Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you today? Hope you're feeling really, really great.

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

Our lesson is called the principles of art: proportion.

We're gonna be getting into proportion.

What is proportion? How do we show proportion? What different ideas are there? Have there been in art about proportion? Our lesson comes from the unit of work, the principles of art.

And if you are ready, got some focus, enthusiasm, if you're drawing materials to hand, then we'll begin.

The outcome for a lesson is, "I can create a drawing using proportions and distort them for effect." We have some keywords in our lesson today, proportion, stylized, and stereotype.

Let's go through each of them.

Proportion means the way different sized elements relate to each other.

Stylized, drawn or made in a special way that changes how it usually looks to fit a certain style.

And stereotype, a simple and often incorrect idea or image of what all people from a particular group are like.

These are our keywords, proportion, stylized, and stereotype.

Let's be on the lookout for them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Today's lesson is called the principles of art: proportion, and it contains three learning cycles.

First of all, understand proportion from different traditions.

Next, apply Western traditional ideas of proportion.

And finally, distort proportions and consider the effects.

Yep, we are gonna be getting into a lot of exploration, discussion, and then drawing and distorting as well.

Let's begin with understanding proportion from different traditions.

Take a look at your fingers.

If your fingers were the same size as your legs, it wouldn't look right, would it? That's proportion in action.

Proportion is the way different sized elements relate to each other.

Imagine you are drawing a person.

If you make the arms much too long or the head too small, it wouldn't look realistic.

That's because the individual parts aren't in proportion.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Proportion is all about the size relationship between different parts of a subject.

Pause the video and decide whether this is true or false.

Well done if you selected true.

To get something in proportion, we compare the size of each part.

These students are discussing the way artists from around the world represent people using proportion.

"I've seen some very realistic paintings of people that look like photographs." "I've seen sculptures that purposefully use unrealistic proportions." "Artists come from different traditions.

Each one comes with its own ways of doing things.

We can understand art even more if we think globally." Always love hearing about that, thinking globally.

Have you seen artwork that represents people? And has the artwork you've seen represented people realistically or with more unrealistic proportions? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

There's a sculptors work I've seen which shows figures with unrealistic proportions, and that's the artist, Giacometti, who has these very e elongated figures.

Artists can use traditional western ideas of proportion to make their drawings and paintings look realistic.

If you're drawing a face realistically, each feature like the eyes, nose, and mouth should be in proportion to each other.

Relative proportions vary between individuals slightly, and that is what makes us all unique.

I would like you to choose an artwork from two different cultures that represents people.

They could be sculptures, paintings, or drawings.

And look carefully.

Consider if the proportions are accurate, stylized, elongated, regular, or exaggerated.

Research artwork to find out how that culture represents proportions traditionally and why.

For example, is it symbolic? Has the artist in your example followed this tradition? So pause here while you choose artwork from two different cultures that represent people and consider the proportions in them and answer these questions.

Pause the video while you do this.

Great to be back with you.

So how did you get on choosing artwork from two different cultures that represents people? You might have said something like this.

"They've changed the proportions by making some areas much smaller than expected.

The example I found was a contemporary artist who blended ideas and traditions." "The artists have different intentions.

This example uses symbolism and proportions based on their cultural traditions.

They were less interested in making it realistic." The artist Leonardo da Vinci was interested in how different elements of the human body compared to one another.

By studying real-life models and using mathematics, he was able to create drawings where every part looked realistic and accurate.

The "Vitruvian Man" is an example of Leonardo exploring his idea of his ideal proportions for a man.

What might the ideal proportions be in other traditions? Pause the video and share.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

In ancient Egyptian art, proportions were based on a grid system.

They were more symbolic than naturalistic.

This symbolism meant important figures were often shown much larger than less important people.

How might traditional Egyptian proportions have helped people at the time read the artwork? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Perhaps you shared something around the relative size of the figures in the artwork would give you a sense of their importance and status in society.

In African, Asian, and Indigenous art, proportions are often stylized or symbolic to reflect cultural or spiritual significance rather than realism.

For example, the "Benin Bronzes," modern-day Nigeria, often show rulers or warriors with larger heads, symbolising wisdom, power, and status, as the head was seen as symbolising intelligence and spiritual beliefs.

Baule spirit figures, modern-day Ivory Coast, are carved with elongated limbs and serene faces.

The proportions are idealised and meant to reflect beauty, harmony, and connection to the spiritual world.

And next, let's take a look at how we can apply Western traditional ideas of proportion.

In the Western tradition, artists measure proportions in different ways.

When drawing a figure, artists often use their pencil as a measuring tool.

They check their proportions by holding up their pencil to the model to compare the sizes of different parts of the body.

Designers apply proportion to make sure that the things they create, like clothes or furniture, are the right size and shape.

