Subject and Content

Presented by: HRDM Group

 Subject and Content

Subject
• Refers to what the work presents. It could be a person, an object a scene or
an event.

Representational or Objective arts

• Artworks that contains a subject.
 Non-representational arts or Non-objective arts

• Artworks that do not have a subject.

• They do not present descriptions, stories or references to
identifiable objects or symbols. Rather, they appeal directly to
the senses primarily because of the organization of their
expressive elements.
• Through genius application of design elements, a painter can
convey his message non-objectively. Color usually conveys mood.
 Sources of Subject
• Nature
- This is the most popular subject of objective art. Mountains, trees,
animals, landscapes, seascapes, cloudscapes are some examples of nature-
inspired art.

The Great wave off Kanagawa

by: Hokusai
• People
- Human subjects whether real or imagined, are the most interesting how
people are depicted can offer clues to the artists’ thoughts, moods and the
genre the art work is presenting. Works can range from a single subject to a
group. They can be in a perpetual pose or performing tasks of everyday life.

Girl with a Pearl Earring Planting Rice

by: Johannes Vermeer by: Fernando Amorsolo
• History
- Historical artworks depict real events which are verifiable facts that occurred
in the past. The purpose of such artworks are either to commemorate events
or to teach history to the viewers.

Rizal Monument Napoleon Crossing the Alps

In Rizal Park by: Jacques-Louis David
• Legends
- Artworks based on legends present to viewers of the art something tangible
even when unverified. Art brings life to these stories.

The Accolade The Leviathan

by: Edmund Leighton by: Charles Griffith
• Religion
- These artworks are based on sacred texts: The Holy Bible of Christianity, the
Quran of Islam, and the Torah of Judaism. Many artworks used the beautiful
stories in these sacred texts to convey their beliefs. It was said that art is the
handmaid of religion.

La Pieta Sistine Chapel Paintings

by: Michelangelo Buonarotti by: Michelangelo Buonarotti
• Mythology
- Artworks can be based on the stories of the gods and goddesses of ancient
Greece, Rome, Celts, Norse and the Egyptians. These are depicted in human
forms and present humanlike behavior.

Statue of Athena in the Parthenon Sculpture of Horus

• Dreams and Fantasy
- The intrigue of the unconscious also inspires artists to present it through art
for others to see, relate and interpret. Artists believe that the content of the
unconscious should be shared to others to know and may be understand.

The Persistence of Memory

Son of Man
by: Salvador Dali
by: Rene Magritte
• Technology
- The modern era with its tall building and amazing machines are also subject
matter for the artist. Cityscapes, airplanes, cars, ships, motorcycles and
robotic technology are subjects of interest.

Chrysler Building 205

New Orleans Bourbon Street
By: Mawra Tahreem
by: Debra Hurd
 Ways of Presenting the Subject
• Naturalism
- In Greek (Hellenistic) art, gods and heroes, looked and behaved like human
beings. Unlike other cultures, particularly in the Egyptians’ (Coptic) art, Greek
deities were almost depicted idealized human form.

Venus de Milo The Birth of Venus

by: Alexandros of Antioch by: Botticelli
• Realism
- This depicts the artist’s attempt of portraying the subject as it is.
- A work of art is realistic when the presentation and organization of the
details in the work seem so real, just like a photograph. It is also the most
popular way of presenting art subjects.

Realism painting Potato Eaters

by Pablo Picasso By: Vincent Van Gogh
• Abstraction
- Abstract means “to move away or to separate from”
- Abstraction as subject presentation moves away from reality, from presenting the
subject as it really is. It involves the process of simplifying or reorganizing
characteristics and elements of the work to adhere to the artist’s level of artistic
expression.
- This artist usually selects and renders the subject as seen in reality, but presents it
based on his ideas or his feelings about it .

