MODULE 1

THAT’S ART, SO WHAT?

LESSON 3
WHO IS AN ART?

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:

⮚ Discuss the right perception on artists beyond their physical limitation. ⮚

State the characteristics of an artists and their style that you admire most ⮚
Appreciate the lives of artists and craftsmen; why they create art and for
whom

INTRODUCTION

Artists have a certain kind of power. It does not lie on money or politics,
but, on his or her capacity to influence. The question now is, for what purpose will
that power be used?

“.... there is an art of the future, and it is going to be so lovely and so young
that even if we give up our youth for it, we must gain serenity by it,” Vincent Van
Gogh in his letter to his brother, Theo.

“Self Portrait” 1889, Vincent Van Gogh

Why did Van Gogh dedicate so much of his life to the future achievements of art? His
presence is now often seen in restaurant interiors, in the web, and even on novelty items. The price
of his works
has skyrocketed to millions of dollars. His renowned, and a favorite of most, “Starry
Night” rings a bell to a lot of people.

On the other hand, behind Van Gogh’s artistic achievement was a history of
struggle over whether his art would really matter later on. He was also human. He
never saw the pinnacle of his artistic career in his lifetime; but he had a vision and an
artistic mission that we all benefited from.

What if there are no artists such as Van Gogh who would envision the future of
art-making that we all enjoy today? As much as master artworks tell us a lot of
stories, the lives of artists are also as colorful and mysterious. Studying their
struggles, issues, and victories can enhance the way we view art and life in general.

ACTIVITY & ANALYSIS

In these series of activities, we will try to immerse ourselves in the lives of artists. Be
an active participant and observer in each activity.

1. On artist rivalry

Read this comic strip about a dialogue between Michelangelo and Leonardo Da
Vinci.
 To study and draw a perfect human
form, I must dissect cadavers and
study it scientifically! The flesh and
bones are fundamental in the
pursuit of perfection!

Da Vinci

You know this block of marble here, There is a form to be

discovered
Inside it. I must subtract from
His block and let that figure out!
But before that, I shall drink first
For inspiration!
Michaelangelo
Da Vinci: to study and draw a perfect human form, I must dissect
cadavers and study it scientifically! The flesh and bones are fundamental in the
pursuit of perfection!

Michelangelo: You know this block of marble here, there is a form waiting to
be discovered inside it. I must subtract and let that figure out! But before that,
shall drink first for inspiration!

ANALYSIS:

A. This may be just a hypothetical conversation between Leonardo and

Michelangelo in terms of their art-making but the contrast tells us a lot about
their individual approach toward the artistic process.

a.1 If you can meet Leonardo da Vinci today, what kind of person do you think
you would encounter?
Leonardo da Vinci is not my favorite Renaissance artist, although I wouldn’t
deny him the accolades received through time. I have no doubt that he was a
deep-thinking and very intelligent person, if somewhat paranoid at times, but
that is also understandable considering the heavy penalties paid for
 homosexuality in that era. There is no way in modern times that one could be
at the top of your game in so many diverse fields, which makes me wonder
whether he was better respected in society because he was the son of a
prominent notary? Jan van Eyck, a Dutch renaissance artist was a more
skilled, and thought-provoking artist.

a.2 How about Michelangelo? What type of personality does he have?

He was a genius and a real renaissance man with really varied interests and
skills. The showcased amount of talents between him and his peers is
startling. Extroverted, hungry all the time, eager to try new things.
Michelangelo lived up too many of the classic artist personality traits. He was
harsh on himself and his work. He was often dissatisfied and known for his
critical, volatile moods. Despite, or maybe because of his interesting
personality, Italians adored Michelangelo, both during his time and after.

a.3 How do you think can artists use rivalry constructively? How about envy?
How can it be used positively?

Have you ever heard the term frenemies? It refers to people who are close,
but who are constantly at each other’s throats. Since the general public love to
hear about heated competition between creative geniuses, the relationships
between artists often seem to turn out this way. But despite what people want
to see or read about, artists themselves aren’t always so malicious.

