Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're feeling really, really good.

My name is Ms. Safsow, and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson, which I'm very pleased about because today we are looking at artists and designers who are such inspiring people.

A lesson is called "The Work of Artists and Designers: The Elements of Art." And our lesson comes from the unit of work "First Sustained Project: Working from a Theme." So if you are ready to get into this topic and have some energy, focus, and enthusiasm, we'll begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is: I can analyse how artists use materials to communicate a theme and experiment with materials to express my own theme.

There are some keywords in our lesson.

They are element, analyse, and theme.

Let's find out what these words mean.

Element: the elements of art are the basic parts used to make artwork.

Analyse: to look closely at the different parts of an artwork.

And theme: the main idea or message that an artwork communicates.

These are our keywords.

Let's look out and listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Our lesson is called "The Work of Artists and Designers: Elements of Art." and it has two learning cycles: analysing the impact of the elements in artwork, and examining how material choices can serve a theme.

Let's begin by analysing the impact of the elements in artwork.

So let's begin with this question.

How do artists create mood and meaning in their work? Pause here and share with someone.

What do you think? Thanks for sharing your ideas.

And now let's take a look at this artwork.

What mood does this image evoke? Does the subject matter affect your decision? And do the colours influence the impact? Pause here while you answer these questions.

Thanks for sharing.

Artists create mood and meaning in their work through a combination of elements, materials, and techniques.

Can you remember what some of the elements of art are? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Let's have a look at them.

We've got colour, form, line, pattern, shape, texture, and tone.

I wonder if you came up with some of these.

Artists sometimes use limited palettes to influence how a viewer feels.

How have the coloured elements influenced the mood of this portrait? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Jun and Izzy are analysing the portrait of the blue Lady.

"I think the lady looks sad in the portrait, but I think that's because of her expression as her mouth is turned down." And Izzy, "As people age, their mouth might turn down naturally, and that doesn't necessarily mean they're sad.

But I think the colour blue gives this portrait a low mood." I wonder if you had similar thoughts.

Through careful choices and combination of elements like colour, artists shape how we experience their work emotionally.

Warm colours, reds, oranges, yellows, can create feelings of warmth, energy, or urgency.

Cool colours, blues, greens, purples, can evoke calm, sadness, or stillness.

Sometimes a portrait might feature bright colour elements while showing a sad expression, creating a striking contrast that makes a viewer stop and think.

How do the colours affect this artwork? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your responses.

Laura and Andeep are analysing the mood of the portrait from the previous slide.

Laura, "I think the mood of this portrait is really hard to work out as there are both warm and cool colours included." And Andeep, "It's difficult to decide on the mood as you can't see her eyes because they're closed.

The colours are quite vibrant, so I'll say it's a positive mood overall." Interesting responses.

I wonder if you had something similar.

What is composition? Composition is all about how the elements of an artwork are arranged, including shapes, colours, and lines to create a balanced, effective, and visually engaging piece.

Think of it as the elements of the ingredients and the composition is the recipe that brings them together in a meaningful way.

In a composition, the artist decides what goes where to guide the viewer's eye, tell a story, or set a mood.

Form refers to 3D shapes or objects that have height, width, and depth.

Geometric forms: regular mathematical forms like cubes, spheres, cylinders, pyramids.

Organic forms: irregular, natural-looking, or flowing forms often used in sculpture, figure drawing, or expressive art.

What sort of form is this? Pause here and share with someone.

What do you think? Thanks for sharing.

Perhaps you said it was an organic form.

This three-dimensional sculpture uses the element of form with flowing, polished, rounded surfaces.

By adjusting scale and proportion, artists highlight what matters to them.

What mood do you think this artwork expresses? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Sam is analysing the artwork.

"The soft shapes could represent the fluid, ever-changing nature of identity.

Curves often evoke feelings of softness, warmth, or vulnerability.

I would be interested to explore this type of artwork in my Identity theme." Line is one of the most basic and essential elements of art.

It can vary in length, thickness, direction, and style.

Soft, curved lines might suggest calm or emotion.

Jagged, sharp lines can create tension or excitement.

How does the line in this artwork affect the artwork? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Aisha is analysing the artwork.

Let's hear from her.

"My eyes follow the element of line in this artwork from the top-left corner ending at the busiest section.

I could use this concept in my Messages project to show connection." Good thinking.

The element of pattern is the repetition of lines, shapes, colours, or images in a planned or random way.

Cultural patterns are designs, motifs, or symbols that come from a specific tradition, region, or cultural group.

Guatemalan patterns are rich, colourful, and deeply connected to the country's Maya heritage and regional traditions like the ones seen here.

Patterns can be geometric or found in nature.

Love those zebra stripes.

Patterns can be irregular or repeated.

The element of shape refers to a flat, enclosed area created when a line connects back to itself.

Shapes help build the composition.

They're used to create balance, movement, or contrast.

Shapes do not just have to be geometric.

