Republic of the Philippines

ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY

Lesson 1: Introduction to Arts

THE MEANING AND NATURE OF ARTS

Introduction

Art is constantly around us. In every era and generation, art is bound to exist. As Dudley
(1960) said, “the humanities constitute one of the oldest and most important means of
expression developed by man”
Although some people may claim to have nothing to do with the arts, it cannot be
disputed that life offers us several possibilities and means of engaging with arts. Art has
evolved along with humanity as men look for ways to improve their lives in all domains –
physical, emotional, social, intellectual, an
This topic introduces the importance of art as part or component of our dynamic
civilization and art as an essential form of expression and communication in our daily
existence. The meaning of art covers its etymological to modern definition and how man sees
it variably and relatively from person, time and place. The Assumptions tackle the principles
and sources of appreciating art and establish the margin and boundary of the responsibility and
duty in fulfilling what man is capable of doing (Panison, 2018).

Learning Outcome

At the end of this chapter the learners should be able to:

a. characterize artistic expression based on personal experience with art;
b. discuss the nature of art;
c. categorize works of arts by citing personal experiences; and
d. elaborate the assumptions of arts

Learning Content

What is Art?

There is no specific definition of arts, it may vary based on the perspective and
experience of individual. However, here are some of the definitions of art that are commonly
cited:
1. Art is an attempt to create pleasing forms. (Herbert Read)
3. Art is a man-made object demanding to be experienced aesthetically. (Erwin
Panofsky)
4. Art is expression; it is not intention or talent. (Benedetto Croce)
5. Art is the skilled performance or distinctive ability in any activity whatsoever.
(James Jarrett)
6. Art is the power to produce a preconceived result by means of consciously
controlled and directed action (the classic definition derived from ancient
Roman and Greek concepts)

All of the aforementioned definitions create issues with regard to their own accuracy.
If each definition is taken to encompass all of art or to cover every aspect of it, then it may be
thought that they are all problematic. To comprehend the essence of art, one must therefore
consider all of these many definitions as a whole rather than considering each description as a
single explanation of one component of art.
 Art as a term is taken from the Italian word artis, which means craftsmanship, skill,
mastery of form, inventiveness and the association that exist between form and ideas between
material and techniques. From the Aryan root ar, this means to join or put together; from the
Greek words artezein, which means to prepare, and arkiskein, meaning to put together. In
addition, Art is derived from Latin word ars, meaning ability or skill. (J.V. Estolas)
According to Plato,”Art is that which brings life in harmony with the beauty of the
world.” While for F. Zulueta, “Art is the product of man’s need to express himself.” And for
John Dewey, “Art is an attitude of spirit, a state of mind-one which demand for each own
satisfaction and fulfilling, a shaping of matter to new and more significant from.”

Common Essentials of Art

1. Art must be man-made.

2. Art must be creative, not imitative.
3. Art must benefit and satisfy man.
4. Art is expressed through a certain medium or material by which the artist
communicates himself to his audiences.

ASSUMPTIONS OF ART

1. ART IS UNIVERSAL

Whenever people exists , there is an art-it transcends cultures, races and civilizations.
Art is alive and dynamic and it is present even in the most isolated place in the universe.
Art serve as a Means of Communication: it comes in different ways like music, dances,
literary pieces, decorative arts, paintings, drawings, sculptures and the like. Hence, art in any
form communicate ideas, feelings and emotions whether happy or lonely.
Art is considered as Timeless: It continually evolves in accord with man’s existence-
from the dawn of society till man is no more. Art accompanies man from his conception to his
final destination. Yet, even when man dies, he leaves behind a footprint in the guise of art
where incoming generations may perceive the kind of life they left behind. Let us take for
example: “Florante at Laura” a literary piece that never fails to teach high school students
thebeauty of love, one that is universal and pure. As well as when we recite or read the Book
of Psalms, we feel in communion with King David as we feel one with him in his conversation
with God.
 Art Addresses Human Needs: art exists because it serves the fundamental need of
people (Ortiz, et.al., 1976, Narciso, 2013). Somehow, art provides comfort, entertainment and
education that gives self-fulfillment and satisfaction.

2. ART IS NOT NATURE

Art is man-made construct.

