The Subject and Medium of Art

Southwestern College of Maritime, Business and Technology, Inc.
Quezon Drive, Calero, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro

www.scmbt.edu.ph / slmifnav.official@gmail.com / slmifnav@yahoo.com.ph
Subject: ARTS AND HUMANITIES Module 3

Year/Course/Section Instructor: MR. ERNEST P. MACALALAD
I. TOPIC- The Subject and Medium of Art
II.TARGET OUTCOMES:
After completing this module the students should be able to:
a. Understand the concept of the “subject” of an art
b. Recognize the different kinds of subjects and the varied ways of presenting them
c. Appreciate the importance of medium in a work of art.
III. GEAR UP YOUR MIND
Subject, form, and content comprise the three basic components of a work of art. In
general, subject may be thought of as the "what" in a piece of art: the topic, focus, or
image.
Whatever is represented or depicted in an artwork is called a subject. In art, there are
different kinds of subjects, ranging from landscape, still-life, animals, portraits, images of
divinity etc.
Similarly, there are varied ways of presenting a subject of an art, but this chapter
focuses on three major methods namely: realism, abstraction and distortion. The medium is
the physical means through which we can come in contact with the work of art, the
elements are the qualities and properties. The principles are the guidelines as to how the
artists organize the visual elements to create a work of art.
Subject is a term used for whatever represented in a work of art. It refers to any
identifiable object, individual thing, place or event illustrated in a work of art. A subject
answers the question “what is it?” or “what is about?” However, it should be noticed that
not all arts have subjects. Some arts do not have any. Those arts with subjects are called
objective or representational art, while those that do not have are called non-objective or
non-representational art.
Kinds of Subjects
a. Landscape, Seascape, and Cityscapes- The physical environment has always been the
popular subject used by artist. The painters imagine lengthily on its qualities and
paint in its varying mood.
b. Animals- The movement and strength of an animal’s action attract painters and
sculptor.
c. Human Figures and Portraits Couple- Traditionally a human body, nude or clothed is
the sculptor’s major subject. The flexibility, structure and form of the body provide
the artist a challenge to present in different ways to the most idealistic to most
abstract.
d. Everyday Life- Artist wants to observe people working ordinary activities, such as
plating rice, laundry woman and batis. They to show the easy going lifestyle and the
middle class artwork. They show the facets of life.
e. Still Life- A subject matter in which inanimate objects are used as subjects. Flowers
and fruits arrangement are the popular subject, and also the dishes of food prepared
on the table and different musical instruments.
f. Image of Divinity- Christian religion largely influenced artist since medieval period.
A B C
Artist focus on Christ and others stories from the Old Testament.
D E F
Methods in Presenting the Subject in Art

In translating his ideas into art forms, the artist employs certain method
according to his intention. Although various stylistics developments happen in modern art
movements or the “isms” to which the following ways of representation are part of a larger
group, we shall consider the most common and most general on these styles.
1. Realism
The work of art is realistic when the presentation and organization of work is
detailed and seem natural. The artist selects changes and arranges details of the idea he
wants to make clear, though he chooses the subject nature. The function of the artist is to
illustrate as accurately and honestly as possible what he observes through his senses.
2. Abstraction
The meaning of Abstract is to move away or separate. An abstractionist does
not represent a cognizable object as it exists in reality. The artist simplifies the elements of
art to convey his emotions for a particular subject or theme. He may use geometric object,
alter colors, and normal perspective depending upon his intensity and his mood. It does not
need to illustrate the subjects as an object or recognizable reality.
Forms of Abstractionism
a. Distortion
b. Elongation
c. Cubism
3. Surrealism
This is invented from the word super naturalism. It is used to emphasize the
unconscious creative activity of the mind.
4. Expressionism
This tries to express subjective feelings and emotions of the artists. It is how
the artist feels about the subject
5. Impressionism
The artist depicts what stimulates the eye. What we see is important in an
impressionist. When they create an art they are more concerned with the effects of lights
that would get the attention of the audience.
6. Pointillism
A style of painting in which the artists use small distinct dots of color forming a figure
and it has an item of “luminosity” and create the impression of a wide selection of other
colors and blending.
7. Distortion
Exaggerating, twisting, and elongating forms are used to emphasize an intense
feeling to do this. It heightens dramatic impact of shape in a figure.
The illustrations below are examples
1 2 3
4 5 6
The Medium of Art

