural
 Social value
Imagination – not constrained by the walls of
the norm, but goes beyond that. Techniques:

Collingwood, 1938 – An artwork does not need  Motion-picture camera

to be a real thing, but can be something that is  Animation techniques
imaginary.  Computer-Generated Imagery

Art as Expression Elements:

Collingwood, 1938 – You try to release yourself  Lighting

from this tormenting and disabling state by  Musical score
doing something, which is called expressing  Visual effects
oneself.  Direction
 Performance Art – live art and the
Robin George Collingwood – English
artist’s medium, is the human body.
philosopher, best known for his aesthetics,
Four important elements:
explicated in his publication The Principles of Art
 Time
(1938) that what an artist does to an emotion is
 Where the performance took
not to induce it, but express it.
place
Ways of Expressing Oneself  Performer or performer’s body
 Relationship between the
audience and the performer(s).
 Poetry Performance – poetry is an art
form where artist expresses his
emotions through words.
 Architecture – making of beautiful
buildings.
Elements to construct building:
 Plan
 Construction
 Design
 Dance – series of movements that
follows rhythm of the music
accompaniment.
Dancing – creative form that allows
people to freely express themselves. No
rules.
 Literary art – use words – not paint,
musical instruments, or chisels – to
express themselves; goes beyond usual
professional, academic, journalistic,
etc.; include fiction and non-fiction.
Examples: The Little Prince by Antoine
de Saint-Exupery and Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare
 Theater – live performers to present
accounts or imaginary events before a
live audience; follow a script.
Elements:
 Acting
 Gesture
 Lighting
 Sound effects
 Musical score
 Scenery
 Srops
Minor Element: script
Genres:
 Drama
 Musical
 Tragedy
 Comedy
 Improvisation
 Applied Arts – incorporating elements
of style and design to everyday items
w/ the aim of increasing their aesthetic
value.
Considered Arts:
 Industrial design
 Interior design
 Fashion design
 Graphic design
Fine arts: concerned on aesthetic value
Figure 6: “It’s more fun in the Philippines” by
The Misadventures of Maja
Figure 7: Bob Wierdsma, “Imagination
Figure 8: Thomas Quine, “ Cave Paintings”
Figure 9: John La Farge, “Camellia in Old
Chinese Vase on Black Lacquer Table”
LESSON 3
Aristotle – claimed that every particular
substance in the world has an end, telos in
Greek, which translates into “purpose”.
Telos – accdg. to Aristotle, is intricately linked
with function.
Aristotle’s view of reality – bound to achieve a
life of fulfilment and happiness, eudaimonia in
greek.
*the telos, the function, and the whatness of
thing are all interconnected.
Functions of Art
*when one speaks of function, one is practically
talking about the object whose function is in
function.
*when it comes to function, different art forms
come with distinctive functions.
*no one-to-one correspondence between an art
and its function.
*architecture as an example
Taj Mahal – massive mausoleum of white
marble built in Agra was constructed in memory
of the favourite wife of the then emperor, Shah
Jahan.
*jewelry-making as an art is known by its
product.
Dudley et al., 1960 – “function is so important
that it has usurped the name of the art on the
identification of individual works.”
Joyce Kilmer – “Trees”, maintained its
popularity through the years regardless of its
application or practical benefit.
Dr. Jose P. Rizal – national hero; the two
masterpieces which is Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo served as a catechist for Filipino
revolutionaries.
Dudley et al., 1960 – “in so far as they are
designed to accomplish some definite end.
Classification of Functions of Art:
 Personal (public display or expression)
 Social (celebration or to affect collective
behaviour)
 Physical (utilitarian)
Personal Functions of Art – varied and highly
subjective.
*an art may be therapeutic
*Art is used to help residents process their
emotions or while away their time.
Social Functions of Art – art is considered to
have a social function if and when it addresses a
particular collective interest as opposed to a
personal interest.
Political art – example of an art with a
social function; message of protest,
contestation, etc.
Physical Functions of Art – easiest to spot and
understand.
Other Functions of Art
*Music as an art is also interesting to talk about
in relation to function; used for dance and
religion.
*Serenade – an example of music that has no
connection whatsoever to dance or religion.
*Sculpture – another functional art form that
has long existed for various purposes.
Some Sculptures made to commemorate
important figures in history:
 Jose Rizal’s monument in Rizal Park
 Andres Bonifacio’s monument in
Caloocan
 Oblation by Guillermo E. Tolentino – the
iconic statue in UP; reminder of the
need to offer oneself up selflessly for
the country.
 Coins – features a relief of a famous
hero or personality.
*Central Bank of the Philippines produced
special, commemorative coins for certain
personalities like Pope Francis and the Jesuit,
Horacio de la Costa.
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ART:
1. Art as an imitation
* Plato (2000) in his masterpiece, The Republic,
particularly paints a picture of artists as
imitators and art as mere imitation.
*In Plato’s metaphysics or view of reality, the
things in this world are only copies of the
original, the eternal, and the true entities that Mona Lisa – good example of representational
can only be found in the World of Forms. art

