Painting

Painting
Painting has always decorated man’s dwellings. History tells us that
man started to decorate the walls of his cave dwellings in the
simplest and crude way he could. Painting has not only been
regarded as decoration of our dwellings but it tells us the story of
man. They tell us about people—how they thought and felt, and
what they valued. They help us define ourselves and our times, as
well as other people and other times. The arts have life itself for
their subject matter. Painting requires time, effort, and money to
master the art.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
1. define painting operationally;
2. identify the functional values of painting;
3. discuss the styles, media and tools of painting; 4. identify some famous
painters and their contributions.

Painting
Painting is making images on a surface using color. This surface
may be flat canvas, wood, lacquer, paper, glass or even the wall, as
in the case of mural paintings. Painting is two-dimensional. It has
height as well as width. In its artistic sense, the word painting
means something which combines drawing, composition and
various other elements which ultimately transforms to a soothing
concept or an image.

Art, in the sense of painting, is addressed in the field of aesthetics

and functional values. It is always assumed as useful, as well as
beautiful.

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1. It expresses man’s creativity, emotions, inventions, skills

and ideals.

2. It is a language that gives order and coherence to

experience and attitudes.

3. To interpret the world by its presentation of culture.

4. It commemorates events or encourages morality.

5. It stands for power and authority of the state and power

of individuals, civic pride and imperial grandeur.

6. It is religious.

Subject Matter of Painting

Literally, the subject matter of painting is the visible image in the

work of art as distinguished from its content, which includes the
connotative, symbolic, and suggestive aspects of the image. It may
be the human figure, the natural world or spiritual world and any
object.

Styles of Painting

The qualities present in the artwork that distinguishes its creator

from others. The style is the way the artist does his artwork. It is
where the personality, ethnicity, or training of the artist is reflected.

Some of the styles of modern painting (1860-1970) are discussed

below:

1. Abstract Art is a style of painting that does not consider

figurative reality as its reference. Colors and shapes are
used by the artist to portray his emotions and the landscape
of the inner world.

Abstract Art is classified as abstract expressionism, color

filed, lyrical abstraction and cubism.

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2. Surrealism expresses anti-art that defied reason. It reunites

dream and fantasy.

3. Conceptual Art is a modern art style that the artist

conceptualized and is completed by the viewer. It needs
sculpture and installation to appreciate this art.

4. Pop Art circulates around comic books, advertising,

celebrities and other objects found every day.

5. Photorealism is a painting that looks like a photograph. This

is done by taking a picture of the subject before painting it.

6. Hyperrealism is an advancement of photorealism. Only that

this style of painting emphasizes exaggerated shadows and
inanimate objects display likeness as though it has these
qualities.

7. Minimalism is characterized by simplicity. The artist paints

only what is necessary.

8. Futurism is a painting style that focuses on technology,

violence, speed and the future of the world. It presents how
man wins over nature.

9. Impressionism is a painting style that originated in Paris

which is characterized by thin brush strokes. It emphasizes
how light is depicted.

10. Fauvism is one of the earliest modern painting styles that

followed impressionism. This style emphasizes strong color.

Painting Media

In painting, media refer to the various instruments used to

bind and disperse color pigments. These are:

Canvas is usually used in painting because of its sturdiness.

There are several uses of canvass such as backpacks, sails,
tents and marquees. The canvass is usually stretched
across the stretcher (a wooden frame) and usually coated

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with gesso to prevent the oil paints to come in contact with

the canvass that can cause decay.

Charcoal is used in drawings and sketches in paintings. It is

soft, brittle and gets easily smudged.

Oil Pastel, or wax oil crayon, is a common medium for

drawing and painting which is similar to pastels.

Watercolor is usually used in paper but it can also be used

in bark papers, papyrus, vellum or leather, plastics, fabric,
canvas and wood.

Acrylic painting involves using a fast drying acrylic paints in

creating a magnificent work of art. Since it is a fast drying
paint, it is difficult to keep the paint to stay moist. Water can
be used to dilute acrylic paints but as it becomes dry, it will
become water resistant.

Tempera is bound by gum Arabic and water. It is used on

paper, or a prepared wood panel. Egg yolk can be added to
make it enamel-like or more permanent.

