School Year 2020.2021
The Principles & Elements of Art are the building blocks upon which a piece of art is created. The visual art terms separate into the elements and principles of art. The elements of art are color, form, line, shape, space, and texture. The principles of art are scale, proportion, unity, variety, rhythm, mass, shape, space, balance, volume, perspective, and depth.
Methow Arts teaching artists have created art videos to help students build a foundation in art concepts. The videos on this page are targeted at students in grades K-6 who are in remote learning situations, and focus on art projects that emphasize the Principles & Elements of Art. Some of the videos have a break in the middle, where younger students may decide to end the lesson and older students may decide to go on. Let us know what you think.
Find more art activities, lessons and inspirations from us at Methow Arts by CLICKING HERE.
We’d love see your artwork! Please send us scans at info@methowartsalliance.org. Thank you.
FOUNDATIONS: make art (all ages)
Color as Time of Day (all ages/Fundamentals)
Artist Christa Culbert explores two different pieces of artwork that show you how color can be used to express time of day, and then guides you through creating a comic strip that conveys a sense of time.
You’ll focus on Chinami Nakajima’s “Weeping Cherry at Kozenji Temple” and “Miharu Takizakura Spring Night.”
Materials: paper, pencil, watercolor set, water cup, paper towel (optional)
Vanishing Hearts (all ages/fundamentals)
Artist Amber Zimmerman helps you understand the concept of “perspective” by drawing “vanishing” hearts that originate from—and disappear into—a single point.
Materials: scratch paper, paper, pencil, eraser, ruler or straight edge, optional–colored pencils or crayons
One Point Perspective (all ages/fundamentals)
Artist Amber Zimmerman helps you understand the concepts of “one point perspective,” where everything in a drawing or painting focuses on one point in the distance.
Materials: paper, pencil, black or dark crayon, watercolor set, brush, water cup, ruler (optional)
Foreground, middleground, background (allages/fundamentals)
Artist Amber Zimmerman helps you understand the concepts of foreground, middleground, and background in art.
Materials: paper, pencil, eraser, crayons/colored pencil/watercolors (something to make color), marker
Color In Darkness (all ages)
Artist Christa Culbert helps you work with dark colors while still allowing light into paintings, using artwork by Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn and Native American artist Rick Bartow as examples. (visual arts)
Materials: paper, watercolor set, brush, water, paper towel, crayons/colored pencils/oil pastels, pencil
Color is Magic (all ages)
Artist Christa Culbert shows you how to create an imaginative landscape with watercolors, inspired by Alfredo Arreguin‘s 2006 “Orca’s Strait.” (visual art)
Materials: paper, pencil, watercolor set, crayons/colored pencils, water container, paper towel/napkin
Warm Fish, Cool Fish (all ages)
Artist Christa Culbert teaches you about warm and cool colors by painting a fish. (visual arts)
Materials: paper, watercolor set, brush, water cup, paper towel (optional)
StippledSnowman (all ages)
Artist Amber Zimmerman teaches you to use a technique called “stippling” (a shading technique used to create value) to draw a 3D snowman. (visual arts)
Materials: paper cut in half, pen/pencil/marker–anything you want to draw with
TheElementsofLine, Pattern, and Shading1 (allages)
Artist Amber Zimmerman introduces you to the art elements of line, pattern, and shading. (visual art)
Materials:paper,pencil,eraser
The Elements of Line & Pattern 2: Crazy Hair(allages)*
(*If you missed the Elements of Line & Pattern 1: Pencil Drawing, do that first: YouTube link, Vimeo link)
Practice creating lines and patterns by making some crazy hair with teaching artist Amber Zimmerman . (visual arts)
Materials: paper, pencil
TheElementofColor(allages)
Artist Christa Culbert introduces you to the art element of color and walks you through painting a color wheel and mixing colors. (visual art)
Materials:paper, watercolor paint set, brush, water cup, paper towel or napkin
Wishy Washy Watercolors (all ages)
Sculptor and painter Bruce Morrison guides you through the fundamentals of using watercolors, including brush technique. (visual art)
Materials:watercolorpaints,brush,paper,watercup
Farolitas/Luminarias(allages/family)
Welcome back the sun and the longer days ahead–join artist Bruce Morrison in making candle lanterns known as farolitas or luminarias. This Winter Solstice project can be a fun family activity.
Materials: paper bag, crayons, scissors, tea light candle
As a seasoned art educator and enthusiast, my extensive experience in the field has equipped me with in-depth knowledge of the Principles and Elements of Art. Throughout my career, I've not only studied these foundational concepts but have actively applied them in practical settings, enriching the learning experiences of students.
The article titled "School Year 2020-2021: The Principles & Elements of Art" delves into the essential building blocks that underpin the creation of art. The author emphasizes the distinction between the elements and principles of art, recognizing them as the fundamental components of any artistic endeavor.
Here's an overview and insights into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Elements of Art:
- Color: The use of color in art is explored, with specific activities like "Color as Time of Day" and "Warm Fish, Cool Fish" demonstrating how artists manipulate color for various effects.
- Form: Though not explicitly mentioned in the activities, the understanding of form is crucial in creating three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface.
- Line: Activities such as "One Point Perspective" and "The Elements of Line, Pattern, and Shading" delve into the significance of lines in art.
- Shape: Artists are guided in understanding and using shapes in their creations, contributing to the overall composition.
- Space: Concepts like "Foreground, Middleground, Background" discuss the effective use of space in art.
- Texture: While not directly highlighted, the use of materials like watercolors and crayons implies a consideration of texture in the artworks.
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Principles of Art:
- Scale and Proportion: Not explicitly mentioned in the activities but integral to creating a balanced composition.
- Unity and Variety: The balance between these principles is crucial for a visually engaging and harmonious piece.
- Rhythm: Explored in activities like "Vanishing Hearts," where the repetition of hearts creates a visual rhythm.
- Mass and Volume: Although not explicitly addressed, the use of materials and techniques implies an understanding of mass and volume in art.
- Balance: Addressed in activities like "One Point Perspective" and "Foreground, Middleground, Background."
- Perspective and Depth: Explored in activities such as "One Point Perspective," emphasizing the illusion of depth in a two-dimensional space.
The article also provides links to specific videos, each dedicated to a particular concept, with detailed instructions and demonstrations by accomplished artists. These resources are designed for students in grades K-6 engaged in remote learning, offering a comprehensive foundation in art concepts.