2. Art as a Representation Representational Art – types of art that have

subjects that refer to objects or events
* Aristotle – Plato’s student in philosophy;
occurring in the real world; also termed
considered art as an aid to philosophy in
figurative art.
revealing truth.
Jackson Pollock – known for his “action
*Aristotle (1902) in the Poetics claimed that
paintings”; “Number 1A”
poetry is a literary representation in general.
Non-representational art – does not make a
3. Art as a Disinterested Judgment
reference to the real world; same as
Immanuel Kant – wrote the “Critique of abstract art.
Judgement”; considered the judgment of
Pablo Picasso – “Head of a Woman, Mougins”;
beauty, the cornerstone of art, as something
great example to illustrate abstrasct art.
that can be universal despite its subjectivity.
Abstract art – is in itself a departure from
4. Art as a Communication of Emotion
reality.
Leo Tolstoy – author of War and Peace and
Vasily Kandinsky – Russian Artist and a
Anna Karenina who provided another
proponent of non-representational art.
perspective on what art is; in his book, “what is
Art (2016), Tolstoy defended the production of Sources and Kinds of Subject
truly extravagant art, like operas.
Vincent van Gogh – artist attuned with nature;
For him art plays a huge role in communication saw art and nature as inseparable.
to it’s audience’s emotions that the artist
Vincent van Gogh – “Die Ebene von Auvers”
previously experienced.
(Wheat Fields near Auvers)

Artists for lanscapes and seascapes

LESSON 4: SUBJECT AND CONTENT
Claude Monet
Subject – visual focus; “what” Camille Pissarro
Paul Cezanne
Content – meaning that is communicated by the
JMW Turner
artist or artwork; “why”
In the Philippines: National Artist for Painting
Form – configuration of artwork; “how”
Fernando Amorsolo
Types of Subject
Fabian de la Rosa
Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa – most iconic and
Jan van Kessel – “A Cockchafer, Beetles,
recognizable paintings all over the
Woodlice, and Other Insects with a spring of
world.
Auricula”

