Lesson video

Hello, my name is Ms. Badrew.

I hope that you are all doing well.

I'm really looking forward to teaching and learning with you today.

Our learning outcome for this lesson is I can use scale, perspective, and proportion to distort my work and impact how my audience feels.

Here are our keywords for this lesson, which are scale, perspective, proportion, and provocation.

Let's look at each keyword in turn and find out what they mean.

Scale.

The size of an object in relation to another object or the world.

Perspective.

A way of representing 3D space on a flat 2D surface.

Proportion.

The relationship of sizes between the parts of a whole.

Provocation.

A challenge that makes you think differently about your art.

So those are our keywords.

Scale, perspective, proportion, and provocation.

Okay, so let's focus on our lesson outline looking at scale, proportion, and perspective, and let's begin with our first learning cycle, which is to understand scale, proportion, and perspective.

So keeping those keywords in mind, possible outcomes for today might include some or aspects of the following.

Okay, let's begin our journey with the following question.

Can an artist manipulate what the viewer sees first in an artwork or how they might feel? Please pause and take a moment here and think about this question and jot down some ideas and resume when you're ready.

Artists can manipulate the audience using perspective, scale, and proportion.

For example, breaking proportion rules, like making melting clocks, makes things feel dreamy.

If you draw a person way bigger than a building, it makes them seem super important or powerful by changing the scale.

Artists trick you by changing the angle, like looking down from a massive building to make it feel high.

Scale is the size of an element in relation to another element.

How has this artist been playful with scale? Please pause for a moment here and think about this question.

The artist has made the everyday strawberry into something fantastical by making it huge and interactive.

Perspective means representing 3D space on a flat 2D surface.

How has this photographer been playful with perspective? Just spend a short moment here to think about this question.

Okay, "The photographer has made the tree look really tall and me feel very small because of the use of perspective and viewpoint," according to Sofia.

Proportions are the relationship of sizes between parts of a whole.

How has this craftsperson been playful with proportion? What do you think about how you would answer this question? Okay, according to Lucas, "The octopus consumes the bike.

The proportions are ridiculous and surreal, as is the pairing between the bike and the sea creature." Let's look at this image.

What grabs your attention in this image? Spend a few moments and jot down your ideas.

Sometimes artists make things bigger, closer, from a different perspective, or out of proportion to grab your attention and create emphasis.

This is especially true in design, as it helps you communicate.

Okay, let's check in for understanding, okay? So you need to complete each definition by filling in the gaps with the keywords in the box underneath.

So we've got a bullet point is the first size of an object or element in relation to another.

So what word fills in that gap? What about the next one? Is the relationship of sizes between parts of a whole.

And finally, find the word that means representing 3D space on a flat 2D surface.

Pause for a moment here and fill in the gaps.

Okay, here we have it.

So scale is the size of an object or element in relation to another.

Our second point, proportion is the relationship of sizes between parts of a whole.

And finally, perspective means representing 3D space on a flat 2D surface.

The class are discussing perspective in its broadest terms to understand it.

"The Latin root means look through or perceive." "Saying 'from my perspective' describes our worldview or opinion." "Sometimes we observe things from someone else's perspective." "Yes, that means seeing things through their eyes." Perspective can make things look realistic.

For example, linear perspective uses vanishing points to create depth in a scene.

Foreshortening shows an object or limb closer to the viewer as larger.

Atmospheric perspective shows distant objects fading in colour and detail.

Okay, let's check in for understanding.

What does the term foreshortening usually refer to? Is it A, person or object; B, a room; or C, a building? So pause here for a moment and to answer this question.

We'll check in shortly.

Okay, the answer is A, a person or object.

Foreshortening usually refers to how we have to distort a person or object when drawing them in perspective.

We can break visual rules to invent imaginative worlds and express ideas.

Distorting reality can change how someone feels looking at an artwork.

Surrealism is an art movement that represents inner worlds and is known for distorting reality.

Okay, let's have a check-in for understanding.

Which statement is true? A, only conventional use of proportion sparks new ideas.

Or is it B, artists can alter the viewer's experience of the artwork using scale, proportion, and perspective.

And C, artists don't usually make things bigger, closer, or out of proportion to get your attention.

Let's pause for a moment here and see what you come up with.

So which statement is true? Let's find out.

The answer is B, artists can alter the viewer's experience of the artwork using scale, proportion, and perspective.

Okay, let's continue our journey.

Examples of artists that experiment with scale, proportion, and perspective include Zak Ove, who creates larger-than-life sculptures inspired by Caribbean carnival traditions, using monumental scale to evoke awe and cultural heritage.

Hannah Peterson uses unusual angles and closeups in her paintings to create a sense of intimacy and alter the viewer's perspective.

Thomas Kellner deconstructs and reassembles architectural landmarks in his photographs, playing with proportion to create a fragmented, almost cubist effect.