Moreover, “art is not nature”, it means that
it is a creation of man that may reflect a
profound skillfulness and craftsmanship.
One may perceive beauty on a daily basis.
However not every beautiful thing that can
be seen or experienced may truly be called
a work of art. Art is a product of man’s
creativity, imagination and expression. No matter how perfectly blended the colors of a sunset
are and no matter how extraordinarily formed mountains are, nature is not considered art simply
because it is not made by man. Art is artificial and it is the product of imitation from nature
consciously created into a piece of art. Whenever people look around, he finds beauty that he
wants to capture and immortalized through art like the majestic Mount Fuji, the beautiful sunset
of Manila bay, the powerful waterfalls of Batad, Ifugao, the beautiful flower gardens of Baguio
City, the Tower of Paris, the romantic Venice Grand Canal and we even see beauty when a
father feeds his child with so much love in his eyes while looking into his child’s eyes.

3. ART INVOLVES EXPERENCE

For most people, art does not require a full

definition. Art is just experience. By experience, we
mean the “actual doing of something”. Knowing a
thing is different from others what the said thing is. A
radio DJ dispensing advice on love when he himself has not
experienced it does not only really know what he is
talking about. A choreographer who cannot execute a
dance step himself is a bogus. Art is always an
experience. Unlike fields of knowledge that involves data, art is known by experiencing. A
painter cannot produce a work of art if a chisel is foreign to him. Dudley, et al, affirmed that
“all art depends on experience, and if one is to know art, he must know it not as fact or
information but as experience.”

REFERENCES:
Keiran, E. (1992). Imagination in Teaching and Learning, pp. 12-37
Panisan, W.K et,al. (2018). Art appreciation. Mutya Publishing house Inc., pp. 1-7
Ortiz et. al, (1976). Art perception and appreciation, pp. 5-12
Casaual, J et.al. 2018. Art appreciation. Rex Book Store, Inc. Quezon City,Philippines.
Panisan, W.K et,al. (2018). Art appreciation. Mutya Publishing house Inc., pp. 1-7
https://sites.psu.edu/civicissueswithsm/2017/04/20/why-we-need-art-in-our-lives/
LESSON 2: ART APPRECIATION: Creativity, Imagination, and Expression

Art Appreciation as a Way of Life

People are blind to the beauty of an art and only those who have developed a fine
sense of appreciation can experience and see the art the same way the artist did. The
continuous demand for aesthetically valuable things influences the development and
evolution of art and its forms. Learning to appreciate art, no matter what vocation or
profession you have, will lead to a fuller and more meaningful life

The role of Creativity in Art Making

Creativity requires thinking outside the box. It is often used to solve problems that
have never occurred before, conflate function and style, and simply make life a more unique
and enjoyable experience.

Art as a product of Imagination, Imagination as a product of art

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we
now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever
will be to know and understand”. An artwork does not need to be a real thing, but can be
something that is imaginary (Collingwood, 1938) Artists use their imagination that gives
birth to reality through creation. In the same way that imagination produces art, art also
inspires imagination.

Art as Expression
Description destroys the idea of expression, as it classifies the emotion, making it
ordinary and predictable. The following are different form of arts that can be used to express
emotion, feelings, thoughts, etc.
 Visual Arts
Artists produce visual arts driven by their desire to reproduce things that they have
seen in the way that they perceived them.
 Film
Filmmaking simulates experiences or creates one that is beyond the scope of our
imagination as it aims to deliver ideas, feelings, or beauty to its viewers.
 Performance Art
Live art using human body as the main medium incorporating other kind of art such
as visual art, props, or sound. It usually consists of four important elements: time,
space, the performer’s body, and a relationship between the audience and the
performers.
 Poetry Performance
Words combined with movements, tone, volume, and intensity of the delivery, add to
the artistic value of the poem. Some poets even make poems out of their emotions
picked up from other works of art, which in turn produce another work of art through
poetry.
 Architecture
Not all buildings can be considered architecture. It should embody the following
elements – plan, construction, and design – if they wish to merit the title architecture.
 Dance
Dancing is a creative form that allows people to freely express themselves. It has no
rules. Dancers are not confined to set steps and rules but are free to create and invent
their own movements if they deem them graceful and beautiful.
 Literary Art
Literary art goes beyond the usual professional, academic, journalistic, and other
technical forms of writing. It focuses on writing using a unique style, not following a
specific format or norm.
 Theater
Uses live performers to present accounts or imaginary events before a live audience.
Elements to consider are the following: acting, gesture, lighting, sound effects,
musical score, scenery, and props.
 Applied Arts
Through exploration and expression of ideas, consideration of the needs, and careful
choice of materials and techniques, artists can combine functionality and style.
Industrial design, interior design, fashion design, and graphic design are considered
applied arts.
 LESSON 3: FUNCTIONS AND PHILISOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE OF ARTS

