PAOMBONG HIGH SCHOOL, INC.

School Year 2020-2021

CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGIONS
(GRADE 12)

Mrs. Ana Lyn D. De Leon

Subject Teacher

LESSON 3: Contemporary Art Forms Based on Elements and Principles (Visual Art)

PRINCIPLES OF ART
1. Harmony. Harmony is the most essential factor
in a composition. Also called unity, harmony is
achieved when all the elements of a thing are
put together to come up with a coherent whole.
Every part of a work of art is necessary to the
composition to the extent that all the parts
exhibit a sense of belonging together and a
pleasing relationship with one another. If one of
the parts does not complement the others, then
lack of harmony results.

2. Balance. Known as physical equilibrium, balance is stability produced by even distribution of

weight on each side of the thing. It is classified into formal or informal

Formal Balance. Formal balance exists if the weights at equal distance from the center are
equal. It is also called symmetrical balance because the thing displays symmetry (same
measure). Bilateral symmetry is present when
the left and the right sides appear the same; the
right side mirrors the left, say of the human
body. Radial symmetry exists when the same
measure occurs from the central point to the
end of every radius; this kind of symmetry
applies to round objects or those with radii like
stars and starfishes.

Informal Balance. Informal balance is present

when the left and the right sides of the thing,
though not identical in appearance, still display an even distribution of weight. It is also
known as asymmetrical or occult balance.

3. Rhythm. Rhythm is the continuous use of a motif or repetitive pattern of a succession of

similar or identical items. It can be achieved by alternation (use of two patterns alternately),
radiation (repetition of the motif from the center or toward), progression (use of motifs of
varying sizes, that is, from the smallest to the largest, or vice versa), or parallelism (use of a
pattern with an equal distance from each other). Rhythm is
exemplified by concentric circles, by an alternation of black and
white stripes, by checkered blue and orange squares. It is
characterized as repetitive, continuous, or flowing.

4. Proportion. Proportion is the comparative relationship of the

different parts in relation to the whole. It is the proper and
pleasing relationship of one object with the others in a design.
According to Polyclitus, a well-proportioned human body is
eight head parts , that is, the head is one-eighth of the entire
human body. Da Vinci came up with his own measurement of
the human body by means of his work, “The Vitruvian Man.”
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions - Grade 12 Page 1 of 5
 PAOMBONG HIGH SCHOOL, INC.
School Year 2020-2021

5. Emphasis. Emphasis is giving proper importance on one or more parts of the thing or the
whole thing itself. It is achieved by means of size or proportion, shape, color, line, position,
and variety. More often than not, the artist emphasizes the one with the bigger size or
proportion, the one with a different shape or color, the one with striking lines, the one
positioned at the center, and the one that is unique.

ELEMENTS OF VISUAL ART

1. LINE. A line is a series of connected dots or prolongation of a point to show the shape or
form of any piece of art. It is an important element of visual arts because all painters,
sculptors and architects use lines as springboard of their finished products. All works
classified under the graphic arts and plastic arts start with lines.

Vertical Lines. Vertical lines show height or stature, poise,

balance, force, strength, dignity and dynamism. A tall tree, a
standing man, a bird poised for flight, and a flagpole are
presented with vertical lines.

Horizontal Lines. Horizontal lines indicate width, rest, repose,

quietness, calmness, serenity, infinity, contemplation, and
inaction. A dead or reclining man, a serene sea, a resting animal
and a cemetery are presented with horizontal lines.

Diagonal Lines. Diagonal lines manifest movement, action, and

direction. A running man, a flying bird, a galloping horse, a
flowing river, and fireworks display diagonal lines.

Broken or Jagged Lines. Broken or jagged lines connote chaos,

confusion, tension, disturbance, violence or war.

Straight Lines. Straight lines exhibit steadiness, stiffness, stillness, inactivity and force.
Inanimate objects like buildings and bridges are shown with straight lines.

Curved Lines. Compared to diagonal lines, curved lines, whether concave (inward) or convex
(outward) indicate movement that are smooth. A wide smile, a graceful belly dancer, and a
flowing hair are shown with curved lines. They may be scroll-like (s-form), or spiral-like
(winding round).

