Republic of the Philippines

SOUTHERN LEYTE STATE UNIVERSITY – HINUNANGAN

Hinunangan, Southern Leyte

ART APPRECIATION/HUMS 1201

(READING MATERIALS)

MODULE 1: AN OVERVIEW OF ART

LESSON 1: The meaning and Importance of Art

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
A. explain the meaning, nature and importance of arts in our lives;
B. determine the subject of art and its functions;
C. reflect on the functions of art with regard to their personal
contributions to the development of art.

CONCEPTS:

1. Loosely defined, the term humanities refers to the arts- the visual arts such as
architecture, painting, and sculpture; the performing arts such as music, dance,
theatre or drama, and literature. They are branches of learning concerned with
human thought, feelings, and relations.
2. The term Art comes from the Italian word, artis, which means “craftsmanship, skill,
mastery of form, inventiveness, and the association that exist between form and
ideas and between material and techniques’ “from the Aryan root ar which means
“to join” or “ put together”; from the Greek words “artizein” which means to “to
prepare” and arkiskein , meaning to “put together”.
3. Art is very important in our lives as it is concerned with the communication of certain
ideas and feelings by means of a sensuous medium- color, sound, bronze, marble,
words and film.
4. The subject art is varied. Some arts are representational; others are
nonrepresentational, non-objective, or abstract.
5. All arts have functions for people since they satisfy particular needs of people.
6. Visual arts or space arts are those that we perceive with our eye and which occupy
space.
7. Auditory or time arts are those that can be heard and expressed in time.
8. Combined arts are those that can be both seen and heard and exits in both space
and time.
THE NATURE OF ART

Art is very important in our lives. It constitutes one of the oldest and most
important means of expression developed by man. Art has been existent since men
have lived together. In fact, in nearly every country, art can be found in primitive
societies. Art has been created by all people at all times; it has lived because it is
liked and enjoyed. A true work art is made by man himself not imitatively, but
creatively. A true artist does not imitate nature but rather interprets it in his own way
by selecting the essential features of the subject and rejecting the minor ones.

Art has been defined in various ways. Hereunder are some of the definitions
given by various authors:

1. Art is derived from the Latin word ars, meaning “ability or skill”. – J.V. Estolas
2. Art is taken from the Italian word artis, which means craftsmanship, skill,
mastery of form, inventiveness, and the associations that exists between form
and ideas, between material and technique.- A. Tan
3. Art is a product of man’s need to express himself.-F. Zulueta
4. Art is concerned with the communication of certain ideas and feelings by means
of sensuous medium, color, sound, bronze, marble, words, and film.
–C. Sanchez
5. Art is that which brings life in harmony with the beauty of the world. –Plato
6. Art is an attitude of spirit, a state of mind- one which demands for its own
satisfaction and fulfilling, a shaping of matter to new and more significant form.
–John Dewey
7. Art is the skilful arrangement or composition of some common but significant
qualities of nature such as colors, sounds, lines, movements, words, stones,
wood, etc., to express human feelings, emotions, or thoughts in a perfect
meaningful and enjoyable way.- Panizo and Rustia

From the definitions above, there are four (4) common essentials of art:
1. Art must be man-made
2. Art must be creative, not imitative
3. Art must benefit and satisfy man and man must make use art in practical terms.
4. Art is expressed through a certain medium or material by which the artist
communicates himself to his fellows.

THE SUBJECT OF ART

In any art form- painting, music, sculpture, architecture, or dance-there is

always a subject that serves as the foundation of the creation of the work of art. The
subject of art is varied. A subject of art is usually anything that is represented in the
artwork. It is varied-it may be a person, object, scene or event.
 Artworks that depict something easily recognized by most people are called
representational or objective arts. Paintings, sculpture, graphic arts, literature and
theatre arts are generally classified as representational, although some paintings and
sculptures are without subjects. Music and dance may or may not have subjects.
Artworks that have no resemblance to any real subject are called non-
representational or non-objective arts. They do not represent anything and they
are what they are. They rather appeal directly to the senses primarily because of the
satisfying organization of their elements.
Some contemporary painters have shifted their interest to the work of art as an
object itself, an exciting combination of shapes and colors that fulfils the aesthetic
need without having to represent images or tell a story. Many modern paintings have
a purely visual appeal; so difficult that literal-oriented spectators cannot appreciate
them.
On the contrary, traditional sculptures and paintings have subjects. When
looking at a traditional painting or a statue, one expects to recognize the subject-a
man, a dog, a landscapes.

