ART APPRECIATION NOTES
ART APPRECIATION NOTES
Description of Art Appreciation
Etymologically, the term ―Humanities is from a Latin
word humanus, which means educated. It refers to the learning
of arts such as architecture, dance, literature, music, painting,
theatre, and sculpture.
• Art- came from Latin word arti, which means
craftsmanship, inventiveness, mastery of form, skill. It
includes literature, music, paintings, photography,
sculpture, etc. It serves as an original record of human
needs and achievements
• Artist- came from French word artiste and Spanish
word artista, which means performer. Artist are
usually referred to as those who create within a context
of the fine arts such as acting, dancing, drawing,
filmmaking, painting, sculpture, writing, photography,
and music. They are those who use imagination and
skill to construct works that may be judged to have
aesthetic importance
a. Curator- A curator is in charge of a collection of
exhibits in a museum or art gallery, and is
responsible for assembling, cataloguing,
managing, presenting and displaying artworks,
cultural collections and artifacts
b. Manager- A gallery owner or manager chooses
and presents art for sale. Since galleries may
specialize in specific areas, a gallery owner or
manager’s responsibilities include managing both
the creative and business sides of running an art
gallery, as well as organizing art exhibitions,
private sales and loaning out art.
c. Consumers- While less inclined to build an
evocative collection purely for investment
purposes, this portion of the art market still
represents a significant segment of buyers.
d. Collectors- Young or old, emerging or
experienced, art collectors are those who look to
buy art to build their personal collections. They
buy for a myriad of reasons — from aesthetic
value to financial investment.
e. Art Dealer- An art dealer is a person or company
that buys and sells works of art with the aim of
making profit.
• Artiste- Use of the term to describe writers, for
example, is valid, but less common, and mostly
restricted to contexts like criticism
• Creativity- a characteristic of an artist that progressed
in the extent of his/her life to express feelings.
a. The Creations of ideas. Artists are usually
impressionable persons. They used their
experiences as their basis in the making of
dance, picture, a poem, or a play or a song.
For example, a composer may write a song on
the developing romance of a man and a
woman, or on the pants of a broken-hearted.
b. The Creation of the Materials. The artist
uses different materials or mediums to give
form to an idea. For example, a painter uses
pigments; a sculptor uses wood, metal or
stone; an author uses words; and a composer
who uses musical sounds to determine the
notes.
c. The Creation of Forms. There are diverse
forms used by the artists in expressing their
ideas. It is a medium of artistic expression
recognize as fine art. This form is used to
explain the physical nature of the artwork like
in metal sculpture, an oil painting, etc.
• Philosophy- The term was probably coined by
Pythagoras.
• Art- This refers to the theory, human application and
physical expression of creativity found in human
cultures and societies through skills and imagination
in order to produce objects, environments and
experiences.
• Aristotle- He considered art as imitation or a
representation of nature and his emphasis of the art is
on poetry which for him is more philosophical than
Philosophy itself
• Vitruvian Man- This image demonstrates the blend
of mathematics and art during the Renaissance and
demonstrates Leonardo's deep understanding of
proportions.
• Artisan- A skilled craft worker who makes or creates
things by hand that may be functional or strictly
decorative.
• Aesthetics- The nature of art and related concepts,
such as creativity and interpretation, are explored in
this branch of philosophy
• Beauty- It leads to a response of awe that overwhelms
the viewers of the art.
• Visual arts-These are felt by the senses which
includes sculpture, painting and architecture.
• Plato - He believed that “though arts can be used to
train citizens to have an ideal society, using arts to
accomplish this should be strictly controlled”.
Major constituents of arts
• Visual arts
• Literature
• Performing arts
Examples of functional and non-functional art form
• Architecture
• Painting
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Performing arts included in the broader definition of the
arts.
• Music
• Theater
• Film
• Dance
Classical branches of art
• Painting
• Sculpture
• Architecture
Natures of Arts
• Art constitutes one of the oldest and most important
means of expression developed by man.
• Art is subjective as it employs the use of perception,
insights, feelings and intuition
• It is the heightened expression of human dignity and
weaknesses felt and shared so powerfully in a world
increasingly aware of its successes and failures.
• It is man’s expression of himself as an individual and
how he views his existence.
• Art also provides enjoyment and stimulation especially
when people understand them.
Functions of arts
• Express freely oneself.
• Socially express his need for display, celebration and
communication.
• Physically express the need for utility of functional
objects
a. Individual Function- passion of the artists
b. Social Function- man associates with others
through his art performance that arouses
social consciousness (choral singing, group
dancing, public art exhibits)
c. Economic Function- emerge as a potent
force in the economic life of people.
d. Political Function- provides a forum for
ideas that will lead to employment, prestige,
power, and status (poster, propaganda)
e. Historical Function- technique for
information to be recorded and preserved
f. Cultural Function- articulation and
transmission of new information and values.
g. Physical Function- buildings are artistically
designed and constructed to protect their
occupants (architect, industrial and graphic
designers, interior designers)
h. Aesthetic Function- any work means beauty.
It is visual spice for gracefully adorned
interiors and can bring out the elegant
features of décor elements
Purpose of Arts
1. Create beauty- thoughts, emotions, and intuitions
2. Provide decoration- used to create pleasing
environment
3. Reveal truth- helped to pursue truth and attempted to
reveal about how the world works
4. Express value- can illuminate our inner lives and
enrich our emotional world
5. Communication skills- promotes self-esteem and
wellness
6. Commemorate Experience- serves to convey the
personal experiences of an artist
7. Create harmony- artist make use of the composition
to put an order in the diverse content of his work
Classification of Arts
1. Visual Arts- forms perceived by the eyes
a. Painting– This form of visual art aims to
evoke an emotion from the viewers. It is
practice by applying colors or other media to
a surface with a brush or other objects.
i. ENCAUSTIC — Considered as
one of the early medium used in art,
this is the application of a mixture of
hot beeswax, resin and ground
pigment to any absorbent or porous
surface, followed by the application
of heat to set the colors and bind
them to the ground.
ii. TEMPERA - These paints are earth
or mineral pigments mixed with egg
yolk and egg white. One
disadvantage of this medium is that
it dries up quickly, making it
difficult to make corrections on the
artwork
iii. FRESCO — This painting is the
application of earth pigments mixed
with water on a plaster wall while
the plaster is damp. Color, then,
sinks into the surface and becomes
an integral part of the wall.
iv. WATERCOLOR - This is
tempered paint made of pure ground
pigment bound with gum arabic.
Painters apply water color in thin,
almost transparent films. Gouache
is paint in which the pigment has
been mixed with a chalk-like
material
v. OIL - In oil painting, this is pigment
ground in linseed oil, which is
applied to primed canvas.
vi. ACRYLIC - These synthetic paints
using acrylic polymer emulsions as
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binder are the newest medium today
due to its availability in the market
Elements of Visual Arts
1. Line- A line is a continuation of a
point, a series of connected dots, or
the recording of the movement of
said point.
i. Vertical lines- These lines
are strong and rigid. They
show balance, height and
poise. They suggest
stability, and convey a lack
of movement. Its tallness
and formality give the
impression of dignity
ii. Horizontal lines- These
are lines that are parallel to
the horizon (hence the
name). They look like they
are lying down, at rest,
asleep. They suggest
calmness and quietness, a
relaxed comfort.
Horizontal lines emphasize
width. They are stable and
secure. They convey an
absence of conflict, a
restful peace.
iii. Diagonal lines- Diagonal
lines are unbalanced. They
are filled with restless and
uncontrolled energy. They
can appear to be either
rising or falling and convey
action and motion. Their
kinetic energy and
apparent movement create
tension and excitement.
Diagonal lines are more
dramatic than either
horizontal or vertical lines.
Diagonal lines can also
appear solid and unmoving
if they are holding
something up or at rest
against a vertical line or
plane.
iv. Broken or Jagged lines-
Broken lines are a series of
dashes. Zigzag lines are a
combination of diagonal
lines that connect at points.
They take on the dynamic
and high energy
characteristics of diagonal
lines. They create
excitement and intense
movement. They convey
confusion and nervousness
as they change direction
quickly and frequently.
