Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

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

My name is Ms. Afzal, and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson.

I'm feeling very pleased about that because I love teaching art and because we've got a very interesting lesson ahead.

Our lesson is called "Unity, variety, rhythm, and balance." Some really interesting words in there.

Our lesson comes from the unit of work Foundation workshops: revisiting elements of art and principles of art.

So if you are ready with some energy, focus, and enthusiasm, we'll begin our lesson.

The outcome for today's lesson is: I can create unity, variety, rhythm, and balance in experimental compositions.

We have some keywords in our lesson.

Let's go through them.

Unity, variety, rhythm, and balance.

So what do these words mean? Well, unity, it's ensuring the elements look like they belong together.

Variety: using a range of elements to create visual interest.

Rhythm: a visual beat made by elements in your work.

And balance: how the visual weight is distributed in the artwork.

These are our keywords: unity, variety, rhythm, and balance.

Let's look out for them.

Let's listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Our lesson is called "Unity, variety, rhythm, and balance" and it has three learning cycles.

First of all, understand how artists use unity and variety.

Next, choose a motif, and then play with ideas to create alternative compositions.

But let's begin with understanding how artists use unity and variety.

And let's jump ahead to the end of the lesson and see what some possible outcomes for today might include.

Pause here and share with someone your impressions of these outcomes.

So intriguing.

Thanks for sharing.

Have you seen any art in your school or community that feels exciting to look at? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

An artwork can feel both organised and exciting, like a song that's predictable in its beat but full of surprises in its lyrics.

I wonder if you can think of any songs like that.

Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

"To organise an artwork, you need to think it through carefully to plan and balance the art elements in it," says Aisha.

And Sofia: "Line, tone, colour, shape, form, texture, and pattern are the visual elements of the artist." And Jacob says, "Selecting them carefully helps create a piece that looks like it belongs together." Let's have a check for understanding.

What are the elements of art, the visual tools we use to create artwork? A, line, tone, colour, shape, form, texture, pattern, and composition.

B, glue, tape, rulers, and pencils.

C, rhythm, proportion, unity, and variety.

Pause here while you decide, what are the elements of art we use to create artwork? Well done if you selected answer A.

Indeed, it's line, tone, colour, shape, form, texture, pattern, and composition.

These are the elements of art.

We need to apply these visual tools to help us achieve unity and variety.

Unity means ensuring the elements look like they belong together.

Variety means using a range of elements to make it look more interesting.

Unity and variety are both principles of art.

How does this sketch show unity and variety? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Sofia.

"They varied the angles of faces and layered them.

This combination suggests that they belong together, creating unity." And Jun says, "The artist added curved lines and created straight linear marks using an eraser.

This adds variety while still feeling like the lines belong to the work." So we can see some great references there to the unity and variety in this sketch.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Unity means ensuring the elements look like they belong together, and variety means keeping it interesting.

Pause here and decide, is this true or false? Well done if you selected true, and now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause here while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

These are two key principles of art we can apply to our developing work to create visual interest.

Here's Andeep: "I've used repeat patterns all over to create unity.

It feels like they belong.

To make it interesting, I varied the patterns, colours, and shapes across the sculpture." Unity can be achieved without relying on pattern.

Unity can come from consistent use of colour, shape, or theme, allowing the artwork to feel cohesive without looking like a repeating pattern.

How are red and purple used to balance the colours in Andeep's sculpture? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

How has this artist created a work that feels like it belongs together and kept it interesting at the same time? Pause here and share with someone nearby.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Sofia.

"The similar shapes and materials create unity, but the composition is varied and creates excitement through the circular pattern." I wonder if you had an answer like this.

Unity and variety are vital to global creative practise.

For instance, West African adinkra cloth is a fabric made from consistent dyes and woven patterns, but features diverse motifs that convey meanings.

Native American pueblo pottery used similar clay and natural pigments, but varied designs represent different tribes and stories.

The Marvel films have a style marked by vibrant colours, sleek effects, and key action scenes.

Recurring themes like light versus dark symbolise good versus evil.

