MEDIUM IN

VISUAL ARTS
TOPIC 5
BRIEF HISTORY OF
MEDIUM IN VISUAL ARTS
WHAT IS MEDIUM IN ARTS?
In art, a medium is a material that artists use to create
their art.
Examples of media used in arts are oil on canvas, tempera
on wood, and ink on silk.
Sometimes the medium is a very important part of how
the piece of art is interpreted. Different materials carry
different significance.
For example, if a certain wood is considered sacred, then
using it indicates that this piece of art is very special.
If an artist uses an uncommon medium, say garbage, it
helps that artist make a statement.
The medium helps the artists to express their art.
TYPES OF MEDIUM IN
VISUAL ARTS
DRAWING
It is a two-dimensional artwork formed from lines or
tone that is dominated by a dry media but can include
wet mediums such as ink and washes of paint. A
classic one is a work of art done on a piece of paper
using a drawing instrument such as a graphite pencil,
charcoal, colored pencil, silverpoint, eraser, dry
pastel, or another dry medium to create lines or areas
of tone.
THREE TYPES OF DRAWING
REALISTIC DRAWING
When most individuals in Western cultures think of drawing, they think of capturing what they see
with their eyes and putting the three-dimensional world onto a two-dimensional surface utilizing art
elements like line, shape, color, value, texture, space, and form.

SYMBOLIC DRAWING
It is actually much more common than you might expect. If you can write your name you are using
symbolic drawing. The letters or marks you make stand for your name.

EXPRESSIVE DRAWING
It often communicates ideas or emotions that are not visible or tangible. Expressive drawings may
capture movement and energy, feelings, memories, or even the spiritual realm.
EXAMPLE OF
DRAWINGS
REALISTIC SYMBOLIC EXPRESSIVE
COMMON MEDIUM IN
DRAWING
PENCIL
Pencils are constructed of non-toxic graphite blended with a little amount of clay
and wrapped in wood, including artists' pencils. The 'lead' in the pencil isn't
actually hazardous lead; the moniker came about when a big deposit of graphite
was mistaken for lead and used as pencils in the 1500's. INK
Ink is an ancient writing and
CHALK drawing medium in liquid or paste
It has been favoured primarily as a medium for making quick preliminary sketches, form, traditionally black or brown
occasionally for roughing in the background of a larger work, and increasingly in colour – though it can also
since the late Renaissance as a medium in its own right for finished drawings. contain coloured dyes or
pigments
CHARCOAL
Charcoal is typically created from thinly peeled willow twigs that have been burned
without oxygen. Charcoal is better for freer studies because the final outcome is
less precise than hard graphite pencils. Charcoal smudges quickly, therefore it's
usually coated with a fixative.
EXAMPLES OF
MEDIUM IN
DRAWINGS
INK
PENCIL CHALK CHARCOAL
SCULPTURE
It has three dimensions and we say 3D it has height, width,
and depth.
SCULPTURE

FREE STANDING
This is a kind of sculpture that can independently stand in
space

UP OBLATION
SCULPTURE
Additive (added material) or subtractive (material is
removed or carved out)
 The coin of Demetrius I of Bactria

SCULPTURE
RELIEF
It is meant to be viewed from one side only. It has
three-dimensional depth but it does not occupy
space independently as sculpture in the round. Metope of a Centaur and Lapith from the south
side of the Parthenon, from the British Museum

Two types of relief:

Low relief
figures are slightly unpaired on flat
background.
High relief
figures project more prominently from the
background.
 SCULPTURE
Sculptures primarily use four basic techniques:
Carving Casting
It is a subtractive process. It involves It is a liquid material poured into a mold. The
removing unwanted portions of the raw liquid hardens into the shape of the mold and
material to reveal the form that the artist is then removed.
has visualized. Types of Casting:
Wood, stone, and ivory are some materials Glass Casting
employed in this process. Slip Casting
Types of carving:
Stone Carving
Wood Carving Assembling is an additive process of gathering and
joining different materials to created an assembled
Molding
artwork.
It is an additive process. It is the working of
soft or plastic materials like clay and wax by
hand to build up or shape to create a form.
ARCHITECTURE
Art of designing and constructing building.
It is the art and science of designing structures and spaces for
human use. Architectural design in itself is an art form realized
through considerations of spatial design and aesthetics.
A general term to describe buildings and other physical
structures
The art and science, or the action and process, of designing and
constructing buildings.
 MATERIALS USED AND THE METHODS OF ASSEMBLING THEM
ARE AMONG THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO ARCHITECTURAL
STYLE.
STONE AND CONCRETE
WOOD STONE - Materials used when
Common building material.. permanence is desired.
STEEL
Advantages: abundance, relative CONCRETE Tough alloy of iron in variable
durability, and high tensile and Made of sand and gravel amounts
compressions strength. mixed with cement Malleable under proper
High compressive strength condition and greatly
Disadvantages: easily destroyed Doesn’t crumble or hardened by sudden cooling
by moisture, insects, and fire. breakdown when subjected to Tensile strength
heavy weight Made possible the building of
Plywood: improved the structural Does not corrode and is fire the high-rise structures which
possibilities of wood; stronger resistant are very popular this days
than any known material. Stronger: ferro-concrete or Materials: wood, stone, brick,
reinforced concrete concrete, glass.
(reinforced with steel)
TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
Post-and-lintel
Consists of two vertical posts for support (post) and horizontal one (lintel).
Generally used for wooden buildings.
TYPES OF
ARCHITECTURE
Arch
Dominant in Roman architecture
Architectural forms built from pieces of
wood called voussoirs with joints between
them and are arranged in semi-circle.
All materials are in compression
Typical for stone construction: can stand
great pressure
Dome is an extension of the arch
TYPES OF
ARCHITECTURE
Cantilever
Any structural part projecting horizontally and
anchored at one end only.
Needs a beam with tensile strength, and does not
crack or break easily
Largely utilized in buildings with steel as medium
Wood is also used but is limited since it has a
tendency to warp, sag or rot.
Used in construction of skyscrapers which depends
for support upon a steel skeleton.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography started with the daguerreotype. Invented by
Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, the camera
alllowed light to hit a silver-coated sheet of copper and
stay. The camera, called a "camera obscura," was the first
photography medium. The inventor, Daguerre, may have
had an idea that his scientific process could evolve, but
likely not to the extent it has. Photography mediums now
range from cameras that burn light onto film to highly
"smart" digital cameras with automatic settings.
Joseph Niepce
Louis Daguerre
 PHOTOGRAPHY
Film SLR (Single Lens Reflex)
A medium or wide lens on an SLR camera allows for a large
viewfinder. Photographers must adjust the aperture, which is
an iris-like device that "dilates" to a larger or smaller circle to
allow more or less light to enter the camera. The F-stop, which
determines how long the aperture stays open to gather enough
light, is another characteristic of the SLR. Images are burned
onto film, which is developed and chemically treated to create
a photograph. Due to the length of the film roll inside an SLR
35mm film camera, a photographer is only authorized to take
36 images.
 PHOTOGRAPHY
Digital cameras
an extremely flexible kind of photography. This camera technology
enables a photographer to take hundreds of photos without
running out of film. Instead of light bursting on film within the
camera, it bursts on the lens. Because the digital sensor is made
up of millions of tiny sensor points, or "pixels," a term short for
"picture elements," the image of the bird, house, river, or portrait
you took remains. When the image is downloaded onto a
computer, the photographer can manipulate the photograph as
much as she wants. In comparison to film cameras, post-
processing like as color improvement, solarization (a silver wash),
and adding or deleting images from the original shot is simple.
 PHOTOGRAPHY
Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR)

They provide a direct, optical view from the lens.