They can imply danger and
destruction as they break
down. Both these lines
imply confusion, chaos,
tension, disturbance,
violence and sometimes,
war.
v. These are softer than
straight lines. They sweep
and turn gracefully
between end points. They
are less definite and
predictable than straight
lines. They bend and
change direction. Curved
lines express fluid
movement. They can be
calm or dynamic
depending on how much
they curve. The less active
the curve, the calmer the
feeling. Curve lines,
whether concave (inward)
or convex (outward),
which can either be scroll-
like (s-form) or spiral-like
(winding round) indicate
movements.
vi. Repeating lines- These are
a series of vertical (lllll),
horizontal (___________),
diagonal (///// or \\\\\) or
curved lines such as ((((( or
))))), that show rhythm.
vii. Contrasting lines- These
are a combination of
vertical and horizontal
lines (LLLLL) or a
combination of diagonal
lines (XXXXX or <<<<<
or >>>>>) in opposite
directions.
viii. Modified lines- These are
a combination of straight
and curved lines ({ } or [ ])
or a combination of lines of
shifting shapes (>O<).
2. Shape- areas of enclosed space,
which give permanent meanings to
simplify ideas. They can be flat,
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and can only have height and
width. Shapes may be natural or
geometric
3. Space- deals with the illusion of
depth on a flat surface. In short, it is
the area or surface occupied by an
artwork. The painting covers the flat
surface such as the wall.
i. Negative space is the area
around the subject matter
of an artwork. Artists often
use negative space as a
method of adding interest
to a subject matter.
ii. Positive space, on the
other hand, is the space
where shadow is heavily
used.
iii. Three-dimensional space
is usually shown by means
of shading, where a three-
dimensional effect can be
achieved even if the
artwork is two-
dimensional.
4. Color- what we see when light
reflects off of an object. These
reflected wavelengths turn into a
range of colors on a spectrum, like
red, blue, and yellow. Color usually
enhances the attraction of an
artwork. Making a color lighter or
darker is known as value.
i. Primary Colors are blue,
red, yellow (BRY). They
are called primary colors
because they are the first
colors to be produced and
the rest of the colors result
from the combination of
the primary colors.
ii. Secondary Colors are
green, orange and violet
(GOV). These colors are
produced by combining
two primary colors. Green
is the product when blue
and yellow are combined;
orange is the product when
red and yellow are
combined; and violet is a
product of the combination
of red and blue.
iii. Intermediate Colors are
the resulting colors of
mixing primary and
secondary colors as in red-
violet, red-orange, yellow-
orange, yellow green, blue
green, and blue violet.
5. Form- refers to the three-
dimensional version of a shape. An
artwork that has the art element of
form can be viewed from different
angles, and is not flat. Forms have
height and width, but they also have
depth. Forms can be hard-edged
like a cube or more free-flowing.
6. Texture- the way something feels,
or looks like it might feel, in an
artwork
i. Real texture is something
you can actually feel with
your fingers if you touch
the art.
ii. Implied texture only
visually looks like it feels a
certain way. If you ran
your fingers over implied
texture, it would not feel
any different
b. Sculpture– This form of visual arts
characterized as the art of representing an
imagined or observed objects in hard
materials such as glass, metals, or wood in
three dimensions.
i. Free-standing sculpture, or
sculpture in the round, is one which
can be seen from more than one
position. The statues of saints in our
churches are examples of free-
standing sculpture.
ii. The figures of relief sculpture
project from a flat background.
When the forms are slightly raised,
the sculpture is called a bas relief.
Coins and medals are of this kind.
High relief sculptures are those
whose figures project to the extent
of one half of their thickness or more
so that they are almost round.
iii. Kinetic sculpture, are made of
strips of metal, glass, wood, or
plastic, arranged with wires and
hung where they can move.
i. Carving is a subtractive
process, which involves
removing unwanted
portions of the raw
material to reveal the form
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that the artist has
visualized. Wood, stone,
and ivory are the materials
employed in this process.
ii. Modeling, is an additive
process, which means
building the form, using
highly plastic material
such as clay or wax. This
results in a type of creative
spontaneity.
iii. Casting can faithfully
reproduce, in bronze or
other metals, the
spontaneity achieved in the
modeling process. It is a
complex process which
begins with the production
of a negative mold (metal,
fabrication, and welding)
iv. Metals such as copper,
brass, bronze, gold, silver,
lead, and aluminum., have
three unique qualities:
tensile strength, ductility
and malleability, that resist
breakage from stress
placed upon it. (plaster,
clay, terra cotta, porcelain,
plasticine, glass)
c. Architecture – This form of art provides us
the physical structure we lived. It is a
profound expression of human culture in a
particular period, and it will endure and
outlive us in forms of monuments that future
generations will study and strive to
understand.
i. POST AND LINTEL— are the
oldest of construction systems,
which make use of two vertical
supports (posts) spanned by a
horizontal beam (lintel). Most of our
houses are built on this principle.
ii. ARCH — consists of separate
pieces of wedge-shaped blocks,
called voussoirs, arranged in a
semi- circle.
iii. TRUSS — is a system of triangular
forms assembled into a rigid
framework and functioning like a
beam or lintel.
iv. SKELETAL CONSTRUCTION
— employs reinforced concrete and
steel. Concrete construction makes
use of concrete poured, while still in
its semi-fluid state into a hollow
frame. Steel rods are em- bedded in
the concrete to make the structure
strong enough to support great
weight.
v. CANTILEVER — makes use of a
beam or slab extending horizontally
into space beyond its supporting
post, yet strong enough to support
walls and floors.
d. Drawings - This form of art enhances the
way we see the world around and conditions
us to capture its details in a two-dimensional
medium. This has been a critical element of
art throughout history and in the
contemporary art world.
i. Pastel and chalk are dry pigment
held together with a gum binder and
compressed into sticks. Chalk is
usually employed in preliminary
sketches. As finished works of art,
these drawings are quite fragile and
must be sprayed with a fixative to
prevent the pigment from rubbing
off.
ii. Charcoal is especially useful in
representing broad masses of light
and shadow. Charcoal may just
come from a burned twig or piece of
wood, but in modern manufacture,
charcoal sticks or pencils are made
from particles of carbon mixed with
a binder and compressed.
iii. Crayons are pigment bound by wax
and compressed into sticks. They
adhere well to the paper surface but
they do not lend themselves to
rubbing to achieve gradations in
value.
iv. Silverpoint, popular during the
Renaissance, is not in general use to
day. In this medium, a silver-
pointed instrument or a silver wire is
drawn over a sheet of paper
prepared beforehand with zinc
white. It then produces a thin, even
grayish line that cannot be erased.
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e. Photography – This form of art is a process 5. Timbre- used to define the color or
of creating portraits by recording radiation on sound quality of a tone
a radiation-sensitive medium, such as 6. Texture- refers to the interaction of
electronic image sensors or photographic melodies and harmonies within a
films. song. These parts can be
instruments, singers, or a
2. Performing Arts- artist used his/her own body, face, combination of both.
and presence as medium c. Dance – This form of art is expressed through
a. Theatre (Drama)– This form of art uses body movement which entails social
performers to present experience of a real or interaction, or presented in a spiritual or
imagined event before a live audience in a performance setting.
specific place and time. d. Film – This form of art allows us to explore
b. Music – This form of art helps to express our the complexities of the human situation. This
mood and feel the way through our is used to work out our emotions, to make
emotions and ideas. Based on a study, history comes alive, science is explained, and
different types of music may be suitable to literary works are brought into life.
different types of music may be suitable to e. Installation Art – The fundamental nature of
different moods though classical music is still this form of art is the participation of the
recommended as the most calming music spectators. In this work of art, viewers
option. become active and navigate the work in an
Elements of Auditory Arts environment that they can experience
1. Rhythm- element of music that visually.
refers to the pulse of the music. It is f. Opera – This form of art helps to tell stories
is associated with beats (as the basic through music. This is also performed with a
unit of music), tempo (which refers full orchestra composed of the various
to the speed measured by beats per musical instrument sections. In this art form,
second), and meter (which singers and musicians perform a dramatic
organizes beats into a recognizable work by combining text (called a liberatto)
recurrent pattern). and musical score.
