Lesson 9

Mediums of Visual Arts

Objectives (1 Hr.):

To examine the inherent possibilities of certain materials to

represent ideas.
To determine what materials would match well with the varied types
of art.
To evaluate what materials would help meet certain functions of art.
To contrast the different materials used in art and how they match
with the chosen subjects.

I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.
-Michelangelo

In art medium refers to the materials used by artists to give concrete forms to
their experiences and ideas (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Basically, these are the
instruments used by artists to produce the needed elements which would comprise
the actual forms of the arts they are working on. In other words, this is the means of
communication employed by artists. However, these vary from one artist to another.
That is, the medium to be used depends on the kind of artist one is.
In like manner, the mediums of visual arts vary from one type to another.

Painting

Painting is a visual representation of ideas and experiences brought about by the

application of colors. In painting the media consist of pigments or colors. These
colors are applied differently to a surface depending on the vehicle used. The vehicle
is what is mixed with the colors providing the appropriate texture. Among the most
commonly used are acrylic, oil, watercolor, tempera, encaustic, illumination, pastel,
mosaic, stained glass and tapestry (Dudley, Faricy & Rice, 1978, Ortiz, Erestain,
Guillermo, Montano & Pilar, 1976).

Acrylic is a painting medium that closely resembles synthetic paints.

Oil is a painting medium wherein pigments are mixed with oil. This is best to
use if one wants to obtain refreshing and vibrant colors.
 Watercolor is a painting medium wherein pigments are drawn with the use of
water. For this medium the best surface to use is white paper from which the needed
light may be drawn.

Tempera is a painting medium wherein pigments are stirred with certain

types of colloids such as egg, gum, or glue. This is best to use for paintings with
luminous colors and has lustrous texture.

Pastel is a painting medium wherein pigments are made into a powdery

substance. This is best to use if you want to spare yourself of the hustle of waiting for
wet colors to dry. This medium also fits those who has that habit of painting
anywhere with just papers as canvas. That is, this medium is very much handy.

Illumination is a method of presenting literary works like those in the Bible

wherein the first letter of the first paragraph is magnified largely by having it
painted with a certain design usually surrounded with minute paintings of people
or certain events.

Mosaic is a visual representation which is brought about by combining

compact colored stones or tiles. This medium was prevalent during the Middle Ages.

Stained glass is a visual representation which is brought about by combining

small pieces of colored glasses. These visual representations normally forms part of
windows in churches. These stained glasses elicit a sense of the Divine with a degree
of magnificence from the viewers when struck by sunlight.

Tapestry is a cloth with woven images in it.

Architecture

Architecture is the planning and designing of structures for a specific

function. In this kind of art the basic principle is that form must follow function. This
means that the blueprint to be made must conform to the purpose one intends the
building to have. That means to say, Aesthetics in this art must depend on the final
cause of the structure. In addition to this, the design must also adapt to the weather
conditions of the place where it will be built.
Another principle to observe is that the medium to be used must conform to
the type of construction to be employed (Dudley et al, 1978). Below are the most
common types of construction.

There are two things that must be properly considered when choosing the
materials to be utilized for the construction of buildings which are compressive and
tensile toughness (Ortiz et al., 1976). Stone, bricks, concrete, reinforced concrete,
and wood have great compressive stability. Thus, these materials are good to use for
foundations. In addition to wood, plywood, despite being lean, is fitting for ceilings
and walls of rooms and other parts of the interior of a building. On the other hand,
steel has great tensile strength which makes it suitable to be used as framework
most specially for reinforced concrete and support for bridges.

Other materials which are commonly used are glass, etc. (C. Sanchez et
al.,2012)

Sculpture

Sculpture is a tactile material having a certain form that conveys ideas and
feelings. Among the most commonly used materials used in making sculptures are
stone, granite, marble, jade, ivory, metals, bronze, brass, copper, gold, lead, plaster,
clay, glass, and wood (Zulueta, 2008).

Basically, there are two methods by which one may produce a palpable form
with an aesthetic appeal which are the additive and subtractive methods (Sanchez et
al.). The subtractive method is where unwanted materials are cut away to produce
the wanted form. This method is appropriate for hard mediums which cannot be
softened. While the additive method is where parts are formed first and later
combined together to produce the wanted form. This method is appropriate to use
for soft mediums such as clay, plastic, and certain types of metals which could be
cast.
 Lesson 10
Elements of Visual Arts

Objectives (1 Hr.)