So, latency or low-light noise in the viewfinder is
not an issue. This is not the case with some
mirrorless, bridge, and compact cameras. Their
bigger size provides space for more buttons. This
allows for faster and more precise manual controls.
ver wash), and adding or deleting images from the
original shot is simple.
 PHOTOGRAPHY
INSTANT CAMERA

An instant camera, also called a Land camera,

prints pictures instantly. The self-developing film
was mostly made by the Polaroid corporation, but
it no longer creates the cameras, as of 2007 or the
instant film, as of 2009. However, instant camera
enthusiasts buy and sell old cameras and film and
use the photography for art projects and collages.
 PHOTOGRAPHY
PINHOLE CAMERA

A pinhole camera uses the same logic as the

original camera obscura, though in smaller form.
While the camera obscura was a large as a house
and needed a mirror, a pinhole camera just uses a
tiny hole and photographic paper to make a
negative image. After processing, a negative image
appears, which can be turned into positive if
desired.
TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHY
PORTRAIT EVENT AERIAL
often known as portraiture, is a type of Event photography is a dynamic Aerial photography is now used
photography that tries to convey an and fast-paced way to make a for everything from architectural
individual's or group's personality and buck with your camera. Whether and real estate photography to
attitude. Photographs might be casual your beat is corporate events or weddings and events, and even in
or posed, full-body or close-up. The wild and crazy rock concerts, showcasing tourist destinations.
subject's face and eyes are usually in event photographers work in a The unique perspective given by
focus in either case. Tone and emotion variety of settings. Event drones cannot be beaten for
can be conveyed through lighting and photography styles often involve a uniqueness and beauty.
backdrop. Senior portraits, family mixture of photojournalistic
portraits, engagement images, and documentary work and
professional headshots are all popular portraiture. Some organizations
forms of photographic portraits. The use their event photos for
best portrait photographers make their publicity purposes, while other
clients feel entirely at ease, allowing for use party photos as souvenirs or
natural and relaxed expressions. keepsakes.
TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHY
AERIAL
PORTRAIT EVENT

Dinagyang Festival – Iloilo City

Manila City at Night
Image by Jilson Tiu (Esquire)
TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHY
FINE ART AERIAL
Of all of the types of Aerial photography is now used
WEDDING photography, this is the one with for everything from architectural
no rules. Fine art photographers and real estate photography to
Wedding photography is pretty intense,
create art. They display their weddings and events, and even in
with the element of getting the best shot
work in galleries and at art shows, showcasing tourist destinations.
on the first try and not really getting a
and generally, they sell a finished, The unique perspective given by
second chance in some situations. The
framed print product to their drones cannot be beaten for
emphasis is on capturing the moment
customers. Fine art photography uniqueness and beauty.
and documenting natural, candid
pictures that the family will treasure for can be of any subject at all, but
a lifetime. landscape and portrait artists are
probably the most common. Fine
art images are about capturing
emotional responses and
communicating with the audience.
TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHY
FINE ART
WEDDING
PAINTING

KEY POINTS:
The practice of applying paint or other media to a surface,
usually with a brush.
In art, the term painting describes both the act of
painting, (using either a brush or other implement, such
as palette knife, sponge, or airbrush to apply the paint);
and the result of the action – the painting as an object.
OIL PAINTING
BRIEF INTRODUCTION
The coloured pigments are suspended in oil, was first
used in Northern Europe for panel paintings in the
thirteenth century and much later in Italy, where its use
parallels the increased use of canvas.
Oil paint dries slowly, can be mixed on the canvas,
diluted to transparency or given texture. This flexibility
has made it a favourite medium for artists for centuries.
Originally artists made their own; ready-mixed paints in
sealable containers only became available commercially
in the 1840s.

The Starry Night, Van Gogh

TWO TYPES OF
OIL PAINTING:
DIRECT METHOD INDIRECT METHOD
Paint is applied in many thin
Paints are opaque and are applied layers of transparent color.
to the surface just as they are to
look in the finished product; more
flexible.
 ACRYLIC

Acrylic paints were first commercially

available in the 1950s. They are coloured
pigments in a suspension of polymers
(plastics such as acrylics, vinyl, etc.) in
water. These are dilutable with water when
wet but are water-resistant, like oil paints,
when dry. They also dry much faster than
oil paints so are very convenient to use.

