Cecille Carmela dT. de los Reyes Name of Trainee: _____________________________________ Year and Section: _____________________________________ School Year: _________________________________________ Name of Teacher: _____________________________________
TABLE OF CONTENTS I.
INTRODUCTION TO THE VISUAL ARTS Art is Everywhere ………………………………………………………………….. 1 The Scope and Different Forms of Art …..………………………………… 10 Overview of the Art History …………………………………….…………….. 13 The Visual Arts ………………………………………………………………..……. 19 Basic Terms Used in the Art Process ………………………………………… 23
II.
BASIC BASIC ELEMENTS OF ART Elements of Art ……………………………..………………………. ……………………………..……………………….……… ……………………….…………… …………… 25
III.
PRINCIPLES OF ART AND DESIGN Movement ……………………………………………… ………….…………….. 32
IV.
INTRODUCTION TO GRAPHIC ARTS What is Graphic Arts? ………………….…………………………………….. 37 The Digital Art and Its Evolution ………………….………………………… 39 Graphic Arts and its Uses ……………………………………………….…… 40 Tools of the Trade in Graphic Arts …….……………………………….... 41
V.
THE ADOBE PHOTOSHOP BASICS BASICS What is Adobe Photoshop?............................................... 43 Brief History of Adobe Photoshop……………………..….……………. 44 The Pentool ……………………………………………………….…………..… 44
THE VEXEL ART What is a Vexel Art? ………………………………………………………….. 48 The Difference among Vector, Vexel and Vections ………………. 48 Uses of Vector/ Vexel Art …………………………………..…………….. 50 Walkthrough Tutorials …………………………………………….…………. 52 Plate Sheets ………………………………………………………………….….. 58 Plate Sheets …………………………………………………………………….. 59
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This module wouldn’t have been completed without the help, suggestions and art advices of the following people and groups Vector X Vexel Philippines SAG Art Buddies LAPIS (League of Art- Educators Pursuing Ingenuity and Skills) Art Ed batch mates My other art friends—Mon Altair, Bubu, Patt Mr. Randy Garcia, FEU-EAC Art Professor my family SSC faculty and staff. Thank you!
Every lesson in this book contains the following features:
OBJECTIVES JECTIVES OB This section will cover the mission, purpose or a standard that can be reasonably achieved within the expected time formed and with available resources.
SYNOPSIS This is a condensed statement giving a general view of the topic.
KEEP GOING This section covers the content of each lesson.
LET’S DO THIS This will help the students apply what they have learned in every unit.
BRAIN CHECK This will help students recall their lesson by answering questions.
LESSON I:
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL ARTS
ART IS EVERYWHERE
Figure 1 Solitude by Niel Vivalanat Marcelino
“The true work of art is but a shadow of divine perfection” – Michaelangelo
OBJECTIVES At the end of the lesson students are expected to value the importance of art in the culture and the society and its relevance in the contemporary arts.
Figure 2 Angel Locsin Vexel Art by Mark Atas
SYNOPSIS This section covers the meaning of art and its importance and purpose to the culture and the society. KEEP GOING Before we can go through the succeeding lessons, first, we should understand the most basic and essential question “What is art?”. This is a question that pops up around once in a while, usually from an artist who is most probably faced with a blank canvas. Some of the answers from this broad question, from prestigious artists’ perspective; are as follows:
“A sincere artist is not one who makes a faithful attempt to put on to canvas what is in front of him, but one who tries to create something which is, itself, a living thing” – Giorgio Morandi • “Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known” – •
Oscar Wilde, writer •
“It is not the language of painters but the language of nature which one
should listen to, the feeling for the things themselves, for reality, is more important than the feeling for pictures.” Vincent Van Gogh, painter • “The time of getting fame for your name on its own is over. Artwork that is only about wanting to be famous will never make you famous. Any fame is a byproduct of making something that means something. – Bansky, graffiti artist • “Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art” – Leonardo da Vinci, painter
• “A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art at all” – Paul Cezanne, painter • “You can’t succeed if you don’t actually start. Don’t be afraid to fail”Christian San Jose, Filipino digital artist Considering the rise of the visual arts from traditional to contemporary digital arts, this only proves that art plays a large part in making our lives infinitely rich. Just imagine for a few seconds, a world without art. You may think it’s easier, but please consider the impact that lack of graphics would do on your favorite TV show. Or rather, just imagine a day without colors. Life would be really soulless. Imagine also how a student reacts to a blue painted classroom. How does the color affect his concentration? Sometimes too, we associate the colors with emotions. Red for instance can either be passion or hatred, all depending on the artist’s purpose. Art stimulates different parts of our brains to make us laugh or incite us to riot, with a whole range of emotions in between. Art gives us a way to be creative and express ourselves. Primarily, art is self- expression. For some people, art is the entire reason they get out of bed in the morning. You could say ‘art is something that makes us more thoughtful and well- rounded humans’. For others, mostly the masses; art isn’t necessary because it isn’t needed for basic human survival. But considering Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs, we can therefore conclude that creativity, the most indispensable tool in the arts, belongs under self- actualization, the highest among the hierarchy of human needs.
Figure 3 Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs
What is art? The word “art” came from the Latin word ars which means skill. It is also the equivalent to the Greek “techne” from which the word technology is derived.
What are the characteristics of art? First, we should know that “Art is both form and content”, meaning, all art consists of these two essential things. When we say form, we mean the elements of art, the principles of design and the actual, physical materials that the artist uses. Content, on the other hand, is idea- based—meaning it covers the following areas: (a) What the artist meant to portray, (b) what the artist actually did portray and (c) how we react, as individuals to both the intended and actual messages. Art is also the skillfull arrangement or production of things around us like stones, woods and other materials. This denotation is where the word “artisan” meaning, a skilled person, came from. Art, on a deeper level is an expression of human feelings and/or ideas. Art is the product of creative human activity in which materials are shaped or selected to convey an idea, emotion or a visually interesting form.
Overall, this means that ART is a combined expression and purpose or medium. Examples scoped under this meaning are: fine arts, commercial art, conceptual art, practical arts, etc. Figure 4 Vexel Art by Earlson Vios
Purposes of Art Art has a great number of different functions throughout its history, making its purpose difficult to abstract or quantify to any single concept. This does not imply that the purpose of art is “vague”, but it has had many unique, varied or different reasons for being created. Some of these functions of art are provided in the following outline. The different purposes of art may be grouped according to those that are non- motivated, and those that are motivated (Levi- Strauss).
