Art Appreciation

Study Guide 1 - What is Art? Introduction and Concepts about Art

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LEARNING program all manifest concern for values that are

undeniably, despite tangentially artistic. This module
OBJECTIVES endeavors to take art and break it into its smaller
parts. Like a scientist who takes a splice or a sample
At the end of this module, you should be able to: and places it under a microscope the next lesson
will allow for a better view, not of the final picture;
a. Understand the role of humanities and arts in rather, the parts that complete.
man’s attempt at fully realizing his end;
b. Differentiate the principles of art; ACTIVATING
c. Provide examples of the inter-relatedness of
some of the elements and principles of art;
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
d. Explain the relevance of the elements and
Instruction: Use at least 50-100 words for your
principles of art in the study of art and its
answers with this question. Use short coupon bond
product (artwork); and for your answer.
e. Illustrate examples of mixed art and dissect
-Explain this picture and differentiate them from
what art forms are combined therein. each other using your own imagination.

TOPIC
OUTLINE
➢ What is an Art?
➢ Elements of Art: Visual
➢ Elements of Art: Auditory
➢ The Principles of Art

OVERVIEW
Hello! Welcome to the Art Appreciation, where you
can learn and enjoy notable works of art. As you
start to open this module, you will love the
unceasing compassion of God’s creative Hands in “Art-portrait-collage 2” Vincent van Gogh Self-portrait, Detail from
appreciating different forms of beauty. the Venus, Temple lion, Japanese porcelain, and
Chokwesculpture by Husky and h3m3ls, Mischa de Muynck and
Niels ia licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Art is something that is perennially around us. Some
people may deny having to do with the arts but it is
WHAT
indisputable that life presents us with many forms of
and opportunities for communion with the arts. A IS AN ART?
One of the characteristics of art is its wide diverse
bank manager choosing what tie to wear together
range of human activities engaged in creating visual,
with his shirt and shoes, a politician shuffling her
auditory, or performed forms that express the
music track while comfortably seated on her car
author’s imaginative and technical skill intended to
looking for her favorite song, a student marveling at
be appreciated for their beauty and emotional
the intricate designs of a medieval cathedral during
meaning.
his field trip, and a market vendor cheering for her
bet in a dance competition on a noontime TV

Study Guide 1 – Art Appreciation | Page 1 of 6

One of the oldest documented forms of art is the A. Horizontal Lines- associated with rest or
visual arts. This includes images or objects in fields calm
like painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography,
and other visual media. Architecture is characterized
as visual arts; however, it involves creating objects B. Vertical lines- associated with stability and
where the practical use is essential, unlike with the firmness.
other form of visual art as a painting.

Art can be characterized with regards to its mimesis

(representation of reality), expression,
communication of emotion, or other qualities. Over
time, the definition of what constitutes art is
disputed and continually changing. But its general
descriptions center on the idea of imaginative and
technical skill stalking from the creation of man. C. Diagonal lines- convey movement and
Suppose we visually identify a work of art. In that stability with progression.
case, there’s no single set of values and aesthetic
traits to consider and judge. For example, classical
music does not necessarily share much with a
modern musical piece. However, they are considered /////////
works of art.Despite the seemingly overflowing
instances of arts around people, one still finds the
need to see more and experience more,
whether consciously or unconsciously.
/////////
D. Crooked lines- convey violence, conflict or
One whose exposure to music is only
struggle.
limited to one genre finds it lacking not to have been
exposed to more. One, whose idea of a cathedral is
limited to the locally available ones, finds enormous
///////
joy in seeing other prototypes in Europe. Plato had
the sharpest foresight when he discussed in the
Symposium that beauty, the object of any love, truly
progresses. As one moves through life, one locates
better, more beautiful objects of desire (Scott, 2000). Commented [u1]: Eto ung source oh. How come it is
One can never be totally content with what is just plagiarized? It is properly cited.
before him. We, human beings are drawn toward
what is good and ultimately, beautiful.
E. Curved lines- alludes to softness, grace,
flexibility or even sensuality.
Elements of Art: Visual
2. Shape and Form- both define the space occupied
1. Line- a continuous mark made on a surface or in
space. It can be defined as the path of a moving
point. Lines can be made with a variety of tools
which includes brushes, pencils, and pens. In
sculptural work, lines can be made with wire, steel,
wood, or any other material that is used to create a
narrow mark in space.

by the object of art. Shape refers to two dimensions:

