Unit 3: The Artist and His Medium 2.

Ink- It is one of the oldest materials for drawing that is still

in use. It allows for a great variety of qualities, depending
This part of Art Appreciation focuses more on the technical aspect on the tools and technique used in the application.
of the course which refers more on the process of creating the art 3. Pastel- This is composed of dry pigment held together by
work, the materials and equipment needed, the techniques applied a gum binder and compressed into sticks.
as well as how to preserve so that it can be appreciated and utilized
for a long period of time. Kinds of Pastel:

Lesson 1 - The Process of Art Production Soft Pastel, Hard Pastel, Oil Pastel

Production - is at the heart of making art. Artists and theorists have ii. Pastel Techniques:
long acknowledged its importance as both an artistic action and an Stippling- Using pastel of different colors to produce small marks,
idea to be explored. thus, creating a pattern.
- And as the role of production has shifted in our lives, so Feathering- Using the point of the pastel to make parallel strokes
have the ways in which artists have responded to it. creating a feather-like effect.
- While some contemporary artists foreground production
as a tool, others use their work to explore ideas around Scumbling- It is like layering but using pastel. The side of the pastel
production we might otherwise overlook. It can refer to the is lightly drawn on top of an existing color but still making the color
making of something, or to a final product, like a theatrical of the first layer visible.
performance.
- It can be the process of bringing a song or musical to life Impasto- The technique of thickly applying the pastel by pressing it
or honing that work to perfection. Production might bring hard on the paper creating an opaque effect.
out images of factory production lines, or even the
Sgraffito- Technique that applies a thick deposit of pastel on the
theories of scientists and philosophers after the mind has
support then using a blunt pen, scrapes it off to reveal the
conceived it through a certain process.
underlying color.
A. Medium
4. Charcoal- An organic medium that comes from burnt
When an artist is ready to express himself in art and to give shape wood.
to his vision, his first thought would be on what medium to use.
Kinds of Charcoal:
B. The Technique
Compressed Charcoal- The vine charcoal which comes in thin sticks
The technique of the artwork shows the level of familiarity with the that is easy to blend and erase.
medium being manipulated.
Manufactured Charcoal- Made from loose charcoal mixed with a
C. Curation binder and pressed into sticks.

Derived from the word “curare” which means to take care. It is a 5. Paper- The most common surface used in two-
process that involves managing, overseeing and assembling or dimensional art.
putting together a presentation or exhibit for some type of artistic
3 Types of Paper:
collection.
Hot-pressed Paper- Smooth
The Different Media of the Visual Arts
Cold-pressed Paper- Has moderate texture.
I. Graphic or Two-Dimensional Arts
A. Drawing - The fundamental skill needed in the visual arts. Rough Paper- Has the most texture (tooth).
Different Media for Drawing: Painting - It is the process of applying paint onto a smooth surface
(ground/support) like paper, cloth, canvas, wood or plaster.
1. Pencils- Made of graphite which comes in different
hardness from soft to hard or thickness from thick to B. Pigment- Part of the paint that gives color.
needle-like.
Different Media for Painting:
Shading Techniques:
Watercolor- Pigments are mixed with water and applied to paper.
Hatching- A series of thin parallel lines that run in the same
direction. Gouache- The pigment has been mixed with water and added with
a chalk-like material to give it an opaque effect.
Cross-hatching- A series of thin parallel lines and criss-crossing it
with another set of tin parallel lines. Oil Paints- Pigments are mixed with oil as its binder. It is a dense
painting medium and gives rich, beautiful colors. Discovered by a
Stippling- Uses the sharp point of the pencil to make dot patterns Flemish painter, Jan Van Eyck in the 15th century.
in some parts of the drawing.
Tempera- Pigment is mixed with egg yolk (sometimes with the
Blending- May be accomplished by using the finger or a paper white) as binder.
stump to gradually change the tone from dark to light.
Fresco- Pigment is mixed with water and applied on a portion of the
wall with wet plaster. It is used for mural paintings.
Acrylic- Modern medium with synthetic paint using acrylic emulsion c. Metal - It has three unique qualities: tensile strength, ductility and
as binder. malleability.

