VISUAL ART IN THE PHILIPPINES

VISUAL ARTIST IN THE PHILIPPINES

1. FERNANDO AMORSOLO
- Grand old man of Philippine Art
- National Artist in Painting
- THE MAKING OF THE PHILIPPINE FLAG
2. JUAN LUNA
- Filipino painter, sculptor and a political activist of the Philippine Revolution during
the late 19th century.
- SPOLIARIUM
3. BEN CABRERA
- Master of the Contemporary Philippine Art
- National Artist for Visual Arts
- YELLOW CONFETTI
4. NAPOLEON ABUEVA
- Father of Modern Filipino Sculpture
- KAGANAPAN
5. GUILLERMO ESTRELLA TOLENTINO
- National Artist of the Philippines for Sculpture
- THE OBLATION
6. EDUARDO CASTRILLO
- He is a sculptor, jewelry artist and designer.
- RAJAH SULAYMAN
7. ABDULMARI IMAO
- National Artist for Visual Arts
- Muslim National Artist
- SARIMANOK
8. EDUARDO MASFERRE
- Father of Philippine Photography
9. VICTORIO EDADES
- Father of Modern Philippine Painting
- THE BUILDERS

PHILIPPINE VISUAL ARTS

Visual Arts
- The visual arts are art forms that create works that are primarily visual in nature, such as
ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, photography, video, film
making and architecture.
Philippine Visual Arts
- The Philippine visual arts encompass a range of forms developed by Filipinos in the Ethnic,
Spanish, American, and contemporary traditions. In ethnic communities, pottery, weaving,
carving, and metal craft are made for ritual purposes or for everyday use.

INTERPRETATION OF PHILIPPINE VISUAL ART

Famous Visual Artist in the Philippines
- Fernando Amorsolo, who is also known as the Grand Old Man of Philippine Art. Fernando
Amorsolo was the national painter of the Philippines in 1972. He became the first Filipino to
be distinguished as the Philippine's National Artist in Painting.
Significance of Visual Arts
Visual art is a fundamental component of the human experience reflecting the world and the
time in which we live. Art can help us understand our history, our culture, our lives, and the
experience of others in a manner that cannot be achieved through other means.

