Art Appreciation
Chapter 8
Mediums of Visual Arts,
Auditory, Combined
A
rts and Arts
Production
Process
MEDIUMS of Visual Arts, Auditory, Combined Arts and Arts Production Process
Introduction:
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.
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
- Evaluate the differences between visual arts, auditory and combined arts
Duration
Chapter 8: Mediums of visual art,auditory, combined = 3 hours
arts and arts production process
(2 hours discussion; 1 hour
assessment)
LESSON PROPER
I. MEDIUMS OF VISUAL ARTS
A. PAINTING
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.
‘The Kiss’ by Gustav Klimt ‘The Fruit Gatherer’ - José Joya
1. WATERCOLOR
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.
2. FRESCO
Fresco is a painting method done on a
moist plaster surface with colors ground in wateror 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.
3. TEMPERA
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.
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
4. PASTEL
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.
5. ENCAUSTIC
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.
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. 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.
7. ACRYLIC
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 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.
8. MOSAIC
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.
9. STAINED GLASS
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
B. DRAWING
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).
Leonardo da Vinci – The Head of Leda Realistic Eyes by Hector Gonzales
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
1. GRANITE
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.
Colossal Seated Statue of a Pharaoh Mount Rushmore in South Dakota
2. MARBLE
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 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
3. JADE
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.
4. IVORY
Ivory which 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.
5. METALS
Metals include 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.
6. CLAY
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.
7. CRAYONS
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.
8. 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.
9. STONE
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.
10. WOOD
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. Common wood use for sculptures are dapdap.
White lauan, oak, walnut, mahogany, narra, and dao. They
are selected for aesthetic purposes and permanence.
II. 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 AuditoryArts
■ 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:
-ability to appreciate music is not congenital or inborn
-acquired by anyone who makes up his mind to do so
-conscious effort
Functions of Music
1. An attempt to imitate the natural sound
2. Release of one’s emotions or feelings (therapeutic)
3. As signals in wars
4. Means of worship and vehicles of rituals
5. Used to accompany dance
6. A form of entertainment in community celebrations
7. Symbols of life’s cycles
III. 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).
The combined arts can refer to events that combine various media that can be both seen and
heard, existing in both space and time. This includes a combination of art forms like painting, singing, and
music performed together.
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.
• Performance – Requires human beings to demonstrate certain skills.
• 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.
• Music – May include sound, spectacular impressions and video.
• Cinema – May creatively integrate elements of photography, video, film, music and literature and
other materials in its production.