If a chair had a back that was taller than you, what impact would this have? Pause the video and share with someone.

Would you like to sit in this chair? I imagine you wouldn't like to sit in a chair like this as you'd probably fall through the back of it.

Sarah Biffin was an artist working in England in the 19th century.

She painted realistic portraits despite having a disability that affected the ability to use her arms. She skillfully used her mouth and toes to create her artwork.

In her portraits, Biffin carefully focused on proportion, ensuring that the faces and bodies look lifelike and balanced.

Her dedication to art has inspired others to appreciate the beauty in everyone's abilities regardless of their challenges.

Check for understanding.

Which is an example of designers applying proportions? A, designing a table and choosing the appropriate height of the legs, B, designing a chair and choosing the appropriate material, C, Designing a poster and choosing the appropriate paper.

Pause the video while you decide which is an example of designers applying proportion.

Well done if you selected A.

Indeed, designing a table and choosing the appropriate height of the legs is an example of designer applying proportions, and the table legs will need to be in proportion to the person using it.

Take a look at this portrait.

Which methods has the artist used to create a more realistic portrait? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Let's explore some ideas a little further.

Accurate proportions when drawing the face means the features are a realistic size compared to one another.

This helps your drawing look more true to life.

This face has been drawn using realistic mathematical proportions.

This is one method for drawing the face.

If we draw a line halfway across the middle of the face, this is where the eyes would appear.

If we were to split the face into quarters, then a line that is a quarter of the way from the bottom of the face would indicate where the bottom of the nose should go.

And then if we divided the face into 1/8, the line indicating 1/8 from the bottom of the face would be where the mouth would go.

The face is first split in half, then quarters, then 1/8.

It's important to map out the proportions first and compare the relative sizes of the features before developing the sketch and adding tone and mark-making.

So here we can see the face has been split up into halves, quarters, and 1/8.

The features have been added.

And now we get into adding the tone and mark-making to give us our final portrait.

Check for understanding.

True or false? Realism is achieved by altering proportions to make a stylized image.

Pause the video and decide if this is true or false.

This is false.

And in fact, using the correct proportions helps your work look realistic.

It's now time for your second task.

I would like you to sketch your face using Western traditional ideas of proportion.

First of all, step one, sketch a large circle and then turn this into a bigger oval shape.

Step two, break this oval intersections using the lines as shown.

So we'll split the face in half, vertically and horizontally, and then also into quarters horizontally.

Step three, add the eyes on the halfway line an eye width apart.

The nose sits below on the quarter line.

Step four, add details.

The lips sit halfway between the nose and the chin.

The ears between the eyes and the nose.

Step five, add finer details like eyebrows and pupils.

Finally, step six, apply shading on half of the face, creating tonal areas to represent a 3D form of the face.

So pause here while you sketch face using Western traditional ideas of proportion.

I'll see you when you're finished.

Great to be back with you.

How did you get on sketching a face using Western ideas of proportion? You might have said something like this.

Here's Alex.

"I use the mathematical method to divide my page and successfully drew a portrait of the face using Western traditional ideas of ideal proportions.

I'm interested to see if they're always correct." Artists often begin a portrait by applying western traditional ideas of proportion.

However, these proportions are just a starting point.

Artists carefully observe a model, mirror, or photograph to refine their artwork, to reflect the actual real-life proportions.

Next part of your task.

Using the portrait you made, rework half of it by looking in a mirror to observe the proportions in real life.

Look closely at the shape and size of each feature.

Do you need to refine the shape of the eyes, nose, or mouth to reflect reality? Compare each half of your work.

Are the two sides different? Pause the video while you have a go at this part of your task.

It's good to be back with you.

How did you get on with reworking half of the portrait you've made by looking in a mirror to observe the proportions in real life? How accurate was the initial drawing? Compare the guideline technique to working from direct observation in the mirror.

Here's some feedback.

The proportions needed adjusting to make them more realistic.

For example, the nose needed to be wider, but I was pleased to have something to start with.

I also noticed more details, which help my work look more like me.

That's wonderful.

And now we're onto our final learning cycle, distort proportions and consider the effects.

What differences are there between these two drawings of an eye? Pause the video and share with someone.

Perhaps you notice that the first one is stylized and second one is realistic.

Sometimes artists change proportion on purpose to create a stylized effect.

When something is stylized, it's drawn in a way that's not realistic, but still communicates an idea or feeling.

This doesn't mean every drawing has to look like a photograph.

Check for understanding.

What's it mean when an artist creates a stylized effect using proportions? A, the artwork looks exactly like a photograph, B, the parts of the hole are altered in size for effect, C, the artwork represents real life exactly.

Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer B, parts of the whole are altered in size for effect.

Proportions can be changed by artists to create a stylized look.