i. allegro (fast) g. Stagecraft – This form of art is a technical
ii. vivace (lively) aspect of theatrical production. This includes
iii. moderato (moderate constructing and arranging scenery, hanging
speed) and focusing of lighting, design of costumes,
iv. andante (moderately slow makeup, and procurement of props, stage
like a walking pace) management and recording and mixing of
v. adagio (slower than sound
andante) 3. Literary Arts- These arts centered on creative writing
vi. lento (slow) and other composition processes which intended to
vii. largo (very slow) read. These include prose and poetry (e.g., novels,
viii. accelerando (gradually short stories, sonnet, ballad, epic, and essay).
speeding up)
ix. rallentado (gradually Types of Arts and Crafts
slowing down) Artists may have unique skills and perceptive abilities,
x. allargando (getting but they are also people with needs and the motivation to meet
slower) those needs.
xi. rubato (robbed time, 1. Textile Crafts. The word textile is from the Latin
where rhythm is played phrase texere which means ―to braid or ―to
freely for expressive construct. These also refer to any craft where you work
effect) with fabric, yarn or surface design. It uses plant or any
2. Dynamics- element of music that synthetic fibers in creating practical or decorative
refers to the loudness or softness of objects.
music. a. Cross-stitch – Stitching can also be a form of
3. Melody- refers to a memorable natural pain relief. It is a popular form of
series of pitches. counted-thread embroidery in which X-
4. Harmony- supporting notes shaped stitches in a tiled, raster-like pattern
are used to form a picture.

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b. Crocket – It is a process of creating fabric
from yarn, thread, or other material strands
using a crochet hook.
c. Sewing – It is the crafts of fastening or
attaching objects using stitches made with
needle and thread.
d. Weaving – It is a fabric production method
in which yarns are interlaced at right angles
to form a fabric or cloth.
e. Tatting – It is a technique for handcrafting
particularly in making durable lace which is
constructed by a series of knots and loops.
f. Shoemaking – It is the process of making
footwear.
g. Lace – It is an openwork fabric, patterned
with open holes in the work, made by
machine or by hand.
h. Macrome – It is a form of textile-making
which requires very few tools and just pure
knowledge of basic knotting.
i. Millinery – It is designing and manufacture
of hats
j. String art- It is an arrangement of colored
thread strung between points to form an
abstract geometric design.
2. Wood Crafts. These refer to a skill that pertains to
the woods, especially in making one ‘s way through
the woods or in hunting, trapping, etc.
a. Carpentry – It is a skilled trade in the
cutting, shaping, and installation of building
materials during the construction of
buildings.
b. Marquetry – It is the art and craft of
applying pieces of veener (thin slices of
wood) to a structure to form decorative
designs.
c. Woodturning – It is a form of woodworking
that is used to create wooden objects.
d. Wood carving – It is a form of woodworking
that is used to create wooden objects.
e. Cabinetry – It is a skill in making a box-
shaped piece of furniture with doors and
drawers for keeping various objects.
f. Upholstery – It is the work of building
cushion and cover furniture.
3. Metal Crafts. These refer to the art of executing
artistic designs in metal for both practical and aesthetic
purposes.
a. Jewelry – It is a form of personal
adornments, such as brooches, rings,
necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.
b. Metal Casting – It is a process by which a
liquid material (bronze, copper, glass,
aluminum, and iron) is poured into a mold,
which contains a hollow cavity of the desired
shape, and then allowed to solidity.
c. Welded Sculpture – It is an art form in
which statue is made using welding
techniques.
4. Paper or Canvas Crafts. It refers to an extremely
durable plain-woven fabric used for making
backpacks, tents, marquees, and other sustainable
items.
a. Bookbinding – It is the process of physically
assembling a book from some folded or
unfolded sheets of paper or other material.
b. Card making – It is a hand-made technique
for producing greeting cards.
c. Collage – It is a technique where the artwork
is made from an assemblage of different
forms, thus creating a new whole.
d. Origami – It is a Japanese cultural art of
paper folding.
e. Paper-Mache – It is a composite material
consisting of paper pieces or pulp, sometimes
reinforced with textiles, bound with an
adhesive.
f. Scrapbooking – It refers to a method of
arranging, preserving, and presenting
personal and family history in a book form.
g. Rubber Stamping – It is a craft in which
some type of ink made of dye or pigment
applied to an image or pattern that carved,
molded, laser engraved or vulcanized, onto a
sheet of rubber.
h. Quilling - Quilling or paper filigree is an art
form that involves the use of strips of paper
that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to
create decorative designs.
5. Plants Crafts– These refer to skills using plant parts
as the medium
a. Corn dolly making – It relates to the making
of shapes and figures (known as dollies’)
from straw (such as barley, oats, and wheat).
b. Floral Design – It is the art of using plant
materials and flowers to create a pleasing and
balanced composition.
c. Pressed flower craft – consists of drying
flower petals and leaves in a flower press to
flatten and exclude light and moisture
Principles of Understanding Artistic Design and
Composition
1. Harmony is the feeling of unity between all parts of
the work of art, which creates a sense of completeness.
2. Variety is the use of several elements of design to hold
the viewers’ attention and to guide the viewers’ eye
through and around the work of art.
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3. Balance is the distribution of the visual weight of
objects, colors, texture, and space. If the design was a
scale, these elements should be balanced to make a
design feel stable. In symmetrical balance, the
elements used on one side of the design are similar to
those on the other side; in asymmetrical balance, the
sides are different but still look balanced. In radial
balance, the elements are arranged around a central
point and may be similar.
4. Movement is the path the viewer‘s eye takes through
the work of art, often to focal areas. Such movement
can be directed along lines, edges, shape, and color
within the work of art.
5. Emphasis is the part of the design that catches the
viewer‘s attention. Usually the artist will make one
area stand out by contrasting it with other areas. The
area could be different in size, color, texture, shape,
etc.
6. Proportion is the feeling of unity created when all
parts (sizes, amounts, or number) relate well with each
other. When drawing the human figure, proportion can
refer to the size of the head compared to the rest of the
body.
7. Rhythm is created when one or more elements of
design are used repeatedly to create a feeling of
organized movement. Rhythm creates a mood like
music or dancing. To keep rhythm exciting and active,
variety is essential.
8. Pattern is the repeating of an object or symbol all over
the work of art.
9. Repetition works with pattern to make the work of art
seem active. The repetition of elements of design
creates unity within the work of art.
Motivated Functions of Arts
1. Art for Acting. Art may pursue to bring about a
certain emotion, to relax or to entertain the viewer.
2. Art for healing. Art is utilized by art therapists,
psychotherapists, and clinical psychologists as art
therapy. The end product is a method of curing,
through creative acts.
3. Art for Political Change. One of the essential
functions of the art of the early twentieth century has
been to use visual images to bring about legislative
modification.
4. Art for propaganda (Commercialism). Art is
utilized to influence popular ideas or moods delicately.
5. Art for communication. Art has a goal, directed
toward another individual. For example, graphic is a
form of art for communication in which the artist
expresses his/her emotions, feelings, and moods.
 Craftsmanship. Skill at making things, or the skill with
which something was made or done
 Artist. An artist is a person engaged in an activity related
to creating art, practicing the arts, or demonstrating an art.
 Artisan. An artisan is a skilled craft worker who makes or
creates material objects partly or entirely by hand.
Art in Prehistoric Civilization
The term―prehistoric relates to the time before
written history. Specifically, the writing developed in ancient
Mesopotamia before 3000 B.C.E.
Prehistoric art has four main periods: Stone Age,
Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. The remaining artifacts
of this period are small sculptures and cave paintings.
Prehistoric art is a symbolic system that is an integral
part of the culture that creates it (Honour et al., 2005).
