Submitted by:Michelle East
Art Teacher (3rd-HS) Grade level: High School Art
Goals / Objectives:
Define composition in the visual arts.
Define emphasis, observe how it is applied to visual art.
Identify 6 ways to create emphasis.
Use selective cropping to develop a strong composition.
Create an accurate drawing from direct observation.
Create an original composition using the Rule of Thirds to place the focal point.
Motorcycle or bike, view finders with Rule of Thirds made from transparencies, various art supplies & paper supplies (See below), Digital Camera, phone with camera or iPad
1. What is composition in art? Composition refers to how the artwork is put together. It is how the artist INTENTIONALLY used the elements and principles of art to create the artwork. The placement of objects within the picture plane is not an arbitrary act, but is the result
2. Emphasis: Emphasis can also be called the focal point, it is defined as the center of interest in a picture.
3. Six Ways to create emphasis: Placement (Rule of Thirds), Contrasting color, Contrasting size, Contrasting shape, Contrasting texture, Isolation
a. Discuss & view examples of artwork.
4. Cropping: cropping is the act of cutting away unnecessary or unwanted portions of an image to help focus the viewer’s attention and even help tell a story.
5. Discuss the importance of composition in art & explain the Rule of Thirds. Show examples of art & photos that have used the Rule of Thirds as a base.
Direct Observation Drawing of Motorcycle
1. Allow students to walk around the motorcycle to choose the viewpoint they like best.
2. Use viewfinders to position the focal point in one of the Rule of Thirds. Have them take a photograph of their exact viewpoint. I allowed them to use an iPad camera with the Rule of Thirds guidelines turned on to take their pictures. Drawing from real life is the best method of learning drawing accuracy! Drawing Observation Skills!
3. They then spent an hour drawing a rough sketch of their composition in their sketchbooks.
4. The next class We printed out a 8×10″ (20 x 25.5 cm) color picture for them to work from (since we only had the motorcycle for one day).
5. They chose two mediums to create their art. Some suggestions were: India ink & Watercolor Paint, Acrylic Paint & ink, Charcoal & ink, Colored Pencils & Ink, Pastels & charcoal, etc.
6. They drew the rule of thirds on their 18×24″ (45.7 x 61 cm) paper (various paper/canvas depending on the mediums they chose).
7. Then drew their compositions using a simplified grid method of drawing.
8. Next they rendered their compositions with their chosen mediums, thinking through which one to use first.
More Examples and Optional Pre-Instruction Art Technique Worksheets at Create Art With Me.