THE FUNCTION OF ART

The four main functions of art are:

1. AESTHETIC FUNCTION –through art, man becomes conscious of the beauty of

nature. He benefits from his own works and from those done by his fellowmen. He
learns to use love, and preserve them for his enjoyment and appreciation.
2. UTILITARIAN FUNCTION – with the creation of the various forms of art, man now
lives in comfort and happiness. Through art, man is provided with shelter, clothing,
food, light, medicine, beautiful surroundings, personal ornamentals, entertainment,
language, transportation and other necessities and conveniences of life. Art is not
only enriches man’s life but also improves nature through landscape gardening,
creation of super-highways, and through propagation and conservation- of natural
resources.
3. CULTURAL FUNCTION – through the printed matter, art transmit and preserves
skills and knowledge from one generation to another. It makes man aware of his/her
cultural background, making him/her more knowledgeable and his/her life more
enduring and satisfying.
4. SOCIAL FUNCTION –through civic and graphic arts, man learns to love and help
each other. International understanding and cooperation are fostered and nations
become more unified, friendly, cooperative, helpful and sympathetic.
THE SCOPE OF ART

Various authors classify arts in different ways. According to Manaois, there are
two (2) general dimensions of arts, namely:

1) Fine arts or independent arts – - are made primarily for

aesthetic enjoyment through the senses, especially visual and auditory.

2) Practical arts or useful or utilitarian arts – are intended for practical use.
It is the development of raw materials for utilitarian purposes.

According to Custodiosa Sanchez (2002), arts consist of visual arts, literature,

drama and theatre, music and dance. Josefina Estolas (1995) grouped arts into
major and minor arts. Major arts include painting, architecture,sculpture, literature,
music and dance. Minor arts include the decorative arts, popular arts, graphic arts,
plastic arts and industrial arts. Panizo and Rustia (1995) classified arts into two (2)
major divisions: (1) according to purpose and (2) according to media and forms.

Arts that are classified according to purpose fall into 5 categories:

 Practical arts or useful arts –are directed to produce artifacts and
utensils for the satisfaction of human needs.
 Liberal arts- are directed toward intellectual growth, such as in the study
of philosophy, psychology, literature, mathematics and sciences.
 Fine arts- are focused towards creative activity for the contemplation of
the mind and the upliftment of the spirit. Painting, sculpture and
architecture are examples of these arts.
 Major arts –are characterized by actual and potential expressiveness
such as music, poetry and sculpture.
 Minor arts- are concerned with practical uses and purposes such as
interior decoration and porcelain art.

Arts that are classified according to media and forms are divided into five types:
1. Plastic arts – are works which exist in a physical space and perceived by
the sense of sight.
2. Kinetic arts – involve the element of rhythm.
3. Phonetic arts – utilize sounds and words as mediums of expression.
4. Pure arts –take only one medium of expression like sound in music and
color in painting.
5. Mixed arts –take more than one medium such as the opera which combines
music, poetry, and drama.
LESSON 2: The Artist’s Medium
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
A. determine the meaning conveyed by the art and how an artwork
makes life more meaningful;
B. compare and contrast the different mediums in art production;
C. come up with a simple art presentation.

CONCEPTS:

1. Medium refers to the material used by an artist.

2. Technique is the manner in which the artist controls the medium to achieve
desired effect.
3. Combined arts are those whose mediums can be both seen and heard and
which exist in both space and time.
4. Painting is the art of creating meaningful effects on a flat surface by the use
of pigments.
5. Architecture is the art of designing and constructing a structure.
6. Sculpture is the construction of a figure by putting together module segments
of the material.