Seeing Sounds
by: Pablo Picasso
- Abstraction may take the following forms:
a. Distortion
- This form of abstraction results when the figures have been so arranged
that its proportions differ significantly from reality. This is manifested when
the subject is misshapen or twisted out. This is done to dramatize the shape of
a figure to create a dramatic / emotional effect.

b. Elongation
- In this type of abstraction, this subject is stretched vertically an/or some
parts lengthened to give the impression of thinness.
c. Mangling
- This may not be common in paintings but may be popular in other art forms
(sculpture, theatre and film). Artists show subject as cut, lacerated, mutilated or
hacked repeated blows

d. Cubism
- Abstract form is presented through the use of figures; a cone, cylinder, sphere,
triangle, square, cube and circle in place of real pictorial elements. The Cubists want
to show forms in their basic geometrical shapes.

Distortion Elongation Mangling Cubism

• Symbolism
- A symbol is defined as a visible sign of something invisible such as an idea or quality. Symbols in art draws
the viewers’ attention to what other message the artist may be trying to convey aside from what is
obviously observed.
- This adds a mysterious quality to the art work that invites viewers to uncover.
- The key to deciphering symbolic art involves studying the background and personality of the artist and his
relationship to the societal period that inspired the symbolisms ingrained in his art.

What makes Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the most popular painting in the world?
• Fauvism
- This subject began in France and was the first organizational movement in
painting of the 1900’s.
- Henri Matisse was the leader of this group.
- Fauvism literally means wild beasts. The fauves did not express ethical,
philosophical or psychological themes but painted pictures of comfort and
pleasure.

Collioure Landscape
by: Henri Matisse
• Dadaism
- Dada is French for “hobby horse”. This is an art movement that doesn’t
folow the traditions and principles in art. It is a revolt against tradidtion and
aims to show the wickedness of society.
- Dadaists tried to shock and provoke the public with outrageous pieces of
writing poetry recitals and art exhibits.

Fountain
By: Marcel Duchamp
• Futurism
- This is an art movement began in Italy. Artists of this movement wanted their
works to capture the scenes of the speed and force of the modern industrial
society. Their paintings and sculptures highlight the technologies of the
modern life.

Simultaneous Visions
By: Umberto Boccioni
• Surrealism
- Surrealism is an invented word for super realism. The art movement began in Paris in 1924
by the French poet, Andre Breton.
- It emphasized the activities of the subconscious mind. Subjects in this kind of presentation
attempt to show man’s inner mind and how he may perceive his outside world.
- Most surrealist artwork have themes that are violent and cruel. This is how the surrealists
shock the viewer and reveal what they consider to be the deep, true and ugly part of human
nature. However, there are also surrealist works that are a fay cry from cruelty and violence.

Surrealism Art
by: Andre Breton
• Expressionism
- This art movement occurred during the first decade of the 20th century in
Germany where this art style was introduced.
- Expressionists believe that man needs spiritual rebirth for him to correct
defects that ruin society. This style of art depicts the emotions aroused by
objects and events.
- Subjects presented involve chaos, sadness, tragedy and defeat.

“The Cry”
Expressionism Art
 The Artist and His Medium
-The are kinds of artists involved in creating an artwork vary depending on the type of art form
they use for expression. Although all art involves creation and imagination, artists are still
further classified into:

• Visual Artists
- use the visual arts as their venue of expression. These includes painters, the sculptors and
the architects. They are also composed of filmmakers and graphic artists.

Steven Spielberg Michael Bay Akira Toriyama

• Creative Artists
- Are more adept at writing words and arranging musical notes to entice the
imagination and evoke emotions. These artists includes writers, poets
playwrights, novelists, and composers. Their works ranges from novels, poetry
plays to beautiful musical pieces.

Dan Brown William Shakespeare Ludwig van Beethoven

• Performing Artists
- Expresses their art through the execution in front of an audience. These
artists are the dancers, singers, stage performers, actors, musicians and
choreographers. They hone their skills through countless hours of training and
rehearsals.

Bruno Mars Jabbawockeez Robert Downey Jr. 2 Cellos

Unless an artist translates his imagination and creativity into a form that can be
perceived, it cannot be shared to other people. Imagination and creativity in the arts
have to exist through some media in the arts have to exist through some medium to
be recognized as such.