The NonNonFunctions of Art
Motivated
The non- motivated functions of art are those that are integral to being human, one that transcends the individual, or do not fulfill a specific external purpose. Aristotle said, “Imitation, then, is one instinct of our nature.” In this sense, art as creativity is something humans must do by their very nature—to think that no other species creates art, and is therefore beyond utility.
Art as basic human instinct for harmony, balance and rhythm. Art in this level is not an action or an object, but an internal appreciation of balance and harmony (beauty) and therefore an aspect of being human beyond utility.
"Imitation, then, is one instinct of our nature. Next, there is the instinct for 'harmony' and rhythm, meters being manifestly sections of rhythm. Persons, therefore, starting with this natural gift developed by degrees their special aptitudes, till their rude improvisations gave birth to Poetry." –Aristotle
Experience of the mysterious.
Art provides a way to experience one’s self in relation to the universe. This experience may often come unmotivated, as one appreciates art, music or poetry.
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science." -Albert Einstein
Expression of the imagination. Art provides a means to express the imagination in non- grammatic ways that are not tied to the formality of spoken or written language. Unlike words, which come in sequences and each of which have a definite meaning, art provides a range of forms, symbols and ideas with meanings that are malleable.
Universal communication. Art allows the individual to express things toward the world as a whole. Art is often used as a medium to convey a significant message. Art created in this way is a form of communication between the individual and the world as a whole.
Ritualistic and symbolic functions. In many cultures, art is used in rituals, performances and dances as a decoration or symbol. While these often have no specific utilitarian (motivated) purpose, anthropologists know that they often serve a purpose at the level of meaning within a particular culture. This meaning is not furnished by any individual, but is often the result of many generations of change, and of a cosmological relationship within the culture.
"Most scholars who deal with rock paintings or objects recovered from prehistoric contexts that cannot be explained in utilitarian terms and are thus categorized as decorative, ritual or symbolic, are aware of the trap posed by the term 'art'." -Silva Tomaskova
The Motivated Functions of Art Figure 5 Mother's Day by Oliver Santiago
Motivated purposes of art refer to the intentional, conscious actions on the part of the artist or creator. These may be to bring about political change, to comment on an aspect of society, to convey a specific emotion or mood, to address personal psychology, to illustrate another discipline, to sell a product, or simply as a form of communication.
Art is communication itself. Art, in its simplest, is a form of communication. As most forms of communication have an intent or goal directed toward another individual, this is motivated purpose. Illustrative arts, such as scientific illustration, are a form of art as communication. Maps are another example. However, the content need not be scientific. Emotions, moods and feelings are also communicated through art.
Art as entertainment. Art may seek to bring about a particular emotion or mood, for the purpose of relaxing or entertaining the viewer. This is often the function of the art industries of Motion Pictures and Video Games.
The ‘Avant‘Avant- Garde’ or Art for political change. One of the defining functions of early twentieth century art has been to use visual images to bring about political change. Art movements that had this goal—Dadaism, Surrealism, Russian Constructivism, and Abstract Expressionism, among others—are collectively referred to as the avante-garde arts. (Example: Guernica)
Art for psychological and healing purposes. Art is also used by art therapists, psychotherapists and clinical psychologists as art therapy. The Diagnostic Drawing Series, for example, is used to determine the personality and emotional functioning of a patient. Figure 6 Freedom by Niel Vivalanat Marcelino
The end product is not the principal goal in this case, but rather a process of healing, through creative acts, is sought. The resultant piece of artwork may also offer insight into the troubles experienced by the subject and may suggest suitable approaches to be used in more conventional forms of psychiatric therapy.
Art for social inquiry, subversion and/or anarchy. While similar to art for political change, subversive or deconstructivist art may seek to question aspects of society without any specific political goal. In this case, the function of art may be simply to criticize some aspect of society. Graffiti art and other types of street art are graphics and images that are spraypainted or stencilled on publicly viewable walls, buildings, buses, trains, and bridges, usually without permission. Certain art forms, such as graffiti, may also be illegal when they break laws (in this case vandalism).
Art for propaganda, or commercialism. Art is often utilized as a form of propaganda, and thus can be used to subtly influence popular conceptions or mood. In a similar way, art that tries to sell a product also influences mood and emotion. In both cases, the purpose of art here is to subtly manipulate the viewer into a particular emotional or psychological response toward a particular idea or object.
Figure 7 Fountain by Marcel Duchamp
LET’S DO THIS
Let’s Do The Expressionism! • By this time I presume you already have an idea of what art is all about. Since art is considered subjective; or rather a form of expression—in your art journal, make a freehand drawing of what art means in your daily life. • Take a look at this famous art piece in the history entitled “Fountain” by Marcel Duchamp. Considering everything we have discussed, would you consider this a form of art? Why and why not? BRAIN CHECK True or False: Write True if the statement is correct and False if the statement is incorrect. Write your answer on the space provided. ________________1. Art is an expression of human feelings and ideas. ________________2. To be a great artist, you should master the technical aspects of art. ________________3. The word “art” came from the Latin word “ars” meaning skill. ________________4. Technology is derived through the arts. ________________5. Art plays a large part in making our lives infinitely rich. ________________6. A great masterpiece means a great artist. ________________7. Art isn’t essential in these poverty-stricken days.
________________8. Art is the skillful arrangement or production of things around us. ________________9. Art is the highest form of human need, because it falls under self- actualization in Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs. ________________10. Art is basically ideas.
Figure 8 Diwata by Dan Amorsolo and Rio Cabojoc
THE SCOPE AND DIFFERENT FORMS OF ART OBJECTIVES In this lesson, students should be able to understand the different art forms, and its relation to each other. SYNOPSIS Art can be expressed and created in many ways. Here in this lesson we will discover the different forms of art and how they are related. KEEP GOING Art can be defined as time. It has always been here and will always be. The beauty of art takes shape in many forms. It is infinity as well as definitive. Art is so powerful as it is drawn from one’s creativity and imagination displaying the beautification of the soul. Different forms of art can be classified as follows: The Visual Arts, The Literary Arts and the Performing Arts. Although there is still a wide range and scope of art forms, these forms are what we are mostly familiar with and we will be using under the Recreational Arts Program (RAP).