C. Mosaic - Wall or floor decorations made of small tiles or d.Plaster- It is finely ground gypsum mixed with water and poured
irregularly cut pieces of colored stones or glass called into mold.
tesserae.
D. Collage - Derived from a French word “coller” which e. Terra cotta (cooked earth) - Baked clay or clay fired in a kiln at a
means to stick. This is a technique of making art by gluing relatively high temperature.
or pasting on firm support materials or found objects.
f. Glass - Made by heating and cooling a combination of sand and
E. Printmaking - Process used for making reproductions of
soda lime.
graphic works. Allows for the repeated transfer of a
master image from a printing plate (matrix) onto a g. Plastic - Synthetic medium made from organic polymers.
surface.
Architecture - Art of designing buildings and other structures which
Printmaking Techniques: will serve a definite function.
1. Relief Painting (Raised) - The oldest method of printmaking. The A. Construction Principles
technique involves cutting away certain parts of the surface and
leaving the ‘raised’ part to produce the image. a. Post and Lintel - Makes use of two vertical supports (post) and
spanned by a horizontal beam (lintel). It was invented by the
2. Intaglio Printing (Depressed) - Instead of the surface of the plate Greeks.
for the image, the lines of the image are cut or incised to a metal
plate. b.Arch - A Roman invention that consists of separate pieces of
wedge-shaped blocks called voussoirs arranged in a semi-circle.
3. Surface Printing (Flat) - Includes all processes in which printing
is done from a flat surface. Structures that can be Built from the Principle of Arch:

II. Plastic or Three-Dimensional Arts Barrel Vault- A succession of arches.

A. Sculpture - Originated from the Latin word “sculpere” Groin Vault- A structure that is formed by intersecting arches
which means to carve. It is defined as the art or practice resulting in four openings.
of creating three-dimensional forms or figures.
Dome- Structure with the shape of an inverted cup.
3 Kinds of Sculptures:
c.Truss - System of triangular forms assembled to form a rigid
1. Freestanding- Sculptures which can be viewed from all framework.
sides.
2. Relief- Sculptures in which the figures project from a d.Cantilever - A structure that makes use of a beam or slab that
background. extends horizontally into space beyond its supporting post.

Two Variations of Relief Sculpture: e.Buttress - A structure that is built as a support for the wall.

Low Relief (bas relief) - Figures are slightly raised/projected from Media of Architecture
its background. A. Compressive Strength - Refers to those materials that can
High Relief - Almost half of the figures project from its background, support heavy weights without crumbling or breaking down.
more shadows are created. B. Materials that are used for Creating Building and Infrastructures:
3. Kinetic (mobile) - A sculpture that is capable of movement a. Stones and Bricks - Stones are favored over other materials for
by wind, water or other forms of energy. its durability, adaptability to sculptural treatment and its use for
The Process of Creating Sculptures building simple structures in its natural state.

A. Subtractive Process - Involves removing or cutting away pieces of b. Lumber (wood) - All parts of a building can be constructed using
the material to form the figure. wood except the foundations.

B. Additive Process - The process involves the construction of a c. Iron and Steel- Provide stronger and taller structures with less
figure by putting together bits of the material or by welding together use of material when compared to stone or wood.
metal parts to create figures. d.Concrete - Mixture of cement and water, with aggregates of sand
C. Process of Substitution - This process is also known as casting. and gravel.
This method involves using a mold to produce a 3D figure in another Literature and the Combined Arts
material.
A. Literature - Art of combining spoken or written words and
D. Different Media of Sculpture: their meanings into forms which have artistic and
a. Stone - A natural medium.Hard and relatively permanent. emotional appeal.
B. Types of Literature
b.Wood - Also a natural medium. It varies in hardness and durability
depending on the kind of tree it came from.
a.Poetry - It used to follow strict rules s to the number and length of
lines and stanzas but in recent years they have become more free-
flowing f. Rock Music- Form of popular music that evolved from rock and
roll and pop music.
b. Fiction - Written work that is not real and which uses elaborate
figurative language. g. Alternative Music- A style of rock music that emerged from the
independent music of the 1980s and gained popularity in the
c. Non-fiction - Subject matter comes from real life. 1990s.

