What is Art?

 Art is expressed through a certain medium or

material by which the artist communicates
Humanities. Is a set of discipline that includes himself to his fellow.
grammar, philosophy, literature, history, and music.  The conscious use of skill and creative
The term is derived from the Latin word Humanus, imagination especially in the production of
which means human. This concerns humanity. (This aesthetic objects. (Merriam Webster)
explains why the arts are called the humanities. They  Art is the activity by which a person, having
bring the good and noble in us. Through the arts, we experienced an emotion, intentionally
come to know the changing image of man, striving to transmits it to others. (Leo Tolstoy)
achieve the ideals that create meaning for life. It  Art is any creative work of a human being.
concerns humanity. It records or interprets man’s  Art is a form of expressing oneself
thinking, feeling, regrets, aspirations, failures and  Art resides in the quality of doing; process is
what he is not supposed to do in the world. not magic
 Art is the act of making something visually
Art entertaining
 Art is that activity which manifests beauty
 It is derived from the Latin word “Ars” which  Art is mastery, an ideal way of doing things
means ability or skill.
 Art is not a thing — it is a way (Elbert
 Art from the Italian word “Artis” which means Hubbard)
craftsmanship, skill, mastery of form,
 Art is the most intense mode of individualism
inventiveness, and the associations that exist
that the world has known
bet. Form and ideas, between material and
 Art is a discovery and development of
technique.
elementary principles of nature into beautiful
 Art is the product of man’s need to express
forms suitable for human use (Frank Lloyd
himself.
Wright).
 Art is the product of creative human activity in
 The study of objects of art in their historical
which materials are shaped or selected to
development and stylistic contexts: genre,
convey an idea, emotion, or visually
design, format, style. It includes painting,
interesting form.
scuplture, architecture, ceramics, furniture,
 The word art can refer to the visual arts, and other decorative objects.
including painting, sculpture, architecture,
 Encompasses several methods of studying the
photography, decorative arts, crafts, and
visual arts.
other visual works that combine materials or
o connoisseurs
forms.
o critics
 We also use the word art in a more general
o academic art historians
sense to encompass other forms of creative
Art Appreciation
activity, such as dance, drama, and music, or
even to describe skill in almost any activity, It is the ability to interpret or understand
such as “the art of bread making” or “the art man-made arts and enjoy them either through actual
of travel.” or work-experience with art tools and materials or
 The skillful, systematic arrangement or
possession of these works of art for one’s admiration
adaptation of means for the attainment of
and satisfaction. It deals with learning or
some end, especially by human endeavor ||
understanding and creating art and enjoying them.
the skill of creating something beautiful by
drawing, painting or making it with your Creativity. The act of turning new and imaginative
hands. ideas into reality. Creativity is characterized by the
 Anything created by man for his own benefit ability to perceive the world in new ways, to find
and satisfaction.
hidden patterns, to make connections between
 The skillful arrangement or composition of
seemingly unrelated phenomena, and to generate
some common but significant qualities of
solutions. Creativity involves two processes: thinking,
nature such as colors, sounds, lines,
movements, words, stones, wood, etc., to then producing. (A product is creative when it is (a)
express human feelings, emotions, or novel and (b) appropriate. A novel product is original
thoughts in a perfect meaningful and not predictable.)
enjoyable way.
If you have ideas but don’t act on them, you are
 Art must be manmade.
imaginative but not creative.
 Art must be creative, not imitative
Functions of Arts 1. Uncle Tom’s Cabin-
purposely written to fight