MEDIUM AND TECHNIQUE:

 MEDIUM, which comes from the Latin word medium, denotes the means by
which an artist communicates his idea. These are the materials which are used
by an artist to interpret his feelings or thoughts. Many mediums have been used
in creating different works of art.
 On the basis of medium, the arts are primarily classified as visual and auditory.
Visual arts are those whose mediums can be seen and which occupy space.
These are grouped into two classes: (1) the dimensional or two-dimensional
arts which include painting, drawing, printmaking and photography and (2) the
three-dimensional arts which include sculpture, architecture, landscape,
community planning, industrial designs and crafts life ceramics and furniture.
 The Auditory arts are those whose mediums can be heard and which are
expressed in time. These are music and literature. The combined arts are
those mediums can be both seen and heard and which exist in both space and
time. These include dance, opera, drama, and film.
 TECHNIQUE is the manner in which the artist controls his medium to achieve
the desired effect. It is the ability with which he fulfills the technical requirements
of his particular work of art. It has something to do with the way he manipulates
his medium to express his ideas in the artwork.
THE ARTIST AND HIS MEDIUM:
The artist thinks and feels and gives shape to his vision in terms of his medium.
When an artist chooses a particular medium, he believes that his choice can best
express the idea he wants to convey. At times, an artist employs more than one
medium to give meaning to his creative production.
The distinctive character of the medium determines the way it can be worked
on and turned into a work of art. The nature of each medium determines how a work
of art may be realized.

THE ARTIST AND HIS TECHNIQUE:

Artists differ from one another in technique even if they use the same medium.
A musician’s technique is his ability to make music sound the way he wants it. For
instance, a pianist may sound different from another pianist even as they handle for
same instrument and play the same musical composition.
Technique differs in the various arts. An artist’s technique in one medium will
be quite different from his technique in another. A painter may have fine technique in
watercolour but poor one in oil.

MEDIUMS OF THE VISUAL ARTS:

Visual arts are those arts that can be perceived with our eyes. The most
common visual arts are painting, sculpture and architecture. Their mediums are
discussed as follows.

 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.

1. WATERCOLOR – is the 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.

2. FRESCO –is a painting method done on a moist plaster surface with colors
ground in water or a limewater mixture.

3. 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.

4. PASTEL –is a stick od dried paste made of pigments ground with chalk and
compounded with gum water. It is a very flexible medium whose colors are
luminous.
 5. 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.

6. OIL – 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.

7. ACRYLIC –is a medium used popular by contemporary painters because of

the transparency and quick-drying characteristics of watercolor and the
flexibility of oil combined.

 MOSAIC –is the art of putting together small pieces of colored stones or glass
called “tesserae” to create an image.

 STAINED GLASS- as an artwork is common in Gothic cathedrals and

churches.

 TAPESTRY- is a fabric produced by hand-weaving colored threads upon a

warp.

 DRAWING – is usually done on paper using pencil, pen and ink or charcoal. It
is the most fundamental of all skills necessary in arts.

1. PENCIL, PEN AND INK AND CHARCOAL

2. BISTRE – is a brown pigment extracted from the soot of wood, and often
used in pen and wash drawings.

3. CRAYONS –are pigments bound by wax and compressed into painted sticks
used for drawing.

4. SILVERPOINT- the artists uses a silver stylus to produce a thin grayish on

specially prepared paper.

 PRINTMAKING- is anything printed on surface that is a direct result from the

duplication process.

 LITHOGRAPHY- is a surface printing done from an almost smooth surface

which has been treated chemically or mechanically so that some surface areas
will print and others will not.

 SCULPTURE- in choosing a subject for sculpture, the most important thing to

consider is the material.

1. STONE- is the hard and brittle substance formed from mineral and earth
material.
 2. JADE- is a fine stone, usually colored green and used widely in Ancient
China.

3. IVORY – which comes from the main pats of tusks of elephants.

4. METALS – includes any of a class of elementary substances such as gold,

silver or copper, all of which are crystalline when solid and many of which are
characterized by capacity, ductility, conductivity and peculiar luster when
freshly fractured.

5. PLASTER – is composed of lime, sand and water.

6. CLAY –is a natural earthy material that is plastic when wet.

7. GLASS- is a medium that is hard, brittle, non-crystalline, more or less

transparent substances produced by fusion.

