How to be an Art Critic (3 of 5): Analyzing Art Using the Elements of Art and Principles of Design

• After a quick review of our previous lesson, students will be able to successfully complete part one of the Analyze step with an artwork not previously used in class, explaining how the Elements of Art are used in the work.
• Students will participate in a class discussion about the Principles of Design (Rhythm, Movement, Pattern, Emphasis, Unity, Contrast/Variety, Balance) and how they are used to organize the Elements of Art.
• When given an example, students will be able to analyze the composition of an artwork by explaining how the principles of art are used to organize the elements of art.
• Students will analyze the use of formal elements in realistic, abstract, and non-objective artworks.
• Students will be able to complete a formal analysis of 2D and 3D artworks.

After a short review of the previous lesson and a quick practice analyzing the Elements of Art used in an artwork, we will move to the Principles of Design (Proportion/Scale, Rhythm, Movement, Pattern, Emphasis, Harmony/Unity, Contrast/Variety, Balance). After a description of each while viewing them in various artworks, students will demonstrate their understanding by using IFX elements to demonstrate some of the Principles. Then, we will discuss how these Principles of Design are used to organize the Elements of Art, creating the COMPOSITION of the artwork. We will practice with new works of art, and if time permits, a 360 trip to the Milwaukee Art Museum.

By the end of session 3, students will be able to look at an unfamiliar artwork and analyze its composition through a discussion of the Elements and Principles, completing step 2 (ANALYZE) of the art criticism process.

1. Review of Elements of Art by analysis of an artwork.
2. Principles of Design (Rhythm, Movement, Pattern, Emphasis, Unity, Contrast/Variety, Balance) and how they are created through use of the Elements of Art.
3. Using the IFX on their tablets, students will create examples of various principles in the room. For example, you can create rhythm and movement by making a curving line of dinosaurs (forms).
4. We will analyze artworks to see how the composition is organized by use of the Elements and Principles.
5. Practice with step 2, using the following guidelines:

   • Describe how the artist uses the elements of art.

   • How are the principles of art used to organize the elements?  What is the composition?

   • Talk about what elements are used with what principles.  For example, if you talk about rhythm, which element is repeated?

6. If we have time remaining, students will complete the first two steps of the art criticism process in small groups using a variety of 2D and 3D artworks in a 360 tour of the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Students will manipulate IFX to demonstrate understanding of the principles of art.

If time permits, we will practice analyzing art on a 360 tour of the Milwaukee Art Museum.