1. Functional (Motivated). e.g. Architecture, slavery and did arouse
weaving and furniture making slavery sentiment before
Function plays a larger part in some arts than the Civil War.
in others. Metalwork such as gates, lamps, 2. Oliver Wendell Holmes’
grills, Chinese ritual bronzes, Christian short poem ”Old
religious objects, armor, weapons, tools, and Ironsides” was written to
coins; ceramics; glassware; stained glass; protest a naval order that
mosaic and tilework; textiles; enamelwork; the frigate Constitution be
furniture; and books are among the many destroyed. The ship was
types of applied arts. famous for its exploits
Applied arts the function is so during the War in 1812.
important than the name of art. It is used to “Aye, tear her tattered
identify individual works. They are known for ensign down!”
their direct function; like in painting, a poem, f. Music and dance
or a statue. We do not speak of a building or a 1. Religion.
piece of ceramics or metalwork; instead we i. Dance- early
say: “a school”, “a Church” “a plate”, “a people invoked
saucer”, “a suit of armor”. their gods by
a. Architecture is directly and beating a drum
almost entirely functional: and singing.
buildings always built for some ii. Music has been of
special function. (Ex. Saint Mary’s paramount
University - It is “a school” rather importance in
than saying “a building”. Sydney worship
Opera House) 2. Ceremonial dances
b. Stained Glass – Intended for g. Sculpture is much more
religious purposes functional than in painting or
c. Armor (Henry II of France) and literature
Weapon (XM-25) 1. Religion has for ages
d. Painting. This is the least made great functional use
functional. Although, many of Sculpture. Lorenzo
paintings are with definite Ghiberti (1378-1455)
purpose. goldsmith, sculpture and
1. Amorsolo: Fruit Pickers painter East Door “the
under the Mango Tree Gate of Paradise” 1425-
2. Juan Luna: Spolarium 1452
3. Picasso’s Guernica. (Bronze, height of door
Paintings protest against 16½ ft. Florence
abuses of their time. Baptistery, photograph by
4. Daumier’s Rue Alnari/Scala)
Transnonain. Paintings 2. For commemoration.
protest against abuses of Eero Saarinen (1910-
their time. 1961) American architect,
e. Expository and argumentative “Gateway Arch” 1965, St
writing is indirectly functional Louis, Missouri (stainless
insofar as it is designed to steel plate “skin” over
accomplish some definite end. structural steel skeleton.
Newspaper stories and pictures Height 630ft at ground
are also indirectly functional; they level. The Lincoln
want to make the news clear. All Memorial in Washington
advertisements, whether in D.C.
words or line and color are
functional and are designed to
influence people.
  Art enriches, informs, and questions
Factors influencing function in Architecture: our world.
 When highly valued it can be both a
1. Climate social and financial asset.
2. Social factors – those elements in architecture  Art can have powerful transformative
determined by the people in contrast to the and restorative effects within a
society as well.
forces of nature.
 Arts are intended or used for public
Form follows function. Function influences and often display and celebration.
determines the form e.g. spoon, door keys, coin  Arts are used to affect the collective
behavior.
Function and Beauty. The value of any work of art  Paintings and buildings can both be
depends on the work itself and being functional and symbols, but buildings also serve a
nonfunctional. Architecture is always functional but physical function. Many objects have
may not be superior or inferior to painting or poetry, both physical and aesthetic duties.
which are usually non-functional.  Works of art that are created to
perform some service have physical
Personal Functions of Art. An artist may create out of functions.
a need for self-expression, or gratification. S/he might
have wanted to communicate a thought or point to
the viewer. Perhaps the artist was trying to provide an
aesthetic experience, both for self and viewers. A
piece might have been meant to "merely" entertain
others. Sometimes a piece isn't meant to have any
meaning at all.