The Visual Arts First among them of course, and which we will be using throughout this quarter is the Visual Arts. Visual Art is the most popular type of art. Drawing, painting and sculpture is what most people think when they hear visual. Photography, film and architecture also falls in this category. Anything designed by the hand, like a fine piece of furniture, is a great work of art. It can be seen anywhere. It is everywhere we look. Fine Arts versus Practical Arts Both terms are under visual arts and are quite related, but are both different in terms of purpose. When we say Fine Arts, Arts it describes an art form developed primarily for aesthetics and/ or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term “art gallery”. One definition of fine art is a visual art considered to have been created primarily for aesthetic purposes and judged for its beauty and meaningfulness, specifically painting, sculpture, drawing, watercolor, graphic arts, etc. The word “fine” does not so much denote the quality of the artwork in question, but the purity of the discipline. This definition tends to exclude visual art forms that could be considered craftwork or applied art, such as textiles. The visual art has been described as a more inclusive and descriptive phrase for current art practice, and the explosion of media in which high art is now more recognized to occur. Confusion often occurs when people mistakenly refer to the fine arts but mean performing arts. However, there is some disagreement here, as for example, fine arts is a faculty that includes the “traditional” fine arts. Practical Arts, however; is a kind of art that serves a utilitarian purpose; meaning, the content is mostly for industrial or commercial purposes. Examples of art under practical arts are architecture and drafting. Literary Arts on the other hand, is a form of expression with the use of the writing medium. Art pieces under literary arts, or literary pieces as they are called; are poetry, prose, sonnet, short stories, novelettes, novels and others.
Performing Arts, however is a discipline which incorporates dynamic movements of the body; such as dancing, singing, theater arts and others; although oftentimes one can integrate another medium with each discipline. LET’S DO THIS Research about famous art pieces under the three disciplines given in the scopes of art. BRAIN CHECK: Identify what scope of art does each art pieces belong. __________________1. Florante at Laura by Francisco Balagtas __________________2. A Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh __________________3. Flame and Grill restaurant floor plan __________________4. American Gods by Neil Gaiman __________________5. The Dream by Pablo Picasso __________________6. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo __________________7. Phantom of the Opera (1986 Musical) __________________8. Spolarium by Juan Luna __________________9. Fruit Gatherer by Fernando Amorsolo __________________10. Dekada ’70 by Lualhati Bautista
OVERVIEW OF THE ART HISTORY OBJECTIVES At the end of this lesson students should be able to understand and familiarize themselves with the brief history of the arts and its relevance to the contemporary world of art. SYNOPSIS This article is an overview of the history of the arts worldwide. KEEP GOING Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts (genre, design, format and style). This includes the major arts of painting, sculpture and architecture as well as the ‘minor’ arts of ceramics, furniture and other decorative objects. As a term, art history encompasses several methods of studying the visual arts; in common usage referring to works of art and architecture. Aspects of the discipline overlap. As the art historian Ernst Gombrich once observed, “the field of art history is much like Caesar’s Gaul, divided in three parts inhabited by three different tribes—the connoisseurs, the critics and the academic art historians. As a discipline art history is distinguished from art criticism, which is concerned with establishing a relative artistic value upon individual works with respect to others of comparable style, or sanctioning an entire style or movement; and art theory or the philosophy of art which is concerned with the fundamental nature of art. One branch of this area of study is the aesthetics, which includes investigating the enigma of the sublime and determining the essence of beauty.
Though technically, art history is not these things, because the art historian uses “historical method” to answer the questions: (1) How did the artist come to create the work? (2) Who were the patrons? (3) Who were his or her teachers? (4) Who was the audience? (5) Who were his or her disciples? (6) What historical forces shaped the artists’ ouvre; and how did he or she and the creation, in turn, affect the course of artistic, political and social events? It is, however, questionable whether many questions of this kind can be answered satisfactorily without also considering basic questions about the nature of art. Unfortunately, the current disciplinary gap between art history and the philosophy of art often hinders this. Figure 9 Les Demoiselles de Avignon by Pablo Picasso (Early Cubist Method)
Art history is not a biographical endeavor. Art historians often root their studies in the close scrutiny of individual objects. They thus attempt to answer in historically specific ways, questions such as: What are the key features of this style? What meaning did this object convey? How does it function visually? Did the artist meet their goals well? What symbols are involved? And does it function discursively? The historical backbone of the discipline is a celebratory chronology of beautiful creations commissioned by public or religious bodies or wealthy individuals in Western Europe. Such a canon remains prominent, as indicated by the selection of objects present in art history textbooks. Nonetheless, since the 20th century there has been an effort to redefine the discipline to be more inclusive of nonWestern art, art made by women and vernacular creativity.
Art History Defined Art history as we know it in the 21st century began in the 19th century but has precedents dating to the ancient world. Like the analysis of historical trends in politics, literature and sciences, the discipline benefits from the clarity and portability of the written word, but art historians also rely on formal analysis, semiotics, psychoanalysis and iconography. Advances in photographic reproduction and printing techniques after World War II increased the ability of reproductions of artworks. Such technologies have helped to advance the discipline in profound ways, as they have enabled easy comparisons of objects. The study of visual art thus described, can be a practice that involves understanding context, form and social significance. Figure 10 CubismCubism- Inspired Vector Art by Prop4g4nd4
Pre--historic to Contemporary Art From Pre From pre-history to present day, cave paintings to computer art, classical music, photography, illustration, posters and many more, the history of art brings together art from every age and from every corner of the world. Below is a timeline of the roots of art from Ancient Civilization to Modern and Post Modern Art. Figure 11 Venus of Willendorf
PrePre-historic Art: The Earliest Known Art The oldest surviving art forms include small sculptures and paintings on rocks and in caves. There are very few known examples of art that date earlier than 40, 000 years ago, the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic period. People often rubbed smaller rocks against larger rocks and boulders to paint pictures in their everyday life, such as hunting wild game. A mammoth sculpture found in German cave was dated to approximately 35, 000 years ago. One of the most famous examples, the so- called Venus of Willendorf; is a sculpture from the Paleolithic era, which depicts a woman with exaggerated female attributes. This sculpture, carved from stone, is remarkable in its roundness instead of a flat or low- relief depiction. Early Aegean art, although it dates from a much later period, shares some of the same abstract figurative elements. Prehistoric art objects are rare, and the context of such early art is difficult to determine. Prehistoric, by definition, refers to those cultures which have left no written records of their society. The art historian judges early pieces of art as objects in their own right, with few opportunities for comparison between contemporaneous pieces. Interpretations of such early art must be done primarily in the context of aesthetics tempered by what is known of various hunter- gatherer societies still in existence.
Ancient Art Ancient art began when ancient civilizations developed a form of written language. The great traditions in art have a foundation in the art of one of the six great ancient civilizations Ancient Egypt, Iran (Persia), Mesopotamia, Greece, Greece, Rome, India, or China. Each of these centers of early civilization developed a unique and characteristic style in their art. Because of their size and duration these civilizations, their artworks have survived and transmitted to other cultures and later times. They have also provided us with the first records of how artists worked. Ancient Roman art depicted gods as idealized humans, shown with characteristic distinguishing features.