And let’s face it, a lot of other artists are in competition with one another
because of the scarcity and permission-based art establishment. So that
scarcity breeds competition amongst artists and that competition breeds
jealousy and that jealousy breeds snobbery. The lessons for creatives are
clear – the presence of a rival can be good thing, pushing us to the limits of
our ability. If you’re struggling with motivation, it’s even possible that the
introduction of a little head-to-head competition could be just what you need.
However, rivalries should be handled with care. Guard against obsession and
if the competition is doing you no favors, cut free and focus on your own
game.

B. Think of three people you admire and want to emulate. What do you think
about these people, what makes them great? What do you feel when his or
her name comes you’re your mind? Write your reflections below:
My mother - she is very kind and lovable
 My father- he is very determined and dedicated to his works
My brother - he is so independent and generous
C. Read this short biographical excerpt about Chuck Close, an artist.
In 1988, a spinal blood clot left Close almost completely paralyzed and confined
to a wheelchair. This posed a great challenge to the artist’s career. However, with
much determination, a device was developed to strap a brush to his wrist and
forearm which allowed him to continue working. Since this method limited his
mobility, he replaced the minute detail of his earlier paintings with a grid of tiles
daubed with colorful elliptical and ovoid shapes. Viewed up close, each tile was
simply a collation of circular shapes and colors, but when seen from a distance,
the tiles come together to form an image of a seemingly “pixelated” human face.
In 1998, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City mounted a major
retrospective of Close’s portraits. Close has been called a Photorealist, a
Minimalist, and an Abstract Expressionist. But most of all, he was an artist ready
to face the challenges of his physical limitations.

ANALYSIS:

What did the article tell you about the artist? What happened to him? How did
he adapt to his disability? What can you reflect on the reality of physical limitations (or
even mental, e.g., dyslexia, depression, schizophrenia) and the challenge that this
poses to artists?

Chuck Close is noted for his highly inventive techniques used to paint the
human face. He rose to fame in the late 1960s for his large-scale, photo-realist
portraits. Suffering from severe dyslexia, Chuck Close did poorly in school but found
solace in making art. After earning his MFA from Yale in 1964, Close took his place
atop the American art world by creating largescale, photorealist portraits that have
creatively blurred the distinction between photography and painting. Despite the
physical limitations, Close pressed forward with his work. With a brush taped to his
wrist, Close continued to paint, but in a style that was more abstract and less precise.
His reputation and standing have not suffered in the least.

ABSTRACTION

The content of the abstraction is adapted from the book of:

Roldan, A.N., et.al., Art Appreciation,2019

The Artistic Process

Unlike the common notions that artists are too spontaneous, laid back, and
unsystematic, individual art practitioners do need to have sets of procedures and
disciplines. Even the most spontaneous ones work with a process, however simple
and succinct. Artists are also thinkers and even great inventors and scientists. The
creative process is also a problem-solving approach involving a lot of systems of
knowledge. Art can cover a lot of subject matters from science, philosophy, and even
practical living. It can also be applied to such areas of knowledge. As Einstein said,
“After a certain high level of technical skills is achieved science and art tend to
coalesce in aesthetic, plasticity, and form. The greatest scientists are artists as well”.
The diagram does not necessarily precede artistic creation, but it comprises
the elements that tie-up together in the conception of a tangible art form:

Rivalry, Envy, and Artistic Preferences

The issue of rivalry and comparison is not new to the art scene. This may
sound negative, but it can actually yield some positive things. Let us take for
example the rivalry between Leonardo and Michelangelo. What they were arguing
about actually gives us a broader understanding of the arts. We cannot say that one
artistic process is better than the other, but we can truly see that both resulted in
major contributions to the development of Visual Arts. In addition, lots of artists can
become discouraged by envy, especially if the envied person seems to be way
ahead of his contemporaries. However, envy can have a constructive effect if taken
in a different way. As a famous adage says “good artists copy, great artists steal”.

