ArtSpeak - Writing about the Elements & Principles of Art
Step 1
Select one of the following artists from the list below:
Click on their name to pull up a Google search result of their famous artworks.
Step 2
Find one painting or drawing by that artist from the links given above. Copy and Paste the image into a Google Doc. Re-size and make the image smaller (around 3"x5")
Copy the Credit Line (info on the painting (title, date, etc.) and Paste below the image. Try and locate as much of this information as possible.
Here is an example of what you should have to start this assignment:
Select one of the following artists from the list below:
Click on their name to pull up a Google search result of their famous artworks.
Step 2
Find one painting or drawing by that artist from the links given above. Copy and Paste the image into a Google Doc. Re-size and make the image smaller (around 3"x5")
Copy the Credit Line (info on the painting (title, date, etc.) and Paste below the image. Try and locate as much of this information as possible.
Here is an example of what you should have to start this assignment:
Step 3
Now using the definitions of the art elements & principles (SEE THE LIST BELOW), write a paragraph of 10 sentences or more that describes which elements & principles the artist used, and how the artist used them. Describe the look of the elements and where it can be seen in the painting. What principles did the artist use and where can we see them in the painting. Credit will not be giving for stating obvious things like I can see color, or lines. Tell me about them!
Here are questions that you can use to answer your paragraph.
Step 4
Save this to the computer your working on or to your Google Drive folder as ArtSpeak
Now using the definitions of the art elements & principles (SEE THE LIST BELOW), write a paragraph of 10 sentences or more that describes which elements & principles the artist used, and how the artist used them. Describe the look of the elements and where it can be seen in the painting. What principles did the artist use and where can we see them in the painting. Credit will not be giving for stating obvious things like I can see color, or lines. Tell me about them!
Here are questions that you can use to answer your paragraph.
- What’s going on in this artwork?
- What was your first reaction to this artwork?
- Describe the lines in this artwork
- Describe the colors and value in the artwork
- Does it contain any texture? Where and what type?
- Are there shapes or forms being used in this artwork? If so, what are they?
- Which area of the artwork is emphasized by the artist? Why?
- Which area of the artwork is most important? Why?
- How did this artist use space?
- How did the artist use balance?
- How did the artist use proportion?
- How does your eye move through the artwork? What choices did the artist make to make that happen?
- How did the artist use line, shape, and color to contribute to the mood or meaning?
Step 4
Save this to the computer your working on or to your Google Drive folder as ArtSpeak
Step 5
Turn this assignment into the Google Classroom post
HELPFUL EXAMPLES - The Elements & Principles of Art & Design
- See an PowerPoint example with Images to help you better understand them.
- See a finished Student Example of this writing project.
Elements of Art
- Line - Lines are the marks left by the painting tools which define the edges of objects in artwork. Their shape and thickness may express movement or tone.
- Shape - Shapes are formed from the meeting of lines and the enclosing (or perceived enclosing) of areas in two-dimensional space
- Form - Form is the three-dimensional counterpart to shape
- Space - Space is an empty place or surface in or around a work of art. Space can be two-dimensional, three-dimensional, negative and/or positive.
- Color - Color refers to the hue (ex. red vs. orange) and intensity or brightness (ex. neon green vs. yellow-green) of the colors used. It may also refer to the value, or the darkness, or the color.
- Value - Sometimes combined with color, value describes the lightness or darkness of a color.
- Texture - Texture is the way something feels when you touch it. Artists also create the illusion of texture in artworks such as paintings, drawings and prints.
Principles of Art
- Rhythm - Visual rhythm makes you think of the rhythms you hear in music or dance. Artists create visual rhythm by repeating art elements and creating patterns.
- Movement - is a visual flow through the composition. It can be the suggestion of motion in a design as you move from object to object by way of placement and position.
- Pattern - Pattern is one of the principles of art. Artists create pattern by repeating a line, shape or color over and over again.
- Balance - is one of the principles of art which describes how artists to create visual weight.
- Proportion - Proportion is one of the principles of art which describes the size, location or amount of one thing compared to another.
- Variety - Variety occurs when an artist creates something that looks different from the rest of the artwork. An artist may use variety to make you look at a certain part or make the artwork more interesting.
- Emphasis - Artists use emphasis to make certain parts of their artwork stand out and grab your attention. The center of interest or focal point is the place the artist draws your eye to first.
- Unity - Unity is the feeling that everything in the work of art works together and looks like it fits.