Medieval Western Art In Byzantine and Gothic art of the Middle Ages, the dominance of the church insisted on the expression of biblical truths. There was no need to depict the reality of the material world, in which man was born in a “state of sin�, especially through the extensive use of gold in paintings, which also presented figures in idealized, patterned forms.
Renaissance Western Art The Renaissance is the return yet again to valuation of the material world, and this paradigm shift is reflected in art forms, which show the corporeality of the human body and the three dimensional reality of landscape.
Eastern Art Eastern Art has generally worked in a style akin to Western medieval art, namely a concentration on surface patterning and local colour (meaning the plain colour of an object, such as basic red for a red robe, rather than the modulations of that color brought about by light, shade and reflection). A characteristic of this style is that the local color is often defined by an outline (a contemporary equivalent is the cartoon). This is evident in, for example, the art of India, Tibet and Japan. Religious Islamic Art forbids iconography, and expresses religious ideas through geometric designs instead. However, there are many Islamic paintings which display religious themes and scenes of stories common among the three main monotheistic faiths of Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
Modern and Contemporary Art The physical and rational certainties of the clockwork universe depicted by the 18 century Enlightenment were shattered not only by new discoveries of relativity by Einstein and of unseen psychology by Sigmund Freud, but also by unprecedented technological development accelerated by the implosion of civilization in two world wars. The history of the 20th century art is a narrative of endless possibilities and the search for new standards, each being torn down in succession by the next. th
Thus the parameters of Impressionism, Expressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, Dadaism, Surrealism and other art movements cannot be maintained as a
significant and culturally relevant very much beyond the time of their invention. Increasing global interaction during this time saw an equivalent influence of other cultures into Western art, such as Pablo Picasso being influenced by Iberian sculpture, African sculpture and Primitivism. Japonism, and Japanese woodcuts (which had themselves been influenced by Western Renaissance draftsmanship) had an immense influence on Impressionism and subsequent artistic developments. The influential example set by Paul Gauguin's interest in Oceanic art and the sudden popularity among the cognescenti in early 20th century Paris of newly discovered African fetish sculptures and other works from non-European cultures were taken up by Picasso, Henri Matisse, and by many of their colleagues. Modernism, the idealistic search for truth, and progress, gave way in the latter decades of the 20th century to a realization of its unattainability. Relativity was accepted as an unavoidable truth, which led to the Postmodern period, where cultures of the world and of history are seen as changing forms, which can be appreciated and drawn from only with irony. Furthermore the separation of cultures is increasingly blurred and it is now more appropriate to think in terms of a global culture, rather than regional cultures. LET’S DO THIS 1. Using the different art movements, make a surreal sketch about your “pet peeves”. 2. Compare Figure 10 and Figure 11. How are these two different artworks related? BRAIN CHECK: Give at least five sample masterpieces for each era in the art history timeline from Pre-Historic to Contemporary Art. List down the artist and the title of the masterpiece.
THE VISUAL ARTS OBJECTIVES At the end of the lesson students are expected to be able to cite out the media under the visual art and its evolution from traditional art to contemporary art. SYNOPSIS This lesson covers the definition of the visual arts and the different media used under this discipline. KEEP GOING The visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts and often modern visual arts (photography, video and filmmaking) and architecture. These definitions should not be taken too strictly as many artistic disciplines (performing arts, conceptual art, textile arts) involve aspects of the visual arts as well as arts of other types. Also included in the visual arts are the applied arts such as industrial design, graphic design, fashion design and
decorative art. As indicated above, the current usage of the term “visual arts� include fine art as well as the applied, decorative arts and crafts; but this was not always the case. Before the Arts and Crafts Movement in Britain and elsewhere at the turn of the 20th century, the term artist was often restricted to a person working in the fine arts (such as painting, sculpture or printmaking) and not the handicraft, craft or applied art media. The distinction was emphasized by artists of the Arts and Crafts Movement who valued vernacular art forms as much as high forms. Art schools made a distinction between fine arts and the crafts maintaining that a craftsperson could not be considered a practitioner of art.
The increasing tendency to privilege painting and to a lesser degree sculpture, above other arts has been a feature of Western art as well as the East Asian art. In both regions painting has been seen as relying to the highest degree on the imagination of the artist, and the furthest removed from manual labor—in Chinese painting the mostly high valued styles were those of “scholar-painting” at least in theory practiced by gentleman amateurs. The Western hierarchy of genres reflected similar attitudes.
To help you better understand the scope scope of this discipline, here’s a quick guide to the outline of visual arts.
Types of Visual Art •
Architecture- It is the art and science of designing buildings.
• Arts and Crafts- A craft is a skill, involving in many cases but not always practical arts. It may refer to a trade or particular art. Craft as an artistic practice is defined either by its relationship to “functional” and “utilitarian product”. • Asemic Writing- it is a wordless open semantic form of writing. The word asemic means “having no specific semantic content”. • Animation- it is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2D or 3D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision and can be created and demonstrated in several ways. • Collage- It is a work of formal art, primarily in the visual arts, made from an assemblage in different forms thus creating a new whole. • Comics- this visual art denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabularily tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non- fiction comics seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in interaction. • Graphic Novel- A rising form of visual art under comics, it is also known as a series of comic books in one novel. In literature, a novel equals a series of short stories.
• Conceptual Art- it is the art in which the concepts or ideas involved in the work take precedence over traditional aesthetic and material concerns.
• Decollage- in art, it is the opposite of collage; instead of an image being built up of all or parts of existing images, it is created by cutting, tearing away or otherwise removing pieces of an original image. • Decorative art- it is traditionally a term for the design and manufacture of functional objects. It includes interior design, product design but not usually architecture. • Design- usually considered in the context of the applied arts, engineering, architecture and other such creative endeavors, it is used as both a noun and a verb. Design as a verb refers to the process of originating and developing a plan for a new object (machine, building, product, etc.) As a noun, design is used both for the final plan or proposal or the result of implementing that plan or proposal. Under “design” are the following sub-categories: • Fashion Design- it is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. • Garden Design- it is the art and process of designing and creating plans for layout and planting of gardens and landscapes. • Graphic Design- is a creative process—mostly involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form (printers, programmers, signmakers) undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience. • Motion Graphic Design- is a subset of graphic design in that it used graphic design principles in a film or video context through the use of animation or filmic techniques. • Web Design- is a broad term used to encompass the way that content is delivered to an end- user through the World Wide Web using a web browser. A website may include text, images, sounds and other content and may be interactive. • Drawing- is an activity of making marks on a surface so as to create an image, form or shape. • Found art- the term found art or more commonly found objects descrive art created from undisguised, but often modified objects that are not normally considered art often because they already have a non- art function. • Graffiti- is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner or property. Graffiti is any type of public markings that may appear in the form of simple written words to elaborate wall paintings.
