The Visual Arts

I. Definition of Terms
• 1. Painting - refers to the application of color, pigment, or paint to a
surface or support. These surfaces may include paper, wood, canvas,
metal, or walls. Paint is made of pigment mixed in a binder. 2.
Sculpture - a three-dimensional artwork which may be made through
dif ferent processes, such as carving, modeling, assembling, or
casting. It may be executed as a free-standing object, in relief, or in
environments, and a variety of media may be used. 3. Architecture –
the art and science of designing spaces and constructing buildings
(structures), and other environmental features.
II.Elements of Visual Arts
• 1. Line – The most basic of all the elements. A line is a visible path
traced by a moving point. Lines vary in types. They can be horizontal,
vertical, diagonal, straight or curved, thick or thin. Different lines are
used to signify different feelings, for example: Horizontal
line – rest, serenity, or perfect stability Vertical line –
dominance, height, power Diagonal line – uncertainty,
unrest, movement, or action Curved line – flow, softness,
flexibility, grace 2. Shape – Shapes and forms are figures which define
objects in a space. A shape is a two-dimensional figure. Circles,
triangles, and squares are common examples of shapes. Forms exist
in three dimensions. Examples of forms include cubes, cylinders, and
pyramids, among others.
• 3. Value – it is the relative degree of lightness or darkness in anything that is visible. It
gives an impression of solidity, distance, and depth. Early Europe an artists used a
technique which is defined by a strong contrast between light and dark. This is called
chiaroscuro. 4. Color – it is the product of light reflected off objects. We see different
colors because of light’s various intrinsic qualities, specifically, because of its dif ferent
wavelengths. In visual arts, the relationship of colors is best seen in a color wheel.
Primary colors – Red, Yellow, and Blue (Red, Green, Blue in light)
Secondary colors – Orange, Green, and Violet Tertiary colors – Yellow Green,
Blue Green, Blue Violet, Red Violet, Red Orange, and Yellow Orange Artists usually use
color harmonies. These are combinations of colors which the artist uses to convey his or
her message through the element of color. Monochromatic – the use of a
single color tint in different values or shades Analogous – 3 to 4 neighboring
colors with one color in all mixtures Complementary – any two opposite
colors on the color wheel Split complementary – any three colors wherein
two of which are be side the complement of the third color. Double split
complementary or tetradic – this color scheme uses four colors arranged into two
complementary pairs Triad – three colors that form an equilateral triangle in a
color wheel Properties of color: Hue – identity or the quality by which
we distinguish colors Cool colors – colors which possess the dominance of blue Warm
colors – colors which possess the dominance of red or yellow Value – lightness
or darkness of a hue
• Intensity or Saturation – refers to the strength of a hue 5. Texture –
refers to surface characteristics. A surface may be rough, smooth,
glossy, coarse, irregular, etc. 6. Space – refers to the area in which an
artist arranges elements in a com position. Space can be two-
dimensional (2D) such as in painting and pho tography, or three-
dimensional (3D), such as in sculpture and installations. Depth can
also be suggested in two-dimensional works, by the application of
linear perspective – a graphing of distances between objects.
• Types of perspective: One-point –a representation of
distance by means of converging lines. Two-point – There
are two points in line with each other in a horizontal position. All
lines converge on these two points. Foreshortening – the
modification of an established scale in a drawing of the human
figure to represent perspective.
• III. The Principles of Design
• 1. Balance - the idea of visual equilibrium which gives an impression
of sta bility or instability. Symmetrical Balance – it has
equal visual weight on either side of the canvas. It is visually stable.
Asymmetrical Balance – an uneven balance.
Radial Balance –a symmetrical balance wherein elements are distribu
ted evenly around a central point. 2. Proportion (or scale) – refers to
the size relationships of one part to ano ther, and of the parts to the
whole. 3. Rhythm –a visual rhythm is characterized by the repetition
or alternation of elements.
• Rhythm can be: Regular – repetition of a single motif
Alternating – use of two different motifs alternately
Flowing – a smooth and graceful type of rhythm Progressing
– motifs may be presented in a gradual shift in characte ristics, like
size (from small to large) 4. Emphasis and Subordination – An
emphasis is the focal point that rests on the subordinate space and
easily attracts the attention of the viewer. To emphasize means to
draw attention to essential parts of a composition. 5. Unity – (also
called Harmony) refers to the coherence of the elements of a work
to the whole. 6. Variety - The use of differences and change to
increase the visual interest of the work.
• IV. The Visual Arts (Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture)
• A. Painting
• Early mediums in painting Encaustic – this is a mixture of
pigment, wax (beeswax), and resin. Fresco – pigment mixed
with water and applied to thin layers or either dry plaster or wet
plaster. Tempera – a fast-drying medium which is pigment
mixed with a gluti nous material (usually egg yolk). Ink –
a medium containing pigments or dyes which may be in liquid or
paste form and is used for pen and brush drawing, or printing.
• Common mediums used in contemporary painting Oil
paint – consists of pigment mixed with oil (linseed oil) as its binder.
It dries slowly, but lasts long. Watercolor – consists of
pigment combined with water and gum ara bic. Colors are less
luminous, and transparent. Acrylic – a quick-drying
synthetic medium with emulsion as its binder. It is favored by a lot
of artists because of its ease of use and its versa tility
• Selected Styles/ Movements in Western Art
• Realism – a naturalistic approach to subject matter.
Impressionism – a style wherein paintings are usually done outdoors.
Brushstrokes are fast and colors used are light or pastel.
Expressionism – an art movement that centers on the expression of inner
emotions. Colors used are vibrant and distortion is usually used.
Abstract – non-representational or non-figurative imagery. It could also
be a distortion or simplification of forms. Dada or Dadaism –
an aggressive reaction against conventional art. Dadaists produced (anti)
art objects using unconventional methods. Surrealism – an art
movement where artists gathered inspiration from the depths of the
subconscious mind. Pop Art – an art movement which is
centered on, or inspired from fa miliar images of popular culture, such as
advertisements, comics, and commercial products. Social
Realism – an art movement which portrays social and racial injustice and
economic hardship, marked by its realistic depiction of social problems
• Notable Philippine painters and their works: 19th century Jose
Honorato Lozano – known for paintings of letras y figures. Damian
Domingo – He headed the Academia de Dibujo y Pintura in 1821. He is known
for his paintings of tipos del pais. Juan Luna – His work Spoliarium won
the gold medal in the 1884 Exposicion Nacional de Bellas Artes. Felix
Resurreccion Hidalgo – Las Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al Populacho won the
silver medal in the 1884 Exposicion Nacional de Bellas Artes. 20th century
Genre painters
• Fabian dela Rosa – Women working in a Rice Field (1902) Fernando Amorsolo –
Fruit Gatherers (1950), Sunday Morning going to Church (1953) The
“Triumvirate of modern art” Victorio Edades – The Builders (1928)
Galo Ocampo – Brown Madonna (1938), The River of Life (1954)
Carlos “Botong” Francisco – Harana (1957)
• Other Modernists Hernando Ocampo – Homage to Tandang Sora (1977)
Diosdado Lorenzo – Ilog ng Cabiao (1970) Vicente Manansala –
Madonna of the Slums (1950) Cesar Legaspi – Gadgets II (1949)
Anita Magsaysay-Ho – Fruit Vendors (1975) Jose Joya –
Pagdiriwang (1976) Arturo Luz – Black Form, White Space (1976