Republic of the Philippines

President Ramon Magsaysay State University

Zambales
Telefax : 047-8111683/email address: prmsu.edu.ph

Chapter 8
Mediums of Visual Arts, Auditory and Combined Arts

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
• Describe the different mediums in visual arts;
• Familiarized with different mediums of visual arts, auditory and combined arts;
and
• Evaluate the differences between visual arts, auditory and combined arts

INTRODUCTION
Art has been created by all people at all times, in all countries, and it lives
because of its well-liked and enjoyed. If you want to appreciate art, you should first
experience it.
The discussions here will be taken for a week to give you information about the
arts' basic concepts and ideas. It also aims to develop a perspective about skills and
appreciate the world with different styles and genres of art. Also, you are required to
visit some links indicated in this module for viewing and reading.
Artistic medium is a term that is used by artists and art critics to refer to that out of
which a work of art or, more generally, a particular art form, is made. There are, generally
speaking, two related ways of using artistic medium in critical or artistic discourse.

LESSON PROPER
MEDIUMS OF VISUAL ARTS
1. PAINTING -is the art of creating meaningful effects on a flat surface by the use of pigments.
Different mediums are used in painting. Each medium exerts a pronounced effect on the finished
product, is capable of varied treatment, and determines its own stroke. These mediums are
applied to wet plaster, canvas, wood, or paper.

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 The Kiss’ by Gustav Klimt ‘The Fruit Gatherer’ - José Joya
a. WATERCOLOR - is difficult to handle
because producing warm and rich tones using
this medium proves to be a challenge. On the
contrary, watercolor pigments invite brilliance
and a variety of hues. Simple and clear
spontaneity is its principal essence. While
changes may be made once the paint has been
applied, such changes normally tend to make the
color less luminous. These effects are rendered
by watercolor artists through some techniques.
They are usually applied on white surfaces.
b. FRESCO- is a painting method done on a
moist plaster surface with colors ground in water
or a limewater mixture.
Fresco must be done quickly because it is
an exacting medium- the moment the paint is
applied to the surface, the color dry into the
plaster and the painting becomes an integral part of the wall. The image becomes permanently
fixed and almost impossible to remove.
An example of fresco painting is Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam in the Sistine
Chapel ceiling.
c. TEMPERA- paints are mineral pigments mixed with
egg yolk or egg white and ore. This egg-based emulsion
binds the pigments to the surface. Tempera is
characterized by its film-forming properties and rapid
drying rate. It requires a more deliberate technique than
oil because it does not possess the flexibility of oil.
Throughout the Middle Ages and early
Renaissance, tempera was one of the favorite mediums of
many painters before oil was adopted. Tempera painting
is usually done on wooden panel made very smooth with
plaster called gesso (chalk and gun).
Since this medium dries quickly, corrections are
difficult to make. thus, the artist must be precise and
exact in his work. It is a well-designed medium for
careful detail. One distinguishing advantage of tempera is
its luminous tone- the colors being clear and beautiful.

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Steps in Tempera Painting:
1) Separate the yolks from the whites, and drop one yolk into each of your bowls.
2) Mix water or liquid watercolors into the egg.
3) Mix well
4) Paint
d. PASTEL -is a stick of dried paste made of
pigment ground with chalk compounded with
gum water. It is very flexible medium whose
colors are luminous. In spite of the richness and
varied effects it yields, pastels are less popular
than the other mediums because it is difficult to
preserve the finished product in its original state.
Some artists use a fixing medium or a protecting
surface such as glass, but when the chalk rubs off, the image loses some of its brilliance.
e. ENCAUSTIC- is one of the early mediums used
by the Egyptians for painting portraits on mummy
cases. This is done by applying wax colors fixed with
heat.
Painting with wax produces luster and radiance,
making subjects appear at their best in portraits.
f. OIL PAINTING - is one of the most expensive art
activities today because of the prohibitive cost of materials. It
is the heaviest of painting mediums. In oil painting pigments
are mixed with linseed oil and applied to the canvas. One good
quality of oil paint as a medium is its flexibility. The artist may
use a brush, palette knife, or even his bare hands when
applying pain on his canvas. In some cases, we do not even
notice the artist's strokes because the paint is applied very
smoothly.
One distinctive characteristic of oil paint, compared
with other mediums, is that it dries slowly and the painting
may be changed and worked over for a long period. Because
of this, it is possible to apply a great deal of corrections
without much difficulty. Painting done in oil appears glossy
and lasts long.
g. ACRYLIC -is a medium used popularly by contemporary
painters because of the transparency and quick-drying
characteristics of watercolor and the flexibility of oil
combined. The synthetic paint is mixed with acrylic