• Illustration- it is a displayed visualization form presented as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that is created to elucidate or dictate sensual information (such as a story, poem or newspaper article) providing a visual representation graphically. Concept Art- it is a form of illustration where the main goal is to convey a visual represrntation of a design, idea and/ or mood for use in films, videos, games, animation or comic books before it is put into the final product. • Installation Art- it describes an artistic genre of three- dimensional works that are often site- specific designed to transform a viewer’s perception of a space. • Mail Art- it is a worldwide cultural movement that began in the early 1960’s and involves sending visual art through the international post system. Mail Art is also known as Postal Art or Correspondence Art. • Mixed Media- in visual art, it refers to an artwork in the making of which more than one medium has been employed. • Painting- a painting is a mode of expression in which paint or other medium is applied to a surface, and in which area and composition are two primary considerations. The art of painting is the act of creating paintings. • Photography- it is the process of making pictures by the action of recording Light patterns reflected or emitted from objects on a photosensitive medium or a sensor through a timed exposure. • Printmaking- it is the process of making artworks by printing, normally on paper. It is often researched in secondary school art classes. Printmaking normally covers only the process of creating prints with an element of originality, rather than just being a photographic reproduction of a painting. • Etching- it is the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio in the metal. • Lithography- it is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a complete smooth surface. • Screen printing- it is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink- blocking stencil. • Sculpture- it is a human- made three dimensional art object. Sculpting is an activity of creating sculptures. A person who creates sculpture is called a sculptor. • Typography- it is the art and technique of arranging type. The arrangement of type involves the selection of typefaces, point size, line length, leading, adjusting the spaces between groups of letters and adjusting the space between pairs of letters.
What are the basic terms used in the Visual Art Art Process? For the whole course of the visual art program, we will be familiarizing ourselves with important terms usually used by a graphic artist in the whole creative art process. As a training, we will also be using this term as an art student. The following are the important technical terms to remember: • studies- “studies” are what we call in a rough draft of an artwork. They are called as such because most of the time, studies require an art critique or rather the comment of an art teacher or co- artists before getting on into the final output. An • art student should pass at least three (3) studies until the art teacher chooses what can be most fitting for a plate submission. •
plate- it is the final artwork of an art student ready for submission.
• WIP- also known as (Work-in-progress) it is an unfinished artwork open for art criticisms. The purpose of showing work- in- progress artworks to the art teacher is to save time while thinking of a better outcome of the artwork through constructive art criticisms. • CnC- “Comment and Critique”, it is a term used when one needs a constructive criticism for a finished or unfinished artwork. • bleed- this is what we call an extra space in the canvas of the visual artwork. • medium- this refers to the “weapon of choice” rather, the one an artists uses to complete an artwork. In traditional art, examples of these are “acrylic on canvas, acrylic on wood, pen and ink, pen on paper” while in digital art, example of these are “Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop CS2, etc’. Mixed media is what we call an artwork which used different mediums. • portfolio- this is a collection of plates used by a graphic artist in reference of his artistic creations. This is also what a graphic artist submits to the employer for job application. An art student’s final product will be a portfolio of his finished works. • theme- this is the subject, or the idea; which will be the basis of one’s artwork. • Identity logo- Also known as a personal logo, this is also a graphical term for “signature” in your digital artwork.
•
Tools of the trade- this is another term used for “medium”
LET’S DO THIS For your first plate, create your own “identity logo” which you will be using for your succeeding plates. Make at least three studies for this one. BRAIN CHECK Identify the following. Write your answer on the space provided. ____________________1. It is the process of making pictures by the action of recording Light patterns reflected or omitted from objects on a photosensitive medium or sensor through a timed exposure. ____________________2. This is what we call in the extra space in an artwork. ____________________3. It is the art and technique of arranging types. ____________________4. In visual art, it refers to an artwork in the making of which more than one medium has been employed. ____________________5. It is the final artwork of an art student ready for submission.
LESSON II: THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF ART
Figure 12 TPM by CrisVector
OBJECTIVES At the end of the lesson students are expected to master the elements of art and apply their own style through mastering the basics.
SYNOPSIS This lesson covers the elements of art, the meaning of each and their importance in the artwork. KEEP GOING
The Elements of Art Explained The elements of art are a commonly used group of aspects of a work of art used in teaching and analysis, in combination with the Principles of Art. Art When these elements combine, they form an illusion in the artwork. For instance, objects placed at a distance are rendered with less details, clarity and intense than closer ones. Three- dimensional space work is created with the help of shading which gives a feeling of depth. Space can also be created by overlapping objects.
Line: “A Line is a dot that went for a walk� Figure 13 Manny Pacquaio Line Art by Kevin Damian
A line is a mark made by a moving point and having psychological impact according to its direction, weight, and the variations in its direction and weight. It is an enormously useful and versatile graphic device that is made to function in both visual and verbal ways. It can act as as a symbolic language, or it can communicate emotion through its character and direction.. In Drafting, lines are considered form of communication among draftsman, architect and engineer. In fine arts, line is an expression. Depending on its direction and structure, lines convey meaning.
Line is not necessarily an artificial creation of the artist or designer; it exists in nature as a structural feature such as branches, or as surface design, such as striping on a tiger or a seashell. Take a look at Figure 14 above entitled “Manny Pacquiao Line Art�. Line Art in Vector Art is originated by CrisVector, as shown in Figure 13 entitled TPM. With the use of basic curved lines, they create an illusion, a design which can be visually appealing.
Figure 14 A Touch of Something by Niel Marcelino
Shape Shape pertains to the use of areas in two dimensional space that can be defined by edges, setting one flat specific space apart from another. Shapes can be geometric (e.g.: square, circle, triangle, hexagon, etc.) or organic (such as the shape of a puddle, blob, leaf, boomerang, etc.) in nature. Shapes are defined by other elements of art: Space, Line, Texture, Value, Color, Form.
Value Value, or tone, refers to the use of light and dark, shade and highlight, in an artwork. Black-and-white photography depends entirely on value to define its subjects. Value is directly related to contrast.
