"THE ARTIST AND THE
ARTISAN:
MEDIUMS AND TECHNIQUES IN
ART PRODUCTION"
• ARTISTS AND ARTISANS
• The words artist and artisan are often very confusing for most
people although there is a key difference between the two words.
The mere definition of the two words can be rather confusing
because both involve the creation of something. The key difference
is that while the product or output of an artisan has a clear functional
value, this may not be the cased for an artist. The output can be an
expression of the beauty of art itself without having any functional
value.
ARTIST
• An artist is a person who performs any of the creative
arts. This captures all forms of art. In the modern world, the
term artist is also used for musicians as well. This is why people
often tend to hear the words ‘young artist,’ through media to
refer to emerging musicians. Here it is important to highlight
that the term artist is not only attributed for those who create
art as an occupation, but also for those who are skilled in a
particular activity such as drawing, designing, composing, etc.
• The specialty of an artist is that he is able to create art
for the sake of art itself without needing any ulterior
motives. Some artists create their works of art for the
satisfaction of the society in which they live. In this
case, they have to confine to the societal demands and
limitations. However, there are also others who go beyond
the social restrictions and create art for the pleasure of
creating. It is believed that through art the artist can create
a change in society. This is because art appeals to all
ARTISAN
• An artisan is a skilled worker who makes things by hand.
This includes various objects ranging from jewelry to
furniture. An artisan should not be confused with an artist
because there is a clear difference in the things that they
create. An artisan is able to produce something that has
afunctional value; although it should not be limited to its use
value alone. However, it must be stressed that there are cases
where the objects created by an artisan has only decorative
value.
Most artisans have the skill of adding aesthetic value to the
objects that they create. This transcends the object from a
mere object of utility. This is why most handmade objects are
much more expensive than mass-produced objects.
REGARDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARTISTS' AND ARTISANS'
APPROACHES TOWARD A PARTICULAR MEDIUM:
• Artists: Artists typically focus on creative expression,
originality, and pushing boundaries in their chosen
medium. They often prioritize self-expression,
experimentation, and conveying emotions or ideas
through their art. Artists may work in various
mediums, such as painting, sculpture, installation, or
digital art, with a primary focus on artistic vision and
concept.
• Artisans: Artisans, on the other hand, are skilled craftspeople who
excel in a particular craft or technique. They often emphasize
technical proficiency, precision, and mastery of traditional methods
in their work. Artisans may create functional or decorative objects
using techniques passed down through generations, with a focus on
craftsmanship, detail, and quality.
• While both artists and artisans create objects of aesthetic
value, the distinction lies in their primary focus: artists prioritize
creativity and conceptual exploration, while artisans emphasize
skillful execution and mastery of technique in their chosen medium.
ARTIST VS. ARTISAN
• Why does NCCA have two types of awards? Looking at
the awardees of GAMABA and the Order of National
Artists, we can see that awardees use different mediums
and content. They also differ in the purpose of crafting
their work.
A. PURPOSE
• The artisan and artist differ in the purpose of creating art. The artisan creates
art for a specific social or cultural function. For example, indigenous textile
weavers use patterns that are believed to protect the wearer from evil spirits.
Additionally, the function of an artisans’ work is to preserve and pass on the
culture and way of life to succeeding generation. (Salvador-Amores, 2017)
• On the other hand, artists create art to reflect their idea of reality. The art
they make is a “finished” work and functions to be shown and interpreted by
people who may not be within the social circle or community of the artist. For
instance, the artwork of Solenn Heusaff can be interpreted by different people
based on the context in which she made the artwork.
B. CONTENT
• As seen in the works of GAMABA awardees and
National Artists, the content of their work also
differ. The content of the art of artists are
usually the context or immediate environment
they are living in, while the content of artisan
works are cultural symbols.
C. MEDIUMS
• We can also see differences in the medium used
by artists and artisans. Artists use written
literature, built architecture, staged theater, film,
music, and visual arts. Artisans use indigenous
material, such as grass, and historically-traded
material, such as gold and other metals.
D. TECHNIQUES
• Artists and artisans also differ in the techniques they use in creating
art. Artists use and innovate from techniques taught in art schools.
Sometimes, artists create their own technique for creating art. On the
other hand, artisans learn the techniques of crafting from their
ancestors and seek to preserve such techniques. As a result, artisans
prefer to use handmade and indigenous techniques, while artists
innovate from tried-and-tested techniques.
• Art Administration
MANAGERS, CURATORS, BUYERS,
COLLECTORS, DEALERS AND TALENT
AGENTS IN THE ART WORLD
• ASPECTS OF THE ART MARKET
• The art market is where buyers and sellers of art transact with each
other. It is a unique market because it uses a complex system to set art prices
based on prediction on future values of art and cultural value. (Plattner, 1998)
Additionally, many art market transactions are done privately. (Coslor, 2016)
• It takes several experts and clients to run the art market smoothly.