Fresco is a method of painting with watercolors on plaster,

while the plaster is still wet, or fresh. It is a wall painting
technique

Encaustic is a form of painting in a medium that combines

dry pigments with heat-softened wax and, in modern times,
resin. The purpose is to fuse the pigment to the surface,
thus, producing a highly durable finish.

Mural (Latin, ―murus‖ ) wall refers to the decoration of

walls or ceilings by various techniques.

Portraiture is a form of representational art focusing on

particular individual subjects.

Crayon and chalk. In art, mixture of chalk and a binding

medium, such as wax or oil, are used for drawing on paper.

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Illustrated manuscripts method can be seen in the form of

calligraphic codices, or hand-drawn scrolls and books,
enhanced by artists with decorations and painting.

Mosaic is the art of creating figurative or geometric designs

by embedding into cement small pieces of glass, stone,
terracotta, or other suitable materials.

Painting Tools

Painting tools are essential materials needed in doing the art work.
They make the work of the artist easier. These are brushes, fabric,
colors, palettes, erasers and varnish.

Some of the famous painters are:

Several masters include Rembrandt, Leonardo da Vinci,

Michelangelo, Raphael and Fra’ Filippo Lippi.

Modern Period

Famous artists during this period are Hilaire-Germaine-Edgar, a

French artist who did Musicians and the Orchestra and many
others.

Degas, Pablo Picasso, a Spanish painter and was also famous as a

draughtsman and a sculptor and one reputedly one of the founder
of the Cubist movement.

Other modern artists are Ad Reinhardt, Vincent Van Gogh, Claude

Monet and Wassily Kandinsky. Each of these masters has their own
styles that had made them famous around the world.

Filipino Paintings

Pre-Spanish Filipino paintings were tattoos made on their bodies

with various designs such as animals, heavenly bodies and
geometrical figures. Tattoos on women illustrated beauty
enhancement while those on men displayed war prowess.

During the Spanish regime, painting was focused on religious

subjects. The paintings were mostly of patron saints and scenes of
the passion of Christ.

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The first known Filipino painter is Damian Domingo who did a

selfportrait. He founded the first art school in the Philippines
between 1815 and 1820. This was the school where Lorenzo
Guerrero, Juan Luna and Felix R. Hidalgo studied. Juna Luna did
―Spoliarium‖ which won the gold medal at Madrid Exposition
while Felix Hidalgo won second place in the same competition with
his ―Christian Virgins‖ exposed to the Populace.

Other Filipino Painters

Fabian de la Rosa, a genre painter, a famous landscape painter

and impressionist. He did ―Marikina Road‖ and ―Quiet Road.‖

Fernando Amorsolo is considered the first Filipino impressionist. He

mastered the tropical scenery.

Victorio Edades is an Art instructor and head of the UST art

department. His famous work, ―The Sketch,‖ won top prize in
competition with American painters.

Galo Ocampo defended the modern art in the Philippines. His

―Moro Dance‖ showed the linear pattern of contemporary colors
used by the Muslims of the South.

Carlos Francisco is a well-known artist for his murals in hotels,

public buildings and theatres in Manila. Some of his famous
paintings are the ―Kaingin‖ .

Post-War Filipino Painters

Outstanding among Filipino painters of World War II are:

Arturo Rogerio Luz was chosen as the most outstanding young

man in art in 1955 and preferred understatement of line and color.

Romeo Tabuena is the first water colorist who painted cockfighting,

nipa huts and carabaos using a combination of ―tenuous style and
a frankly romantic and whimsical approach.‖

Hernando R. Ocampo became famous for his exploitation of

dissonant colors and his bold incursions into abstract and
nonobjective art. He was awarded the Republic Cultural Heritage
Award for painting in 1954. He was declared a National Artist in
1991.

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Mauro Malang became famous for his media – oil, water color,
charcoal, pen and ink, pastel and gouache, which is a cross
between water color and oil. Gouache is his favourite painting
medium and women as his subjects.

References
Espina, F.P. et al. (2004). Humanities for college students. Katha
Publishing Company.

Maguigad, R. B. Et al (2007). Humanities for Filipinos. Manila: Libro

Filipino.

Definitions of painting (retrieved on June 25, 2011 at

www.brainyquote.com/words/pa/painting)