Figure 15 Fairy by Bong Estrada Pirante
Take a look at this artwork on Figure 16. The focus had a tonal value because of the shades on the background. Normally, tonal values make the focus stand out in the canvas.
Form Form may be created by the forming of two or more shapes or as three-dimensional shape (cube, pyramid, sphere, etc.). It may be enhanced by tone, texture and colour. Form is considered three-dimensional showing height, width and depth. Examples of these are sculpture, theatre play, figurines. Figure 16 iPad Scene by rptdelosreyes
Space Space is the area provided for a particular purpose. It may have two dimensions (length and width), such as a floor, or it may have three dimensions (length, width, and height). Space includes the background, foreground and middle ground. Space refers to the distances or areas around, between or within components of a piece. There are two types of space: positive and negative space.
Figure 17 Snow White by Mark Agarin
Figure 18 Silip sa Pagidlip by Mai Giselle Evangelista
Positive space refers to the space of a shape representing the subject matter. Negative space refers to the space around and between the subject matter. Take a look at this vexel art by Mr. Mark Agarin. The white background, which forms the illusion of a hair; is the negative space, while the details around her face is what we call the positive space.
Texture The texture is the quality of a surface or the way any work of art is represented. Lines and shading can be used to create different textures as well. For example, if one is portraying certain fabrics, one needs to give the feeling of the right texture so that it closely resembles what the artist is trying to convey.
Color Color pertains to the use of hue in artwork and design. Defined as primary colors (red, yellow, blue) which cannot be mixed in pigment from other hues, secondary colors (green, orange, purple) which are directly mixed from combinations of primary colors. Further combinations of primary and secondary colors create tertiary (and more) hues. Tint and Shade are references to adding variations in Value; other tertiary colors are derived by mixing either a primary or secondary color with a neutral color. e.g. Red + White = Pink.
Figure 19 It's All For Tuesday
The Color Wheel and Color Schemes A Color Wheel or a “color circle” is an abstract illustrative organization of color hues around a circle, that shows relationships between primary colors, secondary colors and complementary colors. Color Schemes on the other hand, are logical combinations of colors in the color wheel. In Color Theory, a color scheme is a color choices used in design for a range of media. For example, the use of white background with black text is an example of common default color scheme in web design. The study of color wheel is very important in any art medium, especially painting and vexel art, in which the latter is considered “painting” with the use of shapes. This concept will be discussed in the succeeding chapters.
LET’S DO THIS • •
Study the art pieces in this lesson. What are the elements of art used? Research about other art pieces with emphasis on each element of art.
BRAIN CHECK Write a ☺ if the statement is correct and if the statement is incorrect. ________________1. The study of colors is very important in any art medium. ________________2. Vexel art is like “painting” digitally with the use of shapes. ________________3. Space is the area provided for a particular purpose. ________________4. Form is equal to shape, texture and color. ________________5. An artwork can standout without the other elements.
LESSON II: PRINCIPLES OF ART AND DESIGN OBJECTIVES At the end of the lesson students are expected to understand the relevance and importance of principles of art and design in an artwork.
SYNOPSIS This lesson covers the principles of art and design.
KEEP GOING
The principles of visual art are the set of rules or guidelines of visual art that are to be considered when considering the impact of a piece of artwork. They are combined with the Elements of Art in the production of art. The principles are movement, unity, harmony, variety, balance, emphasis, contrast, proportion and pattern.
Movement Movement shows actions, or alternatively, the path the viewer’s eye follows throughout an artwork. Movement is caused by using elements under the rules of the principles in picture to give the feeling of action and to guide the viewer’s eyes throughout the artwork. In movement, your art should flow, because you are controlling the viewer’s eye. You control what they see and how they see it, much like a path leading across the page to the item you really want to be seen by the viewer. Figure 20 Vexel Art by Kevin Damian
An example of movement in an artwork is seen in this artwork.
Unity Unity is the wholeness that is achieved through the effective use of the elements and principles of art. The arrangement of elements and principles to create a feeling of completeness.
Harmony Harmony is achieved in a body of work by using similar elements throughout the work, harmony gives an uncomplicated look to a piece of artwork. Color Harmony or Color Theory is also considered a principle throughout the application of the design element of color.
Variety Also known as alternation, variety is the quality of state of having different forms or types. The differences which give a design visual and conceptual interest: notably use of contrast, emphasis, difference in size and color. Figure 21 Collove by Rizaldy Catapang and Shiela Ruth Gaylan
Balance Balance is the arranging elements so that no one part of a work overpowers, or seems heavier than any other part. The three different kinds of balance are symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial. Symmetrical (or formal) balance is when both sides of an artwork, if split down in middle, appear to be the same. The human body is an example of symmetrical balance. The asymmetrical balance is the balance that does not weigh equally on both sides. Radial balance is equal in length from the middle. An example is the sun.
Contrast
Contrast is created by using elements that conflict with one another. Often, contrast is created using complementary colors or extremely light and dark values. Contrast creates interest in a piece and often draws the eye to certain areas.
Proportion Proportion is a measurement of the size and quantity of elements within a composition. In ancient arts, proportions of forms were enlarged to show importance. This is why Egyptian gods and political figures appear so much larger than common people. The ancient Greeks found fame with their accuratelyproportioned sculptures of the human form. Beginning with the Renaissance, artists recognized the connection between proportion and the illusion of 3Dimensional Space. Figure 22 Steph by Dan Amorsolo
Pattern/ Rhythm Pattern and rhythm (also known as repetition) is showing consistency with colors or lines. Putting a red spiral at the bottom left and top right, for example, will cause the eye to move from spiral, to the other, and everything in between. It is indicating movement by the repetition of elements. Rhythm can make an artwork seem active.
LET’S DO THIS Give examples of artworks which emphasized each principle of art in any mediums under visual arts.
BRAIN CHECK The teacher will show an art piece and write your own CnCs (Comment and Critique) by basing on the elements and principles of art and design.
