Lesson
1 Artistic Skills and Techniques
What’s In
The previous lesson scanned the arts and crafts in Mindanao. We were able to study
the attire, textiles, and tapestries created by B’laan, Bagobos, T’boli, Maranaos and Yakan
groups. We also recognized some Mindananoan contemporary artists and their masterpieces.
These artists shared some of their techniques in making contemporary artworks. These artistic
skills and techniques will be elaborated in this lesson.
Many contemporary artists do not have formal studies in the fine arts. Many of them
are self-taught. Concerned with the development of their talent and skills in artmaking, they
study on their own, interact with artists and read a lot about lives of artists and their artworks.
They also explore the materials in hardware stores, experiment with chemical reactions on
their base material. Some hire resin makers, house painters and materials fabricators to help
them in constructing artworks.
In this lesson, we will learn the meaning of “artistic skill” and “technique”
through actual and hands-on activities. We will also learn that artists’ choice of material and
how they use these materials are at the heart of making art, and that these involves process
and transformation.
What’s New
ACTIVITY 1: OBSERVE
Observe the photo below. Write five (5) sentences on what you have
observed.
[Link]
1. _________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________
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3. _________________________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________________________
What Is It
ARTISTIC SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES
With the broadening of the art world, many people are getting confused about what
qualifies as an artistic skill. Artistic skills are abilities that are possessed by artists who
operate within a fine art capacity.
Each artist uses different mediums to develop their artistic skills example the sculptor
uses metal, wood, stone and glass in sculpting same also the architect uses wood, bamboo,
bricks stone etc. in architecture and many more. A medium is defined as the material, or the
substance out of which a work is made. Through these materials, the artists express and
communicate feelings and ideas. It is already mentioned in the previous modules that the
medium also defines the nature of the art forms
Technique is the way artists use and manipulate materials to achieve the desired
formal effect, and communicate the desired concept, or meaning, according to his or her
personal style (modern, Neoclassic, etc.). The distinctive character or nature of the medium
determines the technique.
Technique involves tools and technology, ranging from most traditional (for example carving,
silkscreen, analog photography, and filmmaking) to the most contemporary (digital
photography, digital filmmaking, music production, industrial design, and robotics).
Here are some of art techniques used by artists.
1. Collage – is the technique of an art production used in the visual arts where the artwork
is made from on assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole. Collage
may sometimes include magazines and newspaper clippings, ribbons, paints, bits of
colored or handmade papers, portions of other artwork or texts, photographs, and other
found objects, glued to a piece of paper or canvas.
2. Decollage – is the opposite of collage; instead of an image is being built up all or parts
of existing images, it is created by cutting, treating away or otherwise removing pieces
of an original image. The French word “Decollage” in English means “Take-off” or “To
become Unglued” or “To become unstuck”. Example of decollage include cut-up
technique. Similar technique is the lacerated poster, a poster in which one has been
over another.
3. Graffiti – are writing or drawings that have been scribed, scratched, or painted illicitly
on a wall or other surface, often in a public space. Graffiti range from simple written
words to elaborate wall paintings. Graffiti may express underlying social and political
messages, and a whole genre of artistic expression is based spray paint graffiti styles.
4. Land Art – earth works, or earth arts is an art movement in which landscape and the
work of art are inextricably linked. It is also an art form that is created in nature, using
natural materials such as soil, rock (bed rock, boulders, stones), organic media (logs,
branches, leaves), and water which introduced materials such as concrete, metal
asphalt, or mineral pigments.
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5. Digital Arts – is an artistic work or practice that uses digital technology as an essential
part of the creative or presentation process. Digital art is work made with digital
technology or presented on digital technology. This includes images done completely
on computer or hand-drawn images scanned into a computer and finished using a
software program like Adobe Illustrator. Digital art can also involve animation and 3D
virtual sculpture renderings as well as projects that combine several technologies.
Some digital art involves manipulation of video images. After some resistance, the
impact of digital technology has transformed activities such as paintings, drawing,
sculpture, and music/sound art, while new form such as net art.