FORMS OF VISUAL ARTS

ARCHITECTURE
- The art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated
with construction. The practice of architecture is employed to fulfil both practical and
expressive requirements, and thus it serves both utilitarian and aesthetic ends. Although
these two ends may be distinguished, they cannot be separated, and the relative weight
given to each can vary widely. Because every society—settled or nomadic—has a spatial
relationship to the natural world and to other societies, the structures they produce reveal
much about their environment (including climate and weather), history, ceremonies, and
artistic sensibility, as well as many aspects of daily
ARCHITECTURAL TYPES
- Architecture is created only to fulfill the specifications of an individual or group. Economic
law prevents architects from emulating their fellow artists in producing works for which the
demand is nonexistent or only potential. So the types of architecture depend upon social
formations and may be classified according to the role of the patron in the community. The
types that will be discussed here—domestic, religious, governmental, recreational, welfare
and educational, and commercial and industrial—represent the simplest classification; a
scientific typology of architecture would require a more detailed analysis.
Domestic architecture
- Domestic architecture is produced for the social unit: the individual, family, or clan and their
dependents, human and animal. It provides shelter and security for the basic physical
functions of life and at times also for commercial, industrial, or agricultural activities that
involve the family unit rather than the community. The basic requirements of domestic
architecture are simple: a place to sleep, prepare food, eat, and perhaps work; a place that
has some light and is protected from the weather. A single room with sturdy walls and roof,
a door, a window, and a hearth are the necessities; all else can be considered luxury.
“Power” architecture
- As wealth and expressive functions increase, a special type of domestic building can be
distinguished that may be called power architecture. In almost every civilization the pattern
of society gives to a few of its members the power to utilize the resources of the community
in the construction of their homes, palaces, villas, gardens, and places of recreation. These
few, whose advantages usually arise from economic, religious, or class distinctions, are able
to enjoy an infinite variety of domestic activities connected with the mores of their position.
These can include even communal functions: the palace of the Flavian emperors in ancient
Rome incorporated the activities of the state and the judicial system; the palace of
Versailles, a whole city in itself, provided the necessities and luxuries of life for several
thousand persons of all classes and was the centre of government for the empire of Louis
XIV. Power architecture may have a complex expressive function, too, since the symbolizing
of power by elegance or display is a responsibility or a necessity (and often a fault) of the
powerful. Since this function usually is sought not so much to delight the patrons as to
demonstrate their social position to others, power architecture becomes communal as well
as domestic. In democracies such as ancient Greece and in the modern Western world, this
show of power may have been more reserved, but it is still distinguishable.
Religious architecture
- The history of architecture is concerned more with religious buildings than with any other
type, because in most past cultures the universal and exalted appeal of religion made the
church or temple the most expressive, the most permanent, and the most influential
building in any community.
- The typology of religious architecture is complex, because no basic requirements such as
those that characterize domestic architecture are common to all religions and because the
functions of any one religion involve many different kinds of activity, all of which change
with the evolution of cultural patterns.
Funerary art
- Expressing relationship to the afterlife, funerary art is not always architectural, since it may
be purely symbolic and therefore suitable to sculptural treatment, as in the classic Greek,
medieval, and modern tomb. Funerary architecture is produced by societies whose belief in
the afterlife is materialistic and by individuals who want to perpetuate and symbolize their
temporal importance. Monumental tombs have been produced in ancient Egypt (pyramids),
Hellenistic Greece (tomb of Mausolus at Halicarnassus, which is the source of the word
mausoleum), ancient Rome (tomb of Hadrian), Renaissance Europe (Michelangelo’s Medici
Chapel, Florence), and Asia (Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India). Modern tomb design has
lost vitality, though it remains as elaborate (Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, Rome) or as
meaningful in terms of power (Lenin Mausoleum, Moscow) as before. The exceptional
examples are partly sculptural in character (e.g., Louis Sullivan’s Wainwright Tomb, St. Louis,
Missouri; Walter Gropius’s war memorial, Weimar, Germany).
CERAMICS
- Ceramic objects are made by combining naturally occurring raw materials, such as clay,
earthen minerals, and water, and shaping them into forms using handbuilding, wheel-
throwing, or mold casting techniques. Once shaped, the object is fired in a kiln at a high
temperature. Firing ceramics make them hardened and heat resistant. Ceramic objects are
used as building materials, functional dinnerware, decorative sculpture, and more.
- “Ceramic” can be used as an adjective, or as a noun to describe the clay object once it has
been fired. There are a number of techniques used in ceramics, depending on the final
project you have in mind. Ceramic objects can be built by hand using slab, coiling, and
pinching techniques. Potters also use wheel throwing to create symmetrical pottery and slip
casting to create multiples of one object.
1. Earthenware
- Earthenware is pottery that has not been fired to vitrification, which is the process of
crystalline silicate compounds bonding into noncrystalline glass compounds. This makes the
pottery more porous and coarser to the touch. Earthenware pottery was the most common
type of ceramics until the 18th century. Terracotta, a clay-based and unglazed ceramic, is a
common type of earthenware. Today, we commonly see planters made from terracotta,
along with bricks, water pipes, and more.
2. Stoneware
- Stoneware is a vitreous or semi-vitreous ceramic, meaning it is coated in enamel to make it
appear glassy and to make it nonporous. Stoneware is fired at high temperatures compared
to other ceramics. It is typically an earth tone color because of impurities in the clay and is
normally glazed.
3. Porcelain
- Porcelain ceramics are made by heating materials, generally kaolin clay, in a kiln to
temperatures between 2,200 and 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit. Porcelain is a very heat-
resistant and strong material compared to other types of ceramics. This is because of the
vitrification process and formation of the silicate mineral mullite when fired. Common types
 of porcelain ceramics are bathroom and kitchen tiles, vessels, decorative sculptures, and
more.