Study Guide 1 – Art Appreciation | Page 2 of 6

height and width, whilst form refers to three
dimensions such as height, width, and depth.
Although shapes are part of a bigger picture, each 4. Color- produced when artists use various
can be identified by breaking the visual components pigments and dyes to create a range of different
apart and making distinctions based on what we hues that the viewer’s eyes and brain interpret as
know and what we have seen. There are two colors. Color wheel corresponds to the first proper
categories that can be used as a broad distinction: color of Hue.

a) Geometric- shapes find origin in Hue is subdivided into:

mathematical propositions
A. Primary colors
b) Organic- shapes that are readily occurring
in nature, often irregular or asymmetrical B. Secondary colors

3. Space- area between or within shapes or forms. It C. Tertiary colors

can be manipulated to create the illusion of depth in
a two-dimensional work of art. It can be positive or
negative. The area within the objects of composition
is a positive space. The area surrounding the
primary objects of composition is negative space. 5. Value- refers to the brightness or darkness of
color.
a) Positive and Negative space- positive
This
space is the space where a shadow is
create
s the solidity and depth, particular mood and
feelings.

a) Light colors- taken as the source of light in

the composition

heavily cast, and negative space on the

b) Dark colors- lack or even absence of light
other hand, is the space where it is lighter.

b) 3-dimensional space- can be simulated

through a variety of ways one of which is
shading. 6. Intensity- refers to the color’s brightness and
dullness.

a) Bright or warm colors- positive energy

b) Dull or cool colors- sedate/soothing,

Study Guide 1 – Art Appreciation | Page 3 of 6

 seriousness or calm l Fortissimo [ff] - very loud

7. Textures- it can be either real or implied. This When composers indicate an increase or decrease
element in an artwork is experienced through the in loudness, they use the terms crescendo for the
sense of touch and sight. This element renders the former; and decrescendo or diminuendo for the
art object tactile. latter.

a) Texture in 2D- implied using one technique 3. Melody - refers to the linear presentation
or a combination of other elements (horizontal) of the pitch. By horizontal, it means
that in musical notation, it Is read' In succession
b) Surface texture- texture of 3-dimensional
from left to right. Pitch is the highness or lowness
of a musical sound.

Elements of Art: Auditory 4. Harmony - If melody Is horizontal, harmony is

vertical. It arises when pitches are combined to
form chords. When several notes are
1. Rhythm - is the element of music that is situates simultaneously played, this refers to a chord.
in time and associated with beat, meter and tempo.
It is the pulse of the music. Basic unit of music is Harmony can be described in terms of its
called the beat, whilst the speed of music is refer as “harshness”: dissonance is the harsh-sounding
the tempo. Beats can be organized into a combination while consonance is the smooth-
recognizable recurrent pattern, which is called the sounding combination
meter.
5. Timbre - is often likened to the color of music. It
Classical terms are used to refer to the variations in is a quality that distinguishes a voice or an
tempo, some of which are: instrument from another. Dependent on the
technique, the timbre may give a pertain tone or
• Largo - slowly and broadly
characteristic to music, much like how a painter
• Andante - walking pace
evokes different effects or impressions onto the
• Moderato - at moderate speed
canvas.
• Allegro - fast
• Vivace - lively
6. Texture - The number of melodies, the type of
• Accelerando - gradually speeding up
layers, and their relatedness in a composition is
• Rallentando - gradually slowing down
the texture of the music. It may be:
• Allargando - getting slower broadening
• Rubato - literally “robbed time,” rhythm
• Monophonic - single melodic line
Is played freely for expressive effect
• Polyphonic - two or more melodic lines
• Homophonic - main melody accompanied
2. Dynamics - The element of music that refers to
by chords
the loudness or quietness of music is dynamics.
Classical terms are used to refer to the different
levels about this: The Principles of Art

l Pianissimo [pp] - very quiet 1. Pattern - It is a very important design

l Piano [p] - quiet concept that refers to the visual arrangement of
l Mezzo-piano [mp] - moderately quiet elements with a repetitive form or intelligible
l Mezzo-forte [mf] moderately loud sequence. The pattern is not always obvious. It
l Forte [f] - loud could be a simple underlying, not a design that
dances between light and dark in some kind of