Here are the key actors within the art market: Managers, curators, buyers,
collectors, and art dealers. They all play crucial roles in the art world, each
contributing in different ways.
ART ADMINISTRATORS OR
MANAGERS
• Administrators or managers are the ones responsible for the efficient
allocation of resources to produce art. They decide what projects should be
prioritized and how much resources can be dedicated to selected projects.
Their tasks include time management, human resource management,
budget management, and marketing management. (International Studies in
History and Business of Art & Culture, n.d.)
• Administrators or managers represent and promote artists, handling
their business affairs, negotiations, contracts, and scheduling. They help
artists focus on their creative work by managing the administrative and
business aspects of their careers.
CURATORS-
• Curators are responsible for selecting and organizing art exhibitions
in museums, galleries, or other venues. They play a vital role in
shaping the narrative and context of artworks, creating meaningful
connections between artists, artworks, and audiences
• BUYERS
• Buyers purchase artworks for personal enjoyment, investment,
or as part of a collection. Their choices can influence trends in the art
market and provide financial support to artists and galleries.
• COLLECTORS
Collectors are individuals who amass artworks based on personal taste,
passion, or investment objectives. They often play a significant role in
preserving art history and supporting artists by acquiring and displaying
their works.
ART DEALERS
• Art dealers buy, sell, and promote artworks on behalf of
artists. They help connect artists with buyers, manage sales
transactions, and promote artists' works through exhibitions and
art fairs.
TALENT AGENTS
• Talent agents work similarly to art
dealers: they bring to the public the work of the
artist. Sometimes they bridge artists to funders
who can give resources and money to write
books, make a musical album, make a film, or
make a collection of paintings.
NATIONAL AND GAMABA ARTISTS
• Filipino Artists and Artisans
• We Filipinos can be proud of the craftsmanship of our artisans and the
artwork of our artists. However, we can observe that craftspeople and artisans in
the Philippines are less popular than mainstream Filipino artists.
• To recognize and to honor our Filipino artisans, the National Commission
of Culture and the Arts (NCCA) conducts a research, screening, and awarding
process of Filipino artist and artisans for their excellent work and representations
of our dynamic national identity. The awards for Filipino artisans is called the
Order of the National Artists the “Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA)”.
A. NATIONAL ARTISTS
• The NCCA inducts Filipino artists in the Order of National
Artists from the fields of architecture, cinema, literature, historical
literature, visual arts, dance, theater, theater design, music, and
fashion design. It honors Filipino artists that contribute to the
national identity through arts and have dedicated their lives to the
creation of art. (National Commission for the Culture and the Arts,
n.d.)
• Fashion designer Ramon Valera, filmmakers Lino Brocka and
Kidlat Tahimik, composer and musician Ryan Cayabyab and visual
artist Larry Alcala are among those inducted in the Order of
RAMON VALERA WORKS:
LINO BROCKA WORKS:
KIDLAT TAHIMIK WORK:
RYAN CAYABYAB WORKS:
LARY ALCALA WORKS:
B. GAMABA
• The National Living Treasures Award, or Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan, honors Filipino artists who have proven technical and artistic
excellence in cultural and traditional art. The GAMABA award is given to those
who have passed on their craft to the next generation. The current generation
must be able to match the National Living Treasure's level of knowledge.
• GAMABA awardees create music, stories, poetry, handwoven textiles
and mats, and other crafts that depict the lifestyles and cultures of various
Filipino tribes and groups. GAMABA honorees and their work are shown in the
photographs below.
ART ADMINISTRATION
• According to the NCCA Chair Felipe de Leon (2017), Whang-od is
able to continually balance between being a community artisan and being
a modern artist. She carries with her the communal Kalinga way of life.
The Kalinga’s artisanal skills is preserved through her rising popularity
among non-Kalinga Filipinos and foreigners. (National Commission on the
Culture and the Arts, 2017) Still, we can observe that the artisanal pieces
is negotiating a way to be relevant despite different preferences in form
and purpose. Adding to this development are the increasing ease of
tourism in the Kalinga and the development of other market aspects.
• The process of bringing community artisans’ work and artists’
work to a wider audience is called art administration or art
management. As a business venture, art administration makes
sure that resources are available for the production of art while
providing artists a chance to work creatively. Most of these
resources come from art patrons and buyers. (International
Studies in History and Business of Art & Culture, n.d.)
• In conclusion, both artists and artisans produce artistic
pieces. However, they differ in the medium they use and in
the purpose of making their art. At times, we find it
challenging to categorize an artistic person as an artist or an
artisan, like in the case of Whang-od. However, we have
learned in this module that different people in social
communities and art markets can play a role in promoting
the work of artists and artisans.
•THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
NOW, LETS PROCEED IN OUR
ACTIVITY!