8. WOOD – as a medium is easier to carve than any other mediums available

because it can be subjected into a variety of treatment.

MEDIUM OF ART PRODUCTION AND PRESENTATION:

In art production, certain methods are employed for the presentation to
be effective. A presentation can only be effective when the artist is able to
express the idea he wants to make clear.
Authorities in the arts are one in their view that the different methods
used by artist in the production and presentation of an art are:

1. REALISM – this is the attempt to portray the subject as it is. Even when the
artist chooses a subject from nature, he can select, change and arrange details.
Realists try to be as objective as possible. Here, the artist’s main function is to
describe as accurately and honestly as possible what is observed through the
senses. However, in the process of selecting and presenting his material, he
may be influenced by what he feels or thinks.
We can say that an artwork is realistic when the presentation and
organization of details in the work seem so natural. Realism is a common way
of presenting a subject. Examples of realist paintings are the works of
Amorsolo.

2. ABSTRACTION –is used when the artist becomes so interested in one

phase of a scene or a situation that he does not show the subject at all as an
objective reality, but only his idea or his feeling about it.
 -Abstract means to “move away or separate”. Abstract art moves away
from showing things as they really are.

3. SYMBOLISM- is a visible sign of something invisible such as an idea or a

quality. It can simply an emblem or sign like: % to represent percent, a lion to
represent courage or a lamb to represent meekness. These well-known
symbols arise from conventional usage, association and general relationship.

4. FAUVISM – was the first important art movement of the 1900s. The fauves
flourished as a group only from about 1902 to 1907 but their style greatly
influenced many later artists. The Fauves did not attempt to express ethical,
philosophical or psychological themes. Most of these artists tried to paint
pictures of comfort, joy and pleasure.

5. DADAISM – is a protest movement in the arts formed in 1916 by a group of

artists and poets in Zurich, Switzerland. The Dadaists reacted to what they
believed were outworn traditions in art and evils they saw in society. They tried
to shock and provoke the public with outrageous pieces of writing, poetry
recitals and art exhibitions.

6. SURREALISM – the surrealist movement in art and literature was founded

in Paris in 1924 by the French poet Andre Breton. Like Dadaism, from which it
arose, surrealism uses art as weapon against the evil and restrictions that
surrealists see in society. It tries to reveal a new and higher reality than that of
daily life. Surrealism is an invented word meaning “super realism”. Subjects of
this movement attempt to show what is inside man’s mind as well as the
appearance of his outside world.

7. EXPRESSIONISM – was introduced in Germany during the first decade of

the twentieth century. It has cast its influence on European artists from 1910 up
the present. The emotional expressions in expressionistic painting can be
described as involving pathos, morbidity, violence and tragedy. It also
sometimes portrays defeat.
LESSON 3: The Elements of Visual Arts and Performing Arts
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
A. explain how elements are presented in the different artwork;
B. determine the characteristics and psychological effects of line, form,
texture, perspective, color, shape, volume, and other elements in
visual arts;
C. determine the elements of music and literature as performing arts.

CONCEPTS:
1. The elements of art refer to the qualities or properties inherent in each work
of art.
2. The elements of visual arts are line, color, texture, perspective, space, form,
volume, light and shadow.
3. Line is the path created by moving points in space.
4. Color refers to the quality or kind of light that reflects from the surface of the
object.
5. Texture is the element that deals with the sense of touch.
6. Perspective deals with the effect of distance upon the appearance of objects,
by means of which the eye judges spatial relationships.
7. Space is concerned with making every part of the artwork functional so that
all parts can contribute to make a complete work of art.
8. Form describes the structure or shape of an object.
9. Volume refers to the structure or shape of an object.
10. The elements of music are rhythm, melody, harmony, tempo, dynamics
and timbre.
11. Rhythm is the variation of length and accentuation of a series of sounds.
12. Melody refers to pitches or tones sounded one after another in a logical and
meaningful series.
13. Harmony refers to the manner of sound combination whenever subordinate
sounds are added to enhance the quality of the main sound.
14. Tempo refers to the speed of a certain musical piece.
15. Dynamics refer to the amount, strength or volume of the sound.
16. Timbre refers to tone quality.
THE ELEMENTS OF VISUAL ARTS:

1. LINE – is an important element at the disposal of every artist. Through the

lines, as in painting or sculpture, the artist represents figures and forms. Lines
always have direction. They are always moving.