LESSON III:
INTRODUCTION TO GRAPHIC ARTS
Figure 23 She's On Her Way by Aseo
OBJECTIVES At the end of the lesson, students are expected to be knowledgeable about the graphic arts, and how they can form an art piece through this medium. SYNOPSIS This lesson covers the definition of graphic arts, its brief history and how it conceptualized, its evolution, the different softwares used in graphic arts and what it takes to be a graphic artist. KEEP GOING
Graphic Arts A type of fine art, graphic art covers a broad range of art forms. Graphic art is typically two- dimensional and includes calligraphy, photography, drawing, painting, printmaking, lithography, typography, serigraphy and bindery. Graphic art also consists of drawn plans and layouts for interior and architectural designs. Today, graphic art is usually associated with commercial art that is used in marketing. In this case, the purpose of the graphic art is to capture the interest of the audience on the product or service in order to increase the volume of business. Graphic Design, however, is a collaborative process between a client, a designer and producers of form to convey a specific message to a targeted audience. The term graphic design can refer to a number of artistic and professional disciplines that focus on visual communication and presentation. Companies use graphic design in various ways for their products and promotional services, such as designing posters, newsletters, posters, brochures logos, design brochures, business cards, letterheads, websites, etc. Can you imagine life without the graphics? The world today is full of designs that you might not be aware of it. In all aspects of our lives from the moment that we wake up to go home, we can see all the graphics world. It has become a part of our lives and businesses as well.
The Digital Art and its Evolution Throughout history, technological inventions have shaped the development of graphic art. In 2500 BC, the Egyptians used graphic symbols to communicate their thoughts in a written form known as hieroglyphics. The Egyptians wrote and illustrated narratives on rolls of papyrus to share the stories and art with others. In the Middle Ages, Ages scribes manually copied each individual page of the manuscripts to maintain their sacred teachings. The scribes would leave marked sections of the page available for the artists to insert drawings and decorations. The art alongside the carefully lettered text enhanced the religious reading experience. Johannes Guttenberg invented the printing press in 1440. The printing press facilitated the mass- production of text and graphic art and eventually replaced manual transcriptions altogether. Again during the Renaissance years, years graphic art in the form of printing played a major role in the spreading of Classical learning in Europe. Within these manuscripts, book designers focused heavily on typeface. Due to the development of larger fonts during the Industrial Revolution, posters became a popular form of graphic art used to communicate the latest information as well as advertise the latest products and services. The invention and popularity of the television changed graphic art through the additional aspect of motion as advertising agencies attempted to utilize kinetics to their advantage. The next major change in graphic arts came when the computer was invented in the twentieth century. Powerful computer software enables artists to manipulate images in a much faster and simpler way. With quick calculations, computers easily recolor, scale, rotate and rearrange images.
Graphic Arts and Its Uses Graphic designs are commonly used in marketing purposes and are used in the commercial promotional tools. Brochures, advertisements, business cards flyers’ were made with the eye- catching graphic designs. For marketing campaigns, visual presentation is necessary. If an appropriate design is used for campaigns, then it would definitely be a success. The visual readers adore visual presentation for promotional activities. They may be attracted by the presentation of advertisements on television, Internet or colorful pictures or advertisements outdoors. Graphic design is no longer restricted within a mixture of colors and abstract patterns. It has become a difficult task for designers. Intensive use nowadays graphic designs is also visible in the web design. The target market responses to these campaigns graph that is bold, different and attractive. The role of design in the company logo and strengthening the brand is huge. This is the logo graphic that creates a deep impact on the minds of the target market. Each company or organization is looking for models of innovation products that attract potential buyers. Before the publication of a campaign on a market, it is tested a number of times and many changes are made. Campaigns tend to use these graphic images catchy but simple can be easily recognized. Often striking shapes and colors are used to easily draw the viewer’s attention on the ads. Primarily, graphic design helped a lot
in business promotion. However, for some graphic artists; this medium is the most convenient and easiest way to create an artwork without sufficing quality.
Tools of the Trade Used in Graphic Arts Graphic art software is a subclass of application software used for graphic design, multimedia development, specialized image development, general image editing, or simply to access graphic files. Art software uses either raster or vector graphic reading and editing methods to create, edit and view art. Many artists and other creative professionals today use personal computers rather than traditional media. Using graphic art software may be more efficient than rendering using traditional media by requiring less hand- eye coordination, requiring less visualization skill, and utilizing the computer’s quicker (sometimes more accurate) automated rendering functions to create images. However, advanced level computer styles, effects and editing methods may require a steeper learning curve of computer technical skills than what was required to learn traditional hand rendering and visualization skills. The potential of the software to enhance or hinder creativity may depend on the intuitiveness of the interface. Specialized Softwares Most art software includes common functions, creation tools, editing tools, filters and automated rendering modes. Many however are designed to enhance a specialized skill or technique. Specialized software packages may be discontinued for various reasons such as lack of appreciation for the result, lack of expertise and training for the product, or simply not worth the time and money investment, but most likely due to obsolescence compared to newer methods or integration as a feature of newer more complete software packages.
Graphic Design Software Graphic design professionals favor general image editing software and page layout software commonly referred to as desktop publishing software. (Example: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, etc.) Multimedia Development Software Multimedia development professionals favor software with audio, motion and interactivity such as software for creating and editing hypermedia, electronic presentations (more specifically slide presentations, computer simulations and games.) Example: (ULead Video Studio Plus, Windows Movie Maker, Adobe Premiere) Image Development Software Software Image development professionals may use general graphic editors or may prefer more specialized software. Although images can be created from scratch with most art software, specialized software applications or advanced features of generalized applications are used for more accurate visual effects.
LET’S DO THIS: How do you consider Graphic Arts as an art medium? What are the advantages and disadvantages of it? BRAIN CHECK: Give other examples of image editing softwares and their functions and uses.
LESSON IV IV :
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP BASICS
OBJECTIVES At the end of the lesson students are expected to understand and familiarize themselves with the interface and tools of Adobe Photoshop and its uses.
SYNOPSIS This lesson covers the Adobe Photoshop basics, its brief history, the common tools we will be using and its importance to vexel art.
KEEP GOING
What is Adobe Photoshop Photoshop and its Brief History It is a graphics editing program developed and published by Adobe Systems Incorporated. Adobe’s 2003 “Creative Suite” rebranding led to Adobe Photoshop 8’s renaming to Adobe Photoshop CS. Thus, Adobe Photoshop CS5 is the 12th major release of Adobe Photoshop. The CS rebranding also resulted in Adobe offering numerous software packages containing multiple Adobe programs for a reduced price. Adobe Photoshop is released in two editions: Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Photoshop Extended, with the Extended having extra features available. Adobe Photoshop Extended includes in all of Adobe’s Creative Suite offerings except Design Standard, which includes the Adobe Photoshop edition. Alongside Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Photoshop Extended, Adobe also publishes Adobe Photoshop Elements and Adobe Lightroom, collectively called “The Adobe Photoshop Family” by Adobe. In 2008, Adobe released Adobe Photoshop Express, a free web- based image editing tool to edit photos directly on blogs and social networking sites.