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emulsion as binder for coating the surface of the artwork. Acrylic paints do not tend to break
easily unlike oil paints which turn yellowish or darker over a period of time.
h. MOSAIC- is the art of putting together small pieces of colored stones or glass called
"tesserae" to create an image. The tesserae are most often cut into squares and glued on a surface
with plaster or cement. Mosaic is usually classified as painting, although, the medium used is not
strictly pigment.
Mosaic art is an important feature of Byzantine churches. A prominent religious artwork
in Manila done in mosaic is found in the altar of Sta. Cruz Church. It shows a wounded white
lamb, symbolizing Christ, with a stream that flows down directly to the tabernacle.

by: Julie Aldridge

Sta. Cruz Church
(Manila)

i. STAINED GLASS- as an artwork is common in Gothic cathedrals and churches. It is made by

combining small pieces of colored glass, held together
by bands of lead. It is also a kind of patchwork. In
large windows, the lead is reinforced by heavy iron
bars that form heavy black lines in the picture. The
pictures in the stained glass commonly depict the lives
of saints and in effect, serve as a means of religious
instruction among Christians. Beautiful stained-glass
windows showing scenes from the Bible are commonly
found in Philippine churches. Ex. Manila Cathedral
and Sto. Domingo Church.
2. DRAWING - is usually done on paper using pencil, pen, and ink, or charcoal. It is the most
fundamental of all skills necessary in arts. Drawing has always been considered as a very good
training for artists because it makes one concentrate on the use of line. Shading can also be used
to make drawings more life-like and realistic. Some of the world's best-known drawings are by
the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519).

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 Leonardo da Vinci –
The Head of Leda

Realistic Eyes by Hector

Gonzales

a. CRAYONS- are
pigments bound by wax and compressed into painted sticks used
for drawing. It is especially popular among children in the elementary grades. Crayons adhere
better on paper surface.
b. SILVERPOINT
To produce a silver point artwork, the artist uses
a silver stylus to produce a thin grayish on specially
prepared paper. Silverpoint drawings were popular
during the renaissance period.
by Picasa
3. SCULPTURE
In choosing a subject for sculpture, the most important thing to consider is the material.
The materials available for sculpture are limitless. Each of these materials presents a challenge of
the sculptor’s creativity. Ex. Pieta
a. GRANITE- is a granular igneous rock composed of feldspar and quartz, usually combined
with other minerals. This medium is quite difficult to chisel. It is good for large works with only
a few designs. The Egyptian sculptures of Pharaohs were mostly done in granite.
b. METALS - includes any of a class of elementary substances such as gold, Silver, of copper,
all of which are crystalline when solid and many of which are characterized by capacity,
ductility, conductivity, and peculiar luster when freshly fractured being ductile, metals can be
transformed into fine wires or threads.
They can be shaped or deformed under great pressure without breaking. Traditionally, the
metal used as mediums for sculpture are copper, brass, bronze, gold, silver, and lead. Aluminum
is a recent addition to the list.
c. MARBLE -is limestone in a more or less crystalline state sufficiently close in texture, and
capable of taking a high polish. It occurs in many varieties. Marble is easier to carve than granite
because it is relatively softer. Sculptors have used marble for detailed carving of figures.
Breciated marble is composed of angular fragments. Sandstone is relatively soft, making it easy
to work on. Basalt is hard and black. Limestone has a fine and even texture, its color ranges

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from light cream to buff, and from light gray to a darker, bluish gray. it lends itself very well to
carving.