 Horizontal lines –are lines of repose and serenity. They express ideas
of calmness and quiescence. Horizontal lines are found in reclining
persons, in landscapes, calm bodies of water and in the distant meeting
of the earth and sky in what is commonly called the horizon.
 Vertical lines – are lines that denote action. They suggest poise,
balance, force, aspiration, exaltation and dynamism.
 Diagonal lines – suggest action, life and movement. They give
animation to any composition in which they appear.
 Curved lines – suggest grace, subtleness, direction, instability,
movement, flexibility, joyousness, and grace.
 Crooked or jagged lines –express energy, violence, conflict and
struggle.

2. COLOR –of all the elements of visual arts, color has the most aesthetic
appeal. Delight in color is a universal human characteristic. Color is a property
of light. When light goes out, color goes with it.
Three dimensions of color:
 Hue –is the dimension of color that gives color its name.
When we say the flower is yellow, we are naming its hue.
Color names such as red, blue green, violet and yellow
indicate hue. Blue, red and yellow are the primary hues. If
these primary hues are mixed in equal parts, the
secondary hues are produced. The secondary hues are
orange, green, and violet. Orange is produced by mixing
read and yellow; green by mixing yello and blue; and violet
by mixing blue and red.

 Value- is sometimes called “ chiaroscuro” refers to the

lightness or darkness of a color. It is a quality which
depends on the amount of light and dark in color. They give
the expression of depth and solidity and lend form to
paintings.

Tints are values above the normal and shades are values
below the normal. Pink is a tint of red, maroon is a shade
of red. Sky blue is a tint, navy blue is a shade.
  Intensity- refers to its brightness or darkness. It gives
color strength. Differences in intensity may be described
as full intensity, two-thirds intensity, and two-thirds neutral.

3. PERSPECTIVE – deals with the effect of distance upon the appearance of

objects, by means of which the eye judges spatial relationships. It enable us
to perceive distance and to see the position of objects in space.

4. SPACE- in painting, as in architecture, space is of great importance. The

exterior of a building is seen as it appears in space, while the interior is seen
by one who is inside an enclosure. Painting does not deal with space directly.
It represents space only on a two-dimensional surface. Sculpture involves
very little space relationship or perception of space.
5. FORM –applies to the overall design of work of art. It describes the structure
or shape of an object. Form directs the movement of the eyes. Since form
consists of size and volume, it signifies visual weight.
6. VOLUME – refers to the amount of space occupied in three dimensions. It
therefore refers to solidity or thickness.

THE ELEMENTS OF PERFORMING ARTS:

 MUSIC

1. Rhythm –is the basic element of music, the beginning of music. It is the
variation of length and accentuation of a series of sounds. There is rhythm in
nature: in the swaying of trees, in the drops of rain and the movement of water
waves.

2. Melody – it is associated with mental motion. It is sometimes called the

memory element because it is always remembered by a listener. It refers to
pitches or tones sounded one after another in a logical, meaningful series.

3. Pitch – indicates the highness or lowness of sound and is determined solely

by the frequency of molecular vibrations. Thus, the slower the vibration, the
lower the pitch and the faster the vibration, the higher the pitch.

4. Harmony – refers to the manner of sound combination in which we add

subordinate sound to enhance the quality of main sounds.

5. Tempo – refers to the speed of certain musical piece. It is measured by a

device by the musical notes given half or full values. Tempo may be slow, quick,
and moderate.
 6. Dynamics – refers to the amount, strength, or volume of the sound. It is the
degree and variations of sonority and force with which the music is played from
soft to loud.

7. Timbre – refers to tone quality. This element helps differentiate one type of
voice from another or one instrument from another.

 DANCE
Dancing is an art and a recreation. As an art, it tells a story, a set of moods, or
express an emotion. Dances vary in form.

TYPES OF DANCES
1. Folk dance/Ethnic dances are social dances that portray the beliefs,
interests, habits, customs and practices of the native.

