Subject Style and Function of Arts

Subject - term for what is represented in art; subject can be a person object, scene, or event
Representational Art - also known as objective arts; have subjects
Non-Representational Art - also known as nonobjective arts; don’t have subjects

I. Sources of Art Subjects

1. Nature - from animals, people, landscapes
2. History - (legend, folklore, current events) conditioned by time, places or events that
show protest against injustice, evils of war, family tradition, cultural value, fashion,
designs of buildings, thoughts of a period
3. Greek and Roman Mythology - mythological beings and renaissance period (revival or
art, literature, and learning)
4. Judaeo-Christian Tradition - religious beliefs
a. Bible - subjects on life and death of Jesus
b. Apocrypha - books of bible that are not accepted (Susanna, Judith, Tobit)
c. Legends of lives and saints - depict acts done by saints
d. Ritual - practices of mass or prayer
5. Oriental Sacred Texts - inspired by Hinduism or Buddhism
6. Other works of art - from another work of art
7. Experience - artists own senses, observation or perception

II. Styles of Art

Style - characteristic ways which artists express themselves in their work
1. Realism - portrayal of people and things without idealization, without distortion
2. Abstraction - departs significantly from the actual appearance of things; simple but
recognizable
a. Distortion - misshapen condition or twisted out
b. Elongation - lengthened, protraction or extension
c. Mangling - cut, lacerated, mutilated or hacked
d. Cubism - forms in basic geometrical shapes
3. Symbolism - a visible sign for something invisible such as an idea or quality
4. Fauvism - for comfort, joy and pleasure; uses extremely bright colors (George Rouault,
Henry Matisse)
5. Dadaism - outrageous; reaction to outworn traditions in art and evils of society
6. Pointillism - using dots
7. Expressionism - presenting reality as passionately felt; dependent on heavy color,
disturbing combinations, and distortion of colors, shapes and objects
8. Futurism - capture the speed and force of modern industrial society
9. Surrealism - reacts to evil deeds of society; attempts to show what is inside a man’s
mind and the appearance of his outside world
 III. Functions of Art
 To find meaning in art, it must have a utilitarian purpose and be capable of serving
the purpose for which it was designed
1. Architecture - highly functional; provides habitation or shelter
2. Sculpture - non -functional or functional; for religion, visuals, decoration,
commemoration
3. Music - functional; for worship, express ideas and emotion, for relaxation
4. Literature - non-functional (essays, news); functional (advertisements)
5. Painting - non-functional; value is seen on the vintage point of beauty

Divisions of Art
I. Purpose
1. Practical - a craft; serves a utilitarian purpose
2. Liberal - academic disciplines; provide information of chosen field
3. Fine Arts - created for aesthetic purposes; judged for its beauty and meaning
4. Minor Arts - art forms other than architecture (music, theatre, dance)
5. Major Arts - art forms that include architecture (the fine arts)
II. Media and Form Use
1. Plastic Arts - physical manipulation of plastic medium by molding or modeling
2. Phonetic Arts - making verses using words and/or letters
3. Kinetic Arts - contains moving parts or depends on motion for effect
4. Pure Arts - uses only one medium
5. Mixed Arts - combines two or more art forms or medium

Art for Arts’ Sake - Victor Cousin

Art never expresses anything but itself - Oscar Wilde
Art adds beauty to our lives
Art serves as a decoration
Art highlights qualities that reveal what is beneath
Art remains as time passes by
Art expresses spiritual belief
Art serves as a vehicle to express innermost fantasies
Art makes on think
Art magnifies simple objects to complex ones
Art portrays universal themes such as hope, fear, or superiority

Humanities
 To be human, cultured, and refined
Arts
 Expression or application of human creative skill and imagination
 Aesthetics, beauty, and emotional power
1. Forms of Arts
a. Visual Arts - photography, painting, sculpture, architecture
b. Audio Visual - music
c. Performing Arts - dance & theater
d. Literary Arts - prose & poetry
 2. Nature of Art
a. Ageless
b. Universal
c. Manmade
d. Product of Experience