Repeating Lines. Repeating lines are a succession of vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or curved
lines. They are used to show rhythm.

Contrasting Lines. Contrasting lines are a combination of vertical and horizontal lines (LLL) or
a combination of diagonal lines (XXX or <<< or >>>) in opposite directions.

Modified Lines. Modified lines are a combination of straight and curved lines ([{}]) or a
combination of lines of varying shapes ({>O<}).

2. COLOR. Color is the most important and most noticeable of all elements of visual arts.
Dependent on the presence of light, it is that property of an object that makes it appealing to
the visual sense. […] Every color has its name and such name is called hue. Thus, yellow,
green, blue, violet, red, and orange are the most common hues. When an object has only
one hue, it is described as monochromatic. When it has two or more hues, it is said to be
polychromatic.

Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions - Grade 12 Page 2 of 5

 PAOMBONG HIGH SCHOOL, INC.
School Year 2020-2021

Classification of Colors

 Based on how they are produced

Primary Colors. Primary colors are blue, red and yellow (BRY). They are described as
primary colors because they are the first to be produced and the rest of the colors are
produced as a result of their combination.

Secondary Colors. Secondary colors are green, orange and violet (GOV). They are
produced by combining two primary colors. For example, green is the product of combining
blue and yellow, orange is the product of combining red and yellow, and violet is the
product of combining red and blue.

Intermediate Colors. Intermediate colors are red-violet (RV), red-orange(RO), yellow-

orange (YO), yellow-green (YG), blue-green (BG), and blue-violet (BV). They are produced
by combining one primary color and one secondary color.

 According to their position in the color wheel

Adjacent Colors. Adjacent colors are those colors situated next to each other in the color
wheel. Examples are red and red-orange, yellow and yellow-green, and blue and blue-
violet.

Analogous Colors. Analogous colors are three or four neighboring colors with one color in
all mixtures.

Complementary Colors. Complementary colors are those colors situated opposite each
other in the color wheel. Examples are red and green, blue and orange, and yellow and
violet. Double complementary colors are pairs of opposite colors.

Split Complementary Colors. Split complementary colors are any three colors forming a Y
in the color wheel. Double split complementary colors are any two sets of three colors
forming a Y in the color wheel.\

Triadic Colors. Triadic colors are a set of three colors forming a triangle in the color wheel

 Base on their effect on the visual sense

Cool Colors. Cool colors are those colors that are inconspicuous and not striking to the
eyes. Also called receding colors, they suggest distance, tranquility, sobriety, and
restfulness, Examples are violet, green, and blue, the coolest and calmest of all colors.

Warm Colors. Warm colors are those colors that are conspicuous and striking to the eyes.
Also called advancing colors, they suggest warmth, vivacity, cheerfulness, exultation,

Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions - Grade 12 Page 3 of 5

 PAOMBONG HIGH SCHOOL, INC.
School Year 2020-2021
stimulation, instinctive action, and excitement. They are usually associated with sources of
heat such as the sun, fire, and light. Examples are orange, yellow (the most brilliant, the
most cheerful and the most exultant), and red (the warmest, the most exciting, and the
most vigorous).

 According to value

Light Colors/Tints. Light colors or tints are those colors with values lower than the normal
value. For example, pink or fuchsia is a tint of red and azure (sky blue) is a tint of blue.

Dark Colors/Shades. Dark colors or shades are those colors with values higher than the
normal value. For example, maroon is a shade of red and navy blue is a shade of blue.

 Rainbow or prismatic Colors. prismatic or rainbow colors are those colors that form a
rainbow or prism. These are red, orange, yellow, blue, indigo, and violet (ROYGVIB or
VIBGYOR).

 Neutral Colors. Neutral colors are those which serve to balance colors. Examples are
white, gray, black, brown, peach, cream, gold, silver and bronze. White is the absence of
all colors, while black is the presence of all colors. gray is produced by combining black
and white; it results from the partial reflection of the color rays.