Sandstone Basalt Sculpture- Limestone Statue

Aphrodite

Breciated marble

d. JADE- is a fine stone, usually colored green, and used widely in ancient China. It is highly
esteemed as an ornamental stone for carving and fashion jewelry. Today, it is made into
women’s fashion accessories because it carries certain social significance. It is believed to
symbolized virtues such as faithfulness, wisdom, and charity.
e. IVORY - comes from the main parts of tusks of elephants, is the hard-white Substance used to
make carvings and billiard balls. In the home of some well-to do families in the Philippines,
faces and hands of saints are made in ivory. The bodies are made of carved and painted wood.
f. CLAY- is a natural earthy material that is plastic when wet. It consists essentially of hydrated
silicates of aluminum and is used for making bricks and ceramics.
Clay is generally fragile so it becomes necessary to cast it in another durable material.
The surface of the finished product made of clay may be painted or glazed. Earthware,
commonly referred to as terra cotta or "baked earth", is cheap compared with stone or bronze.
Brilliant cloves are made possible by glazing. Like all pottery, terra cotta is easily broken. As a
medium for sculptor, it has been used during the early times. Most oriental sculpture come in the
form of terra cotta.
g. STONE- is the hard and brittle substance formed from mineral and earth material. The
finished product is granular and dull in appearance. Stones are normally used for grave stones in
cemeteries. Stones including sandstone, granite, basalt, marble, and limestone.
h. WOOD- as a medium is easier to carve than any other mediums available because it can be
subjected into a variety of treatment. It is lighter and softer to carve despite having greater tensile
strength than stone; hence, it can be used in long piece without breaking. The character of the
grain and the color of the wood are the most important qualities that the sculptor consider in
choosing what kind of wood he will use. Wood should be treated to preserve its quality.

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Common wood use for sculptures are dapdap, white lauan, oak, walnut, mahogany, narra, and
dao. They are selected for aesthetic purposes and
permanence.
MEDIUMS OF AUDITORY ARTS
The art of arranging sounds in time to produce a
continuous, unified, and evocative
composition, as through melody, harmony,
rhythm, and timbre.
Music as Auditory Arts
• Composed of tones and silences
organized in such a manner to convey the emotions and ideas conceived by the composer.
The composers work must be interpreted by another artist-the performer who makes the
composers work come to life.
• Music moves through time, thus it is called temporal
• Music appreciation is the acquired ability to listen to music intelligently
Three components:
1. ability to appreciate music is not congenital or inborn
2. acquired by anyone who makes up his mind to do so
3. conscious effort
Functions of Music
• An attempt to imitate the natural sound
• Release of one’s emotions or feelings (therapeutic)
• As signals in wars
• Means of worship and vehicles of rituals
• Used to accompany dance
• A form of entertainment in community celebrations
• Symbols of life’s cycles
THE COMBINED ARTS
The combined arts can be referred to events that combine variety of media or materials
which can be both seen and heard, and which exist in both space and time (Ortiz 40).
Combined arts can mean several different things. It can refer to a collection of different
art mediums, such as painting, singing and musical performance. It can also refer to
organizations that work over multiple platforms and venues to promote artistic endeavors.
1. Performance – Requires human beings to demonstrate certain skills.
2. Theater – As a combined art may put together literature or drama, music, actors on stage
where scenery, props and lighting are arranged, plus other media to complete a
production.