Language of Art
 The visual arts have plastic elements organized among unity, balance, rhythm
 The composition of elements creates content

I. Elements of Visual Arts

3. Lines – a mark left by a moving point; evoke form and movement, imply action (straight
lines are rigid, shows limit, seriousness; curves are graceful, shows movement, flexibility)
a. Horizontal - express ideas calmness, repose, serenity, and quiescence
b. Vertical - action, force, and dynamism
c. Diagonal – movement and action; animation
2. Shape- refers to inner structure as well as the visible shapes of objects
- the interaction between interior and exterior portions
- may be communicated by dominant lines that enclose specific areas
3. Color - serves as a tool for composition; describes, generalizes, compares, and helps in
experiencing any work of art
a. Value – lightness or darkness of a certain color
b. Hue – characteristic of color that gives a specific name to a certain color
c. Saturation – purity of hues in comparison to their appearance in the spectrum
4. Chiaroscuro – is a means of modeling a figure in depth, a means of articulating form
5. Texture – surface quality, roughness or smoothness of an object; appeals to the senses
a. Tactile – three-dimensional; related to sense of touch
b. Visual – two-dimensional; related to the sense of sight
6. Space – concerned with making all parts functional so it contributes to complete the art
7. Mass – large area of form or color; a reflection of weight, size, magnitude
8. Time and Motion – movement and flow of object in space time; certain period or an
impression of movement; provides chance to develop or grasp the vision of ideas
9. Perspective – suggest depth, to embody the artist’s meaning in the form
a. Linear – relative diminution in apparent size of objects viewed at a distance
b. Aerial – apparent change in color and distinctness of objects viewed at a distance
 II. Composition
- Act of organizing plastic elements of art; according to aesthetic principles such as:
1. Proportion and Scale – comparative relationship of the parts of a composition to each
other
4. Unity – wholeness; achieves unity when its parts seem necessary to the composition
5. Balance – visual or actual weights distributed in ways they achieve physical or visual
harmony
6. Rhythm and Harmony – rhythm is the orderly progression or repetition of sensory
impressions in a work of art; harmony is the adaptation of the visual elements to each
other, agreement between parts
III. Content
- Refers to what is contained in a work of art
- Embedded in an artistic form, conveyed in an artwork
- Interpretation of the subject
- Every art must have a content therefore have a subject matter

Mandala

- In Sanskrit meaning “Circle”

- Represents the wholeness; model of the structure of life
- Cosmic diagram with relation to the infinite
- Represents our life journey, spirit, and soul
- The center brings us closer to total enlightenment

Okir or Okil
- Term for geometric, flowing plant-based design that can often be found among Lumad and
Moro people of Southern Philippines
- Associated with the artwork of Maranao and Sama(Badjao) people
- Can also be found among Maguindanao, Iranun, Tausug, Yakan, and Lumad groups
- Designs vary among ethnic groups with greatest refinement being with the Maranao
 An Introduction to Painting

A BRIEF HISTORY PAINTING

BEGINNINGS

• Cave Paintings - Outlines of everyday made from the Earth.

• Egyptian Artists - New colors invented (greens & blues) on Papyrus.
• Medieval times - Illuminated manuscripts were developed on parchment & vellum. Brushes were
made of natural hair. Tempera Paint was used.
• Renaissance – Fresco was heavily used before the invention of oil and varnishes. Canvas also
began being used heavily.
BEGINNINGS

• Impressionism / 19th century – saw the introduction of collapsible tube paints and newer colors.
Allowed artists to move out of the studio. “en plein air”
• 20th century – Smooth flat colors. Collage was added.
TYPES OF PAINT(ING)

*BOLD – ones we use!