Myron – “Discobolus”
Pope Julius II – intricate fresco that lines the “
Sistine Chapel” was created by Michelangelo
GOTHIC CHURCHER WERE CHARACTERIZED BY:
 Soaring heights (ceilings)
 Volume (flying buttresses and ribbed
vaults)
 Light (bright stained glass windows, airy
and pleasant interiors.
*Gothic style architecture is often attributed as
the brainchild of Abbot Suger – “art was central
to religious experience.”
Francisco de Goya – “ El Tres de Mayo which
captures the death of Madrilenes.
LESSON 6: ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF ART
Elements of Art: Visual
*Elements of art are akin to the atoms that are
defined as the units or “building blocks” of
matter.
*Elements of art are generally produced when
something is done to the medium after the
technique is carried out.
*Without shape, form, and space, there is no
sculpture to begin with.
*Elements are the necessary preconditions for
the creation of art.
Elements of Art and Design
1. Line – point moving at an identifiable path –
it has length, width and direction; one-
dimensional.
 Horizontal and Vertical lines –
orientation of the line.
Horizontal lines – rest or calm
Vertical lines – elevation or height
 Diagonal and Crooked lines
Diagonal lines – movement and
instability
Crooked or jagged lines – reminiscent of
violence, conflict, and struggle.
 Curved lines – lines that bend or coil;
allude to softness, grace, flexibility or
even sensuality.
2-3. Shape and Form
Shape – two dimensions: height and width
Form – three dimension: height, width and
depth.
TWO CATEGORIES:
 Geometric – find origin in mathematical
propositions.
 Organic – readily occurring in nature,
often irregular and asymmetrical.
4. Space – inferred from a sense of depth,
whether it is real or simulated. Real space is 3-
dimensional.
In 2-dimensional artworks. They may be
implied:
 Positive and negative space
Positive space – shadow is heavily used
Negative space – white space
 Three-dimensional space – simulated
through a variety of techniques such as
shading.
5. Color – enhances the appeal of an artwork.
PROPERTIES OF COLOR
a. Hue
 Primary colors: Red, Yellow, and Blue
 Secondary colors: green, orange, and
violet
  Tertiary colors: combination of primary
and secondary colors
b. Value – brightness or darkness of color.
 Light colors – source of light in the
composition
 Dark colors – lack or even absence of
light
To identify color based on the addition and
diminishing quantity and quality of light
 Tint – lighter color ( pink for red)
 Shade – darker color (maroon for red)
c. Intensity – brightness of dullness of color.
 Bright or warm colors – positive energy
 Dull or cool colors – sedate/soothing,
seriousness or calm.
Color Harmonies:
 Monochromatic harmonies – use
variations of hue.
 Complementaryharmonies – involve
two colors opposite each other in
the color wheel
 Analogous harmonies – use two
colors beside each other in color
wheel.
 Other harmonies: Triadic harmonies
– use three colors from equidistant
sites within the color wheel.
6. Texture – can be either real or implied;
experienced through sense of thouch (and
sight).
 Textures in the two-dimensional plane –
using one technique or combination of
other elements of art.
 Surface texture – texture of the three-
dimensional art object.
Planes and Perspective
Perspective – requires implementation of
principles and techniques in creating an illusion
that will fool the eye to three-dimensionality.
Picture plane – actual surface of the painting or
drawing
THREE TYPES OF PESPECTIVES
a. One-point perspective – used in depicting
roads, tracks, hallways, or row of trees.
b.Two-point perspective – pertains to painting
or drawing which uses two vanishing points.
c. Thress-point perspective – the viewer is
looking at a scene from above or below.
ELEMENTS OF ART: AUDITORY
*music and literature as an art form is classified
as auditory art. Some argue that it is
performance art.
*Music is most widespread forms of art, whose
intersection in daily life is most perceptible.
COMMON ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
1. Rhythm – terms beat, meter and tempo
Rhythm – element of music that
situates it in time; pulse of music.
Beat – basic unit of music
Tempo – speed (beats/second)
Meter – beats can organized into a
recognizable recurring pattern
CLASSICAL TERMS FOR VARIATIONS IN
TEMPO:
 Largo – slowy and broadly
 Andante – walking pace
 Moderato – at moderate speed
 Allegro - fast
 Vivace - lively
  Accelerando – gradually speeding up
 Rallentando – gradually slowing down
 Allargando – getting slower, roadening
 Rubato –“robbed time”
2. Dynamics – loudness or quietness of music.
CLASSICAL TERMS:
 Pianissimo [pp] –very quiet
 Piano [p] - quiet
 Mezzo-piano [mp] – moderately quiet
 Mezzo-forte [mf] – moderately loud
 Forte [f] - loud
 Fortissimo [pp] – very loud
*increase in loudness – crescendo
*decrease in loudness – decrescendo
3. Melody – linear presentation (horizontal) of
pitch.
Horizontal – musical notation, read in
succession from left to right
Pitch – highness or lowness of musical sound
4. Harmony – vertical; arises when pitches
combined to form chords
Chord – when several notes are simultaneously
played
Dissonance – harsh-sounding combination
Consonance – smooth-sounding combination
5. Timbre – likened to the color of music.
6. Texture – number of melodies, type of layers,
amd their relatedness in a composition. It may
be:
 Monophonic – single melodic line
 Polyphonic – two or more melodic lines
 Homophonic – main melody
accompanied by chords
PRINCIPLE OF ART
1. Balance – distribution of the visual elements
in view of their placement in relation to each
other,
THREE FORMS OF BALANCE:
a. Symmetrical – the elements used on one
side are reflected to the other; most stable
visual sense to any artwork.
b. Assymetrical – the elements are not the
same (or the same weight) on each side, putting
the heaviness on one side.
c. Radial – there’s a central point in the
composition, around w/ch elements and objects
are distributed.
2. Scale and Proportion
Scale – size in relation to what is normal for
the figure or object in question.
Proportion – size of the components or of
objects.
It can be:
a. Natural – realistic size
b. Exaggerated – unusual size
*when an element is smaller than expected –
diminutive
*when element is larger than what is presumed
– monumental
c. Idealized – follow canons of
perfection
3-4. Emphasis and Contrast
Emphasis – allows attention of the viewer to
a focal point(s), accentuating or drawing
attention to these elements or objects.
 Contrast – disparity between the elements
that figure into the composition.
5-6. Unity and Variety
Unity – unless otherwise, composition are
intended to imbue a sense of accord or
completeness from the artwork.
Variety – aims to retain the interest by
allowing patches or areas that both excite and
allow the eye to rest.
Jaime Costiglio – “Color Wheel”
Claude Monet – “Houses of Parliament”
Cima da Conegliano – “Three Saints: Roch,
Anthony Abbot, and Lucy”
Edgar Degas – “Before the Race”
Edvard Munch – “The Scream”
Frans Pourbus the Younger – “Margherita
Gonzaga, Princess of Mantua”

7. Harmony – elements or objects achieve a Gustav Caillebotte – “Rue de Paris, temps de

sense of flow and interconnectedness. pluie”

8. Movement - direction of the viewing eye as it Isamu Noguchi – “Cube”

goes though the artwork.
Leonardo da Vinci – Vitruvian Man
9. Rhythm – created when element is repeated,
creating implied movement.

10-11. Repetition and Pattern

Repetition – the lines, colors, and other

elements that appear in an artwork in a
recurring manner; sense of predictability

Pattern – image created out of repetition.

ARTISTS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS:

Keith Haring – “Todos juntos podemos parar el

sida”

Francisco de Goya – “Porque esconderlos”

Theodore Gericault – “ The Raft of Medusa”

Piet Mondrian – “Composition with Color Planes

and Gray Lines 1”

Louis Comfort Tifanny (designer, Tin=fanny

Furnaces (maker) – Vase made of favrile glass.

Raphael – “The Madonna of the Meadows”

Anish Kapoot – “Cloud Gate”

Sir Isaac Newton – Color Theory