The word medium, which comes from the Latin word “medium” signifying “means,”
denotes the means by which an artist communicates his idea. In general sense, it is the
material or the substance out of which a work is made. It also refers the materials used by
the artist in creating a work of art. Medium is essential to art, there can be art without
subject, there can be art without function, but there can be no art without medium.
Example: an architect makes use of stone wood while painter makes use of colored
pigments on wood or canvass.
On the basis of medium, a work of art can be classified as visual and auditory.
Painting sculpture, architecture, glassware etc., are visual arts—they are seen. Music and
literature are auditory arts that they are heard. On the basis of medium, arts are classified
as time arts and space arts. The visual arts are the space arts and the auditory arts are the
time arts. Theatre and opera are combined arts, dance, is largely considered as visual arts,
yet classified as combined arts for it employs both time and space.
Arts may be classified as major or minor. The five major arts are music, literature,
painting, sculpture and architecture. The minor arts include metal work, weaving, ceramics,
glass, furniture, lettering, bookmaking, etc. The five are called major arts not because there
is something inherently great but because more great works have been made in those
media that in the lesser other lesser arts.
`When an artist uses medium, he chooses the one that can best express what he
want to say. The choice of the medium is part of the meaning of the work. The selection of
the medium is a part of the artistic inspiration. Moreover, an artist thinks in terms of a
specific medium. Guillermo Tolentino used bronze for his “Oblation”, Durer used engraving
for the “Knights, Death and the Devil” and woodcut for the “Four Horsemen of the
apocalypse”. Artist uses it because it has certain qualities. The sculptor gives life to his
statue not by denying it is a wood or stone but by incorporating the qualities of wood or
stone into the meaning of the sculptured piece.
REFERENCES Pasigui, Ronnie R. et al. Art Appreciation: Looking beyond (A Textbook in Humanities),
2009, Mutya Publishing House Inc., 105 Engineering Road, Araneta University Village,
Potrero, Malabon City
Southwestern College of Maritime, Business and Technology, Inc.
Quezon Drive, Calero, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro
www.scmbt.edu.ph / slmifnav.official@gmail.com / slmifnav@yahoo.com.ph
NAME: MODULE 3
YEAR/COURSE/SECTION: ARTS AND HUMANITIES
OBJECTIVE:
To be able to draw a non-objective art, (these are works in which no objects or
subjects can be readily identified) using the different element of art.
MATERIALS
Pencil and Ruler
Sheet of white drawing paper (bond paper)
Colored markers, colored pencils and crayons
DIRECTIONS:
1. Using one continuous pencil line make a design in your drawing paper.
2. Allow your pencil to in different directions base on what you are thinking.
3. Try to create a design that has both large and small shapes in all areas.
4. Using the ruler, divide your drawing paper into 8 equal rectangles.
5. Number the boxed area in any order you want.
6. Using the primary hues of crayons, color the shapes in area 1
7. Using the light and dark values of colored pencils, color all the shapes in area 2. Using
bright and dull colors in area 3.
8. Go to area 4 and make lines, some are straight and some are curved. Make the lines
darker and thicker.
9. Create textures in area 5 using pencil, crayon, ball pen and markers.
10. Using markers, draw outlines around the shapes in area 6. Fill in some shapes with
markers and colors, leave the other shapes white.
11. Use a pencil to add new shape that overlaps the existing shapes in area 7 to show
space.

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Southwestern College of Maritime, Business and Technology, Inc.

Quezon Drive, Calero, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro

Subject: ARTS AND HUMANITIES Module 3

I. TOPIC- The Subject and Medium of Art

Methods in Presenting the Subject in Art

The Medium of Art

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