• Tempera - Water based, egg binder, used prior to 1400’s, colors cannot be mixed, narrow range,
fast-drying
• Oil Paint - Easily mixed, more permanent, used after 1400, slow-drying, can be used in thin
layers called glazes or in thick lumps to make an impasto surface.
• Watercolor (Aquarelle) - Most common water-based paint, transparent. White paint is seldom
used to lighten paint (water is used). Light colors are applied first, then dark, working from
background to foreground.
• Gouache - Water-based opaque paint, it has more body and dries more slowly than watercolor.
Similar to tempera.
• Acrylic Paint - Synthetic paint with plastic binder .Recent (20th century), versatile, similar to oil
but dries faster, not as shiny
• Encaustic - Ancient process of mixing pigments with wax and then ironing the mixture to a
surface.
• Casein Painting - Uses milk protein as a binder, glue-like consistency. Too brittle to be used on
canvas.
• Fresco - Mixing pigments with plaster (walls, ceilings)
- Buon“true” Fresco: Paint is bound in the wet plaster
- Fresco secco: Paint is applied to dry plaster.
 • Paint Material Breakdown
- Paint is composed of three materials: Pigment, Binder, Vehicle (Solvent)
• Pigment
- Natural or synthetic colored materials finely ground into a powder.
- Clay, gemstones, minerals, plants, insects
• Binder
- Holds the pigment together and adheres the paint to a surface.
- Examples include: Egg yolks, linseed oil, wax
• Vehicle (Solvent)
- Is added to thin or thicken paint, slow or speed up its drying time.
- Examples include: Water or oil.
• PAINT SUPPLIES:
• BRUSHES - bristles, ferrule & handle, toe, belly, heel (parts)
a. BRUSH FIBERS
Synthetic:

1. Nylon – treated to taper toward the tip

2. White Synthetic Sable – answer to quality at economical price
- Made of high-quality, long-lasting artificial hair
- Each hair is tapered to come to a point
Natural:

1. Sable – (ultimate soft brush) from the hairs of the sable marten, tapers naturally
- Expensive but is renowned for its softness, flexibility, and fine point
2. Squirrel – soft hair with a little spring, large squirrels work better than smaller ones because the
mass of hairs together give it support, cheaper than sable
3. Hog – (ultimate hard brush) hairs from the back of a pig which are strong yet springy
- Have natural split-ends which increases the paint they hold, used for acrylic and oils
4. Camel – are really made from other types of soft hair, camel hair is unsuitable because its woolly
5. Ox – long, strong, springy hair
6. Pony – coarse hair that doesn’t form a good point, used in cheaper brushes
7. Goat – lacks spring, forms a good point, used in calligraphy and Chinese brush painting

b. BRUCH SHAPES
1. Angular – for precise strokes and lines and curves with thick or heavy color (watercolor/acrylic)
2. Bright – for short, controlled strokes with thick or heavy color (oil or acrylic)
3. Fan – smoothing or blending, special effects and textures (all media)
4. Filbert – (oval) soft rounded edges for blending and figurative work (oil and acrylic)
 5. Egbert – soft, rounded edges, blending, figurative work (oil and acrylic)
6. Flat – for bold, sweeping strokes, edge for fine lines, lots of coverage & easy maneuverability (all
media)
7. Round – for detail, wash, fills and thin to thick lines (all media)
8. Pointed Round – fine detailing, fine lines, spotting and retouching (all media)
9. Detail Round – details and short strokes, holds more than you think
PAINTING SURFACES

• Canvas
• Hardwood Panels
• Hardboard Panels
• Metals
• Plastics
• Impermanent Materials
• Paper
– Acrylic Paper
– Watercolor Paper
– Other Papers

Hardwood Panels
- Oak, Birch, Mahogany, Walnut
PROS: Long lasting

CONS: Very heavy & expensive.

Hardboard Panels
• As referred to as Masonite.
• Made from a mixture of wood fibers through a heat/pressure process.
PROS: Cheap & Durable.

CONS: Can bend & warp over time.