Medium
- It refers to the materials that an artist uses to communicate his ideas, feelings and
imagination.
- Arts can be classified into the following based on medium:

a. Visual arts
- Its medium are those materials that can be seen and occupy space.
Specifically these are:

• Graphic or Two-dimensional arts which includes drawing, painting, mosaic, collage and printmaking.

• Plastic or Three-dimensional arts which includes sculpture, architecture and installations.

b. Auditory
- the medium for this art classification are those that the viewers can hear
which are expressed in time. Belonging to these are music and literature.
c. Combined arts
- The medium for these art forms are those that the viewers can see and
hear which considers both time and space. These includes dance, drama , and
cinema.
- Along with music, there are also known as the performing arts or
ephemeral arts.
 The Process of Art Production

• The Medium
- When an artist is ready to express himself in art and to give shape to his vision, his first thoughts
would be on what medium to use.

- An artist choice of medium is usually influenced by certain considerations such as: the availability of the material,
the nature and special characteristics of the material and the idea that he wants to communicate.

- It is a wise artist who accepts the limitations of his chosen medium and at the same time, exploits them.

- The artist should understand his medium because each medium has its own way of behaving.
• The Technique
- A good artist makes a medium work to produce effects that other artists cannot
attain by any other means.

- An artist’s knowledge of the medium and unique skill in making it achieve what
he wants it to, it is the artist’s technique.

-A wise artist knows that he should not stop learning. He should let himself and his
art evolve with the changing society without sacrificing his style and individuality
as an artist.
• Curation
- It is derived from the Latin word “curare” which means to take care.

- It is also a process that involves managing, overseeing, and assembling or putting

together a presentation or exhibit for some type of historical or artistic collection.

- The one responsible for this task is called a curator.

- A curator is responsible for the acquisition of objects, thus he is the one who decides on
what objects to select to be part of the collection for exhibit.
- For museums and galleries, specifically, the curation process undergoes the following steps:

1. Curator decides on which artworks or historical objects should be included in the collection.

2. After the objects had been chosen and gathered, the collection must be culled to fit in with the space
of the gallery. The purpose of this is to make sure that the works are arranged for it to make sense and
thus, to give holistic presentation. Arrangement of the pieces influence how the exhibit is interpreted by
patrons/ viewers.

3. After arranging the pieces, the curator then, provides context for each piece. This context may be in
text or any visual and auditory from placed near the object that may provide background/ clarity to the
piece.

- In museums, the curator continuously updates the collections to keep it interesting to the viewing
public.
 The Different Media of the Visual Arts
• Drawing
- This is the fundamental skill needed in the visual arts. The drawing maybe a
study which is made for the sake of learning how to execute some forms.
- Whatever is the purpose for the drawing, all visual artists use it before the
actual production of the work.
There are different media for drawing:

1. Pencils
- Is made out of graphite which comes in different hardness from soft to hard or thickness from thick to
needle-like , making possible a wide range of values.

- Pencils, regardless of brand are usually labelled 2B , 4B, 6B which indicates the softness of the lead.

-The higher the B number, the softer the lead and the darker is the tone it can create.
- Graphite pencils are capable of producing different kinds of lines and a variety of tones depending on the
sharpness of the pencil point, the pressure applied on paper by the artist and the angle of the pencil it is held by
the artist. Which also produce different kinds of shades:

a. Hatching
- is drawing of thin parallel lines than run in the same direction.

b. Cross-hatching
- is drawing a series of thin parallel lines and criss-crossing with it with another set of thin parallel lines. This creates
a tone darker than hatching.
c. Stippling
- is using the sharp point of the pencil to make dot patterns to create depth
in some parts of the drawing.

d. Blending
- is at times accomplished by using the finger or a paper stump to gradually
change the tone from dark to light .
2. Ink
- This is one of the oldest material for drawing that is still in use. It allows for
a great variety of qualities, depending on the tools and techniques used in
application.
- Pen and ink drawings are characterized by controlled and uniform lines.
- Ink is commonly used in making the beautiful handwritings produced in
calligraphy.
3. Pastel
- This is composed of dry pigment held together by a gum binder and
compressed into sticks.
- There are (3) Kinds of soft pastel ; soft pastel , hard pastel and oil pastel.
- The difference between the soft and hard pastel is the amount of binder in
the material. Whilst for Oil pastel, the binder is oil.
There are five (5) pastel techniques:
a. Stippling
- is using pastel of different colors to produce small marks, thus,
creating a pattern.