Introduction

This topic discusses the practical usefulness of an art. The functions of art normally fall
under three categories: physical, social, and personal. This will be further discussed in the
module. As you read and analyze, you will differentiate and observe that these categories can
and often do overlap. Moreover, it covers also the subject of art which is dynamic and forceful
as man’s way of life.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the topic, you are expected to:
a. distinguish between directly functional and indirectly functional art;
b. differentiate content from subject; and
c. apply concepts and theories on beauty and aesthetic in real life scenarios.

LEARNING CONTENT

 Aristotle claimed that every particular substance in the world has an end, or telos in
Greek, which translate to purpose.
 Every substance, defined as formed matter, moves according to a fixed path towards
its aim.
 For a thing to reach its purpose, it also has to fulfill its function

FUNCTIONS OF ART
-an inquiry on the function of art is an inquiry on what art is for.
PERSONAL FUNCTION SOCIAL FUNCTION PHYSICAL FUNCTION
 The personal  Physical function of
functions of art are  Art is considered to art are the easiest to
varied and highly have social function. spot and understand.
subjective.  it addresses a  It can be found in
particular collective artworks that are
 Functions depends on interest. crafted in order to
the artist who created
 Political Art is a serve some physical
the art. purpose.
very common
 An artist may create example of an art
an art out of self- with a social
expression, function.
entertainment, or
therapeutic purpose.
 BASIC PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF ART

1. Art as an imitation

In Plato's The republic, paints a picture of artists as imitators and art

as mere imitation. In his description of the ideal republic, Plato
advises against the inclusion of art as subject in the curriculum and
the banning of artist in the Republic.

In Plato’s metaphysics or view of reality, the things in this world are

only COPIES of the original, the eternal and the true entities that can
only be found in the World of Forms.

2. Art as a Representation
This kind of imitation that art does not antithetical to the reaching of fundamental truths
in the world. In Aristotelian worldview, art serves two particular purposes: 1.Art allows
for the experience of pleasure Art also has an ability to be instructive and teach its
audience things about life.
3. Art as a Disinterested Jugement
Immanuel Kant, the one who wrote the “Critique of Judgement” , considered the
judgement of beauty, the cornerstone of art, as something that can be universal despite its
subjectivity. Kant recognized that judgement of beauty is subjective.

Making an aesthetic judgment requires us to be disinterested. In other words, we should

try to go beyond our individual tastes and preferences so that we can appreciate art from a
universal standpoint.
4. Art as a Communication of Emotion
As a purveyor of man's innermost feelings and thoughts, art is given a unique opportunity to
serve as a mechanism for social unity. Art is central to man's existence because it makes
accessible feelings and emotions of people from the past and present.
 LESSON 4: SUBJECT AND CONTENT OF ART

Introduction

This topic discusses the subject of art, which is a dynamic and forceful as man’s way
of life, culture, and imagination. The subject and content of art never comes to an end and is
never fully worn out and exhausted. The clearness and simplicity of the subject is vital since
the content of the art is the soul of every artistic creation of masterpiece (Panisan, 2018).

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the topic, you are expected to:

a. differentiate content from subject
b. classify artworks according to subject
c. analyze how artists present their subjects in in relation to the real subject.
d. describe the sources and kinds of art

LEARNING CONTENT

1. Subject – refers to any person, object, scene or event describe or represented in a work of
art; the “WHAT”

2. Content – the meaning that is communicated by the artist or the artwork; the “WHY”

3. Form – the development and configuration of the art work – how the elements and the
medium or material are put together; “HOW”

TYPES OF SUBJECT

A. REPRESENTATIONAL/OBJECT ARTS

--are artworks that depict something easily recognized by most people.