MDF Hardboard Panels

• MDF board is a recent hardboard.
• Stands for Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF).
PROS: Cheap, Durable & Long-lasting.

CONS: Toxic due to the resin used to make it.

Metal & Plastics

PROS: New look; Experimentation.

CONS: Needs to be sanded first to give tooth and remove “shiny.”

*Must have something to grip to.

Impermanent Materials
- Cardboard, Construction Paper, Tissue Paper, Newsprint.
PROS: New look

CONS: Not acid-free and will begin to turn yellow and brittle soon. Needs varnish.

Paper
- Acrylic Paper, Watercolor Paper(Artists’ grade, Students’ grade), Bark papers (Homemade)
PROS: Durable & Strong.

CONS: If not preserved properly then it will not last.

Canvas
- Either linen or cotton. Fibers glued to a panel or stretched over a frame. Each fiber contains
different textures or weights.
PROS: Versatility.

CONS: Expensive

• Texture = the weave

– Finely woven = smooth
– Loosely woven = rough
• Weight = thread density
– Higher the weight, the better quality.
Linen is the best and most expensive, but will last the longest.

Canvas
 1. Stretched Canvas – wrapped over stretch bars
2. Canvas Rolls – save money, used to stretch unusual shapes
3. Canvas Panels – good for beginners, cheap, compact and lightweight, not permanent, will
degrade over time
4. Canvas Pads – great for beginners, might last years but not remembered, inexpensive alternative
PRIMER / GESSO

 Primer is a type of “ground.”

 Primer allows paint to adhere to a surface by making it more absorbent and providing tooth for
the paint to grip.
 Acrylic primer is often called “gesso.”
 Traditional gesso is made from animal glue & chalk.
VARNISHES

 Applied as a finish protective coating to a painting.

 Protects from dust, UV rays, humidity, scuffing and yellowing.
Three Main Types:

Gloss, matte & satin

Two Different Formulations:

Resin & Polymer

Photography

- From the Greek words “photos” meaning light and “graphe” meaning drawing
- “Drawing with Light”

Camera

a. Exposure – the brightness or darkness of a photo; uses aperture, shutter speed,

and ISO to create a properly exposed image
b. Aperture – hole within the lens through which light travels into the camera body
c. ISO – sensitivity level of a camera to available light; lower number, less
sensitivity and vice versa
d. Shutter speed – aka exposure time; stands for the length of time a camera shutter
is open to expose light into the camera sensor; fast shutter speed can freeze action
while slow shutter speed can create an effect called “motion blur”
e. White balance – balances the color temperature in an image; adds an opposite
color in attempt to bring the color temp back to neutral
Focus Modes

1. Single Focus – One shot/S-AF/Single Servo/AF-S/ S is the simplest form of

autofocus
- pros lies on simplicity, con is if the distance between camera subject
changed, the initial focus will no longer be valid
2. Continuous Focus – Continuous AF/ C-AF/AI Servo/AF-C helps you keep your
subject in focus
- Locks onto a designated subject then tracks it as it moves
- Advantage, taming dynamic situations; disadvantage, camera may get
confused if you recompose the image after the focus is locked

Photography Composition

- The placement of relative objects and elements in an image

- Key aspect of great photography
1. Image Sensor – the sensor size affects many factors in images and the functions
of a camera body
- Impacts the quality of the image, lens functions, performance on
low light conditions
a. Four Thirds
b. APS
c. Full Film Format
2. Metering – how a camera determines what the correct shutter speed and
aperture should be
- Depends on the light going into the camera and sensitivity of a sensor
3. Memory Cards – used to store images and videos from camera; the faster the
memory cards the better the performance for photo and video
(Lexar Memory)
Architecture – art and science of designing structures and spaces for human use
- Is an art form realized through considerations of spatial design and
aesthetics
- Creative consumption of space

I. Ancient Civilizations

Ziggurat of Ur (Ur, Mesopotamia - 2100 BC)