b. Feathering
- is using the point of the pastel to make parallel strokes creating a
feather-like effect.

c. Scumbling
- is like layering but using pastel. The side of the pastel is lightly
drawn on the top of an existing color but still making the color of the
first layer visible.
d. Impasto
- is the technique of thickly applying the pastel by pressing it
hard on the paper creating an opaque effect.

e. Sgrafitto
- is applying a thick deposit of pastel on the support then using a
blunt pen, scrapes it off to reveal the underlying color and create
the design.
4. Charcoal
- This is an organic medium that comes from burnt wood.
- There are 2 types of charcoal:
1. Compressed or Manufactured charcoal
- is made from loose charcoal mixed with a binder and pressed into sticks.
2. Vine Charcoal
- which comes into thin sticks that is easy to blend and erase.
5. Paper
- This is the most common surface used in two-dimensional art. Paper Is
made from wood, grass, and linen rags.
- There are 3 types of paper; (1) Hot pressed paper which its texture is
smooth and (2) Cold pressed paper has moderate texture and the (3) rough
paper has the has the most texture.
• Painting
- has been described as the art of creating beautiful effects on a flat surface.
It is the process of applying paint onto a smooth surface (ground/support) like
paper, cloth, canvass, wood or plaster.
- Pigment is the part of the paint that gives the color. It is fine powder which
was grounded from clay, stone ,mineral, vegetable mater or produced by a
chemical process.
 These are the different media used for painting:

1. Watercolor
- For watercolor paints, the pigments are mixed with water and a[[lied to paper. The colors
are applied in layer, and made brighter by additional applications after the first layer has dried.

2. Gouache
- This is paint in which the pigment has been mixed with water and added with chalk-like
material to give it an opaque effect.

3. Oil paints
- The pigments are mixed with oil as binder, This medium was discovered by a Flemish
painter Jan Van Eyck in the 15th century, when he suspended color pigments in linseed oil.
4. Tempera
- This is pigment mixed with egg yolk (sometimes with the white) as binder. Sometimes
gum or glue is used in place of egg.
- The ideal surface for tempera is wood. In contrast with oil paints, tempera dries quickly
and the colors do not dull or yellow with age.

5. Fresco
- This is pigment mixed with water and applied on a portion of the wall with wet plaster. The
wet plaster allows the color to stick to the surface and thus, becomes a permanent part of the
wall.
6. Acrylic
- This is a modern medium of synthetic paint using acrylic as binder. This medium is widely
used by contemporary painters.
-Acrylic has the quick drying quality of watercolor and is as flexible as oil paints.
 Watercolor painting Gouache painting Oil Painting

Tempera painting Fresco painting Acrylic painting

• Mosaic
-Mosaics are wall or floor decorations made of small tiles or irregularly cut pieces of colored
stones or glass called tesserae.
- They are meticulously fitted together to form a pattern and glued with plaster or cement.
-Mosaics can be applicable to church decors, public buildings’ interiors, and for classroom
activities, they can be done on paper or cardboard using seeds, egg shells, punched art paper
and beads glued or pasted to a pattern or drawing.

Mosaic art
• Collage
- Is defined from a French word, “coller” which means to stick. A collage is a
technique of making an art work by gluing or pasting on a firm support materials or
found objects.
- Examples of materials or found objects are pieces of cloth, buttons, old
photographs, dry leaves or flowers, twigs, shells, stones, sand and anything and
everything the artist could think of.
- Collage as a graphic art was introduced by Picasso and Braque, both cubist artists.

Collage art
• Printmaking
- this is a process used for making reproductions of graphic works.
Printmaking allows for the repeated transfer of a master image from a printing
plate (matrix) on a surface. The result is an impression created by the plate on
the surface which is called a print.
Printmaking may use any of the following techniques:

1. Relief printing
- (Raised) this is the oldest method of printmaking. The technique involves cutting away
(using knives or gouges) certain parts of the surface, usually a block of wood and leaving the
‘raised’ parts to produce the image.
- Woodcut and wood engraving uses this technique.

