ISABELA STATEUNIVERSITY

Module in Art Appreciation

GEC 5
TOPIC1: The Importance, Meaning, Nature and Assumption of Art

Introduction
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?
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 wordsartezein, which means to prepare,
andarkiskein, 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
AS A PROCESS--Is the
arrangement of aesthetic
elements in an appealing
and interesting matter.

AS A PRODUCT--It includes
human creation , different
IS EXPRESSION-- Expresses the

ART
activities and froms of
feeling s and ideas shared by all
expression like painting,
individuals regardless of culture.
music, literature, and dance
etc.

IS IMITATION-- A
representation of reality .

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.”

What are the 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.

What is Art Appreciation?

It is the ability to interpret or understand man-made arts and enjoy them either
through actual and work-experience with art tools and materials or possession of these
works of art for one’s admiration and satisfaction. It also centers on the ability to view
art throughout history, focusing on the cultures and the people, and how art developed
in the specific periods. Thus, it is difficult to understand the art without understanding
the culture because the connections to the context of art and the interaction of
societies help us to analyze and appreciate a piece of art.

What are the Natures of Arts?

1. Art is everywhere.

Lagawone.wordpress.com Pinterest.com Gramho.com

VALLEY OF COLORS (LA ARTS & CRAFTS OF IFUGAOS T’ BOLI’s necklace
TRINIDAD)
2. Art is a means of expression and communication.

Alchetron.com Spot.com
KUNDIMAN, ALCHETRON STREET ART, ANG GERILYA
3. Art as a creation—It is the act of combining or re-ordering existing materials to
form a new object.

La Creation d’adam Art Display using recyled Scrap metal art

Michelange
Pinterest.com mymodernmet.com
Thinglink.com

4. Art and experience—It must be heard or seen to be appreciated and involve

intellectualunderstanding.

nextpittsburgh.com blooloop.com
ART DOWNTOWN AT THE GALLERY CRAWL ART COLLE

5. Art and beauty-- It gives pleasure when perceived.

Magritte Art Pablo Picasso, «Guernica», 1937

Learnodo-newtonic.com pablopicaso.org

6. Art and nature

What are the differences between art and nature?
ART NATURE
1. It is man-made 1. It is nature’s creation.
2. It is artificial. 2. It is natural.
3. It is non-repeatable, or unchanging 3. Evanescent (fleeting) and recreating
itself.
4. It is not nature. 5. It needs art to improve it.

Assessment Task
ACTIVITY 1:
Directions: Analyze the following painting by Edvard Munch. What can you infer
about the painting? Write your answer on the space provided.

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ACTIVITY 2:
Directions: Base on your own understanding, what is art? Write your answer inside
the graph.

ART

2. What is the significance of art in our lives?

Essay Rubric

Areas of 4 3 2 1
Assessment
Ideas Presents ideas Presents ideas Ideas are too Ideas are
in an original in a consistent general vague or
manner manner unclear
Organization Strong and Organized Some No
organized beg/mid/end organization; organization;
beg/mid/end attempt at a lack
beg/mid/end beg/mid/end
Understanding Writing shows Writing shows Writing shows Writing shows
strong a clear adequate little
understanding understanding understanding understanding
Word Choice Sophisticated Nouns and Needs more Little or no
use of nouns verbs make nouns and use of nouns
and verbs essay verbs and verbs
make the essay informative
very
informative
Sentence Sentence Sentence Sentence No sense of
Structure structure structure is structure is sentence
 enhances evident; limited; structure or
meaning; sentences sentences need flow
flows mostly flow to flow
throughout the
piece
Mechanics Few (if any) Few errors Several errors Numerous
errors errors

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
https://sites.psu.edu/civicissueswithsm/2017/04/20/why-we-need-art-in-our-lives/

Topic 2: Functions of Art

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

FUNCTIONS OF ART
PERSONAL PHYSICAL FUNCTION SOCIAL FUNCTION
FUNCTION
 Is used to provide  This tends to  It is used for social
comfort, address our needs for display,
happiness and physical needs for celebration and
convenience to utilitarian objects communication.
human beings. and structures.  It seeks to influence
 It satisfies  The need for the collective
individual needs beauty in behavior of people.
for personal functional objects  It expresses or
expression. for everyday use. describes social or
 It educates our  Planning of collective aspects of
senses and communities existence as
sharpen our according to opposed to
perception of environmental and individual and
colors, forms, operational personal kinds of
textures, designs, efficiency. experience.
etc.