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 3. Music – May include sound, spectacular impressions and video.
4. Cinema – May creatively integrate elements of photography, video, film, music and
literature and other materials in its production.
The Spatial Temporal Frames in the Combined Arts
1. Locus – The specific space in which Music, Film, Theater, and other Combined Arts
occur. Space must conform to the plastic feature of the actor or the actress, and that it
must work to serve his or her moving, alive and three- dimensional character (Brockett
229).
The Display of Skills in the Combined Arts
Another integral aspect of the combined art is the performance, which consist in the
display or demonstration of the certain technical skills human beings for the public’s pleasure or
enjoyment.
In Theater, this may be shown in the display of prowess by the actor or actress in staging
a literary text or simply in the display of his or her active body or his or her body movement
activities on stage (Carlson 2-3; 114).
In Music, this can be shown in the demonstration of virtuosity of a pianist who performs
a piece before an audience.
In Cinema, this can be shown in the display of aural and visual images to depict a story
or a fact facilitated by technology and mixed media through expertise of a director, actor and the
production crew.
The Structure of the Combined Arts
The Structure of Music
In music, what constitute its structure are the elements of:
1. Rhythm - is the element of "TIME" in music. When you tap your foot to the music,
you are "keeping the beat" or following the structural rhythmic pulse of the music.
2. Melody - is a timely arranged linear sequence of pitched sounds that the listener
perceives as a single entity.
3. Harmony - is two or more notes played together at the same time. As soon as there is
more than one pitch sounding at a time, you have harmony.
4. Texture - is a way to describe how the music or sound is organized. It can be thought
of as how many layers a piece of music has – it’s how much stuff is going on at once.
The Structure of Theater
In Theater, what is performed may vary. In many cultures, what has become the major
mode of theatrical performance is the enactment of literature or dramatic text. According to
specific elements such as the:

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 1. Plot - is known as the foundation of a novel or story, around which the characters and
settings are built.
2. Character – is the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual within the
world of the play.
3. Thought – is the idea or “theme” of the play.
4. Diction – or “language” is used to depart information, reveal characters, characterize,
direct attention, reveal themes and ideas, establish mood / tone, establish tempo / rhythm
appropriate to character.
5. Music – The sound of the dialog, musicality, rhythm, pace, etc.
helps establish mood, characterize, lend variety, pleasurable.
6. Spectacle – it includes all aspects of the tragedy that contribute to its sensory effects:
costumes, scenery, the gestures of the actors, the sound of the music and the resonance of
the actors' voices.
The Structure of Cinema
What constitute the Structure of Cinema are the elements of:
1. Script – A screenplay, or script, is a written work by screenwriters for a film,
television program, or video game. These screenplays can be original works or
adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression
and dialogues of the characters are also narrated.
2. Acting – is an activity in which a story is told by means of its enactment by an actor or
actress who adopts a character—in theatre, television, film, radio, or any other medium
that makes use of the mimetic mode.
3. Production Design – is the creation and organization of the physical world
surrounding a film story.
In some cases, the production designer is almost completely responsible for the
overall look of a film; in others, particularly when working with directors with strong
visual styles, a designer's contribution tends to be much more limited.
4. Staging – It is the process of selecting, designing, adapting to, or modifying the
performance space for a play or film. This includes the use or absence of stagecraft
elements as well as the structure of the stage and its components. In film, staging is
generally called set dressing.
5. Cinematography – deals with the choices that are made for the camera – the
placement of the camera, the camera angle toward the subject, the lens choice, and the
camera movement. Each of these choices has an effect on the recorded image and how
the viewer perceives (consciously or unconsciously) that image.
6. Editing – is the sequencing of the shots in the film. Editors decide on the order and the
duration of shots, the visual transitions from scene to scene, and visual effects.

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 7. Sound Design – deals with the sound components, what we hear in the film. Dialog
editing, sound effects, and music contribute to the story. Mood, environment, character,
time and place are just a few of the story aspects that can be established or emphasized
with sound.
The Analysis of the Combined Arts
The analysis of Cinema will be generally according to Structure, which we refer to as
Form in the next part of the chapter, while Music and Theater will be analyzed according to
Subject Matter and Style in addition to Form.
Form refers to the elements, principles of composition, conventions and techniques that
are used to organize a work of art.
Medium refers to the material used by the artist. There are variety of materials used in
the combined arts.
Example:
Theater uses body and voice as the principal media while music makes use of the voice
and sound. The media are the vehicles with which the artist conveys the content of his or her
work
Subject matter is what the artwork is about. It may be a person, nature, event, feeling
and/or idea that is central in the art piece.
Style refers to the set of characteristics that identifies an artwork with an individual, a
historical period, a school of artists, or a nation (Sporre 14).

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