They attempt to copy something that is real. It also attempts to portray the subject as it is.

Examples:

1. Still Life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter. a drawing or painting
of an arrangement of non-moving or non-living objects usually set indoors
2. Portrait - an art showing a person or several people, usually show just the face and shoulders
but it can include all parts of the body. It is may be a painting, drawing, photograph or
engraving of a person.

3. Landscape, Seascapes, Moonscapes and Cityscapes

4. Mythology and Religion, Dreams and Fantasies

 B. NON-REPRESENTATIONAL OR NON-OBJECTIVE ARTS

-- are artworks that have no resemblance to any real subject. They do not represent anything
and they are what they are. They rather appear directly to the senses primarily because of the
satisfying organization of their sensuous and expensive elements

Source of Subjects

 Nature
 History
 Mythology
 Religion
 Literature
 Daily Life
 Other Works of Art

CONTENT IN ART

• The meaning or message that is expressed or communicated by the artwork.

• In understanding the content of art, it is important to note that there are various levels of
meaning:

Factual Meaning

• The most rudimentary level of meaning for it may be extracted from the identifiable or
recognizable forms in the artwork and understanding how these elements relate to one
another.

Conventional Meaning

• Pertains to the acknowledged interpretation of the artwork using motifs, signs, and symbols
and other cyphers as bases of its meaning.

• These conventions are established through time, strengthened by recurrent use and wide
acceptance by its viewers or audience and scholars who study them.
Subjective Meaning

• When subjectives are consulted, a variety of meanings may arise when a particular work of
art is read.

• These meanings stem from the viewer's or audience's circumstances that come into play
when engaging with art (what we know, what we learned, what we experienced; what values
we stand for).

• Meaning may not be singular, rather, multiple and varied

Conclusion

In gaining the basics of deciphering the subject and content of art, it is hoped that an
individual’s sensitivity and perceptiveness to art will be developed. As was discussed in the
chapter, one may begin by looking at a perceivable features of the artwork. Taking note of what
is apparent will provide clues as to what the intended meaning of the artist might be. Knowing
more about the context of its creation -- from the artist’s inspiration, reference or source, will
prove useful in understanding the meaning of the artwork. However, one must forget that each
viewer is armed with his or her experience, background, and education. These will assist in
fleshing out different levels of meaning that maybe derived from the artwork. These might not
be as evident as say, the figures depicted on the surface; however, these alternative readings
contribute to the significance of the artwork.
 LESSON 5: ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF ART

Introduction

Through the use of a "common language" that is universally understood, the elements of
art enable interaction with the visual and tactile features of the artwork. And in order to
comprehend this language, it's necessary to be familiar with some of the elements and
principles that give it its coherence. These components contain something from which it is
possible to deduce the artist's idea, concept, message, or intended mood. It provides a place to
start or a beginning point from which analysis can be done. Formal analysis of art is the name
given to this type of analysis.
This topic discusses the elements and principles of art and design are essential components
of art and design used as a guide to creating works of art. Different forms of art share the use
of the same concept of elements and principles.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the topic, you are expected to:

A. identify the elements and principles of art

B. determine elements and principles use in hybrid or modified art of expression
C. create an artwork depicting the various element and principle of art

Learning Content

ELEMENTS OF ART (VISUAL ARTS)

Are stylistics features that are included within an art piece to help the artist
communicate. The seven most common elements include lines, shape, texture, form, space,
color and value with the additions of mark making, materiality. When analyzing these
intentionally an element, the viewer is guided toward a deeper understanding of the work.