d. Drama - Includes all plays or any written works that are meant to Dance, Types of Dance
be performed.
A. Dance - Is said to be the oldest of the arts. It is the man’s
Music, Media in Music, some Genres of Music gestures that express emotions through rhythmic
movements.
A. Music - Defined as the art of combining and regulating
sounds of varying pitch to produce compositions that B. Types of Dance:
express various ideas and feelings.
B. Media in Music a. Ethnologic (ethnic)- Includes folk dances associated with national
a. Vocal Medium- The oldest and most popular medium for and/or cultural groups.
music is the human voice.
b. Social or Ballroom- Type of dancing that are generally performed
Classification of Human Voice (Komien,2008): in pairs.

Soprano- Highest female singing voice. c. Ballet- Originated in the royal courts of the Medieval era.

Contralto- Female singing voice that is low and rich in quality. d. Social or Ballroom- Sometimes called contemporary or
interpretative dances. They represent rebellion against the
Tenor- Highest adult male singing voice. classical formalism of ballet.

Bass- Male singing voice that is low and rich in quality. e. Musical Comedy (musicale)- Refers to those dances performed
by one dancer or a group of dancers.
Baritone- Male singing voice that is between tenor and bass.
Drama and Theatre and Genres of Drama
b. Instrumental Medium- Materials that produce/create
sound A. Drama - Genre of literature that is intended to be acted-out or
performed on stage in front of an audience.
Traditional Instruments of Music:
B. Theatre - Combined art that includes music, dance, painting,
String Instruments- Provide basic orchestral sounds. Two kinds are: sculpture, and architecture.
Bowed strings that produce tones by means of a bow of horse hair
and Plucked strings that produce tones by plucking the strings with C. Genres of Drama (DiYanni, 2000):
a finger or with a plectrum held in one’s hand.
a. Tragedy- literature’s greatest dramatic genre.
Woodwind Instruments- Create sounds by blowing into them.
b. Melodrama- Emphasizes the never ending battle between good
Brass Instruments- Have cup-shaped mouthpieces and expands and evil wherein good always wins.
into a bell-shaped end.
c. Comedy- Exact opposite of tragedy.
Percussion Instruments- Makes sound by hitting them.
d. Satire- Portrays human weakness and criticized human behavior
Keyboard Instruments- Make sound by means of a keyboard which to pave the path to some form of salvation for human actions.
consist of a series of black and white keys.
e. Farce- Light humorous play in which the emphasis is on the jokes,
C. Some Genres of Music: humorous physical action, exaggerated situations and improbable
characters.
a. Classical Music- European tradition that covered the years of
1750 to 1830. Forms such as the symphony, concerto, and sonata Cinema, Genres of Motion Pictures and People Behind Motion
were standardized. Pictures

b. Folk Music- Originated in the traditional popular culture or is A. Cinema - Series of images that are projected onto a screen to
written in such a style. create the illusion of motion.

c. Pop Music- Began in the 1950s and is inspired in the tradition of B. Genres of Motion Pictures:
rock and roll.
a. Feature Films- Commonly shown in movie theaters.
d. Jazz- Originated in the African-American communities in the late
19th and early 20th centuries. b. Animated movies- Use images created by artists/ animators.