Basic Philosophical Perspectives of Art

1.) Art as Mimesis (Plato)
“Art is an imitation of the real that was an imitation of the ideal.”
“Art is an imitation of an imitation.”
2.) Art as Representation (Aristotle)
“The aim of art is not to represent the outward appearance of things but their inward
significance.”
3.) Art for Art’s Sake (Kant)
“Art has its own reason for being.”
4.) Art as an Escape
--The sacred level of art not only transforms something into art but also transforms the
artist at the very core of his or her being.
5.) Art as Functional
-- Art serves a function. Art is meant to be used, to enrich lives to be spiritually
potent, to educate, to support or protest existing power structures, to entertain and so
on.

CATEGORIES/CLASSIFICATIONS OF ART
1. VISUAL ART (2D, 3D)
a. Painting –It is the application of pigment on any flat two-dimensional surfaces

Color Illustration shutterstock.com Greenwood.wa.edu.au

b. Sculpture –it is the carving, modelling, casting, constructing, and assembling of

materials and objects into primarily three-dimensional works of art.
BUST OF NEFERTITI, TERRACOTTA WARRIORS DAVID BY MICHELANGELO
THUTMOSE (1345 BC) (LATE 3RD CENTURY BC) (1501-1504)

Artsy.net Chinaodessytour.com Michelangelo.net

2. ARCHITECTURE –It is the art and science of planning, designing, and

constructing buildings and nonbuilding structures for human shelter or use (3D).
ARCHITECT: ZAHA TANK INTERIOR DESIGN
HADID
architecturaldigest.com tank.nl
2. Performing/ Combined Arts
A. Music –is an art form and cultural activity whose medium is sound organized in
time.
b. Dance –is the movement of the body in a rhythmic way, usually to music and
within a given space to express idea or emotion.
c. Film –also called movie or motion picture, is a series of still images that when
shown on a screen creates an illusion of moving images.
d. Theater –is a collaborative form of art that uses live performers, typically actors or
actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event.

musicaltheatre.com
e. Literary –is concentrating the writing, study or content of literature, especially of
the kind valued for quality of form.
f. Performance poetry –is poetry specifically composed for or during a performance
before an audience rather on print mostly opens to improvisation.

denverpost.com
aspenwords.org
3. Digital art-it is the art that is made with the assistance of electronic devices, or
intended to be displayed on a computer, which is the most important element in
digital art.DigitalPaintingFantasy Digital art
Tool Digital illustrations Pinterest.com myartmagazine.com
4. Applied arts-are the application of design and decoration to everyday objects to
make them aesthetically pleasing.

Fashionshow.wordpress.com

a. Fashion Design–is the art of applying design, aesthetics, and natural beauty to
clothing and accessories.

b. Furniture Design–is a specialized field where function and fashion collide.

ofdesign.net

c. Interior Design–is enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and

more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the space.

interiordesign.net

d. Graphic Design–It is an artistic process of effective communication. Designers

combine words, images, and symbols to create a visual representation of ideas.
creativebloq.com
Topic 3: 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

What are the subjects of arts?

SUBJECT—refers to any person, object, scene or event described or represented
in a work of art.
In general, the subject of an artwork is anything under the sun.
1. 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.

artifactory.com template.net
2. Portrait is a painting, drawing, photograph or engraving of a person.

Painting Drawing Photograph

study.com

3.Landscape, Seascapes, Moonscapes and Cityscapes

 fineartamerica.com
myasianart.com

Moonscape// Oil on Canvas- Sophie Aurelia

Young
etsy.com

4. Mythology and Religion, Dreams and Fantasies

Giulio Romano, wall painting of the Olympian

gods, courtesy Palazzo del Te in Mantua
myartprints.com asgam.com

Manila,Philippine
2. 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
sensesprimarily because of the satisfying organization of their sensuous and expensive
elements

Non-Objective, @Pinterest Non-Objective, Vasily Non-Objective, @Pinterest

Kandinsky
Source of Subjects
 Nature
 History
 Greek and Roman Mythology
 Judeo-Christian Tradition
 Sacred Oriental Texts
 Other Works of Art

Types of Art Subject

1. Still Life – a drawing or painting of an arrangement of non-moving or non-living
objects usually set indoors such as bowl or vase.
vggallery.com

2. Self-portrait – a painting, drawing, sculpture or other work of art showing the

artist himself.