DRAWING
- Drawing, the art or technique of producing images on a surface, usually paper, by means of
marks, usually of ink, graphite, chalk, charcoal, or crayon.
- Drawing as formal artistic creation might be defined as the primarily linear rendition of
objects in the visible world, as well as of concepts, thoughts, attitudes, emotions, and
fantasies given visual form, of symbols and even of abstract forms. This definition, however,
applies to all graphic arts and techniques that are characterized by an emphasis on form or
shape rather than mass and colour, as in painting. Drawing as such differs from graphic
printing processes in that a direct relationship exists between production and result.
Drawing, in short, is the end product of a successive effort applied directly to the carrier.
Whereas a drawing may form the basis for reproduction or copying, it is nonetheless unique
by its very nature.
11 Drawing Styles to Try
1. Doodling
- Doodling refers to rough scribbles and sketches of ideas. What you can do with doodling is
limitless, and it's not so much a particular technique as it is a simplistic way of expressing
thoughts and feelings.
2. Photorealism / Hyperrealism
- Drawing in a realistic style often requires a lot of preparatory sketches and erasing sections
you've drawn to improve on them.
3. Cartoon Style
- It's usually a simplified, non-realistic way of drawing, often with exaggerated features. What
we love about cartoon style is that you can make characters that look like and can do
anything.
4. Line Drawing
- Basic line drawing is aesthetically pleasing and creates simple and elegant visual content. It
can also be an understated decorative element in your home or office.
5. Architectural Drawing
- Drawing architecture is a fantastic way to challenge your skills and three-dimensional
perception. While architects learn to hone this skill to a highly technical level, drawing
beautiful pieces of architecture is great for artists to learn about detail, volume, perspective,
and precision.
6. Geometric Drawing
- Geometric drawing involves using geometric shapes to create images. From perspective
drawing that turns 2D shapes into 3D illusions to portraits compiled by combining geometric
shapes; this drawing style is always fascinating to look at.
7. Tattoo Drawing
- The first thing tattoo artists learn to do before picking up a tattoo gun, is to draw. Tattoo
apprenticeships last about six months and aspiring tattoo artists spend all that time drawing
and perfecting their art – before permanently etching these into someone's skin.
8. Typography Drawing
- Typography drawing could involve anything from drawing scenes inside letters, such as
above, or creating an image out of wording, such as below. It's really up to you to get
creative and have fun playing around with lettering.
9. Stippling, Hatching, and Scumbling
- Stippling was first created during the Renaissance era by an artist named Giulio Campangola,
who used it for printmaking to give prints of one color more depth.
 - Stippling involves creating a drawing from lots of small dots.
- Hatching involves filling in an image with closely-drawn parallel lines. Cross-hatching is
almost the same, except the lines intersect and cross one another.
- Scumbling and scribbling is a shading technique that's created similarly to stippling and
hatching but instead uses numerous small circles and scribbles to develop depth, gradient,
and texture.
10. Diagrammatic
- A diagrammatic drawing is a type of technical drawing that explains how something works –
as you might assume from the word “diagram.”
11. Anamorphic Drawing
- This drawing style teaches you how to create depth, and involves drawing 3D illusions with a
2D drawing. It varies from simple shapes that create the 3D illusion to complex drawings
that look like they're jumping off the page.
PAINTING
- The art or technique of producing images on a surface, usually paper, by means of marks,
usually of ink, graphite, chalk, charcoal, or crayon.
Types of Painting
1. Portrait painting
- Portrait painting is the most common and famous type of painting. It’s characterized by its
whole and sole purpose; capturing a character on canvas. The characters of a portrait
painting are not limited to only humans. Besides, it is not even limited to just one character.
2. Landscape painting
- Landscape painting is one of the most renowned types of paintings that focus on capturing
natural elements on the canvas. The main objective of a landscape painting is to capture the
natural components. These components include terrains, skies, mountains, rivers, trees, etc.
3. Still-life painting
- Still-life painting that translates to dead nature is anything but. It is the ‘figure of free
speech’ of the art world. You would think a still life painting is just a boring piece of art that
consists of daily objects and elements. That is in comparison to the other action-packed,
evocative, and full of emotions types of paintings.
4. Abstract Painting
- The purpose of this painting type is to add a meaningful message to a completely disfigured
painting. They too stand for a really strong message. Abstract painting can be an abstraction
of any and all elements in the eye of a human.
5. Historical or history paintings
- Historical or history paintings are those types of paintings that capture a historical event.
The main objective of these painting types is to add a moral message as a key component.
6. Religious paintings
- Religious paintings are the types of paintings that have religious events or mythological
creatures in them. It is believed that there was no purpose for the paintings. But they acted
as an outlet for the artists. These paintings mainly consisted of religious outbursts for the
artists.
PHOTOGRAPHY
- Photography is the art of capturing light with a camera, usually via a digital sensor or film, to
create an image. With the right camera equipment, you can even photograph wavelengths
of light invisible to the human eye, including UV, infrared, and radio.