Study Guide 1 – Art Appreciation | Page 4 of 6

sequence. Or it could be the use of similar color You will be able to tell from your own judgment if all
patterns throughout your painting. In the painting the elements are in harmony. It will just look right.
below, notice how the top arm of the subject However, if the painting looks off, then it can be
almost blends into the background and how the difficult to tell if that is because there is no harmony
legs blend into the cloth, and the cloth blends into between the elements or if there is some other
the rest of the foreground. This interlinking pattern issue.
drags you through the painting and creates a very
interesting design. Unity is defined as some kind of connection between
all the visual elements in a work of art. Like
2. Balance - refers to the visual distribution or the harmony, this is a bit of a unclear term which is
wight of the elements in a work of art. We say that a difficult to objectively use to analyze art.
painting is balance if the one half is of the same
7. Variety - Variety refers to the use of different
visual weight of the other half. Also, you could have
qualities or instances of the visual elements. Variety
a small area of heightened value, which is balance
can be used to break up monotonous or repetitive
against a much larger area of less significance.
areas.
3. Emphasis - it is the way of using elements to
8. Movement - We can arrange the paint and lines in
stress certain area in an artwork. It is also another
a way that gives the illusion or suggestion of
way to describe a focal point in an artwork.
movement.
4. Contrast - Contrast is everything in art; without it,
The effective techniques for creating movement in
the artwork would be nothing but a blank surface.
your work is to use bold and directional brushwork.
Contrast can come in many forms:
By doing this, you can suggestively push your viewer
Texture contrast: A distinction between smooth and around the painting as you please. You could also
textured. suggest movement through repetition or pattern.

Color contrast: A difference between light, and dark, 9. Proportion - concerns the relationship between
saturated and dull or complementary colors (hue the sizes of different parts in an artwork.
contrast).
Some proportions are considered to be visually
Detail contrast: A comparison between areas of pleasing, such as the rule of thirds and the golden
detail and more bland areas. ratio.

Shape contrast: A contrast between different shapes 10. Scale - refers to the size of an object compared
(rectangles and circles). to the rest of the surroundings. For example, the size
of a man compared to the tree he is sitting under or
Interval contrast: A demarcation between long and the size of a mountain compared to the clouds. The
short intervals. The interval contrast can be used to scale is different to proportion in that scale refers to
create a sense of rhythm in your artwork. the size of an entire object, whereas proportion
refers to the relative size of parts of an object. For
5-6. Harmony and Unity - Harmony is a bit undefined example, the scale of a mean relative to the rest of
compared to some of the other principles. Generally, the painting may be correct, but the proportion might
it is defined to how well all the visual elements work be wrong because his hands are too large.
together in a work of art. Elements that are in
harmony should have a logical progression or
relationship. If there is an element that is not in
harmony with the rest of an artwork, it should stick-
out and be cacophonic to look at. Kind of like an off- LEARNING
note in a song. ACTIVITY

Study Guide 1 – Art Appreciation | Page 5 of 6

 Mill. J.S. (1879). Utilitadanism. 7th Ed. London:
Instruction: Provide your answers in a short coupon Longmans, Green, and Co.
bond. Answers should be in 100-150 words for each
question. Soc, D. (2000). “Socrates and Alcibiades. in the
‘Symposium.’” Hennathena 168, 25-37.
1. What kind of artists are you willing to become?
Retrieved from: “Crooked man vector drawing” cited
2. In two-dimension artwork such as paintings, cite in tinyurl.com/y25ffynb
the elements and principles of art that that when
Retrieved from: “Fractal dragon curve.jpg” cited in
utilized in the composition of the artwork, will help
tinyurl.com/y6hdemt3
simulate or suggest the three-dimensional space?
Retrieved from: “Art-portrait-collage 2” Vincent van
3. What is the relevance of combined arts and hybrid Gogh Self-portrait, Detail from the Venus,
art in the twenty-first century? Temple lion, Japanese porcelain, and
Chokwesculpture by Husky and h3m3ls,
Mischa de Muynck and Niels ia licensed under
CC BY-SA 3.0 cited in tinyurl.com/y2p2pw4e

Cited in tinyurl.com/y3h83uqh

SUMMARY Cited in tinyurl.com/yyj4tn6m

• Humanities and art have always been part of Cited in tinyurl.com/yxb7fgwn

man's growth and civilization.
Cited in tinyurl.com/y36mtf3q
• Since the dawn of time, man has always
tried to express his innermost thoughts and
feelings about reality by creating art.
• This lesson also explain the elements and
principles of art are considered one of the
most rudimentary stages in easing the
student into a meaningful experience with
art, regardless of its form.
• Familiarity with these building blocks of
composition and formal analysis will aid the
viewer in his or her attempt to come into
terms with the intention of the artist.

REFERENCES
Prepared by:
Congwod, R. (1938). The Principles of Art.
Worcestershire: Read Books Ltd. Robel Z. Javelosa LPT
Karla Trysha Taaca
Dudley.L., Fadcy. A.. and McGraw-Hill Book Compny. Faculty, College of Arts and Sciences
(1960). The Humanities. New York McGraw-
HIII.

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