 Aesthetic expression is either abstract sum-

based in nature, or non-objective where you
can’t make anything out
 Spiritual concern is spiritual art. The religious
paintings usually have a historical connection
and spirituality always questions history.
 Death and morbidity is self-explanatory. This
painting also reminds us the inevitability or is
going to happen.
 Love, sex and relationships are not always the
nude paintings in art, but can also be the
mother’s love for her son.

Social Functions of Art. Art has a social function when

it addresses aspects of (collective) life, as opposed to
one person's point of view or experience. Social
function - are those that go beyond personal intrinsic
value to art's social benefits. (Individuals and their
society are dynamically related. Art communicates.)
Most often it is constructed with the intention of
sharing responses to and opinions about life with
others.

2. Non Functional (Non- Motivated). e.g. painting,

sculpture, literature, music and the theater arts.
Visual Elements 4. Value. Created by the application of lights,
shades and shadows.
Visual Elements
Types of Value
1. Point. Most basic visual element with no a. Shade. Dark area in the surface of the object
dimension. that cannot be reached by lights
2. Line. Path of moving point, or points in a b. Shadow. Dark area cast on a receiving surface
series. due to an opaque object that block the
It refers to the contour or outline of an passage of light.
object. It also represents the edges of an c. Chiaroscuro. Technique for applying values in
object. As an element of art, it is always painting. The word is from Italian that means
associated with the emotional state of light and dark.
man. d. Sfumato. Smoky effect in painting that creates
Kinds of Lines and their suggestive expressions and blurry images and conveys a sense of mystery.
meanings
The Three Primary Values
a) Straight lines give the feeling of
The extremes in value are black and white that is the
simplicity, directness and sometimes
highest value is white and the lowest, black. Black is
monotomy. (Order Reason)
the absence of light while white is its presence. The
b) Horizontal lines express the calmness,
step half-way or the middle value is called gray.
quietness, peace and repose.
c) Vertical lines express dignity, stability, Perspective deals with the effect of distance upon the
majesty, uprightness, strength, life and appearance of objects, by means of which the eye
reverence. judges spatial relationship. It enables us to perceive
d) Curve line. Motion and emotion. distance and to see the position of objects in space.
e) Broken line. Suggest disorder, violence
a) Linear perspective is the representation of
and power. Chaos and passion.
an appearance of distance by means of
f) Oblique, slant or diagonal lines
converging lines. This has to do with the
indicate motion, or action, support,
direction of lines and with the size of the
stability and vulnerability.
objects.
g) Light lines give the feeling of delicacy
b) Aerial perspective is the representation of
and refinement.
Kinds of Shapes and their Application to Painting relative distances of objects by gradations
of tone and color.
a) Rectilinear. Shapes produced by
straight lines and applied to inanimate
objects.
b) Curvilinear. Shapes produced by curve
lines and applied to the forms of living
things also called biomorphic shapes.
c) Irregular. All other shapes produced by
the combination of straight and curve
lines.
3. Shape. Produced by the boundary or edge
of an object.
 5. Color. Most beautiful visual element
produced by the lights striking a surface. The intermediate or intermediary colors are mixture
Color refers to the quality or king of light that of equal amounts of primary and secondary colors.