2. Intaglio printing
- (Depressed) This technique is the opposite of relief printing. Instead of using the surface of
the plate for the image, the lines of the image are cut or incised to a metal plate.
- Examples of intaglio painting are dry point and etching.

3. Surface printing
- (Flat) This includes all processes in which printing is done from a flat surface (plane).
Example of this type is serigraphy or silkscreen printing.
Relief printmaking Intaglio painting Surface printmaking
 The Process of Creating sculptures

• Subtractive process
- This process involves removing or cutting away pieces of the material to
form the figure.
- The sculptor achieves this through the use of special tools like hammer,
chisel, saws and grinders. Removing pieces of the material is like ‘freeing’ the
figure that is hidden or trapped within the material.
• Additive process
- This process involves the construction of a figure by putting together bits
of the material or by welding together metal parts to create figures. Modeling
and assembling are examples of this process.
• Process of Substitution
- This process is also known as casting. The method involves using a mold to
produce 3D figure in another material.
- There 3 types of casting : Sand-casting, Plastic casting, and lost wax
casting.
 Different Media of Sculpture
• Stone
- is a natural medium. It is hard and relatively permanent. Sculptures made
from stone will last for many years. Marble is deemed by sculptors as the most
beautiful stone for sculpture. It is mined and comes from a variety of color and
grain.
- From Romblon, Philippines come some of the most beautiful shades of
marble.

David
by: Michelangelo Buonarotti
• Wood
- Wood is also a natural medium. When compared to stone, wood is relatively easy to work
on. Wood varies in hardness and durability depending on the kind of tree it came from.
- In the Philippines, the best wood for sculpture are Molave, Acacia, Langka wood, Ipil wood,
Kamagong, Palm wood, and bamboo.

- Narra is a Philippine hard wood, but its use is restricted by the local government.

- The major weaknesses of wood is moisture that causes it to rot; fire and termites.
• Metal
- This medium is used for sculpture because of its 3 unique qualities; tensile
strength, ductility, and malleability.
- The two ways by which metal can turn into beautiful sculptures is thru
assembling (welding) and casting.
The ideal metals for sculpture are alloys which are combination of 2 elements.
Some are described below:

1. Stainless steel
- is also known as Inox steel. It is made from a combination of steel and Chromium (Cr). The
medium does not rust o stain when exposed to moisture and water.

2. Bronze
- is an alloy of two elements : Tin (Sn) and Copper (Cu), its color is a reddish-brown and will
corrode of constantly exposed to water and moisture.

3. Brass
- is an alloy of Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) that gives a yellowish-golden color. Brass is more
malleable than bronze and has a lower melting point.
Stainless Steel Sculpture Bronze Sculpture

Brass Sculpture
• Plaster
- specifically Plaster of Paris is finely ground gypsum mixed with water and
poured into a mold. This material dries quickly depending on the size of the
mold. After it has dried, it can be painted with different colors.
• Terracotta
- (cooked earth) This is baked clay or clay fired in a kiln at a relatively high
temperature. Firing the clay causes the moisture to evaporate hardening the
clay.
-Clay can be molded into any form before it is baked.
- The major weakness of clay is its fragility; it breaks easily.
• Glass
-This is made by heating an cooking a combination of sand and soda lime. It maybe transparent,
translucent or opaque. It can be molded into various shapes and colors.
- Sculptures of Glass can be made using the following techniques:

1. Hot sculpting
- is using a metal rod to gather the molten glass from the furnace and shapes it into another tool.
2. Cold working
- is using cold hardened glass. This invokes sandblasting, engraving, polishing and grinding to create
the sculpture of glass.
3. Glass Blowing
- is gathering the molten glass from the furnace using a blowpipe. Air is blown into the pipe and
shapes the glass before it cools down.
Hot sculpting

Cold working

Glass blowing
• Plastic
- is a synthetic medium made from organic polymers. While plastic is soft, it
can be molded into a form. Sculptures using plastic are usually reproductions
of the original work.