Lesson video

Hello, everyone, how are you doing today? Hope you're feeling 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 today we're looking at "Landscapes in 3D Design." That's the title of our lesson.

I love looking at landscapes, so I'm really excited for us to explore this topic in our lesson.

Our lesson comes from the unit of work foundation workshops.

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

The outcome for today's lesson is I can review the range of way artists and designers have been inspired by landscapes in 3D design.

We have some keywords in our lesson.

Let's go through them.

Landscape, scale, and perspective.

So what do these words mean? Well, landscape is all the visible features of an area of land, often considered in terms of their visual appeal.

Scale is the size of an object in relation to other objects or the environment, and perspective, the way we see or look at something from a particular position or viewpoint, the creation of depth in a 2D image.

These are keywords, landscape, scale, and perspective.

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 "Landscapes in 3D Designs," and it has three learning cycles, Artist spotlight: landscapes, Visual deconstruction: landscapes, and Personal connection in art: landscapes.

Let's begin by exploring Artist spotlight: landscapes.

Why do you think landscapes have always been such a powerful inspiration in 3D design? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Artists and designers across history and cultures have been inspired by landscapes in their 3D design.

Artists and designers take different approaches to the techniques and themes associated with work inspired by landscapes.

Some themes and techniques artists might use when creating a landscape artwork are being inspired by colours, textures, or forms from landscapes, exploring scale, changing our perspective on landscapes, responding to events and changes in landscapes, commenting on important issues.

Some artists and designers are inspired by colours, textures, or forms from landscapes.

Can you think of any examples of 3D design which are inspired by colours, textures, or forms found in landscapes? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Artists and designers are often inspired by the local landscape and its colours, textures, and forms. Have you ever noticed how colours, shapes, or textures used in 3D design change in different places? Pause here and share with someone if you have.

Thanks for sharing.

Adaptations of colours, textures, and forms can be Marrakech's buildings have terracotta walls, thick insulation, and narrow streets for shade.

Sami houses in Scandinavia use dark tones to absorb heat and turf roofs for insulation.

Santorini's whitewashed walls reflect sunlight and rounded shapes minimise sun exposure.

Let's have a check for understanding, true or false.

Artists and designers only create work based on their imagination, not from their local environment.

Pause here and decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false, 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.

"Many artists and designers draw inspiration "from the colours, textures, "and forms of the local landscape, "connecting their work to real places." Artists and designers responding three-dimensionally to the colours, textures, and forms in local landscapes include Douglas Cardinal's flowing organic architectural forms mimic the curves of natural landforms and rivers, reflecting Indigenous world views.

Paul Cummins' monumental installation "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red" was inspired by the poppy fields that grew on World War I battlefields, symbolising remembrance and loss.

And Ro Robertson created "Stone (Butch)," 2021, which is a sculpture created by directly casting the negative space in a rock crevice at Godrevy Point, Cornwall.

Landscapes cause artists and designers to explore scale and perspective.

How do these images show explorations of scale? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Andeep.

"Scale models help architects see "how buildings will fit into the landscape." Laura, "Changing the size of a model can show "different viewpoints and details." And Lucas, "Using scale lets designers plan "how people will move through a space." Perhaps you said something like this.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Why do architects use scale models when designing buildings for landscapes? A, to decorate their studio and offices, B, to make construction of the building structure faster, C, to practise their drawing and construction skills, or D, to understand how the design works in its environment? Pause here while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer D.

Indeed, architects use scale models when designing buildings for landscapes to understand how the design works in its environment.

Architects using scale models to understand their designs better include Simone Velez uses scale models to test and refine his designs, particularly to understand how people will interact with the spaces and to ensure structural stability.

These models help with visualising the space and aesthetic qualities of his bamboo structures.

Sarah Wigglesworth used digital models in designing Mellor Primary School to create imaginative indoor and outdoor learning spaces.

Designers respond to events and changes over time in their designs.

How does a design like this respond to increased temperatures? Pause here and share with someone.

Perhaps you talked about where the sun is shining at different points in the day and the availability of shady spaces created by this design.

Designs which respond to events and changes over time include Bait Ur Rouf Mosque designed by Marina Tabassum was built to protect against flooding and also reflect her personal experiences.

She created quiet spaces for reflection and mourning after her grandmother passed away.

"RomaMoMA Nomadic Library: Handle with Care" 2023 by Erika Varga and Helena Varga is an installation that gathers Romani books and imagery in a bookshop setting.

Acting as a cultural landscape, it preserves Romani identity, memory, and history through everyday objects and storytelling.

Artists and designers can use 3D design to create new viewpoints and perspectives on landscapes.

Can you think of any ways we can change how we look at landscapes? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Izzy.