Take a look at this image.

Why might an artist alter or distort the proportions of a face? Pause the video and share with someone.

Perhaps you said something like this.

"Artists might alter proportions to challenge our ideas about beauty, identity, or what is considered normal." Artists like Nathaniel Mary Quinn, Takahiro Kimura, Francis Bacon, and Nicky Hoberman challenge our ideas on identity and stereotypes in their distorted portraits.

Lucas and Laura are discussing the term, normal, and how our views are shaped by what we see.

"When people will talk about what is normal or proportions, they forget that everybody is different.

We aren't all represented equally.

Disabled people aren't seen in films or TV as much as non-disabled people." Very good point, Lucas.

And here's Laura.

"We've learned to see things in certain ways because of hundreds of years of visual history, but this isn't always right and often people have been left out." And that's something we'd like to change.

Check for understanding.

True or false? Art can be used to challenge perceptions of what is considered normal.

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

And the answer is true.

Art can be used to promote questions about what we see as normal and to show individual differences.

A stereotype is a simple and often incorrect idea or image of what all people from a group are like.

For example, people might have ideas about how someone should look based on their gender or culture.

Stereotypes can affect how we see others and ourselves, especially in our visual culture.

When artists distort proportions, they can challenge these stereotypes and encourage us to think differently.

Artist Caroline Chinakwe explores her mixed heritage and identity by using symbols from modern-day Nigeria and Western cultures.

She changes the size of these symbols to highlight their importance, encouraging you to think about their meaning.

Playing with proportion shows how different parts of her background come together.

Chinakwe's artwork helps viewers understand that identity can be complicated.

Check for understanding.

What does the term stereotype refer to? A, a detailed and accurate representation of an individual, B, an oversimplified idea about a group of people or things, C, a special tool used to measure proportions in art.

Pause the video while you decide what the term stereotype refers to.

Well done if you selected B.

It's an oversimplified idea about a group of people or things, and they often don't represent individuals.

What do distorted proportions make us think about beauty? Here's some ideas.

Andeep, "In cartoons, when characters have exaggerated features, it's funny, but it also makes me realise how weird some beauty standards are.

Why do we think we have to look a certain way?" Great point, Andeep.

And Sofia, "Like when magazines use filters to change proportions, it sends a message that real people aren't good enough." Another great point.

Some artists distort the figure in their work in dramatic ways.

This can heighten the experience for the viewer and make us think about the individual and their personality or life experiences.

Francis Bacon creates examples of hugely exaggerated and distorted figures in his artwork.

Jun and Aisha are considering this quote by the artist Wangechi Mutu.

"I'm making a sketch, but I'm using the existing images that have been put out in the world." "I think she's talking about the fact that she makes her work out of existing images when she later makes a collage." And Aisha, "Yes, but I think she also means that her experience as a Black, female artist means she wants to repurpose the stereotypical images she finds in order to challenge them." I love that.

What do you think? Pause the video and share what do you think this quote by Wangechi Mutu means.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

We are moving onto your next task now, where we'll be using images at different scales to create a distorted portrait.

So step one, redraw certain features at different scales.

Step two, rearrange the features.

And as an extension, you could incorporate magazines or images.

So here's your task.

Use images at different scales to create a distorted portrait.

First of all, redraw certain facial features at different scales.

Consider the impact of the change in scale.

And then rearrange the features.

Consider what you aim to communicate to the viewer.

And as an extension, you can incorporate magazines or images to develop your work further.

So pause the video while you have a go at this task.

Great to be back with you.

How did you get on? You might have try something like this.

"Some sections were enlarged to create focus such as the eye.

Magazine images of classic ideals of beauty were collaged on top in distorted proportions to undermine these beauty ideals." I love that.

And now reflect upon your artwork from task C1.

How do the distorted features change the way you feel about the portrait? What stereotypes or ideas about beauty do you think your distorted portrait might challenge? And how does altering proportions make you view identity differently? Pause the video while you reflect upon your artwork and these questions.

You might have reflected that, "It helps me see identity as personality and uniqueness rather than just appearance." "Distorted features make the portrait feel more expressive and fun, highlighting personality over perfection".

"Altering proportions challenges the idea that beauty is one size fits all." Great challenge.

In our lesson, the principles of art: proportion, we've covered the following.

Proportion is relative so we compare one element to another within the image design or artwork.

Proportion is applied differently in different cultural traditions.

Artists can distort proportion to make a stylized representation.

Applying traditional Western techniques for proportion might not create a unique version of the person or thing.

Artists can alter the proportions to challenge stereotypes.

Well done everyone for exploring proportion together in this lesson.

It was a wonderful to see what you came up with, especially with those distorted portraits.

It was great to be with you in this lesson, and I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.