1. Stone Tools for Art Making
The first stone tools (eoliths – which are now believed
to be naturally produced by geological processes such
as glaciation) and other types of organic materials
(wood, bone, ivory, and antler) were about two million
years ago. The oldest human tools were a simple stone
chopper, such as those unearth at Olduvai George in
Tanzania.
a. Pebble Tools (Pebble chopper). It is a first
cutting device and considered as the oldest
type of tool made by humans.
b. Bifacial tools. It is a hand ax prehistoric stone
tool flake with two faces or sides. These tools
may be oval, triangular, or almond-shaped in
form and characterized by axial symmetry.
The cutting edge could be straight or jagged
and is used as a knife, pick, scraper, or
weapon
c. Flake tools. These are hand tools used during
Stone Age. They are usually formed by
crushing off a small or large fragment then
used as the tool. Both cores and flakes could
be as stone tools. New flakes were very sharp,
but quickly became blunt during use and had
to be sharpened again by further flaking, a
process called ―retouch
d. Blade tools. These are a Stone tool created by
striking a long narrow flake from a stone
core. This procedure of cutting the stone and
creating the blades is called lithic reduction.
After chipping the blades, they integrated
into larger tools, such as spears.
2. Medieval Arts in Europe
a. Illuminated Manuscripts (Illumination) –
They were colorful religious texts which
often use of gold and silver as its main
feature. It is the embellishment of a
manuscript with bright colors. The artist who
produced the impressive artwork on
illuminated manuscripts was called
Illuminators.
b. Metalwork – Metalworkers were very
skilled in creating religious objects for church
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decorations. Experts in Bronze art produced
beautiful jewels, sculptures, and even church
doors.
c. Silversmith and Goldsmith – They were
excellent artists who created new shapes of
jewelry. The Medieval church demanded to
employ silversmiths and goldsmiths in the
church to produce religious items with
precious materials that are worthy of the
divine service.
d. Mosaics - It is the art of crafting figures with
small pieces of colored glass, stone or other
materials. The early Christians used ceiling
and wall mosaics in their churches and
cathedrals.
e. Paintings – Artists who were skillful in
Iconography uses Fresco and panel painting
with a religious theme during the medieval
period. Fresco is performed mostly on wall
covers or ceilings. Likewise, Panels is a
painting which showed on several pieces of
wood that joined together.
f. Bayeux Tapestry – It is embroidery in
colored wool. It consists of eight long strips
of unbleached linen, sewn together to form a
continuous panel of 230 feet long and 20
inches high.
g. Ceramics – They were hand shaped cooking
pots, jars, and pitchers.
h. Stained Glass – It is usually applied
exclusively to the windows of medieval
churches, castles, and cathedrals. It creates
the primary form of art where small pieces of
glass are arranged to form pictures or patterns
which are held together by strips of lead and
supported by a hard frame.
i. Heraldy – It is the manner of designing coats
of arms and insignia. Specimens of coats of
arms were worked using embroidery, paper,
painted wood, stonework and stained glass.
3. Famous Artists in Western Europe
a. Donatello (also known as Donato di Niccolo
di Betto Bardi). He was born in 1386 in Italy.
He was the son of Nicolo di Betto Bardi, a
wool merchant in Florence. He learned the
fabrication of metals and other substances
which known as metallurgy. His most famous
work of art includes David, Mary Magdalene,
Madonna, Salome, Zuccone, and St. Mark,
St. John the Evangelist and St. George and
the Dragon.
b. Giotto di Bondone (born 1266–67/1276,
Vespignano, near Florence [Italy]—died
January 8, 1337, Florence), the most
important Italian painter of the 14th century,
whose works point to the innovations of the
Renaissance style that developed a century
later.
c. Leon Battista Alberti. An Italian
Renaissance humanist author, artist,
architect, poet, priest, linguist, philosopher
and cryptographer; he epitomised the
Renaissance Man.
d. Giovanni Cimabue, also known as Cenni di
Pepo or Cenni di Pepi, was an Italian painter
and designer of mosaics from Florence.
Although heavily influenced by Byzantine
models, Cimabue is generally regarded as
one of the first great Italian painters to break
from the Italo-Byzantine style.
e. Filippo Brunelleshi. Considered to be a
founding father of Renaissance architecture,
was an Italian architect and designer, and is
now recognised to be the first modern
engineer, planner, and sole construction
supervisor.
f. Fra Angelico was an Italian painter of the
Early Renaissance, described by Vasari in his
Lives of the Artists as having "a rare and
perfect talent". He earned his reputation
primarily for with the series of frescoes he
made for his own friary, San Marco, in
Florence.
g. Lorenzo Ghiberti, born Lorenzo di Bartolo,
was a Florentine Italian artist of the Early
Renaissance best known as the creator of the
bronze doors of the Florence Baptistery,
called by Michelangelo the Gates of Paradise.
Trained as a goldsmith and sculptor, he
established an important workshop for
sculpture in metal.
4. Most Common Paintings in Classical Greek
a. Kerch Vase Painting- Kerch Vase is red-
figured pottery names after the place where it
discovered. Most common motifs were
scenes from the life of women, mythological
beings or mythical story or event. This type
of painting used a technique known as
polychromy which combined different colors
especially the brilliant one in an artistic
manner. The shapes commonly found are:
1. Krater (it is a bowl used for mixing
wine and water)
2. lebesgamikos (a container with
high handles and lid use to carry
bridal bath)
3. lekanis (a low bowl with two
horizontal handles and a small,
broad foot
4. pelike (a wine container)
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b. Panel Painting- Panel painting was
especially famous for making beautiful altar
pieces. This type of paintings executed on flat
panels of wood or metals which can be either
a small, single piece or several boards that are
together. The earliest known old painting is
the Pitsa Panel (dated between 540 and 530
B.C.E.).
c. Tomb/Wall Painting- Popular Tomb or wall
painting during classical period uses either
tempera (water-based) or encaustic (wax) as
a method of fresco. Colors in this type are
made with grind powder stains in pure water,
dry and set with plaster to become a lasting
part of the wall.
 Cave art - generally, the numerous paintings and
engravings found in caves and shelters dating back to the
Ice Age (Upper Paleolithic), roughly between 40,000 and
14,000 years ago.
 Egyptian Art- One of the oldest civilizations in the world
that prospered from the fourth millennium to fourth century
BCE is that of the Ancient Egyptians, who were prolific
artists, leaving behind painted reliefs on the walls of
palaces and tombs, monumental statues, painted papyrus,
jewelry, decorated coffins, and massive works of
architecture (Sweeney, 2004).
 Greek Art- The people of Greece have been making art for
just about their entire history, from the earliest civilization
to the present day (Rasmussen & Spivey , 1991).
a. Geometric period- Art from this period, as the
period’s name implies, are mostly geometric,
mainly representations and repetitions of shapes
rather than the more realistic work of the earlier
periods
b. Archaic Period- For the first time in almost 800
years, artists began working to recreate more
realistic human forms. New technologies enabled
pottery to be more colorful and ornate than ever
before.
c. Classical period- Artists in this period have
perfected the human form in their sculpture. A
favorite subject was that of the athlete, as the
Greek style lent itself easily to the portrayal of
musculature.
d. Hellenistic Period- The new art was termed
Hellenistic, because while it was very similar to
art made by the Greeks (who called their
homeland Helles), it was combined with other
cultures and not purely Greek, hence a term that
means 'Greek-like.' The Hellenistic period is
said to have begun around 320 BC and lasted
until around 30 BC, when the Roman empire
began its emergence
 Roman Art- Rome owes nearly the entirety of its artistic
achievement to the Greeks. The elements of Greek art held
a great appeal to the Romans, but then, most historians tend
to describe Roman art as a copy of Greek art (Strong, et.
Al, 1988).
 Classical - was an era of classical music between roughly
1730 and 1820. The Classical period falls between the
Baroque and the Romantic periods. Classical music has a
lighter, clearer texture than Baroque music and is less
complex.
 Medieval period – Middle Ages or Medieval Period lasted
from the 5th to the 15th century. It began with the fall of
the Western Roman Empire and merged into the
Renaissance and the Age of Discovery.
 Renaissance – The Renaissance was a fervent period of
European cultural, artistic, political and economic “rebirth”
following the Middle Ages. Generally described as taking
place from the 14th century to the 17th century, the
Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of classical
philosophy, literature and art.