2. Ballroom dances are dances of public entertainment, usually performed in

pairs in ballrooms, nightclubs, auditoriums, or in public places.

3. Theatrical dances are performed for the entertainment of the audience in a

theater.

ELEMENTS OF DANCE:

1. Theme – is the most basic element of a dance. It conveys the message of a

dance.
2. Design – is the pattern of movement in time and space.
3. Movement – refers to the bodily actions of the dancer that include his steps,
gestures of the arms, hands and body, and facial expression.
4. Technique – is the skill of movement executed by the dancer.
5. Music – is the auditory background to which a dancer moves. A dance is
always accompanied by any form of music.
6. Costume and body paraphernalia are properties worn by the dancer that
help reflects the message, customs, beliefs and setting of the dance.
7. Choreography refers to the figures and steps in dancing that enable the
dancers to perform in an organizational manner.
8. Scenery refers to the background or setting where the dance is performed
to make it more realistic and enriching.
 LITERATURE is one of the arts that expresses human feelings. It shows ideas
or emotions through symbolic presentation in the form of short story, poetry,
drama or play and essay among others.

USES OF LITERATURE:
1. To impart moral values
2. As propaganda
3. To provide therapeutic help

GENERAL ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE

1. EMOTIONAL APPEAL is attained when the reader is emotionally moved or

touched by any literary works.

2. INTELLECTUAL APPEL- Dr. Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El

Filibusterismo are good illustrations of literature of intellectual appeal.

3. HUMANISTIC VALUE can be realized when the literary work affirms the
dignity and worth of all people.
LESSON 4: The Principles of Art Design
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
A. acquire the ability to perceive harmonious combination of lines, forms,
sizes, textures, ideas and colors;
B. acquire the ability to select and arrange objects for emphasis;
C. acquire the ability to make rhythm arrangement.

CONCEPTS:

1. Perception of an art is governed by different principles of art design. These

principles guide the artist in making his art more beautiful and interesting to the
observers.
2. Through the combination of lines, colors and forms, an artist can give the
observer new, varied and satisfying experience.
3. Design is the overall organizational visual structure of the formal elements in a
work of art.
4. Harmony is the quality which produces an impression of unity through the
arrangement of consistent objects or ideas. Every orderly arrangement results
in harmony.
5. Balance is a quality of art which gives a feeling of rest, repose, equilibrium, or
stability.
6. Proportion is a quality of an art which shows pleasing relationship between a
whole and its parts and among the parts themselves.
7. Rhythm is the regular, uniform, or related movement made through the
repetition of a unit or motif.
8. Emphasis is a quality of an art which tends to carry the eyes from the center of
interest or dominant part of any composition to the less important or subordinate
parts.

THE PRINCIPLES OF ART DESIGN:

The proper arrangement of the different art elements in order to produce

something beautiful is called design. The design of things makes object differ from
one perception to another. Good design is the result of careful and correct application
of the principles of design. The most important factor that an artist to remember is to
execute these principles in order to achieve beauty and better perception.
Elements of arts are parts of a whole perceptions of art design are rules or
guides to help one put these elements together.
HARMONY is the principle which produces an impression of unity through the
selection and arrangement of consistent objects or ideas. It is the quality which unifies
every part of an arrangement. If there is harmony, there is order.

FIVE ASPECTS OF HARMONY:

1. Harmony of lines and shapes. Lines are made harmoniously by either repeating
the shape of the lines or by connecting transitional lines to contrasting lines. A
transitional line or merely transition is usually a curved, graceful line which connects
two opposing or contrasting lines.

2. Harmony of size. Refers to good proportion.

3. Harmony of color. Creating harmony of color means using two or more colors in
decorating an article or object. It does not mean the mixing of the colors. A girl for
instance, may use three colors in her dress, that is, the blouse may be pink, the skirt
is dark red and and buttons on the blouse are red. These are two standards or groups
of color harmonies; related harmonies and contrasting harmonies.

4. Harmony of texture. The character of texture can be determined by feeling the

object with the fingertips or by looking at it. Coarse textures should not be combined
with fine textures.