To examine the innate possibilities of visual elements to convey

feelings and ideas.
To appraise the features of the usual components of visual arts which
elicit varied responses from the viewers.
To examine how these visual components manifest in certain visual
arts to denote the essential notes comprising the idea being conveyed.

Sometimes, in order to imitate the original, it is necessary to put

something that is not in the original into a portrait in marble.
- Bernini

Elements in art are the variables that artists play with and put together to
compose an art. In visual arts these consist of things that are visually enticing.
Predominantly, these are line, color, texture, volume and form. These are brought
about and maneuvered with the use of the appropriate mediums. However, these
elements vary from one art to another in terms of selection and use. The following
are the most commonly used elements in visual arts.

Line
Line is the visual element that is formed by connecting a series of dots. The
most basic types include diagonal line, vertical line and horizontal line. Diagonal line
resembles in moving people such as in a running man and the likes. Vertical line
takes form in things that emphasize height and depth. It also manifests in people
whose posture denotes dignity and honor. Horizontal line resembles in things and
people whose posture suggest peace and serenity.
Another type is curved line which takes shape in people who are relaxed and
in a playful mood. It also resembles in the curvatures of the human face as well as in
the body of a woman. Curved lines, therefore, denote emotions that have to do with
beauty and being playfully relaxed.
Color
Color is another very important visual element which result from how light is
reflected on things. Color, therefore, is a basic property of light which means light is
the pre-requisite condition for colors to take form in the practical field. The primary
colors are red, blue and yellow. When the primary colors are made to blend with
each other the secondary colors are formed. The secondary colors are violet, orange
and green.
On the other hand, when the primary colors and the secondary colors are
made to blend with each other the tertiary colors are produced. The tertiary colors
include the likes of yellow-green, red-orange, blue-green and so on.
In addition to the already mentioned colors, there are the neutral colors as
well. Such colors include black, white and gray. These are neutral colors because no
amount of light affect their color quality.

Texture
Texture is the visual element that is concerned with the aspect of the subject
that has to do with the sense of touch. It has to do with the degree of smoothness
and roughness of the subject.

Volume
Volume is the visual element that has to do with the degree of density or
thickness of the visual subject. It also consists of the different angular perspectives
of the subject.

Form
Form is the aspect of the visual subject that has something to do with the
over-all structure and design of the visual subject. It consists of the over-all
appearance of the subject.

Perspective
Perspective is the visual element that has to do with how the visual subject
appears when viewed from a certain angle. It could be aerial or linear. Linear
perspective manifests in a horizontally sequenced items from those closest to the
eyes of the viewers to those that are farthest from their naked eyes. Those farthest
from the naked eyes get smaller and disappear in the farthest end that could be seen
with ones naked eyes. Aerial perspective, on the other hand, consists of how things
appear when seen from a really high place downwards.

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Name____________________________________________________ Score______________
Crs./yr./sec._____________________________________________ Date_______________

Mental Callisthenics

_______________1. These consist of the variables that a visual artist plays with using the
chosen medium.
_______________2. It is formed by a series of dots connected with each other.
_______________3. It is the basic property of light that when it goes out it disappears as
well.
_______________4. It is produced when red and orange are combined.
_______________5. It refers to that aspect of visual art that has to do with ones sense of
touch.
_______________6. It consists of the appearance of objects from a high place wherein
those closest to the eyes are bigger and things get smaller as they
recede farther.
_______________7. It consists of the appearance of objects on a horizontal view wherein
those closest to the eyes are bigger and things get smaller as they
recede farther converging all together on the farthest end.
_______________8. It is comprised of the over-all appearance of the subject.
_______________9. It is produced when red and yellow are combined.
_______________10. It is the kind of line that denotes playfulness or feelings of being
relaxed.
____________________ 11. It is the kind of balance that one has to establish in a visual art
if the focal point is at the center.
____________________ 12. It is the kind of balance that one needs to establish if the center
of attraction is not at the center.
____________________ 13. It is what the visual artist fails to meet if there are elements in
the visual art that do not blend well with the other elements
used.
____________________14. It facilitates the movement of the eyes from one part of the
visual art to the other parts.
____________________15. It is what the visual artist fails to consider when some parts of
the visual art seem to be too big in relation to its over-all form.

II. Cite any past experience that you had that manifested evidences of failures to
observe some of the principles of organization in visual art. It could be about
painting, fashion, interior design etc.