‘The Fruit Gatherer’, 1950 Fernando Amorsolo

 WATERCOLOR
Watercolour paints are made up of coloured pigments
suspended in a water-soluble vehicle. Combining the
reflection of the white paper, and the translucent,
delicate watercolour paints, creates an enchanting
luminosity on the page. Watercolours are not easy to
master, but with the right techniques and plenty of
practice, they can be incredibly rewarding.

October Russet by Tony Couch

FRESCO
Method of painting water-based pigments on
freshly applied plaster, usually on wall surfaces.
The colours, which are made by grinding dry-
powder pigments in pure water, dry and set with
the plaster to become a permanent part of the
wall. Fresco painting is ideal for making murals The Creation of Adam, Michael Angelo.
because it lends itself to a monumental style, is

durable, and has a matte surface.

TEMPERA
The term tempera now generally
means pigment mixed with egg yolk.
This dries quickly and, as the egg
yolk sets, to a waterproof finish.
In Italy tempera was used for
frescoes and was used for panel
paintings until the introduction of oil
paints in the fifteenth century.
There was a significant revival in the
use of tempera in British painting in
the first half of the twentieth century.
“Maesta Altarpiece”, Duccio di Buoninsegna.

DIGITAL ARTS
It is a new form of art that has broadened the
horizon of the visual arts. Digital art can be
computer-generated, scanned, or drawn using a
tablet and a mouse. Programs like Krita,
FireAlpaca, and Gimp are great for starters who are
just getting into the digital art experience.
 DIFFERENT MEDIUMS OF
DIGITAL ART INCLUDE:
Vector Graphic Images
A vector graphic is an artwork made up of points, lines, and
curves that are based upon mathematical equations, rather than
solid colored square pixels.
This means no matter the size or how far zoomed in the image is,
the lines, curves, and points remain smooth. The artwork will
never have jagged lines or blurriness.
An image is made up of points that are connected by lines - either
straight or curved - and not based on the number of dots.
Simplified, vector graphics are like connect-the-dots drawings.
Examples of programs for vector graphic images are Adobe
Illustrator, Affinity Designer, Sketch, Inkscape, and CorelDRAW.
 DIFFERENT MEDIUMS OF
DIGITAL ART INCLUDE:
3D Designs
The 3D design is the process of using software to create a
mathematical representation of a 3-dimensional object or
shape.
The created object is called a 3D model and these 3-
dimensional models are used for computer-generated (CG)
design.
The 3D design is used in a variety of industries to help artists
shape, communicate, document, analyze, and share their
ideas.
Examples of programs for 3D Design are Sketchup, Blender,
AutoCAD, Rhino, and Revit.
 DIFFERENT MEDIUMS OF
DIGITAL ART INCLUDE:
Raster Graphic Images
Raster graphics are bitmaps. A bitmap is a grid of individual
pixels that collectively compose an image.
Raster graphics render images as a collection of countless
tiny squares.
Each square, or pixel, is coded in a specific hue or shade.
Individually, these pixels are worthless. Together, they’re
worth a thousand words.
Examples of programs for raster graphic images area Adobe
Photoshop, Painter, Photo-PAINT, Artweaver, and Corel
Painter.
DIFFERENT MEDIUMS
OF DIGITAL ART
INCLUDE:
2D Computer Graphics

2D computer graphics are derived from 2D dimensional

models like texts and digital images. It works on transforming
the traditional forms of art into digital art which can be used
in projects and animation for the media and entertainment
industry. 2D graphics are generally derived on traditional
graphics like typography, cartography, technical drawing and
advertising.
 DIFFERENT MEDIUMS OF
DIGITAL ART INCLUDE:
Pixel Art
Pixel art is a pure form of aesthetic used in the
elaboration of video games and other animated
videos where it produces the desired effect which
is incomplete in the case of other forms of digital
art.