Examples of artists that experiment with scale, proportion, or perspective include Sheila Hicks, who crafts large-scale textile installations that transform soft materials into massive, immersive environments, challenging traditional notions of scale.

Shirin Neshat photographs small human figures against vast, empty landscapes using scale to evoke feelings of isolation and vulnerability.

Nari Ward uses everyday objects in oversized installations, manipulating scale to reflect on social and political issues.

Have you seen artwork in your class or community that explores scale, proportion, or perspective? Just spend a moment or two here and have a think about this question.

Through their traditions, different cultures employ scale, perspective, and proportion in distinct ways.

Chinese pagoda architecture often features exaggerated proportions, tall, multi-tiered structures that seem to stretch infinitely upwards.

They are designed to make the structure appear closer to the heavens.

Japanese zen gardens employ miniature landscapes with rocks, sand, and plants arranged carefully to evoke vast natural scenes.

The Efik and Ibibio people make masks, for example, Ekpo masks, and statues with features that are purposely exaggerated, like big foreheads or long bodies.

These proportions show status and spiritual power.

Can you think of any local artists that use scale, perspective, or proportion? Take a moment here to think about this question, or bookmark it for research later on.

Okay, let's take a look at Task A.

Number one, demonstrate understanding of scale, proportion and perspective.

Consider and respond to the question, how can artists, designers, and craftspeople use scale, proportion, and perspective to impact what we see or feel? Discuss, record, or write your answer.

You could include examples of artwork you have seen, or your own work.

Sentence scaffolds.

Artists can impact how we feel using scale or perspective or proportion by.

Artists make us see differently using.

You put the example here.

Okay, let's continue with Task A.

Number one, demonstrate understanding of scale, proportion and perspective.

Consider and respond to the question, how can artists, designers, and craftspeople use scale, proportion, and perspective to impact what we see or feel? Discuss, record, or write your answer.

You could include examples of artwork you have seen or your own work.

The sentence scaffolds here that could help you, or you can create your own.

Artists can impact how we feel using scale or perspective or proportion by.

Artists make use see differently using.

Insert your example.

Pause the video here whilst you complete your practical tasks, then zoom when you are ready.

Okay, let's have feedback.

So number one, demonstrate understanding of scale, proportion and perspective.

You might have said something like, "Artists can impact how we feel by using scale to make an artwork extremely big.

This makes the viewer feel small and insignificant.

Artists make us see differently by using key conventions like linear perspective to make a 2D service look 3D, or for optical illusions.

They also create imaginary worlds by breaking conventions.

Artists can emphasise key parts of their artwork or distort your perception." Let's continue our learning journey around scale, proportion, and perspective.

And now we're going to focus on our second learning cycle, which is distort reality and change how the audience feels.

To generate ideas, it is useful to start with a source.

So Jun says, "My fine art theme is 'Everyday objects.

' My sources are tools." Alex says, "My textiles theme is 'Celebration.

' My sources are bunting." And Laura says, "My graphics theme is 'Spaces.

' My source is toy building blocks." Primary sources are useful to begin with, if possible.

Let's do a check-in for understanding.

Which is not an example of a primary source? Is it A, theme of 'Light and dark' with the sources fabric samples? Or is it B, theme of "Surfaces," source, a gnarly piece of bark? Or C, theme of "Lost," source, images from a website.

Which do you think is the answer? Let's pause for a moment and then we'll resume shortly.

Okay, the correct answer is C, theme of "Lost," source, images of a website.

C is an example of a secondary source.

Okay, let's continue.

Our focus is on distort reality and change how the audience feels.

A provocation is a challenge you are given.

The provocations today are, how can you distort reality through scale, perspective, and proportion? Can you control what we see or feel when we look at your artwork? "I can explore how changing the size of objects can create a funny or surprising effect on people," says Jun.

"You could try looking at things from different angles to see how perspective can make your work more unexpected," says Izzy.

Discussion can help you think of playful and unexpected ideas from a provocation.

Can you think of a provocation that complements your theme? Okay, let's pause for a moment here and ask yourself that question.

Okay, let's have a check-in here for understanding with the following statement.

True or false? A provocation is a challenge you are given to help you develop original and interesting ideas.

Is this statement true or false? Let's pause for a moment here while you decide upon your answer.

Okay, the answer is true.

And why might this be? A provocation is a useful tool when beginning a period of play or experimentation.

Let's continue.

Being playful with scale might include transforming an object into something monumental or microscopic.

Or cutting images physically or digitally and layering them into a surreal scene.

Creating a shoebox-sized scene where tiny figures interact with oversized objects.

How has this artist been playful with proportion? Let's pause for a moment here where you can actually jot down some ideas in response to this question.