e. Blues- Originated from the African Americans in the deep South c. Documentary movies- deal primarily with facts, not fiction.
of the United States in the late 19th Century.
d. Experimental films- Sequence of images, literal or abstract, which
do not necessarily form a narrative.
e. Educational Films- Specifically intended to facilitate learning at Properties of Color and How Colors Relate and Light and Shadow
home or classrooms.
Color - The significance of color as an element of the visual arts
C. People Behind a Motion Picture cannot be over emphasized. People see and perceive the world as
a multitude of colors. Also the materials used by the artists possess
a. Actors- Play the roles of the characters. characteristics of color. Color adds beauty and meaning to all forms
of art. The world would be a gloomy place if its devoid of color.
b. Producer- handles finances.
- the property of light. So when light goes out, color goes
c. Screenwriter- develops stories and ideas for the screen or adapts
with it. Color is composed of a series of wavelengths
interesting written pieces of work as motion pictures.
which strike the retina of the eyes. A ray of light contains
d. Director- Studies the script, plans and visualizes how the film all the colors of the visible spectrum- red, orange, yellow,
should be portrayed and guides the actors and the production crew green, blue, indigo and violet (ROYGBIV). The visible
as they carry out the project. spectrum was discovered by sir Isaac Newton when light
was allowed to pass through a glass prism. Passing white
Elements and Principles of Arts light through a prism breaks it into a band of the visible
colors (just like a rainbow).
This unit presents the importance of the different elements of the
art mediums that make up the holistic character and qualities of Properties of Color
the art work. The discussions will focus on how the elements and
the different basic principles can merge and effectively create a Hue - It is the name given to the color, for example; red, green, violet
particularly organized art piece. and blue.

Line and Kinds of Line For pigments, RED, YELLOW and BLUE are called primary hues.
They are considered primary because these hues cannot be
Line - can be defined in several ways: It is a path made by a moving produced from combining any hues.
point; a series of dots; a prolongation of points or according to Paul
Klee is a dot that went for a walk. One definition of a line, however, When two primary hues are mixed in equal amounts, secondary
that captures its essence in the visual arts is it being an intended hues are produced. These are ORANGE, GREEN and VIOLET.
mark made by the artist to convey meaning beyond its physical
Mixing equal amounts of the primary and secondary hues produces
description.
intermediate hues which are RED ORANGE, BLUE GREEN and BLUE
Kinds of lines VIOLET.