When you draw the outside edge of a figure, like a person, animal, or object, you're creating a shape.

Geometric shapes can feel structured and controlled.

Organic shapes can feel natural or emotional.

How do the shapes affect the mood of this artwork? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Jacob is analysing the artwork.

"My eyes are naturally drawn to the pointed brown triangle.

Even though the shapes are quite sharp, it doesn't feel too tense due to the soft colours." The element of texture refers to the surface quality of an artwork.

So the actual tactile texture, you can physically feel it: rough, smooth, bumpy, soft, et cetera.

Found in sculpture, mixed media, textiles, or heavily layered paint.

Check for understanding.

Which of these artworks would be tactile if touched? A, B, or C.

Pause here and share with someone.

Well done if you selected answer A.

This artwork would be tactile if touched.

The element of texture can draw the viewer in and make them want to look closer.

Implied visual texture.

The surface looks like it has texture, but it's actually smooth.

Created with careful drawing or painting techniques.

For example, making something appear furry, sharp, or cracked.

The elements of tone refers to the lightness or darkness of a surface.

Gradual changes in tone help objects look more realistic.

And we can see both dark tones and light tones on this drawing.

Does the use of tone help describe the form? Pause here and share with someone.

What do you think? Thanks for sharing.

Here's Izzy.

"This skull drawing is part of my Natural Forms project, and I used fine liner to draw this.

I analysed the shape of the horns and used the direction of tone to create form.

I used the mark-making sparingly on the skull to show lighter tones." Let's take a look at some artists who explore shapes in their work.

They include Takesada Matsutani who works with materials like glue, graphite, and vinyl glue to create bulging organic shapes on surfaces.

His forms often look like cells, bubbles, or body parts.

Michelle Carlos, whose art frequently incorporates repetitive shapes and patterns, things that reference traditional, Filipino textiles and crafts, blending them with contemporary approaches.

Thomas Schutte who works with a range of sculptural forms, often abstract or architectural shapes.

And Larry Achiampong uses Adinkra symbols, a traditional Ghanaian visual language, to explore Afrofuturism, diaspora, and identity.

An example of this is "Pan African Flag for the Relic Travellers' Alliance." Check for understanding.

Which of the following best describes how artists use composition to guide the viewer's eye? Is it: A, by using random placements of objects; B, by placing important elements near the edges; or C, by arranging elements to lead attention toward a focal point? Pause here while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer C.

When analysing, take the time to really observe the artwork.

Focus on the elements of the artwork.

Is it bright, dark, warm, cool? Are the lines soft, sharp, energetic? Are the shapes organic or geometric? Do they look 3D? Can you see rough, smooth, bumpy textures? Is there a sense of depth or flatness? Are there strong light/dark contrasts? What to avoid when analysing art.

Saying that you like or dislike an artwork isn't an analysis.

Try to explain why you feel that way by looking closely at the artwork's colours, shapes, or meaning.

Avoid guessing what the artist meant without clues.

Instead, use what you see in the artwork, including colours, symbols, and materials to support your ideas.

Try not to just describe the objects or people.

Look deeper at how things are arranged, the mood created, and what feelings or ideas the artwork communicates.

And now it's time for your first task.

I'd like you to choose one of the artworks to analyse.

Pause here while you do this.

And remember, you can bring in any or all of those elements of art that we've been discussing.

Good to be back with you.

How did you get on with analysing the artwork? You might have said something like this.

"There is a strong contrast between natural forms, bird and foliage, and machinery, cogs.

The colour blue in the bird stands out, but does not overpower the composition.

The symmetrical pattern in the large cog creates a rhythmic, visual effect.

My eyes are drawn to the large cog shape initially, and then my eyes are drawn upwards.

The cogs look metallic and have a visually smooth texture.

Some parts do not look sharp though." Or you might have analysed the artwork as a spider diagram.

Well done for having a go at this task.

And for our next learning cycle, we'll be examining how material choices can serve a theme.

A theme in art is the main idea, message, or topic that the artist wants to explore through their work.

Themes are the big ideas or messages that an art word explores or expresses.

They give depth and meaning to a piece, helping viewers connect with it on an emotional or intellectual level.

For example, a theme of transformation.

The GCSE Art and Design students are discussing themes.

Lucas, "Has everyone decided fully on their chosen theme? I've chosen a theme Inside." And Aisha, "Yes, I'm going with the theme of Messages." Sam, "I've chosen a theme of Identity as I have lots of ideas for it." Sofia, "I had many ideas, but I've settled on a theme of Emotion." And Andeep, "My chosen theme is Landscapes." And Jun, "I've chosen to make work inspired by Cells." Izzy, "I'm going with a theme of Natural Forms." Alex, "It took me a while to decide, but my chosen theme is Buildings." Jacob, "I like the theme of Transformation with an emphasis on the environment." And Sofia, "My chosen theme is Anatomy." Love these themes.