 Mannerism Art- rejected their perfectly classical
symmetry. Mannerist painters wanted to draw attention to
the artificial nature of a painting wherein they made
unnatural figures to force the viewer to think about the fact
it is a painting and nothing more.
 Baroque Art- Baroque painting can be seen as the peak of
realism in European Art. Baroque painters made use of
light, instead of form and figure.
 Rococo Art- a movement in the history of art that began at
the beginning of the 18th century. Rococo artists used soft
pastel colors to evoke a feeling of peace, and lose
brushstrokes to add to a painting's drama, flowing lines and
forms in their compositions, regardless of the subject
matter (Fukui & Suoh, 2012).
 Neo-Classism Art- In the late 18th century, much of the
Western world developed a renewed love of all things
 relating to the Classical societies of the ancient Greeks and
Romans. This led to the rise of Neoclassical art, which
revived Classical artistic styles with a modern purpose
(Talbott, 1995).
 Romanticism- artistic movement of the late 18th and early
19th centuries that focused on freedom of form,
imagination, and expression, rejecting Neoclassicism by
creating artworks that were very emotional, dramatic and
personal. Brushstrokes became thicker and unrestrained,
perfect symmetry was abandoned and colors were
contrasted in theatrical ways.
 Realism- this movement of artists rejected the classical
settings, subjective views, and idealization of Romanticism
and embraced the contemporary, everyday situations of the
working class life. Art critics, theorists, and historians
sometimes use the term Naturalism, which refers to the
style of precise portrayals of scenes according to its
appearance in real-life as opposed to the aesthetic of
illusionism as seen in the Romantic style of subjectivity.
 Impressionism- Impressionists tried several new
techniques and materials that eventually defined
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Impressionism. They deliberately left their paintings
looking unfinished, trying to express their visions of a
single moment in time using short, quick brushstrokes that
touched colors to the canvas in little comma-like shapes
one after another.
 Post-Impressionism- The artists in this age were
interested in the way the colors are utilized to help viewers
understand an object or scene. Common among the Post-
impressionists is the way they break-up up complex
images into simple arrangements of lines and colors so
that the viewer’s minds turn that into something more.
 Neo-Impressionism- Neo-impressionism is another
movement that took place while France’s modern era was
at its peak. Neo-impressionists focused on modern urban
scenes as well as landscapes and seashores.
 Art Noveau- or the ‘new art,' began in England and
developed through Europe in the late 1890s which aimed
to create modern design and celebrate craftsmanship at a
time when new mass-produced objects of questionable
quality were flooding the society. It was an attempt to bring
together fine and decorative arts and emphasized flowing
lines, whiplash curves and organic forms, often featuring
natural materials like wood and natural colors like muted
greens, browns and deep reds.
 Fauvism- Fauvism is characterized by (1) a radical use of
unnatural colors that separated color from its usual
representational and realistic role, giving new, emotional
meaning to the colors; (2) a creation of a strong, unified
work that appears flat on the canvas; (3) a show of the
painter’s individual expressions and emotions instead of
paintings created based on theories of what they ought to
look like in the real world.
 Expressionism- Expressionism did not try to depict reality
and focused on colors and abstract forms, and the creation
of intensely emotional and thought-provoking works as late
as the 1930s in both Germany and the United States. It
portrays subjective emotions and responses through
distortion, exaggeration, primitivism, and fantasy through
the vivid, violent and dynamic application of formal
elements. In a broader sense, the styles used in this art
movement characterize the typical modern art
(Bookbinder, 2005).
 Cubism- Cubism emerged as a form of painting that
challenged all of the values of the Victorian era.
 Futurism- an Italian movement, saw technology,
violence, and youth as symbolizing the road ahead.
Futurists embraced the chaos of the advances in technology
as an inspiring way to reject tradition and face the future.
Futurists went so far as to call for the destruction of
tradition and looked to close libraries, museums, and any
academies.
WESTERN MUSIC
 Instrumental Music- During mid-18th century to the early
19th century, composers wanted music to sound natural,
well-structured and attractive to the average listener. There
were four prominent genres of instrumental music, which
is music for instruments only, without singing.
 Classical Music- As a reaction to the excessively fancy
music of the Baroque Era, Classical musicians, like Mozart
and Haydn, preferred balanced structures and clear
organization. It also emphasized on homophonic melodies,
which refers to having a single melody that all the
instruments played instead of the layered melodies of the
Baroque period. They established rules for music that
provided a framework for compositions.
 Romantic Music- Everything in the Romantic Era was
bigger and more dramatic. Musical pieces became longer,
composers called for musicians to play higher, lower, and
louder than ever before, and the orchestra doubled in size.
Many different ideologies and movements were embraced
by the composers of this era, including notions of
individualism, nationalism, and emotionalism. Artists were
expected to express their innermost feelings and desires
through their compositions, and traditional tonal patterns
and vocalist styles were modified, extended, or discarded.
 Modern Music- After the beautiful melodies of the
previous era, Modern composers tried to take music to the
next level. Composers questioned the very nature of music
and produced some very strange compositions, some of
which are highly dissonant, or harsh-sounding. Audiences
were often unsure of how to respond, and many preferred
the music from the Classical and Romantic Eras (Botstein,
2001).
ASIAN ART
Chinese Art
 China has a long heritage of artistic practice, and
ancient Chinese artists worked in many materials.
They possessed a high degree of technical
understanding and pioneered methods like casting
bronze, a metal made of copper and tin. They also
developed new ways to fire ceramics and add glazes.
Most early Chinese art tended to reflect class structure
as it evolved in China over the centuries, and much of
it was related to funerary practices.
a. Pottery- oldest form of art
b. Calligraphy- one of the most treasured
Chinese art forms
Japanese Art
 By the late 19th century, Japan opened to the western
world. At that time, some tried to categorize Japanese
art as a single style. However, Japanese art is
incredibly diverse and each historical period has its
own characteristics and prevailing forms of art.
Philippine Art
 Philippine art are works of art that have developed and
accumulated in the Philippines from the beginning of
Philippine civilization up to the present era. Influenced
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heavily by the country’s culture, it varies from
different branches and categories.
 During pre-colonization, the early Filipinos are said
to have been practicing art, akin to those who lived
during the pre-historic age. Cave paintings were
found in the Tabon caves of Palawan. The Early
Filipinos were also fond of sculpture. Pottery has
existed during this time where over 1,500 burial jars
were found in the said caves. Notable among these jars
is the Manunggul Jar, which is considered to be a
National Cultural Treasure.
 When the Spaniards came to the Philippines, religion
became the subject of most paintings and
 sculptures — there were many religious icons, and
portraitures of secular leaders, altar pieces and
religious figurines. The indigenous people of Visayas
were called Pintados by the Spanish colonizers to
describe the tattooed indigenous Cebuano Visayan
people.
 During the American Period, paintings used
landscape, portraiture, still life, among others.
Sculptures were either free standing or relief displayed
in public. Architectures are more of city planning,
waterfront, civic/government structures, public works,
apartments, residences, offices, health and public
education and businesses.
 When the Japanese came, both paintings and
sculptures were about wartime scenes (that depict
aggression, nationalism, atrocities, symbolic protests);
and propagandas like the works of Amorsolo,
Francisco and Ocampo.
THE FILIPINO ART AND CRAFTS
Pre-Colonial Art Forms in the Archipelago
The arts in the Philippine archipelago had its past and
continued to develop by numerous modern artists. With their
different context regarding history, style, cultural symbols, and
meanings, these artworks are portrayed (Estrella, 2017).
1. Agung. It is a musical instrument of the Kulintang
ensemble which played ny one or two persons
depending on its number. By using a rubber padded
beater, this instrument is performed on both the
boss/knob and the face of the gong.
2. Banog-banog. It is a dance that portrays hunters,
shielding their chickens from the famishing hawk.
follow them wherever they go.
3. BlitB’laan. It is a courtship dance of the Bilaan of
Davao del Sur mimicking birds during mating season.