"Windows can frame our views of landscapes, "like when mosaics are shown under glass." And Alex, "Designers can also use raised walkways to change "how we see the landscape from above." Let's have a check for understanding, true or false.

Artists and designers cannot change how we see a landscape.

Pause here and decide if this statement is true or false.

Well done if you selected false, 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.

"Artists and designers can frame landscapes "or alter our perspective to change how we see "and interact with the landscape." Artists and designers who use 3D design to create new viewpoints and perspectives on landscapes include new East Window of St.

Martin-in-the-Fields, 2008, by Shirazeh Houshiary alters our perspective of the landscape from inside.

The High Line in New York is a park on an old railway, and it lifts visitors above street level, changing how they see and move through the city landscape.

Richard Long's "A Line Made by Walking" marks the ground through repeated walking, revealing patterns in the landscape we might usually overlook.

Artists and designers can use landscapes and 3D designs to comment on or address important issues in society.

This can be part of a social action project.

What important issues do you think artists and designers might discuss? Pause here and decide.

Artists can use landscapes and the themes they symbolise to address important issues in the world.

Agnes Denes planted a wheatfield on a landfill site near Wall Street in "Wheatfield - A Confrontation," 1982, to contrast between nature and global finance.

She used the landscape to question priorities in society.

"Makoko Floating School," 2013, created by Kunle Adeyemi, was designed for the Makoko community, a settlement vulnerable to flooding.

It is designed to adapt to rising tides, providing a safe, sustainable space for education and community.

Artists may also respond to landscapes in 3D design to respond to natural disasters, examine the impact of wars and make improvements, explore dystopia and utopia, create land art, the manipulation of physical landscapes, and reflect culture or history through locations.

And now, it's time for your first task.

I would like you to select two or three specific 3D artworks that respond to landscapes and compare them.

Consider these questions.

In what ways are the artworks visually similar or different, subject, colour, tone, shape, style, composition, and materials? What themes, symbols, or ideas do the artworks explore? Are there any connections between them? Pause here while you have a go at this task.

It's good to be back with you.

How did you get on with that task? You may have said something like this.

"Agnes Denes created a contrasting rural landscape "next to a rich urban location to draw our attention "to important issues.

"She made use of natural materials "from landscapes in her work." "Douglas Cardinal often used bricks in his buildings, "but his forms are flowing and organic, "and reflect natural forms in his buildings.

"His work does contrast with the landscape "due to the scale and how solid they are." You may have said something like this.

Agnes Denis planted a field as an installation, contrasted urban and rural, as well as rich and poor, and used natural materials.

Douglas Cardinal creates buildings which are used, reflects natural forms back in the landscape, and used human-made materials.

And what they both have in common is that they promote the natural world and take inspiration from landscapes.

And now, we're onto our next learning cycle, Visual deconstruction: landscapes.

What do you notice first about this artwork, and how does it link to its landscape? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Artists use various techniques to communicate visually in their work, the elements of art, line, tone, colour, pattern, shape, form, and texture, composition, space, and perspective, materials and techniques, imagery and subject.

We can deconstruct these techniques to understand the work more deeply.

Let's have a check for understanding.

How does analysing an artist's use of elements like line, colour, materials, and composition help us understand their artwork better? A, it allows us to notice details that create mood, meaning, and focus, B, it helps us to see the techniques the artists use to express ideas and emotions, C, it only matters if the artist explains their work, D, it tells us exactly what the artist wanted us to think without any personal interpretation? Pause here while you decide.

Well done if you selected answers A and B.

So how are the elements of art used in this work? We can see straight lines and geometric shapes.

A range of window sizes create different patterns.

The colour is all consistent, so we focus on texture.

Lots of glass windows at the top will add light.

Outdoor spaces created on all levels and a wide range of plants have been planned into the design to create variety.

Perhaps you notice some of these elements.

Architects consider the local landscapes in their designs.

The needs of the local landscapes can change the design requirements of the buildings being designed.

Can you think of any needs which might alter between different landscapes? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

How could this have been designed for a hot climate? Pause here and share about this.

Thanks for sharing.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Shaded areas to block direct sunlight, courtyards or green spaces to create cooler microclimates, thick walls to reduce heat gain, promote natural ventilation with airflow.

And here's Andeep, "Buildings in rainy areas might need "good drainage systems and trees to soak up rain." Laura, "In hot places, architects might design "for shade and airflow." And Lucas, "Mountainous areas might require "strong foundations to handle slopes." Great ideas there.

Let's have a check for understanding.

How can the local landscape affect an architect's building design? A, it can change the shape, materials, and layout of the building, B, it doesn't affect the design at all, C, it only affects buildings in the countryside, or D, it only affects the colour of the building? Pause here while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer A.