Elements of Art:

1. Line - can be used for a wide range of purposes: stressing a word or phrase, connecting
content to one another, creating patterns, dividing up space and much more. Lines can create a
sense of movement or direction in your design.
It is one of the seven elements of art. It is considered by most to be the most basic visual
element of art since it is the foundation of all drawing. can be used for a wide range of purposes:
stressing a word or phrase, connecting content to one another, creating patterns, dividing up
space and much more. Lines can create a sense of movement or direction in your design.
a. Vertical lines are straight up and down lines that are moving in space without any slant and
are perpendicular to horizontal lines. They suggest height and strength because they extend
towards the sky and seem unshakeable.
b. Horizontal lines are straight lines parallel to the horizon that move from left to right. They
suggest width, distance, calmness, and stability.
c. Diagonal lines- convey opposition, movement and instability.
d. Zigzag lines are a series of diagonal lines joined at ends. They can convey action and
excitement, as well as restlessness and anxiety.
e. Curved lines are lines that bend and change direction gradually. It conveys movement. They
can be simply wavy or spiral. Such lines convey the feelings of comfort and ease, as well as
sensual quality as they remind us of the human body.

2. Shape & Form- In the visual arts, shape is a flat, enclosed area of an artwork created through
lines, textures, colors or an area enclosed by other shapes such as triangles, circles, and squares.
We typically think of a shape as a closed contour. So, if you take a line and enclose it, then you
will have created a shape. All shapes are two-dimensional, meaning that they have only length
and width. Form on the other hand is refers to three dimension: height, width, and depth.

Categories of Shapes:

 Geometric Shapes - circles, squares, rectangles and triangles. We see them in

architecture and manufactured items.
 Organic Shapes - leaf, seashells, flowers. We see them in nature and with
characteristics that are free flowing, informal and irregular.
 Positive Shapes - In a drawing or painting positive shapes are the solid form in a design
such as a bowl of fruit. In a sculpture it is the form of the sculpture.
  Negative Shapes - In a drawing it is the space around the positive shape or the shape
around the bowl of fruit. In sculpture it is empty shape around and between the
sculptures.
 Static Shape - Shapes that appears stable and resting.
 Dynamic Shape - Shapes that appears moving and active.

3. Space- is the area around or between elements of the design. It can be used to separate or
group information. Used effectively it can lead the eye through a design.
It is related to shape and form. It is usually inferred from a sense of depth, whether it is real or
simulated. Real space is three-dimensional such as sculptures. In two-dimensional artworks,
space may be implied.

 Positive Space: the space the subject takes up. The positive space, on the other hand,
is the space where shadow is heavily used.
 Negative Space: the space surrounding the subject. Usually identified with the white
space as the negative space.
 Three-dimensional space: can be simulated through a variety of technique such as
shading. An illusion of three-dimensionality can be achieved in two-dimensional work.
4.
5. Colors- Is used to generate emotions, create unity, make something stand out, and generally
create visual interest.
Color is perhaps one of the elements that enhances the appeal of an artwork. Its effect has
range, allowing the viewer to make responses based on memory, emotion, and instinct, among
others. This element is a property of light, as it is reflected off the object. Color is not intrinsic
to an object and without light, one cannot perceive color

Color wheel a tool used to organize color. It is made up of:

Attributes of color:

a. Hue: the color itself, the distinctive quality by which one can distinguish one color
from another. It can be subdivided into:

 Primary Colors - Red, yellow, and blue. They have the name "primary" for
a few different reasons. A primary color cannot be made by combining two other colors.
In other words, only natural pigments can be used to produce primary colors. Second,
by combining the primary colors, all other hues on the color wheel can be produced.
 Secondary Colors - Secondary colors are created by mixing equal parts of
any two primary colors. Yellow and blue will give you green. Red and blue will create
purple(violet). Red and yellow will give you orange
 Tertiary Colors - A secondary color and a primary color are combined in
equal amounts to produce tertiary colors. Red-purple, red-orange, blue-green, yellow-
green, blue-purple, and yellow-orange are the six tertiary hues. You'll see that stating
the primary color first and the secondary color second is the correct way to refer to
tertiary colors.

b. Value: the brightness of the hue, the quality by which one distinguishes a light color
from a dark one, in the range from white to black. Often, this is used by artists to create illusion
of depth and solidity, a particular mood, communicate a feeling, or establishing a scene (e.g.
day and night).