Artists often choose specific materials to help express the deeper themes or messages in their work.

Petals are often used in Rangoli as an element that symbolises beauty, purity, and connection to nature, which aligns with its purpose of welcoming guests, celebrating festivals, and inviting positive energy.

Do you think the materials used here are a good choice for a cell theme? And why? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Jun is explaining his media choices.

"I chose to use painted cotton buds for my Cells theme as they look like nodules.

I used clay to create cell clusters, and I'm happy with my media choices." What does the material used here tell you about the artwork? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Izzy.

"For my Natural Forms theme, I was inspired by animal skeletal structures.

I explored the element of form by creating my own structure using paper to represent the fragility of life.

I found paper much easier to use than wire." Do you think paint pens were a suitable material choice for this bird? Pause here and share with someone.

What do you think? Here's Alex.

"The bright paint pens have worked well to create a feathery effect.

The artist's use of the element of texture combined with the contrast against the black background has been especially effective." Trapping objects in ice is a powerful material choice that could support several themes.

Which of the following themes do you think this material choice could serve? Memory and loss, decay, stillness and time, nature and environment.

Pause here and share with someone.

Here's Aisha.

"I think trapping things in ice could support all of those themes in different ways.

I could use it in my Messages project when I refer to the memory and loss." And Jacob, "I could definitely use this method in my Transformation project.

I could link it to pollution and how the world is changing due to global warming.

I could trap endangered animal figures to suggest wanting to freeze time." And Izzy, "I'd like to try trapping objects in ice in my Nature project.

I could photograph the ice melting over time with the trapped natural objects gradually decaying." And Andeep, "I'm working on a Landscape theme and could trap coloured inks and paint in the ice and photograph it as it melts.

I could try recreating many landscapes in the ice." So many great ideas.

Many artists use unusual materials to support their theme, including: Vilde Rolfsen is a contemporary artist and photographer who transforms discarded plastic bags into ethereal abstract landscapes through studio photography.

Dieter Roth who uses decaying food, chocolate, books, cheese, biodegradable substances.

Maree Clarke who works with possum skins, river reeds, teeth, glass, photography on themes of memory, identity, and trauma.

And Rachel Kneebone who makes baroque-style sculptural forms that seem to morph between bodies and architecture using porcelain.

Plastic is a versatile material that can strongly support many themes in art, especially around modern life, environment, and society.

Recycled plastic can represent renewal, creativity and hope.

Plastic can symbolise over consumption, disposable culture, and mass production.

Check for understanding.

Which material could support the theme of recycling? A, B, or C.

Pause here while you decide.

Well done if you chose B.

Indeed, plastic could support the theme of recycling.

And now it's time for your task.

I would like you to create a sample using plastic to serve your chosen theme.

Consider using carrier bags, bubble wrap, dog waste bags, sandwich bags, packaging.

Create a small 3D piece or relief/mixed media work that visually expresses your theme through the use of plastic.

Let your materials communicate your message.

Pause here while you have a go at this task of creating a sample using plastic to serve your chosen theme.

So how did you get on with that task of creating a sample using plastic to serve your chosen theme? Here's Jun.

"I wanted to create cell structures using bubble wrap.

I carefully peeled the back of the large bubbles, filled them with glue and trapped objects within each section.

I used sequins, beads, thread, ink, and torn paper.

This idea could be developed into a wall hanging or a sculpture.

I like the idea of linking the cells to plastic surgery." Really intriguing idea and really effective visually.

Here's Sam.

"I was really inspired by the work of Vilde Rolfsen and made my own sample.

I held a sandwich bag in front of the computer and took photos looking through the plastic.

I made sure the image on the screen was still, and that it was colourful.

The intense bright colours could be linked to emotional intensity or celebration of individuality." Yeah, I love that rainbow-like effect.

Sophia, "I also experimented in the style of Vilde Rolfsen.

I positioned a carrier bag near to different light sources and took photos.

This particular image reminds me of the inside of a blood vessel or human organ.

The lines in the plastic look like blood capillaries.

This sample fits in with my Anatomy theme." It really does.

And Jacob, "When I walk in nature, I always see bags of dog waste that have been left.

I've taken unused dog waste bags and woven them into wood and foliage to show how pollution is unfortunately becoming entwined with nature." A really well considered idea there.

In our lesson "The Work of Artists and Designers: Elements of Art," we've covered the following.

There are many ways to explore how the elements of art and material choices work together to communicate a theme, beginning with analysis of artists' use of materials.

You might have created an experimental artwork using unusual or unfamiliar materials, with a focus on how the qualities and symbolism of those materials can be used intentionally to support and deepen the meaning of their chosen theme.

Well done, everyone, for joining in with this lesson.

It was great to explore the elements of art together.

They are indeed so elemental.

And then to create your own experimental artwork and focusing on how plastic could be used to serve your particular theme.

Thanks for your engagement.

I've really enjoyed this lesson, and I hope you have too.

I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.