It can change the shape, materials, and layout of the building.

And now, it's time for your next task.

I would like you to select one 3D artwork that responds to a landscape and describe it.

Describe what you can see in the artwork, the elements of art, line, tone, colour, pattern, shape, form, and texture, composition, space, and perspective, materials and techniques, imagery and subject, how the artist has used these techniques to communicate with the audience.

You might record this as an idea shower around an image of an artwork, write it as a paragraph, or create an audio or film recording of your ideas.

Pause here while you have a go at this task.

It's great to be back with you.

You may have said something like this.

"The materials of the landscape "have been used in this model.

"The composition is busy "with so many different square sections.

"Textures are created with different surfaces and materials.

"The circular shapes contrast the square forms. "This work uses a natural colour palette.

"Shown on a flat surface, like the ground." Or you may have said something like this.

"The landscape is not included, "so we cannot see where this is situated.

"This tower could tell us more about "the purpose of this structure.

"Textures are smooth and sleek, like birch trees or bamboo.

"A focus on geometric shapes and straight lines.

"A shaded area has been created using vertical poles.

"Shown from an elevated perspective, "like we are looking down on it." And now, it's time for our final learning cycle, Personal connection in art: landscapes.

How can looking at an artist's work help us develop our own work? Pause here and share with someone.

Here's Aisha, "Artwork with a similar theme "can help develop ideas, "rather than just an artwork that uses the same technique." Jun, "I'll look at techniques and perspective, "and try to apply them to my theme." And Sam, "Work that has similar imagery "or landscapes can inspire even if the idea is different." Check for understanding, fill in the gap.

"We can look at other artists' work to gain inspiration "through their use of, "imagery and themes, helping to develop "and enrich their own creative ideas." Pause here while you fill in the gap.

Well done if you selected the word techniques to fill in the gap.

There are a number of things which can cause us to have a personal connection with an artwork, such as connecting to the use of techniques or expression of themes.

We can establish a personal connection to an artwork by interpreting how landscapes can signify deeper meanings or a theme.

We can often find links to our own work through deconstructing both the themes and techniques used in an artwork.

Check for understanding, true or false.

We can establish a personal connection with a landscape through the 3D designs created.

Pause here and decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected true, and now say a little more about your answer.

Perhaps you said something like this.

"3D designs like sculptures, buildings, "or installations can reflect emotions, memories, "or cultural ties to a place, "helping us feel more connected to the landscape." What themes or deeper meanings might the artist or designer have considered in the design of this building in this landscape? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Aisha, "I like use of natural elements like plants, "and could use this in my own project "of inside and outside." Jacob, "My theme is faith.

"The high ceilings and the spaces at the top "with lots of light could be good places for quiet prayer." Love the idea, and Sofia, "This looks like a residential space, "which links to my theme of home "and travel by showing places where people live." Can you think of other thematic interpretations? Pause here and share with someone.

And now, it's time for your final task.

Select one artwork, and use the questions below to consider your personal connection.

What themes, symbols, or ideas does this art explore? Are there any symbols, imagery, or connections between them that help create a narrative or show meaning? Which techniques, processes, or creative decisions in this artwork inspire you, and how might you use them in your own work? You might record this as an idea shower around an image of an artwork, write it as a paragraph, or create an audio or film recording of your ideas.

Pause here while you have a go at this task.

So how did you get on? Perhaps you said something like this, "Theme: Home and habitats.

"In this work, consideration for the habitats of wildlife "has been considered in the surface of the building.

"It also looks like it could be made from sustainable "or recycled materials, "making it good from an environmental impact viewpoint.

"I plan to use material and textures like this, "but would aim to create "more experimental forms and shapes." You may have said something like this, "Theme: Landmarks.

"This building model suggests a large "and imposing structure.

"I think that the tower "and shaded area suggest it could be a building "for celebrating and practising a faith.

"I will create a design where there is thought given "to inside and outside spaces.

"The structure could act as a meeting space, "so I could develop this by adding benches "and planting to reflect the surrounding landscape." In our lesson "Landscapes in 3D Design," we've covered the following.

Landscapes offer a diverse array of colours, textures, and forms that inspire artists.

Working in 3D allows artists to play with scale and perspective, creating immersive environments that engage viewers.

Artists often reflect on historical events or changes in landscapes over time.

Landscape artworks can engage with deeper themes.

Well done, everyone, for engaging in this lesson in the way you have, exploring landscapes, the way that artists work with landscapes, and take inspiration from them, and take them into account in their 3D designs.

I hope you've enjoyed this lesson.

I really have, and I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.