Lesson video

Hello, my name is Miss Nadia, and I welcome you to our art lesson today.

I'm really excited to be going on this learning journey with you today, and I hope you enjoy it.

Our lesson title today is "Light and Dark in 3D Design," and your lesson outcomes are to be able to review a range of different ways that artists have been inspired by light and dark in 3D design.

And our keywords are: contrast.

Contrast is the difference between elements like light and dark or rough and smooth, and it makes parts of an artwork stand out.

Our second keyword today is directional light, and this is a focused beam of light that shines in a specific direction.

And our third keyword today is ambient light.

And ambient light is the general soft light that comes from indirect sources.

Our lesson today is split into three learning cycles, and the first learning cycle, which we are gonna begin with today, is called: Artist spotlight: light and dark.

Now, let's begin.

Describe how light and dark have been used in this work to create visual interest and meaning.

There are many reasons why light and dark are popular themes in art.

Light and dark are also applied using many techniques in 3D design.

Some of the themes and techniques that use light and dark are: to communicate mood and atmosphere; to define a focal point; to capture form and space; and to interact with materials.

Some artists and designers use light and dark to create a mood, an atmosphere, and contrast in artworks.

What type of lighting can create different moods? Light isn't just practical, it's a powerful tool for storytelling in 3D art.

So if we take a look at this example here, colour and lighting from one specific angle can feel spooky or dramatic.

And if we look at a similar image, which is very different indeed, the soft, even lighting in this example can make something feel calm and peaceful.

How else do you think that lighting could be used to create an emotion? Which is the most likely answer on how designers use light and dark to create mood in their work? Is it A, by helping the materials and textures of the artwork stand out more clearly? B, by making the artwork look more realistic through accurate shading? C, by showing the time of day and seasons in their design? Or D, by using shadows and brightness to make the viewer feel a certain emotion, like calmness or tension? And the answer is D, by using shadows and brightness to make the viewer feel a certain emotion, like calmness or tension.

Just like the examples shown in the previous slide.

Artists and designers creating mood and atmosphere using light and dark include: Grimanesa Amoros makes large-scale light installations, often using bold contrasts to transform public spaces into immersive emotional experiences.

Paul Nulty uses light to create mood in his designs, such as the Waldorf Astoria Lusail Doha ESPA Life Spa, where light is used to create a tranquil space.

United Visual Artists, UVA, create kinetic light and shadow installations like "Momentum," that combine movement and atmosphere.

High contrast, light, and dark can also highlight an area to draw our attention and focus there.

How might artists and designers use this in their work? In this example, Laura makes the point that the light draws attention to what it shines on and the way the shadow will hide parts away.

And Jun, however, says that this works to create a focal point.

Artists and designers might use this to enhance their work.

Artists and designers using high contrast light and dark to highlight and create a focal point include: Jessica Hung Han Yun.

She uses spotlights to control audience attention in her lighting designs, such as the play "Baghdaddy" in 2022.

Nicola Rigby works in figurative sculpture, and she uses light to enhance mood and draw attention to storytelling elements.

Stephen Knapp's light paintings are lit with a single light fitting and use reflection and refraction to create the painting.

Artists and designers can use light and dark to define form and space.

How does this use of light define form and space? Artists and designers making use of light and dark to define form and space include: Liz West, who is known for her immersive installations such as "Our Colour" in 2016, which explores perception, space, and atmosphere through light, transforming a simple space into vibrant experiences.

Roberto Villanueva created "Cordillera Labyrinth" in 1989, an installation that people could walk through.

He used natural materials and carefully placed light and shadow to shape the space and to make it feel like a ritual or a spiritual journey.

Let's have a go at a true or false question.

Artists and designers can use light and dark to define the form and space of an object.

Is this true or is this false? It is true.

But do you know why it's true? Have a little think.

So the reason why it is true is that light and shadow help to show curves, edges, and depth of a 3D object.

And this makes it easier for the viewer to understand its shape and how it sits in a space, even in a drawing or a model.

Artists and designers can use the way different materials react to light, like transparent fabrics, reflective surfaces, or textured finishes, to change how a design looks and feels.

Can you think of any examples of transparent, reflective, or texture surfaces? Artists using transparent materials in their work include: Rona Begum, who selected materials which appear semi-transparent for her installation "No.

1,104: Catching Colour" in 2022.

This allows light to pass through the work, which creates a delicate effect.

Do Ho Suh builds large-scale sculptures and architectural installations using thin, translucent fabrics, creating ghostly silhouettes and coloured atmospheres.

Artists using materials which block light to create dark shadows in their work include: Elisabeth Shriver creates ceramic lanterns where the material's ability to block and allow light through create patterns and textures.

Ustad Ahmad Lahori uses carved jali screens to shape light, define space, and beautifully blend form with function in the Taj Mahal.

So for your first task today, task A, what I would like you to do is to select two or three of the artists that we've looked at, or alternative artists, or specific artworks, and compare them.

Please consider the following questions in your answer today.