3. TEXTURE. Texture is the element of the visual arts associated with the sense of touch. It is
the surface characteristic of an area. An artwork may be smooth or rough, fine or coarse,
glossy or dull, regular or irregular. The tactile effect that an artist wants to produce out of his
artwork is dependent on the medium or material he uses. In sculpture, marble and ivory have
a smooth, glossy finish. On the other hand, wood and stone have a rough, dull finish if they
are not painted.

4. SHAPE. shape is the external appearance of clearly

defined area. It contributes to the final form of the
artwork. Circles and polygons (triangles, rectangles,
squares, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, etc.) are
put together to make up the whole object. For
example, a Christmas lantern is composed of a
circle, a pentagon, triangles, and ellipses. Associated
with forms, shapes are classified into static or regular
(circles and [polygons), natural (things of nature),
and non-objective (do not refer to any recognized
object).

5. SPACE. Space is the area or surface occupied by

the artwork. A painting covers a flat surface such as
a wall. Because a sculpture has volume, it occupies not only the area on which it stands, but
also the area from the top to the bottom and from the left to the right side of the object. Even
if the object is hollow, its inside is part of the space it occupies.

6. VOLUME. Allied to space, volume is the amount of space occupied by an object in three
dimensions. Pertaining to solidity or thickness, it is perceived in two ways: by contour lines or
outlines or shapes of objects and by surface light and shadows (Sanchez, Abad, and Jao,
2002).

7. PERSPECTIVE. Perspective is synonymous with point of view, angle of vision, or frame of

reference. It is the point where the artist stands to view his subject as he creates his artwork.
It refers to the location and distance upon the appearance of an object by which his eyes
judge spatial relationships. He may show the front view, side view (left or right), or top view of
the object he uses as subject for his painting or sculpture. Perspective is manifested in this
two situations: that nearer objects appear bigger and taller than farther objects and that
parallel lines seem to meet at the farthest end.
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions - Grade 12 Page 4 of 5
 PAOMBONG HIGH SCHOOL, INC.
School Year 2020-2021

8. FORM. Form refers to the overall composition of the artwork. It describes the entire shape or
organization of the thing or object created. For example, a pyramid is presented as one
triangle if the front view is used as the perspective, whereas two triangles are shown if the
left or the right side view is used as the perspective. When top view is used as the
perspective, the pyramid is presented as composed of four triangles.

SOURCE:
Menoy, Jesus Z., Ph. D. (2016). Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions. Books Atbp.
Publishing Corp.: Mandaluyong City

These are the elements and principles of visual arts and it is through these that we can understand
the different visual art works, whether it is graphic art or plastic art. For you to better understand these
concepts, let us try to analyze a visual art work using these elements and principles. An example is
given below.
High above the elegant lobby of The
Peninsula Manila is the impressive 12-metre
"Sunburst" by national artist Napoleon
Abueva, with its 21 rays and 33 spears set
against a silver leaf lined dome.

Art Form Visual Plastic Art – Sculpture

Function Art for delight or aesthetic function because it is created to beautify and
serve as decoration for the lobby of The Peninsula Manila.
Formal balance in the form radial symmetry exists in this art work
Balance because the almost same measure occurs from the center of the sun
(central point) to the end of every rays and spear (radius).
In this sculpture, rhythm is achieved through alternation (alternate use
Rhythm of spear and rays) and radiation (repetition of the motif from the center
which can be seen in the sun rays).

Emphasis Emphasis is given on the whole sculpture itself by means of its position
in the hotel lobby and through the use of back light.

Modified and repeating lines are featured in the sculpture by means of

Line the sunrays and spears surrounding the dome, combining an image of
steadiness (spears) and smooth movement (rays).
From the image, the sculpture look a bit rough, due to the hard lines
Texture and carving on the dome, but at the same time glossy as an effect of
the backlight.
Shape The predominant shape of the sculpture is natural since it gives
emphasis to the image of the sun which is a thing of nature.

Volume/Space The artwork occupies a 12-metre space in the ceiling of The Peninsula
Manila’s lobby.
The artist created the sculpture using front view but it is meant to be
Perspective viewed from below based on its position in the ceiling of the hotel’s
lobby.

Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions - Grade 12 Page 5 of 5