Artsy.com

3. Religious Theme – art which subject is of religious matter.

Etsy.com

4. Non-objective – art which the visual signs are entirely imaginative and not from
anything seen by the
artist.
atsy.com

5. Landscape – a picture of natural outdoor scenery such as mountains, rivers, fields

or forest.

pinterest.com

5. Genre – art that has a subject matter that concerns with everyday life, domestic
scenes, sentimental family relationship, etc.

slideshare.com

7. Visionary Expression – art that involves simplification and rearrangement of

natural objects to meet the needs or artistic expression.

pinterest.com
8. 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.

en.wikipedia.org

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

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

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

Topic: 4The Elements and Principles of Art

Introduction

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

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.

What are elements of Art?

Elements of Art
-are the components or part which can be isolated and defined in any visual design or
work of art. They structure and carry the work.
Types of Elements of Art:
1. Line
2. Shape
3. Color
4. Texture
5. Size
6. Space
7. Value
8. Texture

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.
Shape- can be used to create a pattern, organize and divide space, and draw the
viewer’s attention.
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.

pinterest.com
 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.

pinterest.com
 Static Shape- Shapes that appears stable and resting.
 Dynamic Shape- Shapes that appears moving and active.

pinterest.com

Colors- Is used to generate emotions, create unity, make something stand out, and
generally create visual interest.

Categories of Color
Color wheel a tool used to organize color. It is made up of:
https://technologystudent.com/designpro/pricol1.htm

 Primary Colors- Red, Yellow, Blue these colors can be mixed, they must
be bought in some form.
 Secondary Colors- Orange, Violet, Green, and these colors are created by
mixing primaries.
 Tertiary/Intermediate Colors- Red Orange, Yellow Green, Blue Violet,
etc.; mixing a primary with a secondary creates these colors.
 Analogous Colors- The analog colors are those colors which lie on either
side of any given color.
 Complementary Colors- are colors that are opposite to each other on the
color wheel. When placed next to each other they look bright and when
mixed together they neutralize each other.
 Monochromatic- is where one color is used but in different values and
intensity.
 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.
 Cool Colors- are on the other side of the color wheel and they give the
feeling of coolness for example blue, violet are the color of water, green
are the color of cool grass.

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.

Categories of Texture:
pinterest.com

 Real Texture- is the actual texture of an object. Artist may create real texture
in art it visual interest or evoke a feeling.
 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.
Size- is how small or large something is. Interesting
choices regarding size can attract attention or define
the importance of an element in the design.

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.

 Positive Space: the space the subject takes up.

 Negative Space: the space surrounding the
subject.

liveabout.com
Value – is how light and dark an area looks. Use value to create depth and light, to
lead the eye, or to emphasize.

thevirtualinstructor.com
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.

Options:
 Serif fonts
 Sans-serif fonts
 Script fonts
 Artistic fonts

Principles of Design

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.

What is Principles of Design?

Principles of Design- are the artistic guidelines used to organize or arrange the
structural elements of design.

What are the Principles of Design?

Principles of Design

Balance- is the concept of visual equilibrium, and relates to our physical sense of
balance.

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.

sophia.org
Symmetrical balance – described as
having equal weight on equal sides of a centrally placed fulcrum.

Bloghotspot.com

Bilateral symmetry – when the elements are arranged equally o either side of central
axis.
 en.wikipedia.com
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

theartofeducation.com

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

Emphasis- creates focal point in the design composition; it is how we bring attention
to what is important in it.

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

with a work of art or composition.
Movement- is a visual flow of your design. It’s the path that you intended your
viewer’s eye to follow.

Harmony- is a visual design means all part of the visual image relates to and
complements each other.

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

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

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