 The first permanent photograph was captured in 1826 (some sources say 1827) by Joseph
Nicéphore Niépce in France. It shows the roof of a building lit by the sun
 The expression of ideas and emotions, with the creation of certain aesthetic qualities, in a
two-dimensional visual language.
Types of Photography
1. Landscape Photography
- If you love photography and have the tendency to stop and look at the beautiful scenery
around you and freeze nature in one picture, you are definitely a type of photographer
interested in the type of photography called landscape photography.
2. Wildlife Photography
- The genre of photography that focuses on animals and their natural habitat is called wildlife
photography. Animal behaviors in wild are also capture by wildlife photographer. Mostly
these pictures are captured to be printed in journals or exhibitions. Many people practice
this type of photography. Apart from a good camera, several lens, strong flashlight, you need
patience to click the right picture.
3. Aerial photography
- Aerial photography is that kind of photography where pictures are captures from a higher
altitude such as planes, air balloons, parachutes and skyscrapers. These pictures provide a
larger view of the subject and its background.
4. Sports / Action Photography
- This genre of photography specializes in capturing a decisive moment in an event of sports.
Sports photography is one of the difficult types of photography. It requires practice along
with the various equipments.
5. Portrait Photography
- One of the oldest types of photography is portrait photography. It can range from shooting
your family members to friends to pets. It is often called portraiture and this type of
photographer abounds.
6. Architectural Photography
- This type of photography deals with taking shots of structures, houses and buildings from
different angles. The main purpose of architectural photography is to create a positive
impact on potential real estate buyers.
7. Conceptual photography
- Conceptual photography is all about presenting a concept or an idea present in the mind of
the photographer to other people only through the medium of photographs. This type of
photography is generally used in advertising, where a picture helps in reiterating an idea, a
tagline or a catchphrase for a product or service.
8. Candid photography
- Candid photography comprises of pictures clicked in completely natural states of the
subjects without any prior preparedness. This type of photography is increasingly becoming
popular not only during social events and special occasions, but for general images as well as
it helps in capturing the uniqueness and magic of the moment.
SCULPTURE
- An artistic form in which hard or plastic materials are worked into three-dimensional art
objects. The designs may be embodied in freestanding objects, in reliefs on surfaces, or in
environments ranging from tableaux to contexts that envelop the spectator. An enormous
variety of media may be used, including clay, wax, stone, metal, fabric, glass, wood, plaster,
rubber, and random “found” objects. Materials may be carved, modeled, molded, cast,
wrought, welded, sewn, assembled, or otherwise shaped and combined.
The three traditional methods of sculpture-making
1. Stone Carving
- Stone carving is an activity where pieces of rough natural stone are shaped and molded into
works of art that are beautiful, and long lasting. Because of the permanence of the material,
 artwork that was created in ancient times still exists today! And works of stone art continue
to be created to this very day.
- The process begins by choosing the stone to carve. Then when the artist knows what they
want to sculpt, they 'rough out' the shape by knocking off big parts of the stone that they
don't need. After the stone is roughed out, the artist refines the sculpture, and carves the
details. The final stage of the process is polishing. The sculpture is sanded down, which
brings out the color of the stone, reveals patterns in the surface, and adds a sheen.
2. Bronze casting
- Bronze casting is the process of pouring molten bronze into a hollow mold to create a
positive bronze sculpture or object. Methods of bronze casting, like lost wax, ceramic shell,
and sand casting are used to produce bronze sculptures, instruments, medals, tools,
plaques, and more.
3. Wood Carving
- Wood carving is a type of woodworking in which people use knives, chisels, and other hand-
held wood carving tools to create figures or designs in pieces of wood. Woodcarvers make
everything from duck decoys, cufflinks, and epic three-dimensional storybook scenes to
furniture, home decor, and life-sized sculptures of animals or people.

