The Subject of Art

To create your own

contemporary piece, you must
fully understand what makes an
artwork a true work of art. You
must first explore the subject of
art.
Objectives:

Create a visual design

Integrate the principles of designs
with varied situations other than
art.
Identify the three key elements in
understanding a work of art.
Subject

 Isany person, animal, thing, or issue that is

described or represented in a work. It
usually generates the question, what is
it? People expect to see or hear subjects
that they can recognize or are familiar to
them.
Examples:
 Folklore
 Mythology
 Philosophical thoughts
 Life
 Landscapes
 Genre scenes
 Portraits
 Philippine fiestas
 landmarks
THEME
Is the recurring idea or element
in a work of art.

Itrefers to the ideas, thoughts,

and feelings of the artist.
Examples:

Social
Economical
Political issues
Visual Design

Artworks with subjects that are

recognizable are called Realistic,
representational, or objective art.
Those that are not recognizable
are nonrepresentational or non-
objective art.
Style:

Realism The subject is done the way it actually looks.

Distortion The artist uses his or her imagination and alters the
subject according to his her desire.

Abstraction The artist breaks a part a subject and

rearranges it in a different manner.

Non Objectivism No subject at all- Just an interplay of

pure elements like line, shape, or color, and so on.
Characteristics:
 The arts share the same tradition and
influences which our country has undergone
for more than four centuries.
 The arts can be used skilfully to suggest
feelings and emotions.
 They share certain elements and principles
of organization or principles of designs.
Elements
of
Art
Space
 Define as void, an emptiness which can either be
positive or negative.
 The Positive space refers to a space enclosed in a
shape. While the Negative space denotes the
opposite.
 It can also be referred to as an interval or pause.
(Pauses between words; In music interval
between notes.)
Line
 Extension of a point, short or long mark drawn or
carved on a surface.
 A. Direction: Vertical, Horizontal and Diagonal.
 B. Character: Jagged, Curved, Series of dots or
broken lines.

Note: In performing arts and Literary Arts:

Theater: Line means script of the actor
Dance: Series of steps that a dancer makes.
Shape and Form

 When the end of the line meet, they form a

shape.
 Shape: Describe as a figure separate from its
surrounding area or background. It is two
dimensional.
 Form: Is slightly similar to shape. It is an enclosed
line, a figure separate from its background. Three
dimensional.
Color
 The most striking art elements that catches
the eye.
 It
is a sensational created by visible
wavelengths of light caught in a prism.
 Itis a mixture of organic or synthetic
substances called pigments, used as paint
or dye.
ACTIVITY:
Color creates a mood or tone.
Passion RED

Sadness BLUE

Innocence YELLOW

Jealousy YELLOW

Peace BLUE
Love
RED
Value

 In
Visual Arts :The degree of lightness
and darkness of a color.

 InMusic: It is called Pitch. The

highness or lowness of a tone.
Texture
 The surface of an artwork.

 It can be actual or tactile. Meaning it can really

be felt by touch; or it can be stimulated or
illusory, which means it can only be seen, not
felt.

 In Music or writing, texture is the quality or style

of a composition. The sounds from different
musical instruments allow one to hear texture in
sound.