Straight lines - are geometric, impersonal and differ in the direction Combining in equal mixture any two secondary hues produces the
that they take. The straight lines may move from left to right, start tertiary hues.
from the top going down, slant or move up and down forming
Value - refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. The value of
angles. Whatever is the direction, each kind indicates a specific
any hues can be changed by adding a neutral such as black or
type of emotion.
white. This results in changing the quantity of light the hue reflects.
Horizontal lines - move from left to right or vice versa. It is a line that
Shade - When black is combined with hue.
appears to be laying down.
Tint - When white is added with hue.
Vertical Line - start from bottom to top or vice versa. It is a line that
appears to be standing. Intensity - denotes the brightness or dullness of a color. It gives
color its strength. Colors differ in intensity or vividness.
Diagonal lines - are slanting lines. In the visual art, diagonals
suggest two meanings, a positive and a negative one. On the Hues become less intense (dull) when white is added because color
positive diagonals indicate action and movement i.e. to move becomes lighter in value.
forward and act. On the negative, it conveys a feeling of uncertainty,
stress and defeat. The hues’ intensity diminishes when black is added and as the
value darkens.
Zigzag lines - Are angular lines that resulted in abrupt change in the
direction of a straight line thus forming angles. The lines are If gray is added, the result will be a variation in intensity without any
unpleasant and harsh which portrays tension, conflict, chaos, or change in value.
violence.
How Colors Relate
Curved lines - are technically curvilinear lines. Curve lines suggest
grace, movement and flexibility indicative of life and energy. When Color harmony - is one method of establishing color quality in a
a curve line moves continuously in opposite directions, it forms a composition. There are several ways of creating harmony that an
wavy line which shows fluidity because of the gradual change in artist can use. The most common are the following:
direction.
Monochromatic harmony - When a single color in the composition
Lines - can possess a variety of characteristics, depending on is varied in intensity and value by adding white or black.
shape, density,rhythm, angularity, and the material that have
Complementary Harmony - results when two colors that are
produced them. Lines may be short or long, fine or thick, heavy or
opposite each other in the color wheel are placed side by side.
light, wavy or jagged, straight or curved. As shown in the diagram
below (alphabet of lines). No matter what type of line it is, it always
has direction.
Analogous harmony - results when hues that are adjacent or beside Space - An illusion in the graphic arts. It is created by techniques
each other in the color wheel is used in a composition. that add depth and distance to two-dimensional art. In sculpture
and architecture, however, space is actually present.
Color temperature - refers to the relative warmth or coolness of a
color. Warm colors are colors that have YELLOW as its dominant Methods of Creating Space
component white cool colors have blue as their dominant
component. ● Overlapping planes (interposition) - create space when an object
covers a part of another object which is behind it.
Light and shadow focuses on what is known as achromatic value.
This refers to the changes in the amount of reflected light which ● Relative size - objects that appear large/big indicate nearness
ranges from black to gray to white and vice versa. An artist who has and small-sized objects as distant. Aside from creating the illusion
mastered the manipulation of achromatic value in a composition of space, this can also be interpreted as power and import.
gives his work the illusion of depth and form.
Position on the picture plane (relative height) - In some paintings,
Chiaroscuro - is the technique of manipulating light and shadow in spatial representation is based upon the position of objects relative
painting. Masters who have perfected the use of this technique are to the bottom of the frame. Those objects found at the bottom of
Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, and Caravaggio. Rembrandt the frame will appear closer to the viewer. Farther distances are
and Caravaggio went a step further and exaggerated the use of indicated by the positions of the objects higher on the picture plane.
shadows to an extreme called tenebrism or “dark manner”. In the The point of reference is the horizon line which is the line at the eye
local scene, Fernando Amorsolo, also mastered chiaroscuro, but his level. A picture plane can be divided into three parts;
focus was more on the manipulation of light rather than shadow.
■ Foreground - the bottom part.
Shape and Classification of Shapes
■ Middle ground - where the horizon is.
Shapes - In visual arts, a shape is formed when two ends of a line
■ Background - the topmost part.
meet to enclose an area. The area may stand out from the surface
because of a difference in color, value or texture. They may also Color - is also used to give the illusion of distance. Warm colors
present themselves as flat or two-dimensional and solid or three- advance and make objects look closer while cool colors recede
dimensional on a picture plane. making objects look farther away.
Picture plane - any flat surface onto which the artwork is created. Perspective - deals with the effect of distance on the appearance of
objects. It enables the viewer to perceive distance and to see the
Negative shapes - these are between the shapes that are not
position of objects in space.
occupied by any form. In painting, these spaces can be as important
as the shapes themselves. In sculpture and architecture, the shape Linear perspective - give the perception distance by means of
of the artwork can be determined by viewing the work against its converging lines. It has to do with the direction of lines and with the
background (Marquardt & Eskilson, 2005). size of objects.
Classification of Shapes Aerial perspective (gradient) - the effect of haze, mist or
atmosphere on the object. Near objects are seen in detail with the
Natural or organic shapes - those are seen in nature like the shape
full intensity of color and as objects recede, details are lost and
of leaves, animals, mountains, flowers and seashells.
objects appear grayer.
Abstract shapes - those that have little or no resemblance to natural
Space in sculpture - may be viewed in two ways: it may be
objects.
considered a single solid object or an assemblage of solids that
Non-objective or biomorphic shapes - seldom have reference to exhibits space; or space may be perceived as it enters into relations
recognizable objects, but most often show a similarity to some with its surroundings-extending into it, enveloping it, or relating
organic forms. across it.

Geometric shapes - these are triangles, rectangles, squares, Space in architecture - is created and defined by the shape,
cylinders, cubes. position, and the materials employed by the architect.