HISTORY OF VISUAL ARTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Pre-Colonial Period 900 - 1565
- The Pre-Colonial Period is when our indigenous ancestors inhabited the Philippines and the
time before the coming of our first colonizers. Arts in this time were for ritual purposes or
everyday use only. As local communities were established, art starts to go beyond mere
craft, i.e., stone weapons or jewelry but starts to have decorative elements, meaning, and
context.
VISUAL ARTS
- Sculpture, paintings, and pottery were the widely known forms of visual arts in the Pre-
Colonial Period, such as the tattoos from the pintados in Panay, the Bulul that is a wooden
sculpture of the rice God of Ifugaos, and the Manunggul burial jar that was found in
Palawan.
They also have two kinds of visual arts- paintings and sculptures. Examples of heir sculptures are
pots, figures, and jewelries.
ARCHITECTURE
- Earliest Filipinos are known to be dwelling in caves.
- Islamic Colonial Period 1201 – 1300
In the 13th century, traders and missionaries introduced Islam religion in the Philippines, specifically,
Sayyid Abubakar of Arabia. Islamic art meshed with ethnic culture and produced a Filipino Muslim
art that reflects the ethnic background and Islamic identity.
In the 13th century, traders and missionaries introduced Islam religion in the Philippines, specifically,
Sayyid Abubakar of Arabia. Islamic art meshed with ethnic culture and produced a Filipino Muslim
art that reflects the ethnic background and Islamic identity.
Spanish Colonial Period 1521 – 1898
- When the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines in 1521, the colonizers used art as a tool to
propagate the Catholic faith through beautiful images. With communication as a problem,
the friars used images to explain the concepts behind Catholicism and to tell the stories of
Christ’s life and passion.
VISUAL ARTS
- Most of the artworks express a hidden desire for rebellion against Spain, such as the Basi
Revolt that is a series of 14 paintings by Esteban Villanueva; the Carta Hydrograpica y
Chorographica de Ias Yslas Filipinas that is the first scientific map of the Philippines by
Francisco Suarez and Nicolas deal Cruz Bagay; the Spolarium of Juan Luna that won as the
 Gold Medalist in Spain; and the Virgenes Christianas expuestas al Populacho of Felix
Resurreccion Hidalgo that won as a Silver Medalist in Madrid, Spain.
ARCHITECTURE
- Plaza Complex was introduced; churches were built in cruciform following the shape of the
Latin cross; Churches are baroque in design but Filipino design was incorporated; and houses
are known to be Bahay na Bato/Bahay na Tisa.
SCULPTURE
- Santos is made of ivory or wood; relleves are known to be the facade of churches; and the
Carroza or the plateria that is a pedestal used in religious Catholic procession where an
image is loaded.
American Colonial Period 1898 – 1940
- The American Colonial Period was classical in nature, and the artworks are in neo-classical
and modern form. One of their greatest contributions to the Philippines is the educational
system.
VISUAL ARTS
- Fernando Amorsolo became famous during the American Period because of his paintings
that depict Filipino culture and Guillermo Tolentino with his famous sculptures, the UP
Oblation (1935) and the Bonifacio Monument (1933).
ARCHITECTURE
- All architectural designs are classical in nature, including art deco design on buildings and
houses. City planning was a huge step in the development of Manila, where major buildings
are Neo-Classical in designs the same designs used in Washington DC. During this time,
Daniel Burnham commissioned to design Manila and Baguio, while William Parsons
implemented the Burnham plans.

Japanese Colonial Period 1942 – 1945

- The arrival of the Japanese caused tremendous fear, hardships, and suffering among the
Filipinos. The Filipino way of life was greatly affected during the Japanese period. The
Filipinos lost their freedom of speech and expression. The development of art was also
stopped resulting in being the dark period of Philippine history. It is also during this period
where modern art slowly penetrating the art world. Most of the artworks depict the
sentiments of artists during the war. Modern artists emerged, such as Victorio Edades
together with Carlos "Botong" Francisco and Galo Hernandes who were considered as the
"'Triumvirates" that pioneered modern arts in the country.

