The document defines medium as the material used to create a work of art, such as clay, paint, or sound. It distinguishes techniques as the methods used to manipulate the medium, such as carving or playing an instrument. Various art forms are classified based on their medium, including musical, practical, environmental, pictorial, dramatic, and narrative arts. Sculpture, architecture, painting, printmaking, music, dance, theater, photography, film, and writing are discussed in terms of their characteristic mediums and techniques.

1. MEDIUMS AND
TECHNIQUES

2. Objective:
At the end of this lesson, you should be
able to explain the meaning of
“medium” (material) and “technique”
(ways of handling material) as
important components of art form.

3. What is medium?
Medium is defined as the material,
or the substance out of which a
work is made. Through these
materials, the artists express and
communicate feelings and ideas.

4. The medium also defines the nature
of the art form as follows:
1. Sculptor uses metal, wood, stone, clay, and glass.
Sculptures fall within the category of “three-dimensional”
arts because they occupy space and have volume.
Examples:
Pottery, nudes or figures such as Guillermo Tolentino’s
Oblation, ritual objects such as bulul woodcarvings in the
Cordillera, or the santos or carvings of saints in Christian
churches

5. 2. Architect uses wood, bamboo, bricks, stone, concrete and
various building materials. Buildings are also called “three-
dimensional” arts because like sculpture, they occupy space
and have volume.
3. Painter uses pigments (e.g., watercolor, oil, tempera,
textile paint, acrylic, ink, etc.) on a usually flat ground
(wood, canvas, paper, stone wall such as in cave paintings).

6. 4. Printmaker uses ink printed or transferred on a surface
(wood, metal plates, or silk screen) that is in keeping with a
duplicating or reproducing process. Prints and paintings are
further classified as “two-dimensional” arts, because they
include the surface or ground on which coloring substances are
applied.
5. Musician uses sound and instruments (including the human
voice), while the dancer uses the body. A T’boli chanter sings
creation stories in a way that is different from a classical singer
or pop music singer influenced by the Western music scale.

7. 6. Dancer uses the body and its movements. Dance is often
accompanied by music, but there are dances that do not
rely on musical accompaniment to be realized. Dance can
tell stories, but at other times, they convey abstract ideas
that do not rely on a narrative.
7. Theater artist integrates all the arts and uses the stage,
production design, performance elements, and script to
enable the visual, musical, dance and other aspects to come
together as a whole work.

8. 8. Photographer uses the camera to record the
outside world.
9. Filmmaker uses the cinematographic camera to
record and put together production design, sound
engineering, performance, and screenplay.
10. Writer of a novel, poetry, nonfiction and fiction
uses words.

9. 11. Designer, performance artist and installation
artist combine use of the range of materials
mentioned.

10. On the basis of medium, the arts can be
classified as:
1. Musical arts include music, poetry (those that have
perceptible rhythm and can be sung or danced to) and
dance that is accompanied by music.
2. Practical arts have immediate use for everyday and
business life such as design, architecture, and furniture.
3. Environmental arts occupy space and change in its
meaning and function depending on their categories
including architecture, sculpture, and site-specific works
such as installations and public art.

11. 4. Pictorial works include painting, drawing, graphics,
and stage and production design 9lighting, dress, props,
and set).
5. Dramatic are works that are staged and performed
and they include drama, performance art, or music and
dance.
6. Narrative are based on stories and they include
drama, novel, fiction, nonfiction, music, and dance.

12. What is technique?
Technique is the manner in which artists use
and manipulate materials to achieve the desired
formal effect, and communicate the desired
concept, or meaning, according to his or her
personal style (modern, Neoclassic, etc). The
distinctive character or nature of the medium
determines the technique.

13. Technique involves tools and technology,
ranging from the most traditional (for
example carving, silkscreen, analog
photography, digital filmmaking, music
production, industrial design, and robotics).

14. In sum, to know the full
meaning of a work, it is also
necessary to study the material
from which it is made and how
it is made.

15. Answer:
1. Discuss the materials you used for your
art work.
2. Discuss how you used these materials.