6. Mixed Media – It refers to a work of visual art that combines various traditionally
distinct visual art. For example, work on canvas that combines paint, ink and collage.
When creating a painted or photograph work using mixed media, it is important to
choose the layers carefully and allow enough dying time between the layers to ensure
the final work will have structural integrity, if many different layers are imposed. Many
effects can be achieved by using mixed media. Found objects can be used in
conjunction with the traditional artist to attain a wide range of self-expression.
7. Print Making – is the process of making artworks by painting, normally in the paper.
Prints are created by transforming ink from a matrix ink from a matrix or through a
prepared screen to a sheet of paper or other material. Common types of matrices
include metal plates, usually copper or zinc, or polymer plates for engraving or etching;
stone aluminum of polymer for lithography; blocks of wood crafts and wood graving;
and linoleum for linocuts. Screen made of silk or synthetic fabrics are used for the
screen-printing process.
8. Frottage – is the technique of rubbing with crayon on a piece of paper which has been
placed over an object or an image. The impression of the image can be created using
leaves, woods, wire screen, or metal with embossed image or words.
9. Decalcomania – is the process of applying gouache to paper or glass then transferring
a reversal of the image onto canvas or other flat materials.
10. Decoupage – is done by adhering cut-outs of paper and then coating these with one
or transparent coating of varnish.
11. Eggshell mosaic - is an artistic technique that uses tiny parts of eggshell to create a
whole image or object. Mosaics are usually assembled using small tiles that are
square, but they can also be round or randomly shaped.
12. Trapunto painting – is the technique used by Pacita Abad where her canvases are
padded, sewn, and often filled with sequins, beads, shell, buttons, tiny mirrors, bits of
glass, rickrack, swatches of precious textiles and other things that she picks up from
her travels and journey.
Art is considered an “artifact’ when it is directly experienced and perceived. It can be spatial
and static or unmoving (a painting or building, or novel) or time based and in motion (a live
theater production and mobile sculpture).
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To know the full meaning of a work, it is also necessary to study the material from which it
is made and how it is made.
LAND ARTS
COLLAGE [Link]
[Link]
DIGITAL ARTS GRAFFITI
[Link] [Link]
MIXED MEDIA
[Link]
DECOLLAGE
[Link]
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PRINT MAKING EGGSHELL MOSAIC
[Link] [Link]
FROTTAGE
[Link] DECALCOMANIA
[Link]
DECOUPAGE TRAPUNTO PAINTING
[Link] [Link]
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What’s More
ACTIVITY 2: MULTIPLE CHOICE
Read the sentence carefully, select the letter of your choice and place it on your answer
sheet.
1. An artwork made with digital technology or presented on digital technology. This
includes images done completely on computer.
a. Collage c. Print Making
b. Land art d. Digital Art
2. Earth work or Earth art movement in which created in using natural materials such as
rock, soil, organic media, and water.
a. Collage c. Print Making
b. Land art d. Digital Art
3. It is the art process of making artworks by painting normally in the paper.
a. Collage c. Print Making
b. Land art d. Digital Art
4. Instead of an image is being built up, all parts of existing images, it is created by cutting
or treating away from its original image.
a. Decollage c. Print Making
b. Land art d. Digital Art
5. These are writings or drawing that have been scribe, scratched, or painted illicitly on a
wall or other surface often in a public space.
a. Land Arts c. Digital Arts
b. Collage d. Graffiti
ACTIVITY 3: LET’S IMAGINE!
Imagine you are going to have an art exhibit that will stage in a major mall in
your p lace. Answer the guide questions below to create a concept of your art exhibit.
Guide questions:
1. What artistic skill/s should I use?
________________________________________________________________
2. What medium/s should I use?
________________________________________________________________
3. What technique/s should I use?
________________________________________________________________
4. How big or small is my exhibit? Should I display it inside or outside the mall?
________________________________________________________________
5. Should I open my art exhibit to public?
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