While each film varies in plot and characters, cohesive design elements such as costumes and architecture link them visually.

Hew Locke is a mixed media artist who creates unity through repetitive patterns and shapes while introducing variety with bold, contrasting colour and texture, often exploring themes of heritage and colonialism.

Lindsay Adams is a painter who achieves unity with colour and compositional layering, but adds variety through dynamic brushstrokes.

Saul Bass is a graphic designer who achieves unity in his designs through simple shapes, limited colour, and a minimalist style while adding variety in contrasting lines, topography, and playful composition.

And some more artists who create especially unified or varied artwork are: Sally Mann, who creates unity in her photography through her focus on natural landscapes and portraiture, but varies her work with dramatic lighting, often exploring themes of memory and mortality.

Jeffrey Gibson is a contemporary artist who unifies his work by blending traditional indigenous patterns with modern materials, adding variety through bright, eclectic colours, addressing identity and culture.

Sculptor Phyllida Barlow brings unity to her large-scale abstract forms, but introduces variety through unconventional materials like plywood and fabric, often challenging traditional sculpture.

And now it's time for your first task.

Firstly, I'd like you to choose an artwork and identify the visual art elements.

Next, I'd like you to discuss how the art elements have been used to create unity and variety.

Consider the use of the visual elements, line, tone, colour, shape, form, texture, and pattern, the composition, process, and use of materials.

So pause here while you have a go at this task.

Great to be back with you.

How did you get on with that task, choosing an artwork and identifying the visual art elements? You might have: chosen an artwork from the slides, your sketchbook, an image online or in a book, or belonging to someone else you know; described where you can see examples of line, tone, colour, shape, space, form, texture, and pattern; identified any art elements you can't find; suggested why the artist might have used this combination of elements.

And for the second part of your task, discuss how the art elements have been used to create unity and variety.

You might have said something like this.

"Andeep's experimental drawings use continuous wire-like lines and layering, limited to green and blue for unity, while varied shapes and dense lines create tone and visual interest.

The built up line work creates an irregular pattern." And now we're on to our next learning cycle, choose a motif.

Selecting a motif can help you create unity.

A motif is a repeated design, shape, or pattern that creates unity, like the wire-like lines tying this work together.

It can guide your creative journey and connect your work across stages.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? A motif can connect your work across the different stages because it links your work together.

Pause here and decide, is this true or false? Well done if you said true.

And now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause here while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Selecting and experimenting with a motif is useful for creating synthesis across your body of work.

What motifs can you see in your experiments so far? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Let's hear from Izzy.

"My motif will be from one of my photo shoots.

I'll pick something visually interesting that I want to keep working with." And Jun: "I've been using tools as my source, so I think my motif today could be a tool like a hammer." Aisha creates a viewfinder to help her choose a section of her work as a motif by folding the paper in half, cutting a rectangle over the fold line in the centre, opening it out, observing and selecting an interesting view.

Check for understanding.

Why might you use a viewfinder? Is it A, to select an area of interest; B, to attach fabrics together; or C, as a method for creating monoprints? Pause here while you decide why you might use a viewfinder.

Well done if you selected answer A.

Indeed, it's to select an area of interest.

And now it's time for your next task.

I would like you to select a motif from your work so far.

You could: use a viewfinder to select a small area of a larger work as we just saw Aisha do; use a camera to photograph an element; use your source to generate a motif; select a previous drawing, shape, or image.

So pause here while you have a go at selecting a motif from your work so far.

Pause here and I'll see you when you've done this.

Okay, it's good to be back with you.

Here's Laura.

"I chose the shapes I found in my building blocks as my motifs.

I'll use rectangles and circles for my design." And love those building blocks.

And here's Andeep.

"I chose a range of angular wooden buildings I had photographed on holiday during the summer.

I'll use the intersecting lines and linear details in my motif." Well done for having a go at this task.

And now we're on to our final learning cycle, play with ideas to create alternative compositions.

Balance is a useful principle when planning an artwork as it helps create order or disorder in your work.

Andeep has created a little symmetrical balance using red and blue patterns.

