Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

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

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

I'm excited about that because I love teaching art and also because today, we're looking at something really quite interesting, which is balance.

How do we achieve balance in our art? That's what we'll be getting into.

Our lesson is called "Principles of Art: Balance," and it comes from the unit of work "The principles of Art." So if you're ready to explore balance, if you have some perhaps balance of your own in this moment, some focus, some enthusiasm, let's begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is, "I can produce examples of balance in 2D and 3D forms," which means we'll be getting practical and really getting into our own artwork creation.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them.

They are balance, asymmetrical, and symmetrical.

So what do these words mean? Balance means elements are arranged so the artwork feels stable and even.

Asymmetrical, elements are different, not the same on both sides.

And symmetrical, the same on both sides when split down the middle, creating a mirror image that looks balanced.

These are our keywords, balance, asymmetrical, and symmetrical.

Let's be on the lookout for them.

Let's listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Our lesson is called "Principles of Art: Balance," and it has two learning cycles.

Firstly, apply balance in a 2D composition and then be experimental with balance in 3D.

Sounds like a lot of fun.

Let's begin with applying balance in a 2D composition.

A potential outcome for today's lesson might be, we can see something two-dimensional on the left and a 3D outcome on the right.

They're looking really captivating.

Take a look at this composition.

What do you think makes this composition look pleasing? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

This composition feels balanced.

Balance in art is like a scale and each object has visual weight.

Place a large dark shape on one side of the composition.

To balance the composition, you might add a smaller brighter shape to the other side.

Artists adjust the visual weight, so everything feels stable.

Balance in art and design means making sure everything looks even and stable.

Balance stops compositions from looking too crowded and chaotic or empty and uninteresting.

Balance makes artwork visually pleasing.

Balance helps artists express their ideas clearly.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Balance makes an artwork look stable and even.

Pause the video and decide, is this true or false? Well done if you select true.

Indeed, using balance can help an artist make their work look more pleasing because it feels stable and even.

Well done if you came up with an answer like this.

Artists use balance to guide the viewer's eyes over their work.

For example, Faith Ringgold made storytelling quilts that balance vibrant patterns and figures.

Tacita Dean explores natural forms and balance in landscapes through abstract films and installations.

And Niki de Saint Phalle created colourful, organic sculptures with balanced forms that combine playfulness and structural stability.

As we can see, there are a number of artists using balance in their work.

There are different types of balance: symmetrical balance, asymmetrical balance, and radial balance.

Pause the video here and share, which of these three types of balance are you most drawn towards? Do you find most interesting and captivating? I think they're all pretty interesting, but I think I'm quite drawn towards the asymmetrical balance.

Symmetrical balance is when one side of the artwork mirrors the other side.

Symmetrical balance makes things look formal, neat, and calm.

It's easy to understand and feel stable.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of these is an example of symmetrical balance? Is it A, B, or C? Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected B.

B is symmetrical because it is mirrored on both sides.

Asymmetrical balance is when the two sides of a design look different, but still feel balanced.

Artists use things like colour, size, or placement to make both sides weigh the same visually.

It creates a more interesting, dynamic look.

And it feels natural and lively.

Students are discussing drawing a balanced scene in their books.

Here's Izzy.

"If I draw a shape on one side, I should add something with equal visual weight on the other side to keep it balanced." And Laura, "Yes, and if you use something different but with equal visual weight, you'll have asymmetrical balance." Hmm.

Take a look at this example of balance.

What do you think radial balance means? Pause the video and share with someone.

I wonder what you came up with.

Perhaps something like this.

Radial balance happens when elements radiate out from a central point, like spokes on a wheel or a star.

Radial balance draws your eye inward and outward from the middle.

It's often used in logos or decorations.

And it creates a sense of energy and focus.

Pause the video, can you think of a logo or decoration that uses radial balance? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Let's have another check for understanding.

What's an example of radial balance? Is it A, a tree with branches spreading out? B, a star or flower with elements around a centre? Or C, a reflection of a landscape in a lake? Pause the video while you decide which of these is an example of radial balance.

Well done if you selected answer B, a star or flower is an example of radial balance with the elements around a centre.

Sam is creating a collage and applying balance.

She begins with geometric shapes and then adds organic shapes, folds the paper to cut multiple shapes, and then experiments with layout to create balance.

And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to create a cut paper collage using repeated 2D shapes.

So first of all, cut a range of geometric and organic 2D shapes.

Move the shapes to create examples of symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial balance in your composition.

So pause the video while you have a go at creating your own cut paper collage using repeated 2D shapes.

I'll see you when you're finished.

Okay, so how did you get on with that task, creating a cut paper collage using repeated 2D shapes? You might have created something like this.

How wonderful.

Here's Sam, "I created asymmetrical balance by arranging my shapes one at a time.

Each time I put something on one side, I added something different to balance it on the other side." Great strategy.

Love that, Sam.

You might have created something wonderful like this.

Here's Sofia, "Symmetrical balance felt simple so I experimented by adding my own photographs too.

Now the shapes are symmetrical, but the pattern on the photos is asymmetrical." Love that.

Mixing it up there, Sofia.

And now we're onto our next learning cycle, be experimental with balance in 3D.

How can we create balance in a 3D artwork? Take a look at this example to support you with your answer.

Pause the video and share with someone how we can create balance in a 3D artwork.

Thanks for sharing your ideas and we're gonna be going into this a whole lot more in this learning cycle.

Balanced artworks can make your audience feel calm.

How do you feel as you take a look at this artwork here? I definitely feel a sense of spaciousness and calm.

When elements feel like they're in a perfect place, we call this equilibrium.

Stacked stones often balance, even when individually they appear uneven.

We can experiment with balance to find the point of equilibrium.

Let's take a look at some artists who have been experimental with balance.