Sculpture and architecture - are three-dimensional forms, which are Movement

identified either by mass or volume. When mass is structured or has
Over the years, artists of the visual arts have manipulated the
a definite shape, it is said to have volume. The sculptor is
medium and elements in order to portray motion in their artworks.
concerned with volume because sculpture occupies space.
They have also experimented on which techniques to employ to be
Single volume - is the fundamental unit in sculpture. able to incorporate in their works the perception of movement.

Texture, Methods of creating Space and Movement Two ways to present motion or movement in their art

Texture - refers to the feel or tactile quality of the surface of an ● Actual movement - in art, specifically in sculptures results in
object. It has to do with the characteristic of the surface, whether it kinetic art. Actual movements may be achieved naturally using wind
is rough or smooth, fine or coarse, polished or dull, plain or and water or mechanically through some energy source (batteries
irregular. They also add richness and vitality in paintings. or electricity).

Visual texture - in such cases where touching the artwork is not ● Implied movement - results when a variety of lines are used
allowed, textured can be perceived by the eyes. together, repeated, change in position, or decreased/increased in
size. This gives the impression of movement in a stationary two ● Choreography refers to how the steps and movements are
dimensional art. connected for it to be performed in an organized manner. The
choreography guides the dancers’ movements for them to perform
Elements of Music the movement, convey the message and tell the story through body
language.
● Rhythm - is a movement or pattern with uniform recurrence of
accented and accented beat ● Technique is the skill of the dancer in executing the movements.
A good dancer has complete control over the muscles of the body
● Melody - is the succession of tones arranged in such a way as to
thus creating grace and fluidity of movements.
give it a musical sense. It may also refer to the rising and falling of
the tune in time. ● Theme is the content or the main ingredient of the dance. It tells
what the dance is trying to convey. It has something to do with the
● Harmony - is the sounding of a series of groups of tones in the
message of the dance.
same time. It may also refer to the pleasing sound that is produced
when two or more notes are played together. Concordance results ● Design is the planned organization or patterns of movement in
when the combination of sounds are in agreement which makes it time and space. Pattern in time, is provided by rhythm to be
sound good while dissonance results when the combination is not executed in space on a stage or dance floor.
pleasant to hear.
● Costume. The type of dance performed and the costumes worn
● Timbre - is tonal quality or the character of the tone that is relate closely to the customs, beliefs, and environment of the
produced by an instrument or by the human voice. Timbre allows people. Costumes enhance the effect of the dance.
the listener to distinguish the sound between a guitar and a violin
for example. In the same way, people can be identified by their Elements of Drama
voices. A man’s voice sounds different from a woman’s voice and
an old person’s voice is different from that of a child. Drama - is basically one of the genres of literature that is written
primarily to be performed. The performance is done by actors on
● Form - is the structure or the framework of a composition stage before a live audience.

Vocal Forms Plot is the overall structure of the play. It is concerned about what
the story is all about. Traditional plots have a beginning, a middle,
■ Opera is a drama set to music complete with actions, costumes and an ending. The Plot progresses through the following:
and scenery
Exposition is the part that familiarizes the audience with the
■ Cantata is a religious story told in music without actions characters and the situation they are in.
■ Moro-moro is a Philippine drama set to music which depicts the Complication happens in the middle part of the play which develops
conflict between the Christians and the Muslims. the conflict that was started in the exposition.
Instrumental Forms Resolution is also called the anticlimax or the part where conditions
in the story are normalized and the situation becomes stable.
■ Sonata is a long composition for solo instruments (piano, Violin)
Setting - is the locale and period in which the story takes place. It
■ Symphony is a sonata for the orchestra
includes the scenery, props and costumes used in staging. It is the
Dynamics - is the loudness and softness of the sound in music background of the play that informs the audience where and when
indicated by symbols to regulate the volume of the sound. the story will take place.

■ pp pianissimo - very soft Characters are the persons involved in the story. They may seem
real to the audience depending on how the playwright structures
■ p piano - soft the dialogues to make the characters come to life. Characters can
be the protagonist or the antagonist. Protagonist is the character
■ mp mezo piano - half soft from which the story revolves around while the antagonist is the
■ ff fortissimo - very loud person who challenges the role of the protagonist.