Being playful with proportion might include exaggerating, enlarging, or shrinking specific parts of a subject to create a humorous or surreal effect.

Distorting or stretching forms to elongate, flatten, or twist shapes and figures.

Okay, what is the impact of the use of perspective in this artwork? Just pause for a moment here and jot down some ideas.

Being playful with perspective might include drawing from the viewpoint of a cockroach, a child or a bird.

Using reflections or distorting reflections using a curved surface, a glass bottle, or digital software.

Using different lenses on a camera such as a fisheye or a macro lens.

Let's continue with this next task.

You want to create a mind map of ideas in response to the given provocations to reflect your chosen theme.

You should write the following provocations on the page.

How can you distort reality through scale, perspective, and proportion? How can you control what the viewer sees or feels when they look at your artwork? Consider the provocation in connection to your theme.

Discuss your thinking to help you develop new ideas.

Okay, so pause the video here for a moment to complete this practical task.

Resume when you are ready.

Okay, so you were tasked to create a mind map of ideas in response to the given provocations to reflect your theme.

You might have made and said, according to Izzy, "These are my ideas for photography.

I found each idea helped me to think of the next one." You might have said, according to Jun, "I had lots of ideas for distorting perspective and angles when drawing tools.

I also considered 3D.

Some of my ideas are just small changes." Okay, so let's continue with our third learning cycle, which is to create playful experiments to test your ideas.

Okay, Jun's fine art theme is "Everyday objects." He has explored drawing and monoprint with exaggerated proportions.

Let's take a look.

Drawing of his tools, monoprint work, print plate on window.

Jun says, "I used line to emphasise movements and angles." Okay, let's check in for understanding.

Is the following statement true or false? Making the mistakes is a vital part of the creative process.

Now, what do you think? Is this true or false? So let's pause here for a moment and then we'll come back with the answers.

Okay, so the answer is true.

And why do you think this is? Experimenting means learning through doing, so you need to try things without worrying about the outcome.

You can learn a lot from the things that go wrong.

Aisha's 3D design theme is "Celebration." She looks at a tiny element of her source and scales up using card.

Okay, you can see the initial photograph, the drawing, and her card output.

Aisha says, "My sauce is baklava.

I love the layers and shapes in the flaky pastry.

I couldn't bring it in as it's full of nuts, so I used my own photo." Laura's graphic theme is "Spaces." Her source is toy building blocks.

And Laura says, "I have designed a set of digital images using unfamiliar proportions and perspectives." Okay, let's have a check-in for understanding.

Now, which statements describe experimentation? A, trying out new ideas and having fun, even if it doesn't turn out perfectly.

B, making small and subtle changes to see how they impact your work.

Or C, making mistakes and learning as you go.

Let's pause here for a moment and then we'll come back together shortly.

Okay, let's see.

Right, well, the answer is all three, A, B, and C.

There are many ways to experiment, so long as you are learning by doing.

Okay, let's continue with this journey at Task C.

Create playful experiments to test your ideas.

Okay, number one, create experiments based on your source and theme.

Use prompts below and the suggestions if needed.

Perspective.

You could create images from your source using unexpected perspectives.

Your response might use photography, drawing, or cardboard construction.

Scale.

You could look at a tiny element of your source and scale it up.

Your response might be graphic design, photo editing, or charcoal drawing.

Proportion.

Design an image or model using unfamiliar proportions.

Your response could be design, photography, or collage.

Okay, let's continue with our focus.

Create experiments based on your source and theme.

Izzy's response is this.

"For my everyday theme, I tried photographing the standard plantain to make it strange and unrecognisable." Okay, so Alex's response is, "It's based on bunting, which is the source for my textiles theme, 'Celebration.

'" Okay, let us continue with Task C, number two.

Reflect on your work and the provocations.

How did you distort reality through scale, perspective, and proportion? Have you changed what we see or feel when we look at your artwork? Pause the video here to complete this practical task and resume when you are ready.

Okay, let us continue to reflect on your work and the provocations.

So Izzy says, "I was semi-successful in making something look strange with angles.

I think some of my images would make people confused.

I could exaggerate this in my re-shoot using longer shadows and perhaps colour gels to further distort the imagery." Okay, so Alex says, "I distorted real space by taking the shape of the bunting and using it to make an abstract collage, combining fabric and paper.

I stitched with zig-zag stitching to emphasise the triangular shape.

I think that reflects celebration in colour, shape, and mood." So here we are, we've arrived at our summary, looking at scale, proportion, and perspective.

Artists use proportion, scale, and perspective to emphasise parts of the artwork.

Artists use proportion, scale, and perspective to manipulate how the viewer interacts with the work.

Artists can change the proportion, scale, or perspective to develop new ideas and take their work in new directions.

I hope you have enjoyed this lesson and I look forward to teaching you next time.

Until then, take care.

Bye for now.