In what ways are the artworks visually similar or different? So with that, I'd like you to look at things like the theme of their artwork, the techniques that they use, the symbols, and the colour, tone, shape, style, composition, and materials used.

And really think about the connections between the artworks as well.

I wish you good luck on your task today, and I hope it goes well.

And I will be here when you get back.

Here are ways that you may have completed your task today.

You may have said, like Alex, that Liz West fills spaces with light so that you can see and feel the expanse of the space around you.

Whereas Robert Villanueva, his work is more about the shadows created and the closeness of space.

They have very different moods.

Here is another viewpoint from Aisha: "Robert Villanueva has used natural materials to cast those shadows, which are dark and lack colour, but West's work is bright and full of colour.

Grimanesa uses both dark and bright colour to create contrast in her work." Alternatively, you may have presented your findings in a Venn diagram like the one below.

Now, on the left-hand side is Liz West's work.

On the right-hand side is Robert Villanueva.

And in the middle, where the two circles overlap, are going to be the comparisons, and on each side are going to be the differences between the artwork.

With Liz West, she's bright colours and is full of light.

Questions how colour and light impact mood.

Allows us to see an expansive space.

On the other side, Robert Villanueva casts shadows using natural materials.

Exploration of identity and spirituality.

Controls the space so it is narrow.

And here in the middle, where the two pieces of artwork are similar, they use public art pieces, use light and shadow, and they both create a mood.

So, we are now going to move on to our second learning cycle, which is: Visual deconstruction: light and dark.

What is the first thing you notice about this particular artwork? Artists use various techniques to communicate in their work: the elements of art, such as 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.

I have a true or false question for you now.

Artists only use colour and subject matter to communicate meaning in their work.

Is this true, or is this false? The answer is false.

Why do you think it's false? Well, this is false because whilst colour and subject are important, artists also use many other techniques such as line, shape, texture, composition, and materials to share their ideas.

And by breaking down these elements, we can understand the artwork and its meanings more clearly and more deeply.

How are the elements of art used in this art? So here we have a stage set design, and if we look at all the different components, we can see that here the contrast of the light and dark focuses our attention on the middle of the stage.

The colours are warm under the lighting, and they're cooler in the shadows.

You can see a full range of colours here in that colour scheme, from cool colours to warm colours.

Lighting is planned for audience viewpoints, and the forms are lit with the spotlight, which casts a contrasting shadow behind these forms. The lighting is soft at the edges, so it all blends out, and there are low spotlights at the front of the stage.

Ambient and directional light can create different effects.

The light sources can be from many different directions in ambient light.

However, in directional light, the light source is from one direction, and what that does is it casts shadows.

So here we can see the difference between ambient light on the left-hand side of the screen and directional light on the right-hand side of the screen.

Ambient light creates a soft, even glow, and it makes a space feel calm or natural.

Whilst directional light, like a spotlight, can create drama and focus by highlighting one particular part of a design and casting strong shadows.

How do you think light is affecting the mood or focus in this particular design? On the ambient lit design, it doesn't dramatically affect my mood or where I focus my attention.

In contrast, the shadows on the directionally lit image focuses my attention on certain parts of this design, like the back wall and the shadows, which all create an eerie and dramatic effect.

Which of the following best explains the difference between ambient light and directional light? Is it A: ambient light creates a soft, even feel, whilst directional light focuses on one area and creates strong shadows? Or is it B: ambient light is used for decoration while directional light is used in theatre? Or is it C: both types of lights are used the same way in all designs? Or is it D: directional light is always brighter than ambient light? And the answer is A: ambient light creates a soft, even feel, whilst directional light focuses on one area and creates strong shadows.

What is the effect of ambient light in this particular artwork? Andeep says that "The use of ambient light is much softer.

We can see all the details, but some textures are less clear.

It makes me think of daylight, and it feels more natural and calm." What is the effect of directional light in this work? Andeep says that "This creates an instant focus on the dark shadows in the sculpture's form.

It feels striking and theatrical.

I notice the space around the sculpture more with the shadow cast on the ground." What light has been used in this work? Aisha says, "Directional lights, which cast shadows, has been used.

However, the light is blurred at the edges, so the shadow edges are blurred." So now I'm gonna be asking you to complete your second task of our lesson today, which is task B.

I'd like you to select one artwork and describe it.

I'd like you to describe what you see in that artwork, and I'd like you to look at the elements of art, including line, colour, pattern, shape, form, and texture.

I'd like you to look at the composition, space, and perspective.

The materials and the techniques.

The imagery used and the subject matter.

I'd also like you to look at how the artist have used these techniques to communicate with the audience.

You might record this as an idea shower around an image of the artwork, or you might write it as a paragraph, or you might prefer to present this as an audio or a film recording.

Good luck, and I will see you once you complete the task.

How did you get on with your task B today? I hope it went well.

Let's look at a few ways that you could have completed this task today.

So you may have said, for instance, in this example, that the forms are flowing and natural.