■ crescendo - gradually becoming louder Dialogue refers to the words uttered by the characters in the story.
It what the characters use when conversing with each other or when
■ decrescendo - gradually becoming softer expressing his thoughts and emotions. Dialogues let the audience
know the kind of character that the actor is portraying. There are,
Elements of Dance however, plays with no dialogues. Pantomimes rely heavily on
actions, gestures, facial expression and sound effects.
● Music plays an important role in the dance to which it is closely
related. It should be melodic and harmonious and fits into the Theme is what the story means. It is how the individual elements
movements of the dance. Music motivates the dancers to move in are put together to give the story significance and perspective. It
tune with its rhythm. The background music of the dance functions relates something about life that is presented in its totality. The
to captivate the interest and awe of the audience. theme may be directly or indirectly stated.
● Movement is how the dancers use their bodies to move and Elements of Theater
create organized patterns. Dancers also use gestures which
express specific emotions or ideas in sign language.
Theater - art is performed live. Its performance is immediate and ■ Factual is the literal interpretation of the work, its images,
once performed cannot be undone. Its magic begins when the attributes, actions and poses.
curtains are raised and the stage lights go on.
■ Conventional level takes into consideration the basic genres and
● The Playwright’s role is to work out the plot in terms of the actual the figurative meanings usually indicated by familiar signs and
actions to be performed and dialogue to be spoken by actors within symbols and the quality of work.
the limited facilities of the stage.
■ Subjective level takes into consideration the effect of form and
● The Performers are the ones who portray the characters in a play. content on the viewers of the art.

● The Director works with the playwright to present which is ● Context refers to the various circumstances that influence how a
interpreted and translated into dramatic action. work of art was produced and interpreted. The two types of context
are:
● Production Design includes the scenery, props, make-up,
costumes, lights, music, sound and all other special effects used in ■ Primary context pertains to the characteristic of the artist, his
a theater production. personality, beliefs, interests and values.

Elements of Cinema (Motion Picture) ■ Secondary context pertains to the setting. The historical period,
time in which the work was produced. Included here are the
● Acting and the Stars.Acting is the art of portraying or functions served by the art work, its religious and philosophical
impersonating a character in the story. A performer during filming conviction, socio political and economical undertones, climate and
should embody the character he is portraying. The actor’s portrayal geography.
must be perfect and complete.
Principles of Design
● Set and Directors should know the setting of the story and build
artificial sets. The principles of design describe the ways in which an artist has
used or can use the elements of art to create beautiful
● Music and Musical Director. Music is indispensable in motion compositions. (Grieder 1996)
pictures. The musical director is in charge of selecting, composing
new songs, writing orchestration, preparing background music, ● Balance is the distribution of the visual weight of objects, color,
creating musical scores and supervising all recording. texture and space. The use of these elements should be balanced
to make the viewers see and feel design as stable. Three types of
● Color in the movies is an innovation in cinematography. It costs balance:
twice as much as the black and white films. Most films are now
shown in high definition (HD) color. ■ Symmetrical balance results when the elements used on one side
of the design are similar to those on the other side.
● Make-up, Hair and Costume Design. These people are
responsible for applying the specific type of make-up, hairstyle and ■ Asymmetrical balance is when the sides of the composition are
costume to the actors before they face the camera. different but still looked balanced.

● Sound, Camera and Special Effects Technicians. Sound ■ Radial balance is achieved when the elements are arranged
technicians are responsible for making the dialogue clear and around a central point. Elements may exhibit similarities as they
music of fine quality. They make sure that there is no background spread around the central point.
noise. The use of cameras and the functions of the special effects
technician is indispensable in cinematography. They decide on the ● Emphasis is the part of the design that catches the viewer's
use of masking, the choice of lens, the camera angle and the attention. The artist will usually make one area stand out by
control of camera movements. contrasting it with other areas.