Inclusivity of Artists
 In the previous activity, we came to realize how artists are also subject to
human frailties. There is Chuck Close’s paralysis, Van Gogh’s mental health
condition, and Jackson Pollock’s problem with chronic drinking which caused his
death. Working with art is not always working on a dream job: settling up an easel in
a studio overlooking a breathtaking view. It is actually the very opposite. It is a daily
wrestle between survival and passion. It does not always promise monetary returns,
often side jobs are needed to survive a life as an artist, especially in a third world
country as ours. Hence, the pressures of life along with the demands of art-making
are cause some psychological and physical stress to the artist’s life.
Hans Prinzhom produced a book about the Artistry of the Mentally III. This is a
good contribution to the vision of dignifying people with disabilities or incapacities

Democratization of culture, which is evident in the 2019 edition of Cultural

Center of the Philippines (CCP) Encyclopedia, has blurred the line between high and
low art. Hence, we should also strive to change our attitude toward those who are
considered the elite of the art scene because of their own art-making. The
craftsmen’s craft and the non-degree holder artist deserve the same value or
valuation as those given to works hanging on the pristine while walls of museums
and galleries.

Added Insight: Valuing of Artist’s Process and Work through Money

We have seen how in the latter part Van Gogh’s life, which was actually his
death, the value of his works shoot up to millions of dollars. Why do we equate
money with the value of art? Why the need to spend money on art? When we
consume something, it means we either need it or want it. But have we wondered
how we spend our money and on what? More often, we do not see the point in
buying art because of our problem with taste. How is this? Let us take for example
our fondness for fast food and branded but overpriced items. What we buy also
defines what we value. If we do not value our health, naturally we will just buy
whatever we crave. But, if we value our well-being, we buy things that are good for
our physical bodies. Hence, if art reflects our nobility and highest potential, how do
we value it in terms of expenditure?

APPLICATION AND ASSESSMENT

Write a short biography of an artist whom you know but is not yet
established in the art scene. How would you promote him or her?
From the biography, imagine yourself creating exhibit notes printed on
nice
glossy paper together with some of his or her work. How would you present him or
her in a way that is convincing to your target audience or market? You will be rated
using the rubric on page 38.

Nona Garcia is perhaps one of the best-known artists in the Philippine art scene at
the moment. Born in 1978 in Manila, she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in
Painting from the University of the Philippines. Based primarily in Baguio, her work
has been exhibited in countless galleries both local and abroad. She won the Grand
Prize in the Philip Morris ASEAN Art Award (2000), and is also a recipient of the
Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Thirteen Artists Award (2003). Among her
solo shows are False Apparitions (Singapore, 2012), Before the Sea (Manila, 2012),
Unearth (Berlin, 2015), and Before the Sky (Manila, 2016). Nona Garcia is known for
employing the use of stark realism to bring into question what the true meaning of
representation is. Her use of photorealism centers everyday objects, cultural artifacts,
or people, inviting the viewers to explore the environmental, sociopolitical, and
personal histories of her subjects. Although famous for her paintings, she also
employs the use of paper cutouts, x-rays, and light boxes in her works. Her attention
to detail and incredible skill are unlike any other, making her a favorite of collectors,
art enthusiasts, and laypeople alike.

Use the space below for your publication material complete with text
and photos.
Rubrics for Explanation
Criteria Outstanding - 4 Proficient - 3 Basic - 2 Below
Expectations -
1
Critical Rich in Substantial Informati Rudimentary
Thinking content; informatio on is thin and
insightful n; and superficial;
analysis, evidence common little analysis,
synthesis and of place; synthesis or
evaluation, analysis, attempts, evaluation;
clear synthesis made at little or no
connection is and analysis, connections
made to real; evaluation: synthesis with any other
- life general and material or
situations or connections evaluatio are off topic.
to previous are made, n;
content. but are connecti
sometimes on s are
too limited,
obvious vague
or not
clear.

generali
tie s are
posted

Personal Entries are Connects Little Clack of

Reflection high quality ideas and evidence connection to
consisting of thoughts to of personal life.
personal personal personal
reflections life; connectio
that connect Evidence n s need
between real - of further
life, learning, personal explana
and reading. connection tio n or
to earning, justificati
community. on .
 Surface An Few Obvious Obvious
Features occasional grammatic gramma grammatical
grammatical al or tic al or or stylistic
or stylistic stylistic stylistic errors;
error. errors. errors; errors make
errors content very
interfere difficult to read.
with
content.

by:albany.edu/images