 Light Colors - taken as the source of light in the composition

 Dark Colors - the lack or even absence of light
Each primary color has a range of values based on the addition and diminishing quantity
and quality of light.
  Tint - Any hue or combination of primary colors to which white is mixed is
referred to as a tint. Most pastel hues have a tint to them. (e.g., pink for red)
 Shade - This is a darker color than the normal value. It is produced by adding
black. (e.g., maroon for red)

c. Chroma or intensity: the quality that distinguishes a strong color from a weak one.
To achieve a specific intensity of a color, one may add either gray or its complementary color.

 Bright or Warm Colors - are on one side of the color wheel and they give
the feeling of warmth for example red, orange and yellow are the color of fire and feel
warm.
 Dull or Cool Colors - are on the other side of the color wheel and they give
the feeling of coolness for example blue, and violet are the color of water, green are the
color of cool grass.

Color schemes
To pick the best colors every time, designers use a color wheel and refer to extensive collected
knowledge about human optical ability, psychology, culture and more. In interior design, we
often hear designers refer to color scheme – a guide for selecting not only wall paint but also
furniture and decor. When starting your design process, you can consider usingany of these
main color schemes:’
  Monochromatic - literally means one (mono) color (chroma). So a monochromatic
color scheme is made up of one color and it’s shades and tints.
 Analogous colors - are three colors that are next to each other on the color wheel.
When used as a color scheme, analogous colors can be dramatic. Ex. Blue, blue-green, green,
and yellow-green; red, red-purple, purple, blue, purple.
 Complementary colors - are colors found directly across from each other on the
color wheel. Complementary color scheme provide strong contrast. Ex. Blue and orange, red
and green, yellow-green and red-purple.
 Color triads - consist of three colors found on the color wheel that are equally spaced
apart from each other. Ex. Red, blue and yellow or orange, green and purple.
 Split complementary - color schemes are made up of a color and it’s complements
closest analogous colors. Ex Blue, yellow-orange and red-orange. Red-orange, red-purple,
green.
 Tetradic – Take four colors that are two sets of complementary pairs (e.g.,
orange/yellow/blue/violet) and choose one dominant color. This allows rich, interesting
designs. However, watch the balance between warm and cool colors.

6. Texture- refers to what the surface of an object looks and “feels” like. In a graphic design,
you can mimic the look of different textures to add depth, contrast, and visual interest.
Texture refers to the surface quality in a work of art. We associate textures with the way that
things look or feel. Everything has some type of texture. We describe things as being rough,
smooth, silky, shiny, fuzzy and so on.

Categories of Texture:
 Real Texture - is the actual texture of an object. Artist may create real texture in art it
visual interest or evoke a feeling.
 Tactile Texture - the quality of a surface, such as rough, smooth, sticky, fuzzy, soft or
slick. A real texture is one you can actually feel with your hand, such as stones, a piece
of sandpaper, a wet glass, or animal fur.
 Implied Texture - is where a piece of art is made to look like a certain texture. Like a
drawing of a free trunk may look rough but in fact it is just a smooth piece of paper. It
is an illusion of texture created by an artist. Simulated texture is the type that is created
 to look like something it is not. For example, in drawing or painting of a cat where its
fur is made to look like real fur. Inversion texture, on the other hand may look rough,
smooth or any other feel but is purely made up by the artist. It does look like "real"
texture.

7. Text- different texts have different moods. They can be clean and modern, classic and
professional, casual and fun, aggressive, mature historical, and so on. Try to match fonts
together that you believe complement each other.

PLANES & PERSPECTIVE

There are three types of perspective, grounded on the number of vanishing points
used by the artist:
A. One-point perspective - often used in depicting roads, tracks, hallways, or rows of
trees; this type of perspective shows parallel lines that seem to converge at a specific
and lone vanishing point, along the horizon line.
B. Two-point perspective - pertains to a painting or drawing that makes use of two
vanishing points, which can be placed anywhere along the horizontal line. It is often
used in depicting structures such as houses or buildings in thelandscape that are
viewed from a specific corner.

C. C. Three-point perspective - in this type of perspective, the viewer is looking at a

scene from above or below. As the name suggests, it makes use of the three vanishing
points, each corresponding to each axis of the scene.
 PRINCIPLES OF ART

The principles of good design are the tools every artist uses to create an effective
composition. These tools are: balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, proportion, repetition,
simplicity, space and unity. How well an artist understands the uses these tools will determine
if the composition is a weak or strong one. The desired outcomes should be a work of art that
is both unified and aesthetically pleasing to look at. In a series of discussions well take a look
to each one of these principle.