The females scurry to safety, burying their heads under
their wings (using the malong), but the aggressive
males
4. Cañao. It is a festival or a ceremony of the indigenous
mountain people of Northern Luzon (Cordilleras). It is
a socio-religious ritual where chickens, pigs and/or
carabaos are butchered as a sacrifice and feasted on.
This is usually a thanksgiving to their god Kabunyan.
5. Gangsa. It is an indigenous musical instrument of the
Bontoc tribes of Kalinga, Ifugao in the mountain
regions (the Cordillera) of the northern Philippines.
6. Inamong. It is an ethnic dance among Tigwahanon
Manobos in the province of Bukidnon and performed
during the harvest time. This type of dance shows a
couple, with their bodies and arms slightly bent
forward, mimicking the movement of a pair of flirting
monkeys.
7. Kadal Iwas. It is a dance performed by the T-boli and
Tausug tribes respectively which mimic a mealtime of
monkeys in removing nits and lice from each other. A
variation of this dance is to mimic a monkey who sits
on an anthill by mistake and is attacked by angry ants
all over his body.
8. Kashawing. It is a ritual among the Maranaos and is
performed to ensure a good harvest.
9. Kinabua. It is a ritual dance among the Mandaya
tribes in Northern Mindanao. This type of dance
portrays the Hawks‘use of sweet songs to lure out the
hen and the chicks that are made into a meal.
10. Mamakar. It is a Bontoc War Dance performed during
the planting season and a bountiful harvest.
11. Man-manok. It is a dance performed in Vigan, Ilocos
Sur that dramatizes three roosters from the Bago Tribe
who compete against one another to be able to get the
attention of a hen, Lady Lien.
12. Mayvanuvanua. It refers to a sacrificial rite
performed at the beginning of the summer fishing
season by mataw fishers in Batanes. It is an act of
attraction to successfully capture the fish dorado for a
limited period of time.
13. Mumbaki. It is a local term which refers to the
―sayer of prayers‖ among the Ifugaos in Northern
Luzon. These prayers are performed during funerals,
wedding, thanksgiving and other celebrations. This is
offered to the supreme deity, Maknonga.
14. Ngilin. It is a cultural dance performed among the
Kalinga tribe during Marriage rituals and other
celebrations like the budong (peace pact). This type of
dance is played to simulate the romantic or peaceful
interactions of a rooster and a hen.
15. Pagdiwata. It refers to a ritual performed among the
ethnic group in the north and central Palawan. The
ceremony is held on various occasions including
bountiful harvests and weddings.
16. Pangalay (also known as Sea Gypsies). It is a
native dance of the Badjao performed during
weddings and other social gatherings. This type of
dance emphasizes the agility of the upper body
wherein the rhythmic bounce of the shoulder with the
simultaneous alternating waving of arms is the
essential movement.
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17. Sampak. It is a war dance performed by the Mandaya
tribe. This type of dance requires excellent skill in the
handling of a shield, spear, and a sword.
18. Saut. It is a ritual dance performed by a male
Talaanding tribe presenting their expertise in style and
arts in fighting their opponent. This ritual dance is also
an offering to their magbabaya (god).
19. Talip. It is a courtship dance among Ifugao. This is
performed during the celebration of the intaneg
(wedding). In this dance, the man traps a woman with
an attractive blanket to place on her shapely shoulders.
Famous Indigenous Musical Instruments in the Philippines
1. Aerophones. It is any of a class of musical instruments
in which a vibrating mass of air produces the initial
sound. Examples of these are as follows:
a. Baliing – Nose flutes of the Apayao
b. Bansik – Bamboo flute of the Negrito
c. Kaleleng – a long bamboo tube of the Bontoc
d. Bulungudyung – Vertical & long flute of the
B‘laan
e. Kalaleng – Bamboo flute of the Tinggian
f. Lantoy – Nose flute of the Mangyan
g. Palandag (Palendag) – Lip-valley flute of the
Bagobo
h. Paldong and Tongali – Lip-valley flutes of
the Kalinga
i. Pulalo – Lip-valley flute of the Mansaka
j. Sahunay – pipe with reed (clarinet) of the
Tausog
2. Chordophones. It refers to any musical instrument
which makes sound way of trembling strings stretched
between two poimts. Examples of these are as follows:
a. Faglong – Two-stringed, lute-like instrument
of the B‘laan
b. Kolitong – Bamboo guitar of the Kalinga
c. Kudlong – Two stringed boat lute of the
Bagobo
d. Kudyapi – Two stringed boat lute of the
Maranao
e. Kulit-en – Guitar of the Tinggian
f. Pas-ing – Guitar of the Igorot
g. Serongagandi – a decorated bamboo tube of
the Maranao
h. Saludoy – bamboo guitar of the T‘boli
3. Idiophone. It refers to any musical instrument which
produced sound primarily by way of the instruments’
vibrating, without the use of strings or membranes.
a. Afiw – Jaw harp of the Bontoc
b. Agung – Bossed gong of the Maranao
c. Balingbing – Bamboo buzzer of the
Kalingga
d. Bangibang – Percussion bar of the Ifugao
e. Gabbang – bamboo xylophone of the Tausog
f. Kinaban – Jaw harp of the Hanunoo
g. Kubing – Jaw harp of the Ata and Maranao
h. Kulintang – Metal xylophone of the
Maranao
i. Kumbing – Jaw harp of the Manobo
j. Palipal – Bamboo clapper of the Ifugao
k. Tagutok – Decorated bamboo scraper of the
Maranao
l. Tanggunggu – Gong chime of the Kalagan,
B‘laan, Manuvu, Bagobo
m. Tongkaling – Pellet bells or crotal bells of
the B‘laan.
4. Membranophone. It refers to any musical instrument
which produces sound by way of a vibrating stretched
membrane. Most membranophones are drums, such
as:
a. Dabakan – glass shaped drum of the
Maranao
b. Gandang – Double headed cylindrical drum
of the Maranao
c. Libbit – Conical drum of the Ifugao
d. Sulibao – Conical drum of the Ibaloy
Importance of Philippine Artistic Handicrafts
1. It promotes our cultural legacy through the use of
indigenous materials.
2. It shows an individuals’ creativity and superior
ingenuity.
3. It encourages manufacturers to produce rawer
materials.
4. It generates employment.
5. It develops values of perseverance and resiliency
Common Handicraft Materials
a. Abaca (Musa Textilis) – It is a tree-like herb
resembling the banana plant. It is durable and dyed in
different colors.
b. Bamboo (Bambusa Spinosa) – It is for the furniture
industry because of its strength and durability. It is also
valuable material for basket and hat making.
c. Buri (CoyphaElata) – It is a palm which three kinds of
fibers, namely buri, raffa, and until, are taken.
d. Caragumoy (Pandanus Simplex) – It is greenish grey
as it dries and is used traditionally in making bags,
baskets, hats, and mats.
e. Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) – It is the most utilized
palm in the Philippines. Its cocomidrib is used
primarily as handicraft material for the production of a
lot of crafts.
f. Kalas – It is a by-product of the buri palm. It creates
an unusual, rustic pattern with distinct characteristics
from its original material when artistically woven.
g. Leather – it is a material created through the tanning
of skins of animals like carabaos, horses, snakes,
alligators, goats, lizards, and others.
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h. Pandan-Dagat (PandanusTectorius) – It is a variety of
screw pine abundantly distributed along sandy beaches
and coastal brushes in the Philippines.
i. Rattan – It is the most flexible material used in the
manufacturing industry and been known to extend up
to hundreds of meters long.
j. Seagrass (rhynohospora corymbosa) – It is a type of
grass in shallow salty and brackish waters. The stems
are distinctly triangular, and the leaves are broad and
long.
Traditional Handwork in the Philippines
1. Jewelry (Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Mindanao
Regions). This handicraft is mostly in Central Luzon
region, mainly from the province of Bulacan. You can
also find related of this from Mindanao regions, but down
south, you can even get powerful brass amulets and other
accessories.
2. Metal Craft (Souther Luzon and Mindanao Regions).
This type of handicraft is in Southern Luzon region,
particularly in the province of Btangas. A very popular
metal craft which is locally and internationally as an
excellent source for a portable knife is called Balisong.