- Ziggurats were artificial mountains built of mud brick

- At top of each ziggurat was a temple

Step Pyramid Complex of Zoser (Saqqara, Egypt – 2600 BC)

- World’s oldest stone buildings built for Zoser, a pharaoh of Third Dynasty
- By Imhotep; Mastaba form

Giza Pyramid Complex (Giza, Egypt – 2530 – 2470 BC)

- Only surviving wonder of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World

- Tombs built for the Fourth Dynasty pharaohs
- Khufu (Greek Cheops), Khafre (Greek Chephren), and Menkaure (Greek
Mycerinus)
- Largest is Khufu (2.5M blocks)
- Tallest building before Eiffel Tower
- Great Sphinx was a carved rock as part of Khafre

Pyramids from Around the World

- Ziggurat of Tepe Sialk (Kashan, Iran - 3000BCE)

- Pyramid of Djoser (Memphis, Egypt – 2610 BCE)
- Pyramid of Khufu (Cairo, Egypt – 2560 BCE)
- Ziggurat of Ur (City of Ur, Iraq – 2000BCE)
- Tomb of King Kashta (Meroe, Nubia – 500BCE)
- Qin Shi Mausoleum (Xi’an, China - 210BCE)
- Pyramid of the Sun (Teotihuacan, Mexico - 100CE)
- Tomb of the General (City of Ji’an China – 300CE)
- Borobudur Temple (Java, Indonesia – 800CE)
- Prang Temple (Kol Ker, Cambodia – 940CE)
- El Castillo (Chichen Itza, Mexico – 1000CE)
- Pyramids of Guimar (Chacona, Tenerife – 1700 CE)
Greek – Glory of Greece

Parthenon

- Foremost Greek building type; monumental or temple design

a. Doric – an architectural element from ancient Greece that is often associated
with strength and masculinity for its thickness and mass
b. Ionic – more slender and ornate; has scroll-shaped ornaments on the capital,
which sits at the tops of the column shaft
c. Corinthian – most ornate, slender, and sleek; distinguished by a bell-shaped
capital with volutes, two rows of acanthus leaves and cornice; often fluted

Roman – Grandeur of Rome

Coliseum – founded upon that of the Greeks

Pantheon – most famous vaulted Roman Temple; features a vast dome pierced with a
circular skylight; held as the masterpiece of the Corinthian order

a. Engaged – attached or partially embedded in a wall

b. Plaster – flattened engaged column is a plaster
c. Blind Arch – shallow arched depression on a wall

Medieval

- Marriage of two major world religions in Architecture

- Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque is a late antique place of worship in Istanbul

1. Romanesque
- characterized by its massive quality, thick walls, round arches, sturdy piers,
groin vaults, large towers, and decorative arcading
- based on Roma architectural elements; literal basis is the Roman arch
- richly sculpted than those of Dark ages
2. Gothic
- Romanesque but more vertical, slender, and intricate
- Name was coined by disparaging Renaissance scholars who named it tasteless,
barbaric after the Goths (German tribe that overrun Italy)
a. Buttress – a part of wall that has been thickened; a pier embedded on a wall
b. Rose Window – a circular window centered between west work towers; ionic
feature of the Gothic façade
c. Stave Churches – features a simple rectangular wooden frame such that four
corner posts bear the structural fold; multi-tiered roofs are these churches’
most striking feature (almost all found in Norway)
 3. Renaissance
- Renaissance architects rejected the intricacy and verticality of Gothic aesthetic
- Simplicity and balanced proportions of classicism
4. Japanese
a. Pagoda – several tiered towers that are prevalent through eastern countries
(China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan)
b. Stupa – predecessor of Pagodas
- First created in India
- Can be translated to “tuft of hair” or “pile of mound” in Sanskrit
- Used as relics generally placed over the ashes of holy individuals

5 tiered Godai – each level as a corresponding element which is (or are idk) chi as earth; sui
as water; ka as fire; fu as wind; ku as void, sky or heaven