VISUAL ARTIST IN THE PHILIPPINES

- The Visual Artist creates art works to be exhibited in galleries, museums or in public spaces.
He/She expresses their ideas, messages or emotions through their work of art. Most of their
artwork is put up for sale. The Visual Artist may specialise in one discipline such as drawing,
painting, pottery or sculpture.
THE 15TH FILIPINO VISUAL ARTIST IN THE PHILIPPINES

Cesar Torrente Legaspi (April 2, 1917 – April 7, 1994) was a Filipino

National Artist in painting. He was also an art director prior to going full-
time in his visual art practice in the 1960s.

Vicente Silva Manansala (January 22, 1910 – August 22, 1981) was a
Filipino cubist painter and illustrator. One of the first Abstractionists on the
Philippine art scene Vicente Manansala is also credited with bridging the
gap between the city and the suburbs, between the rural and cosmopolitan
ways of life.

Victorio Candido Edades (December 23, 1895 – March 7, 1985)

was a Filipino painter. He led the revolutionary Thirteen
Moderns, who engaged their classical compatriots in heated
debate over the nature and function of art. He was named a
National Artist in 1976.

Guillermo Estrella Tolentino (July 24, 1890 – July 12, 1976) was a Filipino
sculptor and professor of the University of the Philippines. He was designated
as a National Artist of the Philippines for Sculpture in 1973, three years
before his death.

Carlos Modesto "Botong" Villaluz Francisco (November 4, 1912 –

March 31, 1969) was a Filipino muralist from Angono, Rizal.
Francisco was a most distinguished practitioner of mural painting
for many decades and best known for his historical pieces.
 José Joya (June 3,1931 – May 11, 1995) was a Filipino painter best
known for his Abstract Expressionist works which utilized a variety
of techniques, including controlled drips, impasto strokes, and
transparent layering. “In creating an artwork the artist is
concretizing his need for communication,” the artist has said of his
practice.

Juan Luna de San Pedro y Novicio Ancheta (October 23, 1857 – Dec. 7,1899)
was a Filipino painter, sculptor and a political activist of the Philippine
Revolution during the late 19th century. He became one of the first
recognized Philippine artists.

Lauro "Larry" Zarate Alcala (August 18, 1926 – June 24, 2002) was a
well-known editorial cartoonist and illustrator in the Philippines.

Ang Kiukok (march 01,1931 – May 9, 2005), was a renowned Filipino

Expressionist whose colorful and striking paintings portrayed a variety of
cubist-like figures such as a mother embracing her infant, grisly
crucifixions, tables holding an array of fish and fruit, stray dogs, and
screaming subjects.

José Montserrat Maceda (31 January 1917 – 5 May 2004) was a Filipino
ethnomusicologist and composer. He was named a National Artist of the
Philippines for Music in 1998.
 Leandro V. Locsin (August 15, 1928 – (November 15, 1994) - is a
celebrated architect of the Philippines. He designed numerous modern
building, which adopt climatic features of Southeast Asia and the
traditional style of the Philippines. His accomplishment contributed
remarkable to the development of architectural culture in Asia.

Arturo Luz (November 26, 1926 – May 26, 2021) is a Filipino printmaker,
sculptor, designer, and founding member of the modern Neo-Realist school
in Philippine art. Influenced by Modernist painters such as Paul Klee, he has
worked in a variety of styles and techniques in varying degrees of
abstraction to create playful geometric figures and forms.

Benedicto Cabrera (April 10, 1942) better known as BenCab, is a figurative

painter from the Philippines. He is recognised as a pioneer of Philippine art.
BenCab's paintings often depict figures wrapped in flowing fabrics in muted
tones and earthy colour palettes.

Fernando Amorsolo y Cueto (May 30,1892 - April 24,1972) was

the Philippines' first National Artist and is officially recognized as
the “Grand Old Man of Philippine Art”.

Hernando Ruiz Ocampo was a Filipino artist best known for his abstract
paintings. Following in Modernist traditions, Ocampo used bold color
palettes and biomorphic shapes inspired by both his country's landscape
and by science fiction writing. Born on April 28, 1911 in Manila, Philippines
and taught him to paint.