And on the other side, you may have said that the green woodworking craft skills are used.

You may have noticed that the artwork is centred around a light fixture.

You may have noted limited colour palettes with natural textures.

And on the left-hand side, there's been strong directional light that creates deep shadows and contrasting tones.

And on the right-hand side, in ambient light, the craft-making process and material are visible.

And in this particular example, what I like is the way that it's very clear because it has been presented as an idea shower around two very similar images, one with directional light and one with ambient light.

In our second example today, this again has been presented as an idea shower around an image.

There is strong directional light, which contrast a dark backdrop.

The composition is drawing our attention into the centre using light and props.

There are floating shapes that catch some lighting to draw attention to their forms. Colours have been used sparingly.

Objects in the set are highlighted and cast their own shadows.

Spotlights crossing focuses our attention.

Geometric shapes have been used in the props.

We will now begin our final learning cycle today, which is called: Personal connection in art: light and dark.

How can looking at an artist's work help us to develop our own work? Izzy says that "Art with similar themes can develop my ideas more than similar techniques or imagery." And Jacob says that "I'll look at techniques and compositions, and I'll try to apply them to my theme." Sofia says that "Work that has similar imagery can inspire, even if the idea is different." Can you fill in the gap to the following paragraph? We can look at other artists' work to gain inspiration through techniques, "blank," and themes, helping to develop and enrich our own creative ideas.

And the missing answer was "imagery." So let's read that again with the word complete: We can look at other artists' work to gain inspiration through techniques, imagery, and themes, helping to develop and enrich our own creative ideas.

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

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

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

How do you think light and dark is used in this work to communicate a deeper meaning? Do you think everyone would come up with the same meanings? Lucas says, "This inspires my theme of gatherings.

I plan for actors to cast shadows, giving the impression of a larger crowd." And Sam says, "My theme is faiths.

I'll use the idea of a structure and using directional light so that it's like a church, a mosque, or a temple." And Izzy says that "I wanted to look at identity and family, so I will use ambient warm lighting to create the idea of a safe family holiday." Can you think of other theme interpretations? We all interpret and understand artwork in the same way.

How art inspires us is uniform.

Is this true, or is this false? And the answer is false.

Why is it false? Everyone brings their own experiences, their own feelings, their own ideas when looking at art.

So that means that we all interpret it slightly differently.

And this is what makes art really powerful.

It can mean something unique to each person.

So you and I could look at the same piece of artwork, and I could see something very different to what you see.

And neither is right, and neither is wrong.

It's just our interpretation of that particular piece.

We will now be beginning task C.

So here are the instructions.

I would like you to select one artwork and use the questions below to consider your personal connection.

What themes, symbols, or ideas does this artwork explore? Are there any symbols, imagery, or connections between them that help to 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 or an artwork, or you might decide to write this up as a paragraph, or you could create an audio or a film recording.

I hope the task goes well for you, and we'll check back in soon.

So pause the video here, and we'll come back together once you've completed task C.

Let's look at how you could have completed task C today.

So if we look at this example here, we have got the image that we've used earlier today in our lesson with the contrasting ambient lighting and directional lighting.

And the theme of this piece here is natural forms. The organic and flowing forms and shapes of this design link clearly with my theme.

I like how they have used traditional craft techniques, making use of natural materials.

For my work, I will test making my own papers to capture natural materials and textures.

I will then create a hanging sculpture which has flowing organic forms like this work.

I am also inspired to test different types of lighting on my outcome.

Let's take a look at another example here.

The theme is my surroundings.

The high-contrast directional light draw our attention into the centre as if we are seeing inside the room.

The actors would cast shadows in the abstracted domestic space in the centre.

This would work well for an emotional moment in the play.

The backdrop is harder to see, so it feels more intimate.

I will use a torch to test how strong directional lighting would work with my mockup of a set design.

I will create paper figures to test how the shadows will impact on the mood of the stage.

So we are coming to the end of our lesson today.

So to summarise our lesson, which was "Light and Dark in 3D Design," we looked to artists and designers, and we looked at how they used light and dark to create mood, atmosphere, and visual contrast in 3D design.

And we paid quite a lot of attention to different types of light, including ambient light, which creates a soft, even glow, and it makes a space feel calm or natural through use of that natural lighting.

And in contrast to that, we also looked at directional light.

Directional light can be created through spotlights and through high-contrast lighting.

And what this type of lighting does is it creates a dramatic effect, and it focuses on one part of the design, casting strong shadows, like the examples that we saw in some of the theatre set designs we looked at earlier today in our lesson.

Light and shadow can be used to define form, space, and focal points, which can help guide the viewer's attention in a particular design.

The interaction between materials and light, such as transparency, reflection, and texture, can affect the outcome.

I really hope you've taken a lot from our lesson today, and understanding of light and dark in 3D design and the different types of lighting that can be created, that it can really support you and guide you in creating your 3D outcomes going forward.

I've really enjoyed today.

I hope you have too, and I will see you again very soon.

Thank you and goodbye.