1. Balance- is the concept of visual equilibrium, and relates to our physical sense of balance.
A well-balanced composition feels comfortable to look at. Each visual component of an
artwork has visual weight. Different than actual weight, visual weight is not measured using a
scale but must be observed instead.

Kinds of Balance

 Asymmetrical Balance - it involves placement of objects in a way that will allow objects
of varying visual weight to balance one another around a central point. Asymmetry is
informal and seems less organized than symmetry. The two halves of a balanced
asymmetric artwork do not look the same but have similar visual weights. Asymmetric
balance is more subjective than both symmetry and radial symmetry. Asymmetry allows
for more variety in a composition than symmetrically balanced designs. It provides the
same “comfortable” feeling as symmetry without using like elements on each side of a
central axis.

 Symmetrical balance – described as having equal weight on equal sides of a centrally

placed fulcrum. Symmetry is a type of formal balance in which two halves of an artwork
mirror each other. This offers the most stable visual sense to any artwork.
 Bilateral symmetry – when the elements are arranged equally or either side of central axis.

 Radial Balance - this axis may be horizontal or vertical. It is also possible to build formal
balance by arranging elements equally around a central point. Radial balance is symmetry
in several directions. Visual elements are arranged around a central point in the
composition, like the spokes on a wagon wheel. Often, radially balanced designs are
circular. Other shapes lend themselves to radial balance as well – squares, hexagons,
octagons, stars, etc. In nature, we most easily observe radial balance in the form of flowers.
Radial balance is prevalent in human design as well; car wheels, architectural domes,
clocks, man-hole covers, a compass, etc.

2. Rhythm- refers to a regular repetition of elements of art to produce the look and feel of
movement. It is often achieved through the careful placement of repeated components which
invite the viewers eyes to jump rapidly from one to another
3. Emphasis- creates focal point in the design composition; it is how we bring attention to
what is important in it.

4. Contrast- is simply defined as difference. Difference between elements or subject with a

work of art or composition.

5. Movement- is a visual flow of your design. It’s the path that you intended your viewer’s eye
to follow. It’s the path that you intended your viewer’s eye to follow, often guided by areas or
elements that are emphasized. These focal points can be lines, edges, shape, and color within
the work of art.
6. Harmony- is a visual design means all part of the visual image relates to and complements
each other.

7. Repetition- helps to create patterns. When you repeat the use of any design element, it is
also creates cohesiveness.

8. Unity- refers how well the elements of design work together. Visual elements should have
clear relationship with each other in a design.

9. Proportion- refers to the size of an object in relationship to another object

 ELEMENTS OF ART (AUDITORY)

Together with literature, music as an art form is classified as auditory art. However, some
would argue that it is under the broad category of performance art. Either way, music, much
like the visual arts, has its own building blocks or elements. Some of the common elements of
music are the following:

1. Rhythm
Often associated to the terms beat, meter, and tempo. Rhythm is the element of music
that situates it in time. It is the pulse of the music. Beat is the basic unit of music while tempo
refers to its speed (beats/second). Beats can be organized into a recognizable recurrent pattern,
which is called the meter.
Classical terms are used to refer to the variations in tempo, some of which are:
 Largo – slowly and broadly
 Andante – walking pace
 Moderato – at moderate speed
 Allegro – fast
 Vivace – lively
 Accelerando – gradually speeding up
 Rallentado – gradually slowing down
 Allargando – getting slower, broadening
 Rubato – literally “robbed time” rhythm is played freely for expressive effect

2. Dynamics
The element of music that refers to the loudness or quietness of music. Classical terms
are used to refer to the different levels pertaining to dynamics:

When composers indicate an increase, or decrease in loudness, they use the terms crescendo
for the former; and decrescendo or diminuendo for the latter.