Andy Goldsworthy uses natural materials that look delicate but are carefully balanced.

He uses things like leaves, stones, or ice.

Subodh Gupta combines everyday objects arranged in balance ways, exploring cultural identity and form.

And Alexander Calder is known for his mobiles: colourful, lightweight, kinetic sculptures that hang and move.

So we can see there are a number of artists who are being experimental with balance in their artwork.

Artists experiment to discover new ideas, techniques, or ways of expressing themselves.

You can experiment too.

You can create individual outcomes.

You can push boundaries and break existing rules.

Why not? Let's have a check for understanding.

Artists experiment with ideas and techniques like balance to, and select all that apply.

Create harmony in their work.

Explore new ideas.

Push boundaries to make something more original.

Pause the video while you decide why artists experiment with ideas and techniques like balance.

Well done if you selected all of these ideas and all of these answers are good reasons to experiment in your work, to create harmony, explore new ideas, and push boundaries to make something more original.

Experimentation is the way.

Artists can also experiment to create work that is not balanced.

Laura and Aisha are discussing why artists might choose to create imbalanced work.

Aisha, "Perhaps they might want to make you feel unsettled or uneasy.

The artist can match how they arrange their composition with what they want to express." And Laura, "A composition that is not balanced could create a disturbing effect on the viewer." I've definitely been to some exhibitions where there has been a sense of unease and imbalance and that's been interesting and disturbing at the same time.

Artists that experiment to create work that is not always balanced include: Anwar Shemza makes things imbalanced by contrasting elements and creating tensions that challenge the viewer.

Toyin Ojih Odutola creates expressive drawings that highlight the face with strong contrast, sharp lines, and minimal backgrounds.

Check for understanding.

True or false? Making your work purposefully imbalanced makes the viewer feel settled and calm.

Pause the video while you decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

Art that is not balanced can feel unsettling and chaotic.

Artists can use this to elicit an uneasy response from the viewer.

You can experiment with balance physically using sculpture.

You can consider actual weight and visual weight.

Before experimenting with balance, you'll need a strong secure base.

Make a fulcrum.

This one is a rolled up tube taped tightly.

Pinch one end and create a flange at the other end.

Secure the flange to a flat solid base.

And then select a lever.

This one is a long stick pushed into the fulcrum.

So this is how we can create a strong, secure base for our 3D artwork, experimenting with balance.

You could experiment with art materials, clay, plasticine, wire, thread, tape, straws, sticks, card.

Found materials, I find it really interesting to see what we come across and what we can use for our artwork.

Sticks, stones, natural forms, household objects, scrap, or recycling materials.

Laura is trying to make a sculpture out of found materials to experiment with balance.

She follows these steps.

Make a fulcrum.

Laura has folded down the top.

Select a lever.

Laura uses a fork.

Interesting idea.

And then create balance with different materials.

I love how creative Laura has been with this.

Hanging some things over one end of the fork and then placing something like the teaspoon in between the tines of the fork.

Really great thinking there.

Andeep experiments with balance using long sticks and plasticine.

He has found inspiration in nature, uses a large ball of plasticine to form a base.

Another ball creates the central focal point, and different colours and shapes of plasticine to create balance.

Jun is experimenting to make a hanging sculpture.

A stick is placed into a plasticine base.

Card shapes are glued together with string in the middle and the string is tied to create multiple points of balance.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Artists can experiment with balance using: A, 2D forms such as collage only.

B, 2D and 3D forms such as collage and sculpture.

Or C, 3D forms only.

Pause the video while you decide how artists can experiments with balance.

Well done if you selected answer B, artists can create balance in both 2D and 3D forms by considering visual weight.

Artists also consider actual weight as they create balance in 3D forms. And now it's time for your next task.

I'd like you to experiment with found materials and art materials to create a balanced sculpture.

Consider which materials to use.

Choose a solid base, fulcrum, and lever if using one.

Consider visual weight as you select colours and shapes.

So pause here while you have a go at experimenting with found materials and art materials to create a balanced sculpture.

So how did you get on with that task, experimenting with found materials and art materials to create a balanced sculpture? Maybe you created something fabulous like this.

Oh my.

Well done, Andeep.

He says, "I experimented to combine hanging and long sticks with a fulcrum and a lever to create a balanced sculpture.

I tried to consider visual weight in the colours as well as the physical mass of the objects." Yeah, I love the way there's that red, green, and yellow on each side, really considering that visual weight in terms of the colours.

Here's Laura's example.

So interesting.

Laura likes the cutlery.

"I was inspired by Subodh Gupta.

I experimented with materials around the art room and outside to create balance.

I found I needed plasticine to hold objects in place.

I also enjoyed exploring light and shadow to create a photo of my work." There are some really interesting shadows being produced there.

Wonderful, wonderful creation.

And here is Jun with the hanging sculpture.

"I created a hanging sculpture.

I love the way it rotated slowly.

It was very peaceful and reminded me of Alexander Calder's artwork.

I experimented with the base and eventually used a large lump of clay to keep it steady.

If I had more time, I could hang it from a coat hanger so it could move in space." What a fabulous idea.

And I hope you all enjoyed creating your balanced sculptures.

In our lesson today, "Principles of Art: Balance," we've covered the following.

Balance is the visual weight of each element and how it is distributed to make the composition feel stable.

Balance in an artwork helps to lead the viewer's eye around the artwork and create a sense of unity.

Experimenting with balance can create different reactions from the viewer.

Creating work that is imbalanced can be used to depict unsettled emotions in an artwork.

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

I loved exploring balance together with you, symmetrical, asymmetrical balance, and then creating your own 2D and 3D artworks, exploring balance and experimenting with balance.

I hope you've enjoyed this lesson, I really have, and I'm looking forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.