Principles of Art ● Movement is the path the viewer's eye takes when looking
through the work of art. Such movement can be implied along lines
Generally, the visual arts are made-up of three key elements that edges, shape, and color within the work of art.
are independent of each of their specific elements. In the
appreciation of the visual arts, these three elements present ● Pattern is the repetition of objects, shapes, lines, or symbols all
themselves as: over the space or picture plane.

Form - refers to how specific elements in the artwork are organized ● Proportion is the feeling of unity created when all parts relate well
to produce a unified whole. Form is further classified into: with each other.

Primary Features. This is how the artwork appears to the viewers. ● Repetition works with patterns to make the work seem active. The
Its physical attributes in terms of medium, color, texture and size. repetition of elements of design creates unity within the artwork.

Secondary Features. This is how the primary features of the artwork ● Rhythm is created when one or more elements of design are used
relate to one another. Particularly, this refers to balance, repeatedly to produce a feeling of organized, continuous,
proportion, unity and harmony that are used to create the whole sometimes flowing movement. To keep rhythm exciting and active,
composition. variety is important.

Content refers to the message the artist wants to convey through ● Variety is the use of several elements of design that adds interest
his art. The levels of content are: in order to hold the viewer's attention and guide the viewer’s eye
through and around the work of art.
● Unity is the feeling of harmony between and among the parts of 7. Connessione is realizing that all things are interconnected. It is
the work of art, which creates a feeling of completeness in the discovering patterns in the way things work and how things and
composition. lives work out. Interconnectedness is seeing how events in the past
led to the present state of affairs. A closer study of history would
The Rule of Thirds and the Seven Da Vincian Principles make one realize how events in the past explains the present.
The Rule of Thirds is used by visual artists (painters, digital artists,
and photographers) to create compositions that meet the
requirements for a good design. Most artists today, however, do not
use this rule, they opt for free flowing composition that is more of
their individual expression rather than of works limited or bounded
by basic rules. The point of this discussion is to encourage artists
to first be aware of the basic rules before they start venturing to
unorthodox techniques in expressing their art.

● The surface with two equally spaced vertical lines and two equally
spaced horizontal lines.

● These lines divide the picture plane into nine equal parts with four
intersecting points.

● Based on studies, placing an object in one of the intersecting

points results in a pleasing composition.

● Balance is achieved by placing another object at the point

opposite the first one.

The major function of the Rule of Thirds is to serve as a guide for

visual artists on the proper placement of their subjects on the
picture plane to achieve a more interesting composition. Placing
the subject at the center does not provide enough interest for
viewers to be able to appreciate the work.

The Seven Da Vincian Principles

Leonardo da Vinci was more than an artist. He was also an

architect, scientist, inventor, anatomist, geologist, historian and
writer. Through the centuries, Da Vinci influenced various areas in
many disciplines. Based on the research conducted by Michael J.
Gleb (born 1952), specifically, in his book “How to Think like
Leonardo da Vinci” (1998), da Vinci’s genius was based on 7
principles which he called the seven da Vincian Principles.

1. Curiosita is approaching life with a heightened level of wonder

and continuous search to know and learn more.

2. Dimostrazione is the commitment to test knowledge and to

persist in this task, which includes experiencing both success and
failures in undertaking.

3. Sensazione is experiencing life through refinement of the senses.

For example, the eyes should do more than see, it should be able
to distinguish between the beauty of various colors, note minute
details and savor the physicality of everything the world has to offer.

4. Sfumato literally translates to “going up in smoke”. It is accepting

life’s paradoxes and uncertainties. It is knowing and realizing that
not everything is cause and effect and that events happen that even
logic can explain.

5. Arte/Scienza is finding a balance between art and science or

logic and imagination. This relates to the concept of a whole brain
thinking (not just the left and right brain).

6. Corporalita is taking care of one’s body. Ensuring that healthy

habits are practiced and sustained. A sound mind is usually the
product of a sound body and vice versa.