reflects form the surface of the object. Colors These are yellow-orange, red-orange, red-violet, blue-
are seen because of the value of light. It refers green, blue-violet and yellow-green.
to the visual perception of light being
 Blue- it is the color of the sky and the
reflected from a surface of an artwork. In the
deep. It gives the impression of vastness
most basic classification, colors can be divided and infinity. It is a symbol of tranquility,
into three groups: primary, secondary and calmness and peace.
tertiary.  Gray- gives the impression of weight,
solidity and neutrality.
3 Properties of Color
 Green- it is the color of vegetation and
1. Hue is the dimension of color that gives still water. It is a symbol of growth,
color its identity or name. color names freshness and hope.
such as red, yellow, blue and others  Orange- it symbolizes deliciousness and
indicate the color characteristic called sweetness.
 Pink- it symbolizes love.
hue.
 Red – it typifies fire, blood, danger,
2. Value denotes the lightness and darkness
festivity, bravery, war, passion, energy,
of a color. Color can be made darker by vitality and warm.
making the pigments thicker or adding  Violet- it suggest shadows, mourning,
black or adding little of its compliment. penance, royalty and power.
Colors can be made lighter by adding  White- it stands for simplicity, clarity,
water or oil or white. purity, peace, cleanliness and innocence.
3. Intensity or Chroma (Saturation) denotes  Yellow- it symbolizes life, joy, sunshine,
the brightness or dullness of a color, its cheerfulness, warmth, splendor, royalty
strength or weakness, its purity or and hospitality.
impurity. A color can be made intense by  Brown- it suggest humility and
adding more pigment of the same hue, by confidence.
placing beside it its complement or 6. Texture. Touch of hardness and softness in
the surface of the painting.
opposite or by surrounding it with the
Texture refers to the quality or character of
same hue but of lower intensity. the area or surface produced by the forms. Its
Classification of Colors (Hue- distinguishes one color aesthetic values of texture lies first of all in
from another; Primary Secondary, and Tertiary) the fact that it makes the gradation of color
Primary colors because they are combine with one possible. It gives a surface unevenness which
causes the color of the surface to be broken in
another to create other colors.
to gradation of light and shade giving it a
 Blue charm of its own.
 Yellow Types of Texture
 Red  Rough or Coarse textures suggest strength,
The secondary colors are Green (yellow+blue), Orange endurance and cheapness.
(yellow-red), and Violet (blue+red). These are formed  Smooth or fine textures imply excellent
through the combination of two primary colors. finished, delicateness and costliness.
7. Forms. It refers to the shape, structure and
Tertiary Colors are combination of primary and
area of an object. Like line, it also represents
secondary colors. the feelings or thoughts of the artist. Form in
 Violet+Orange=Russet art varies in types, size and effect or meaning.
 Orange+Green=Olive  Geometrical (Forms) forms with
 Violet+Green=Slate three-dimensions. These includes
Quarternary colors are mixture of two tertiary colors prisms, pyramids, cones, cylinder,
sphere and cubes.
 Russet+Olive=Buff According to size
 Slate+Russet=Plum  Large forms- give the impression of
 Olive+Slate=Sage spaciousness and superiority.
  Small forms- suggest inferiority and especially one depicting only the face or head
crowding. or shoulder.
The Subject of Art
Types of Art subjects Synonyms: painting, picture,
The subject of art is varied. It is usually anything that drawing, sketch, likeness, image, study, miniature.
is represented in the artwork that is represented in
the artwork like person, object, scene or event. Artists vs. Artisans