3. Melody
 Melody refers to the linear presentation (horizontal) of pitch. By horizontal, it means
that in musical notation, it is read in succession from left to right. The melody of a song is the
foreground to the backing elements and is a combination of pitch and rhythm. Sequences of
notes that comprise melody are musically satisfying and are often the most memorable part of
a song. From catchy choruses to infectious guitar riffs, melodies define the music you know
and love because they’re the part of music you’re most likely to remember.
A note is a single sound with a certain pitch, duration, and rhythm, but when a number
of differently pitched musical notes have been put into a sequence, a melody is formed. It is
what catches our attention. However, it is important to note that not all musical successions are
classed as one. It should be sonically pleasing and is the part of the song that lingers in your
memory. Most melodies are usually quite simple and often repeated throughout songs.

4. Harmony
If melody is horizontal, harmony is vertical. It arises when pitches are combined to
form chords. When several notes are simultaneously played, this refers to a chord which occur
any time you have three or more notes played at the same time. Harmony occurs any time two
or more differently pitched notes are played at the same time.
Harmony is the composite product when individual musical voices or instruments are
group together to form a cohesive whole. Think of an orchestra: the flute player may be playing
one note, the violinist plays a different note, and the trombonist plays yet a different note. But
when their individual parts are heard together, harmony is created.
Harmony can be described in terms of its “harshness”: dissonance is the harsh-sounding
combination while consonance is the smooth-sounding combination

5. Timbre
Timbre is often likened to the color of music. It is the quality that distinguishes a voice
or instrument from one another. For instance, you can recognize the difference between hearing
your father talk versus your grandmother because they each have their own distinct timbre.
Timbre in different instruments:
a. Chordophones (string instruments). A vibrating string, whether plucked, bowed, or
struck, makes the sound.
b. Aerophones (wind instruments). A column of air within the instrument makes the
sound.
c. Membranophones (drums). A membrane (skin) stretched over a resonator or frame
makes the sound.
d. Idiophones. The entire instrument vibrates to make the sound.
e. Electrophones. The instrument makes sound through a loudspeaker. Note that this
classification scheme is very similar to the strings/winds

Timbre in Voice
Vocalists fall roughly into one of several categories based on voice type and range.
Here are the typical voice types, from highest to lowest:
 a. Soprano: A soprano voice is almost invariably a female voice or the voice of a child
since it’s marked predominantly by clear, bright high notes.
b. Mezzo-soprano: Mezzo-sopranos can occupy a similar range to sopranos but
achieve a sound quality that comes across as warmer and lusher.
c. Contralto: Women with lower voices often fall into the contralto category, as their
vocal range often skews deeper and weightier.
d. Tenor: Tenors evoke a brassy brightness in their performance at the higher end of
the traditionally male voice.
e. Baritone: Typically, in the male middle register, baritones are warm and smooth in
their delivery.
f. Bass: Basses can reach lower octaves than other voice types, and as a result, they’re
able to capture a magisterial and imposing grandeur in their vocalizations.

6. Texture
Texture is one of the basic elements of music. When you describe the texture of a piece
of music, you are describing the relationship of melodic and (sometimes) harmonic elements
with each other. For example, the texture of the music might be thick or thin, or it may have
many or few layers. It might be made up of rhythm only, or of a melody line with chordal
accompaniment, or many interweaving melodies. Four types of texture
a. Monophonic – it includes only a single melody line. If one musician of group of
singers singing the same melody together this is called playing or singing in unison.
b. Polyphonic - is a type of musical texture consisting of two or more simultaneous
lines of independent melody. It consists of two or more voices as in a choir. Canon
songs and partner song are also an example
c. Homophonic- is where you can have multiple different notes playing, but they're all
based around the same melody. Melody plus accompaniment. The listeners interest is
directed to a single line of music, and the harmony is there to support it.
d. Heterophonic- it consists of two or more parts that are elaborating upon the same
melody. Often this type of music is improvised.
Conclusion
The elements of arts and principles of art are essential to any artwork. Some of them
will be more obvious than others, becoming an anchors in which the viewer may lagtch on to
engage with the artwork. The focal point(s) that draw the attention of the viewer is also
interesting to note, as this provides insight as to the interests and values that are of most weight
to him or her. These perhaps will help create a bridge in which a person, who may not formally
find pleasure in looking at art, may consider future engagements with it. In short, familiarity
of the elements and principles has the potential to break the barriers in which art becomes
ineffable.