5. Harmony of idea. Combining antique and modern furniture in the same room does
not show harmony of idea. A store window displaying dresses, hardware and school
supplies would be a very poor display.

RHYTHM

 In design, rhythm is the regular, uniform or related visual movement

made through the repetition of a unit or motif. It is the basis of almost all
performing arts because it is the principle which is most quickly felt. It is
the most universal, dynamic and pleasing art principle.
 A unit or motif is a dominant feature or part repeated in a design or
decoration. Repetition of a unit creates a feeling of movement or rhythm.
All structural elements may be repeated to suggest movement.
However, not all movements in a design is rhythmical. Rhythm can be
observed when the units are of the same sizes and distances from one
another.
 Rhythm is classified into formal and informal. Formal or uniform rhythm
is the repetition of a motif in uniform and regular arrangement while
informal or free rhythm is the repetition of a motif with variation in its
form, size and arrangement.
BALANCE
 Is a condition or quality which gives a feeling of rest, repose, equilibrium,
or stability. Mathematically, objects are balance when they have equal physical
weights and are placed equally distant from a common center or axis. In art, we
do not exactly arrange objects of equal physical weights or sizes to produce
balance. It is the visual weights of lines, forms, values, textures and colors that
we really balance.
 Visual weight is the quality which gains and holds attention. In other
words, it is the power of attraction of each of the elements of art. Objects should
be balanced horizontally, vertically or diagonally, that is, the attraction should
be distributed on either side of the vertical, horizontal or diagonal axis of any
arrangement. Therefore, in order to check whether a picture is balanced on a
vertical axis or not, cover half of it and compare the exposed part with the
proportion being covered. If they have equal power of attraction, the picture is
balanced.

PROPORTION
 Is the art principle which shows pleasing relationship between a whole
and its parts and between the parts themselves. It can be achieved through
proper arrangement of space divisions. Proportions are generally expressed in
terms of ratios. The standard Greek proportions for two dimensional or flat
surfaces is the Greek oblong or rectangle whose ratio is two is to three (2:3).
If the dimensions of a rectangle approach those of a square or extend very long
and narrow, it becomes less attractive.
 There are three (3) aspects of proportion: proportion in the groupings
of objects; proportion in space divisions; and scales.

EMPHASIS
 Is the principle of art which tends to carry the eyes from the center on
interest or dominant part of any composition to the less important or subordinate
parts. The most essential factor in emphasis is simplicity. This is the guiding
principle of the Greek and Japanese arts. There is no dominance without
subordination without dominance.

METHODS OF EMPHASIZING OBJECTS:

1. By arrangement or grouping of objects. If objects are grouped together,
the one to be emphasized should be located at the center and should be
the biggest and brightest in color.
2. By decoration. Objects which have decorations are given more emphasis
than those without them.
 3. By color contrast. Contrasting colors such as the complementary
combinations and the triads are more emphatic than analogous or any other
related harmonies. Hues of great intensities are more noticeable than those
having lower intensities.
4. By the use of plain background space. Simple decorations which are
placed against sufficient, plain background will be more emphatic than when
the background space is small.
5. By the use of unusual lines, shapes and sizes of color. Novelty or
newness can also draw attention to a specific element of the work. It is difficult
to keep the eye away from very extraordinary figures or subjects, as in a man
who has an unusual height.
6. by action or movement. Dynamic illustrations usually attract more attention
than passive ones.

OTHER ART PRINCIPLES:

1. Novelty or newness
 A new style of dress appears more attractive and interesting than
ordinary dress design. Novelty provides the best opportunity for developing
one’s creative ability.

2. Variety or variation.
 A set of furniture which is arranged in a certain way and remains as it is
for long periods of time appears to be monotonous. Variation in the
arrangement or style of furniture makes the space the furniture occupies more
interesting and attractive.

3. Utility, Adaptability or Function.

 A work of art must not only possess beauty but also utility. The object
must be adaptably true to all practical arts. In designing modern structures,
function is now the first consideration.

4. Contrast.

 This art principle is synonymous to opposition or contradiction. It has

some relationships with balance and emphasis. Two contrasting lines or colors
may balance each other. The center of interest in a composition is in contrast
with the subordinating parts in the same composition.