The Pentool Among the tools used in Adobe Photoshop, the main tool we will be using is the Pentool. The Pentool, among these tools as seen in the picture, is the 9th tool below the left corner of these tools. For newcomers to the world of digital design there’s probably no more tool more frustrating to learn than the Pen tool. Some people take a long time to become familiar with this incredibly versatile tool simply because the results seem so unpredictable. The pentool has two functions—the “Paths” and the “Shapes” tool. Both are important, but the main function will be using is the “Shapes”.
Path Layer Paths are vexel or vector based line drawings. This means that you can stretch and reshape a path and it will not lose detail. Compare with a standard raster image such as a photograph, which will become blocky when it’s stretched, and will lose detail when it’s reduced in size.
In vexel based drawings, paths can be really useful for line art, for sketching, for digital inking and for outlining very detailed part of an image like hair strands.
Figure 24 An Example of Path Layer in Pentool
Shape Layer The shape tool is the Adobe Photoshop’s way of stimulating a vector artwork. They can be a great way to stimulate the crisp, clean edges of a true vector art, such as that produced in Adobe Illustrator. Shape layers are new layers added to the Layers palette and filled with the foreground color (or a pattern if you change it). The layer is completely filled with color, edge to edge, top to bottom. The "shape" is formed by using a layer mask, created as a path, to show portions of the filled layer.
Figure 25 The Shape Layer in Pentool
Figure 26 The Main Tools in Vexel Art
LET’S DO THIS Make a sketch about a tooned version of yourself using the Path layers. Color your sketch using the Shape layer. At least three studies for this plate. BRAIN CHECK Tabula Rasa: Differentiate the following: Advantages 1. shapes and path
2. Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator
Disadvantages
THE VEXEL ART Vexel Art, for layperson; is a type of artwork wherein you use shapes as a coloring medium. Usually for vexel artworks, the software used is Adobe Photoshop. Vectors, Vexels and Vections: The Real Difference Among Them Them People often get confused about these three terms in Vector Art. However, there is a thin line separating them especially in the output of each art piece. Vector Art as a general term or for layperson are usually “cartoonized” artworks such as these. However, the real difference between vectors and vexels can be seen when you consider things like the software used and the quality of the artwork produced. For a quicker distinction among these three terms, here’s a quick table of their similarities and differences.
Vectors
Vexels
Software Used Adobe Illustrator, Freehand, Corel Draw
Quality of the Artwork Definition Vector artworks done in Adobe Illustrator isn’t pixelated or rasterized; meaning, Adobe Illustrator produces high quality vector arts—thus, resizing images won’t affect the crisp quality of the details. Adobe Vexel artworks are what Photoshop, you call in vector arts done Painter, in Adobe Photoshop. The Fireworks, MS shapes using this software Paint, GIMP produces rasterized images; thus, producing lesser quality than that of the vector artworks. Resizing the images affects the quality of the image.
Vections
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
Vections quite affect the quality, depending on the software used, the size of the canvas and in the whole execution of the artwork. When one constructs either a vector or vexel artwork and uses a filter, only it will be considered a vection.
Vections mean = vector/ vexel + photomanipulation. Photomanipulation occurs when one uses filter for the execution of the artwork.
In other words, Vector Art is a technique, not a style. Perhaps a better term would be “vector- based art”, meaning art created in a vector- based program. Vector art consists of creating paths and points in a program such as Illustrate or Freehand. The program keeps track of the relationships between these points and paths. Vectors are any scalable objects that keep these proportions and quality when sized up or down. They’re defined as solid objects and can be moved around in full, or grouped together with other objects. Vectors can be defined by mathematical and numeric data. So vector art is anything that’s created in Illustrator, Freehand, Corel Draw, Flash or other illustration programs. The other side of the coin is the raster art. Raster art consists of pixel information, where every pixel is assigned a RGB or CMYK value. This can create smoother and more detailed imahes for photos and paintings, but if the image is scaled, the program has to create new information resulting in that distorted look. Any vector or vexel art takes time to create. The artist makes decisions on how much or how little detail to include. The artist makes decisions on colors to use. There are the same decisions one makes before sitting down with conte crayons, pastels or oil paint. I understand that these days some program overlap. Photoshop has some vector tools and Illustrator has some raster tools, but if you use the lasso and the paint bucket, you are not creating vector- based artwork.
What does Vector Art look like?
Long story short: Vector art is not a “style” like Anime, but a “medium” like charcoal. Asking what vector- art looks like is like asking what an oil painting looks like. It could look like Rembrandt, Picasso or a fifth grader’s fingerpainting. Vector doesn’t automatically mean flat- shaded, just like “painting” doesn’t mean high detail. Vector based programs include tools for use with gradients and meshes, and thusly can be used to create high detailed illustrations. The Importance of Vector and Vexel Art in the Art Industry Vector art images are actually popular nowadays among different art experts. They now prefer this given the quality of work or image that they can get from it. Vector art can be made through a number of photo software programs like Corel Draw and Adobe Illustrator. In the promotional products industry, prepress services like vector art and embroidery digitizing are as important (if not more) as promotional products themselves. After all, the reason companies choose to add promotional products to their marketing mix is to ensure that their brand names and logos are viewed repeatedly. Company logos from computer images must be converted into vector art in order to get clear, high quality art that can be printed on physical products. Companies that are using promotional products for the first time will need to ensure that their logos are in vector format. Vector artwork will generally be in the following industry standard formats: PDF, EPS, Corel Draw or Illustrator. As a distributor or supplier, you will be expected to offer camera ready art services to your customers. Distributors and Suppliers charge a one- time artwork free to convert logos into vector art. Customers are then given CD or e- mailed versions of their vector art to use for any promotional products purchased in the future. If you are new to the promotional industry and don’t have your own artwork design studio, don’t worry. Most distributors and suppliers outsource their artwork specialist service providers. High quality vector art requires skilled artists and there are many experienced, cost- effective prepress service providers that you can choose to outsource your artworks to. “Camera ready art” can be generated anywhere between 24 hours and 3 days, depending on the complexity and turnaround times required.
So now that you understand what vector art is, go ahead and pick a reliable artwork service provider as an essential partner to your business. Once the responsibility of quality artwork design is taken away from you, you can use your resources to promote your brand. A quality artwork partner is a key to being successful in the promotional industry.
Some Walkthrough Tutorials
Chibi Tutorial (Lab Exercises)
PLATE SHEET Plate Number 1
Title
Date Submitted
Grade
Signature
PLATE SHEET Plate Number
Title
Date Submitted
Grade
Signature