2 Types of Representing Subject Artists

1. Representational or Objective Art- painting,  dedicated only to the creative side, making
sculpture, graphic arts, literature, and theatre visually pleasing work only for the enjoyment and
arts, although some painting and sculptures, appreciation of the viewer, but with no functional
music, and dance may or may not have value,
subjects.  work in the fine arts, including painting,
2. Non-representational or Non-objective Art- illustration and sculpture,
artworks that have no resemblance to any  work with paint, water color, pen and ink, or
real subjects, they do not represent anything illustrations, focus on creating aesthetically
and they are what they are. pleasing works,
 artists tend to be shown in museums or galleries,
 All fine artists first learn to sketch, and begin with
Types of Art Subject a pencil and sketchpad to work with an idea on
1. Still Life- a drawing or painting of an paper. Artists transfer their visions to canvases or
arrangement of nonmoving, nonliving objects other medium, and this may mean working in oil,
such as fruit, flowers, or bottles. Usually, a still watercolor or pastels,
life is set indoors and contains at least one- o Sculptors take their sketches and create
man-made object, such as bowl or vase. 3D products from clay, marble or other
2. Self Portrait- a painting, drawing or sculpture material,
or other work of art showing the artist o Illustrators might work for a publishing or
himself. animation company, or create original
a. Portrait- a painting, drawing, comic books,
photograph or engraving of a person,  All artists' work aims to create an overall reaction
especially one depicting only the face from a viewer,
or head and shoulders.  Artists sell products considering intermediaries
3. Religious Theme – art which the subject is a (middlemen, agents, matchmaker, brokers,
religious matter. promoters, mediators, facilitators).
4. Non-objective subject – art which the visual o music producers
signs are entirely imaginative and not from o gallery owners
anything seen by the artist. No recognizable o art consultants
subject (ex. Abstract) o museums
5. Landscape- a picture of a natural outdoor o theatres
scenery, such as mountains, rivers, fields or o publishing companies
forests.
6. Genre (zhan-ra)- art that has a subject matter
that concerns everyday life, domestic scenes,
sentimental family relationship, etc.
7. Visionary expression- art that involves
simplification and/or rearrangement of
natural objects to meet the needs of artistic
expression.
8. Portrait- a painting, drawing, or sculpture or
other medium showing a person or several
people. Portraits usually show just the face
and shoulders, but it can include part or all of
the body as well. A painting, drawing,
photograph, or engraving of a person,
Artisans HISTORY
 a manual worker who makes items with his or her In ancient Greece sculptors and painters were
hands, through skill, experience and talent can held in low regard, somewhere between freemen and
create things of great beauty as well as being slaves, their work regarded as mere manual labor.
functional, During the Middle Ages the word artist already
 before the industrial revolution virtually existed in some countries such as Italy, but the
everything was made by artisans, from smiths meaning was something resembling craftsman, while
(goldsmiths, blacksmiths, locksmiths, gunsmiths)
the word artisan was still unknown. An artist was
to weavers, dyers carpenters, potters, etc.
someone able to do a work better than others, so the
 craftsmen who work in textiles, pottery, glass and
skilled excellency was underlined, rather than the
other areas. They craft work like jewelry,
glasswork, pottery or other functional products, activity field. In this period some "artisanal" products
 focuses on accessorizing and functionality more (such as textiles) were much more precious and
than aesthetics, sell their crafts at fairs and shops, expensive than paintings or sculptures.
 are craftsmen who make practical artistic The first division into major and minor arts
products, such as earrings, urns, stained glass and dates back at least to the works of Leon Battista
other accessories, Alberti (1404–1472): De re aedificatoria, De statua,
 gain their knowledge by studying under master De pictura, which focused on the importance of the
craftsmen and then practicing with continued intellectual skills of the artist rather than the manual
study, skills.
 Artisans work to create something new, original,
and at times, provocative, o Major Arts- characterized by actual and
 spend a good portion of their time selling and potential expressiveness such as music, poetry,
promoting their items in various marketplaces, sculpture.
 Artisans mechanisms for selling products are more
particular, o Minor Arts- concerned on practical uses and
 purpose of the artisan is more the passion of their purposes such as interior decorations and
work than money. That is why is rare to see stores porcelain art.
of unique unrepeated pieces from them,
 Artisan is more connected with the environment
An artist also may be defined unofficially as "a
and the territory where is living. May use utensils
person who expresses him- or herself through a
or material from the same place of origin.
medium". The word is also used in a qualitative sense
of, a person creative in, innovative in, or adept at, an
Job responsibilities of an Artist include:
artistic practice.
o Developing ideas for a canvas or product
o Selecting a medium for a final work, including
texture, size, or area Services or functions of contemporary artists:
o Collecting work for a portfolio  Create places for some human purpose.
o Applying for grants for financial support  Create extraordinary versions of ordinary
o Using and mixing mediums like paint, metal, objects.
glass, or fabric  Record and commemorate.
o Shaping, gluing, sewing, testing and producing  Give tangible form to the unknown.
products  Give tangible form to feelings.
o Displaying work at various sites including  Refresh our vision and help see the world in new
auctions, craft shows or online markets ways.
o Estimating costs and material needs
Curator
1. the person in charge of a museum, art
collection, etc.
2. a person who selects content for
presentation, as on a website.

* A curator is someone who oversees collections, such

as artwork and historical items, and may conduct
public service activities for an institution. Most work
in museums, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, or
historical sites.
 Curators manage, preserve, and maintain
historical artifacts.
 They differentiate an artifacts origins and
categorize them by the findings.
 A curator must be very knowledgeable in
history, culture, and art in order to complete
this.
 A curator may also give tours and educate
the public or train students on varies
historical time periods and its artifacts.
 Acquire, store, and exhibit collections
 Select the theme and design of exhibits
 Develop or set up exhibit materials
 Design, organize, or conduct tours and
workshops for the public
 Attend meetings and civic events to promote
the institution
 Clean objects using cleansers, solvents, and
soap solutions
 Direct and supervise curatorial, technical, and
student staff
 Plan and conduct special research projects

How to become a Curator?

• Curators most earn a minimum of a Masters’
degree, however you will first need to earn a
bachelor’s degree in order to move on to earn
a Masters’ degree.
• Most employers would prefer you earn a
degree in museum studies, art, history,
archaeology, anthropology, and other similar
areas.