Traditional weapons made from brass, bronze, and gold,
are also abundant in the island of Mindanao.
3. Pots and Jars (Ilocos Region). The pots and jars known
as burnay can found explicitly in the province of Ilocos
Sur. These creations are made from Grade A clay.
4. Woven Fabrics (Mindanao Regions). These fabrics are
woven traditionally, by interlacing threads using a
manual machine called a loom. One of the common
materials in this region is called malong which
historically used as a skirt and sometimes as a blanket.
5. Wood Carvings (Cordillera and Southern Luzon
Regions). Fantastic wood carvings produced by the
Ifugao in the northern region of the Cordilleras. Often,
these wood carvings are depicting their indigenous gods.
Excellent kitchenware like wooden bowls and utensils
are in this region.
What is National Artist?
 A Filipino citizen who has been given the rank and title
of National Artist in recognition of his or her
significant contributions to the development of
Philippine arts and letters.
 The National Artist recognition is the highest
individual award given to an artist who contributed
works of significance to the Philippine arts in their area
of artistry.
 This task is handled by the National Commission for
Culture and the Arts (NCAA) and the Cultural
Center of the Philippines (CCP) and bestowed by the
President of the Philippines.
 So, The National Artist Award was started in 1972
through Presidential Proclamation No. 1001 s. 1972.
 The following is the list of National Artist of the
Philippines (as of April 2017) in the categories of
architecture and Allied Arts, Broadcast Arts, Dance,
Film, Literature, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts.
Fernando Amorsolo
- Fernando C. Amorsolo was a portraitist and painter of
rural Philippine landscapes. He was recognized as the
“Philippines’ first National Artist” on April 28, 1972.
Given the title “Grand Old Man of the Philippine Art”.
He is popularly known for his craftsmanship and
mastery in the use of light.
- Since then, only 73 talented individuals have been
given this honor. It is the highest recognition given to
Filipino artists (film, visual arts, dance, etc.) In order
to be considered for selection, the artist must meet
certain criteria such as work towards nation-building
and has reviewed prestigious national and interna-
tional recognition.
- Ang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ang pinakamataas
na pagkilalang ibinibigay sa mga Pilipinong mayroon
malaki ang naiambag sa katayuan ng sining ng
Pilipinas, tulad ng musika, sining biswal, panitikan,
pelikula, broadcast arts, theater, dance, architecture,
design, at allied arts. Ang pagkilala ay bahagyang
ibinibigay sa mga artist, na may mga parangal kung
minsan ay nagaganap sa pagitan ng mga taon.
- Since its inception in 1972, only 73 individuals have
been conferred this highest honor of becoming a
National Artist of the Philippines. Of that number, 26
were awarded posthumously, including the first
National Artist, Fernando Amorsolo.
- The recognition was called National Artists Award,
until it was elevated in 2003 by then-President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo to the rank of Order. (Noong una,
ang pagkilala ay tinawag na National Artists Award,
hanggang sa ito ay itinaas 2003 ni dating Pangulong
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.)
- Ang Kautusan ay ipinagkaloob sa indibidwal ng
National Commission for the Culture and the Arts
(NCCA) at ng Cultural Center of the Philippines
(CCP) sa isang seremonya sa Palasyo ng Malacañang.
The Roster of National Artists
 Francisca Reyes Aquino – She was known as Dancer
and Researcher of Philipppine Folk Dance. Francisca
was born in Bocaue, Bulacan on March 9, 1899.
Reyes-Aquino studied Physical Education and
graduated with a BS Education degree from the
University of the Philippines and Sargent College in
Boston. She published a thesis in 1926 entitled
"Philippine Folk Dances and Games" where she noted
on previously unrecorded forms of local celebration,
ritual and sports.
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 Carlos "Botong" V. Francisco - In this Philippine
name, the middle name or maternal family name is
Villaluz and the surname or paternal family name is
Francisco. 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.
He was one of the first Filipino modernists along with
Galo Ocampo and Victorio C. Edades who broke away
from Fernando Amorsolo's romanticism of Philippine
scenes.
 Lamberto V. Avellana - Born in Bontoc, Mountain
Province, Avellana was educated at the Ateneo de
Manila, where he developed what turned out to be a
lifelong interest in the theater. He was a prominent
Filipino film and stage director. Despite considerable
budgetary limitations that hampered the post-war
Filipino film industry, Avellana's films such as Anak
Dalita and Badjao attained international acclaim. In
1976, Avellana was named by President Ferdinand
Marcos as the first National Artist of the Philippines
for Film.
 Nick Joaquín - Nicomedes "Nick" Marquez Joaquin
was a Filipino writer and journalist best known for his
short stories and novels in the English language. He
also wrote using the pen name Quijano de Manila. His
style is defined flowery and spanish-influenced
English. After named as a “National Artist for
Literature”, he used his influence to fight for
intellectual freedom and helped free imprisoned writer
Jose F. Lacaba during the Marcos regime.
 Jovita Fuentes - was a Filipina soprano singer, born
in Capiz (now Roxas City) to a well-off couple named
Canuto and Dolores Fuentes. At an early age, she
displayed interest in music, learning the contemporary
songs at that time. An acclaimed theater actress,
performing in various theater productions in Europe, a
feat that was unheard of back then. She was recognized
by Spain and given the title “La Embahadora de
Filipina a su Madre Patria”, the first and only record.
Her success in Europe afforded her to produce operas
in the Philippines.
 Victorio C. Edades - born on December 23, 1895 to
Hilario and Cecilia Edades. 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. Known as Father of Modern Philippine Painting.
His style is described as raw and rough using bold
impasto and strokes. His modernist style served as the
perfect counter balance to Fernando Amorsolo’s
idealized and academic paintings.
 Vicente S. Manansala - born in San Roque,
Macabebe, Pampanga. he studied at the U.P. School of
Fine Arts. He was a member of the prominent Cruz,
Manansala, Lopez family clan. He is considered one
of the 13 Moderns, a group of modernists associated
with Victorio Edades. Vincente Manansala’s
acclaimed early works combined concepts from the
rural and urban settings, creating a reflective pause
when experimented with other works. He later
experimented other art styles and is considered a
pioneer of cubism in the Philippines.
 Carlos P. Rómulo - was born in Camiling, Tarlac and
studied at the Camiling Central Elementary School
during his basic education. A Filipino diplomat,
statesman, soldier, journalist and author. He was a
reporter at the age of 16, a newspaper editor by 20, and
a publisher at 32. He was a co- founder of the Boy
Scouts of the Philippines, a general in the US Army
and the Philippine Army, university president, and
president of the United Nations General Assembly, He
has been named as one of the Philippines's national
artists in literature, and was the recipient of many other
honors and honorary degrees. Romulo became a
professor of English at the University of the
Philippines in 1923.
 Honorata "Atang" de la Rama - was formally
honored as the Queen of Kundiman in 1979, then
already 74 years old singing the same song (“Nabasag
na Banga”) that she sang as a 15-year-old girl in the
Sarzuela Dalagang Bukid. She believes that the
Filipino soul can be best experienced. Through alive
by performing these art forms for the Negritos of
Zambales and the Sierra Madre, the bagobos of Davao
and the Lumad of Mindanao. Atang became the very
first actress in the very first locally produced Filipino
film when she essayed the same role in the sarsuela’s
film version. Among the kundiman and the other
songs, she premiered or popularized were Pakiusap,
Ay, Ay Kalisud, Kung Iibig Ka and Madaling Araw by
Jose Corazon de Jesus, and Mutya ng Pasig by
Deogracias Rosario and Nicanor Abelardo. She also
wrote her own sarswelas: Anak ni Eba, Aking Ina, and
Puri at Buhay.
 Antonino Buenaventura - born on May 4, 1904 in
Baliuag, Bulacan. He was born in a family of
musicians. He is credited with making the “Philippine
Army Band” one of the best in the world whose
performances under his tutelage sound like symphony
orchestra. And also, together with Francisca Reyes-
Aquino, made ethnic tribe song popular.
