Article Formal Visual Analysis: The Elements & Principles of Composition
Help students build techniques to interpret what they see into written words using art.
In this 9-12 lesson, students will explore elements of art through the works of historical and contemporary artists. They will examine the relationship between elements of art and feelings. Students will choose between creating original art or curating a presentation to express a feeling with lines, shapes, rhythm, colors, and/or patterns.
Students will:
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Teachers should be familiar with three elements of art: line, shape, and color. Review all artwork and media prior to implementation.
Students should be familiar with the basic elements of art and identifying emotions.
Modify handouts, text, and utilize assistive technologies as needed. Provide preferential seating for visual presentations and allow extra time for the project creation process.
Paint/Draw/Cut Shapes: Select an element of art to include in your creation. Identify a current, past, or known feeling to inform your original work. Students can also use an intuitive improvised feeling, as demonstrated in by Bridget Riley, to express feelings of the moment.
Presentation: Curate a presentation of visual art forms expressing a current, past, or known feeling through an element of art. Students can select from paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculptures, or ceramics. Have students note the common theme (feeling) among the examples and how the element of art accentuated that sentiment.
Original Writer
Teresa Ghiglino
Adaptation
Jen Westmoreland Bouchard
Editor
JoDee Scissors
Updated
September 20, 2022
Help students build techniques to interpret what they see into written words using art.
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