It's the same on both sides.

Do you think symmetrical balance creates order or disorder? Pause here and share with someone.

What do you think? Thanks for sharing.

Here's Lucas: "It looks like it's solid and stable because symmetrical balance creates order." How has this designer applied balance? The composition is, choose one of these: symmetrical, the same on both sides; asymmetrical, not the same on both sides but it still feels visually balanced; radial, arranged around a central point, spreading out like spokes on a wheel; or imbalanced, feels visually uneven with more emphasis on one side.

So pause here while you share with someone, how has this designer applied balance? Thanks for sharing.

Here's Izzy: "It is asymmetrically balanced as there's more weight on the left side." Let's have a check for understanding.

Which image represents radial balance? Is it A, B, or C? Pause here while you decide.

Well done if you chose image C.

Indeed, this image represents radial balance arranged around a central point like spokes on a wheel.

Hmm, take a look at this image, which elements in this image feel heavier? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Lucas.

"The dark shapes look heaviest." You can balance your work by adjusting visual weight.

Even asymmetrical pieces can feel balanced with careful consideration.

Visual weight is affected by: size: larger elements have more visual weight; colour: darker and more saturated colours look heavier; shape: solid shapes usually look heavier; texture: strong textures feel heavier than smooth surfaces; contrast: high-contrast areas increase visual weight; positioning: elements appear heavier towards the base; and grouping: multiple elements together are heavier.

Many of these are part of our visual toolkit of art elements.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which list contains elements that are all visually heavy? Is it A, dark lines, bold shapes, smooth textures; B, saturated colours, fine lines, groups of shapes; or C, rough textures, dark tones, high contrast, big shapes? Pause here and share with someone, which list contains elements that are all visually heavy? Well done if you selected answer C.

Indeed, rough textures, dark tones, high contrast, and big shapes are all visually heavy.

Let's take a look at this artwork being created.

When you repeat and vary the elements in your work, you create a rhythm or visual beat.

Rhythm guides the viewer's eye and shapes how they see your work.

Izzy has explored unity, variety, rhythm, and balance.

"I wanted to repeat a plantain motif from my photo shoot last lesson.

I found A was repetitive, but B had more variety." How did Izzy apply rhythm and balance? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

A rhythm was created using shape to guide our eyes across the page in a sweeping motion.

An even balance is made using two large shapes facing inwards.

Alex reviews his last paper collage and decides to develop his bunting motif by fusing plastic bags.

Paper and shapes cut from plastic bags are placed into a plastic wallet, and then he carefully and safely, keyword, irons them between layers of greaseproof paper.

Has Alex successfully explored unity, variety, and rhythm? What do you think? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Aisha: "It feels varied in colour, but unified in shape." Sofia: "A rhythm is somewhat present in the bunting.

Could it be echoed more in the background?" Interesting reflections.

And now it's time for your final task.

I would like you to repeat and vary your motif along with the art elements to explore unity, variety, rhythm, and balance.

You could repeat the motif, vary the art elements, create a rhythm in the composition, test different arrangements to create different types of balance.

So pause here while you have a go at this task.

I'll see you when you're finished.

It's good to be back with you.

How did you get on with that task of repeating and varying your motif along with the art elements to explore unity, variety, rhythm, and balance? Here's Laura: "I used limited colours and shapes to create unity.

I varied the layers and explored the best layout for balance and rhythm." I think you've done a great job there.

Love that final outcome.

In our lesson, "Unity, variety, rhythm, and balance," we've covered the following.

Unity brings together different elements of a piece to create a harmonious whole.

It helps viewers understand the work as one.

Balance creates a sense of stability and order, making the artwork feel grounded.

Variety keeps things lively.

Using a variety of repeating elements creates a rhythm.

Rhythm helps your eye move across an artwork.

Artists might use tone or colour to create unity, variety, rhythm, and balance.

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

It was great to explore unity, variety, rhythm, and balance together.

These are so important when we're creating artworks, and I especially loved how you played around with your ideas to create a unique and balanced composition.

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

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

Until then, stay creative.