Philippine GAMABA Awards
In April 1992, the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or
the National Living Treasures Award was institutionalized
through Republic Act No. 7355. Tasked with the
administration and implementation of the Award is the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts, the highest policy-
making and coordinating body for culture and the arts of the
State. The NCCA, through the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan
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Executive Council, conducts the search for the finest traditional
artists of the land, adopts a program that will ensure the transfer
of their skills to others, and undertakes measures to promote a
genuine appreciation of and instill pride among our people
about the genius of the Manlilikha ng Bayan.
1. Ginaw Bilog (d. 2003), artist and poet, Mansalay,
Oriental Mindoro Poetry (Ambahan), 1993
2. Masino Intaray (d. 2013), musician and epic chanter,
Brooke's Point, Palawan, Poetry (Kulilal and
Bagit)Music (Basal / Gong), 1993
3. Samaon Sulaiman (d. 2011), musician, Mamasapano,
Maguindanao Music (Kutyapi), 1993
4. Lang Dulay, (d. 2015) textile weaver, Lake Sebu,
South Cotabato, Weaving ( T‘nalak), 1998
5. Salinta Monon (d. 2009), weaver, Bansalan, Davao
del Sur, Weaving (Abaca – ikat / Inabal), 1998
6. Alonzo Saclag, musician and dancer, Lubuagan,
Kalinga, Music and Dance (Kalinga), 2000
7. Federico Caballero, epic chanter, Sulod- Bukidnon,
Iloilo, Poetry and Epic Chant (Sugidanon), 2000
8. Uwang Ahadas, musician, Lamitan, Basilan, Music
(Yakan specifically Kulintang, kwitangan kayu,
gabbang, agung, and tuntungan), 2000
9. Darhata Sawabi, (d. 2005), weaver, Parang, Sulu,
Weaving (Pis Syabit), 2004
10. Eduardo Mutuc, metalsmith / metal sculptor, Apalit,
Pampanga, Metalwork (Bronze and Silver), 2004
11. Haja Amina Appi (d. 2013), weaver, Tandubas,
Tawi-Tawi, Weaving (Mat), 2004
12. Teofilo Garcia, casque maker, San Quintin, Abra,
Casque Making (Tabungaw), 2012
13. Magdalena Gamayo, master weaver, Pinili, Ilocos
Norte, Weaving (Inabel), 2012
14. Ambalang Ausalin, master weaver, Lamitan, Basilan,
Weaving (Yakan tennun), 2016
15. Estelita Tumandan Bantilan, master weaver,
Malapatan, Sarangani, Weaving (B'laan igem), 2016
16. Yabing Masalon Dulo, master weaver, Polomolok,
South Cotabato, Weaving (Ikat), 2016
17. Whang-od, traditional tattoo artist (mambabatok),
Buscalan, Tinglayan, Kalinga, Tattoo, 2017
 Music- Performed with a vast range of instruments and
vocal techniques ranging from singing to rapping
a. String choir consists of the violin, the viola, the
violoncello (or cello) and the double brass. Each
of these instruments has a hollow sound box
across which nylon, wire or gut strings are
stretched.
b. Wind instruments are found behind the string
choir in an orchestra. These instruments are
sounded by blowing into them, thus setting a
column of air vibrating. These are grouped under
the woodwind and the brass choirs.
c. Brass instruments consist of a cylindrical brass
tube of varying length
d. Percussion means “the sharp striking of one body
against another.” The complete percussion section
includes almost any instrument that is sounded by
striking, shaking, or scratching with the hands or
with another object. These instruments are used to
emphasize the rhythm, gen- erate excitement, and
enliven the orchestral sound
e. Human voice is the most wonderful musical
instrument used to express oneself through music
long before man ever conceived of making music
with instruments of his own invention. The human
voice is rather like a wind instrument. When one
sings, the vocal chords (membranes contained
within the voice box or larynx) are subconsciously
tightened to a certain tension
i. soprano, the high-pitched female voice;
ii. alto, the low-pitched female voice;
iii. tenor, the high-pitched male voice;
iv. bass, the low-pitched male voice.
 Literature- It refers to writing considered to be an art form
or any single writing deemed to have artistic or intellectual
value
 Sculpture- The designs of this art form may be embodied
in freestanding objects, in reliefs on surfaces, or in
environments ranging from tableaux to contexts that
envelop the spectator
 Dance- An art form or activity that utilizes the body and
the range of movement of which the body is capable
 Architecture- It also represents human ideals in buildings
like courthouses and government buildings and
manifestations of the spirit in churches and temples
 Theater- This presents the experience of a real or imagined
event before a live audience in a specific place, often a
stage
 Painting- It has survived for thousands of years and is,
along with drawing and sculpture, one of the oldest creative
media
 Artisanal- It is sometimes used in describing hand
processing in what is usually viewed as an industrial
process
 Imitation- This can be further distinguished according to
major forms such as the novel, short story, or drama
 Fiction- Plato’s Ideas of the Arts may be summed up by
the truths according to him that Art is
 Mimesisis- the process by which art reflects and
reinterprets the world around it
 Subject- refers to the “what” of an artwork
a. History- The rich history of the Philippines has
been a foundation of monuments all around the
country — from national heroes and former
presidents of the country, to specific societal
conditions during the colonial period — many
artists have been inspired to create an artwork
from historic events.
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b. Still Life- This subject contains inanimate or non- be captured because the objects presented are
living objects, which are arranged in a location, effortlessly recognized because of the identifiable
usually set indoors and contains at least a man- forms in the artwork. This meaning is often
made object such as a basket, vase, or a bag. complemented by other levels of meaning.
Examples include a basket of fruits, a bundh of b. Conventional meaning: This refers to the special
flowers in a vase, or a bag of groceries. One meaning that a certain object or color has for a
advantage of using this subject is its availability particular culture or group of people. For instance,
and manageability. the flag is the given symbol for a nation; the cross
c. Figures- This subject entails the use of a model, is a Christian symbol of faith; the wheel is the
usually a human figure (clothed or not). However, Buddhist symbol for the teachings of Gautama
it limits art production because of the availability Buddha.
of the model and the cost that comes with it. c. Subjective meaning: This denotes any personal
d. Animals- The earliest paintings found in a meaning consciously or unconsciously conveyed
number of caves in Europe were animals. Since by the artist using a private symbolism, which
man benefits from hunting in the ancient times for stems from his own association of certain objects,
survival, his encounters with them has become action, or colors with past experiences. This
inevitable that even in paintings or other works of  Form- signifies the “how” of the work, which describes
art they have become an interesting subject to use. how the artwork has been developed or put together.
e. Nature- Nature as a subject in art covers many
aspects of our life such as our emotional, spiritual,
social, and mental beings. Think about play time
in the mud, in the fields, take a plunge in the rivers
or in our man-made pools, pick flowers for
decoration or strawberries berries to eat.
f. Landscape- The focus of this subject is the
natural scenery of various landforms, which
include mountains, cliffs, forests, valleys, plains,
plateau and the like, where the main subject is a
wide
g. Seascape and City Scape- The emphases of sea-
scape as a subject are the water forms, which
include the ocean, see, river, brook, pond, falls,
etc. On the other hand, cityscape as a subject is
usually an aerial view of a city or a portion of it.
h. Myth and Mythology- Gods and Goddesses have
certainly influenced the life of the cities and of
individuals. Myth and mythology are the ultimate
source of classical subjects in art, which can be
observed not only in Greek sculptures in the early
centuries, but also in the Renaissance period.
i. Dreams and Fantasies- These subjects depict an
artwork without a “real” frame story but as a raw
material to an artwork, they represent the artist’s
highest creative po- tential by producing an
original work from these imageries. You may be
familiar with Alice in Wonderland, a novel about
a girl named Alice who fell through a rabbit hole
into a fantasy world where peculiar creatures live.
In this modern time, this literary work has been
recreated into a movie film that viewers have
enjoyed in as much they did as a novel.

 Content- the “why” of an artwork which indicates the

artist’s intention, or the meaning behind the work
a. Factual meaning: This is the literal statement or
the narrative content in the work, which can easily

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