Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you? I hope you're feeling great.

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

I'm excited about that because I love teaching, and because today we have got something really interesting that we're looking at.

We'll be exploring unity.

Mm, what is unity? What does it mean? What does it do for us in art? We're gonna get into all of that.

Our lesson is called The Principles of Art Unity, and it comes from the unit of work, The Principles of Art.

Are you ready to explore unity together? If so, let's begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can create unity in a printed textile design based on a theme.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them.

Unity, block printing, convey, and relief printing.

So what do these words mean? Unity means separate elements working together in a composition.

Block printing, a method for printing with an ink block, such as a stamp.

Convey means to express or communicate an idea, feeling, or message through the artwork.

And relief printing, a printmaking technique, whether designed to be inked, is raised above the surface.

These are our keywords, unity, block printing, convey, and relief printing.

Our lesson is called The Principles of Art Unity, and it has three learning cycles.

Understand unity in art, create artwork unified around a theme, and design and print using a block.

Let's begin with understanding unity in art.

Unity in art means the separate elements of an artwork working together in a whole composition.

"When an artwork has unity, all of its elements work together, making it feel cohesive." Thanks for that, Izzy.

How is unity created in this artwork? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

We are gonna be exploring this some more.

The creation of unity.

Check for understanding.

True or false? Unity helps viewers understand the artwork as a whole, rather than as a collection of separate parts.

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

Unity means the separate elements of an artwork working together in a composition to create wholeness.

Unity helps viewers understand the artwork as a whole.

And there are three main ways to create unity.

One is proximity.

Next is repetition.

And the third way is simplicity.

These are the three main ways to create unity.

Proximity means bringing elements close together.

Elements in a composition that are close together are unified because we see them as relating to the things they are close to.

Repetition means repeating elements.

Repeating elements like shape or texture creates unity.

Repetition can create a pattern or symmetry.

Simplicity involves making the arrangement of shapes or colours more simple.

Using a limited colour palette or a reduced number of shapes helps simplify a composition.

Artists that create unity in their work include Saloua Raouda Choucair.

Uses proximity of shapes and colours to create a strong sense of unity in her compositions.

Robert Delauny repeats shapes and colours to create unified abstract compositions.

And Felicity Aylieff creates a simplified theme using only one colour of blue and multiple tones across her sculptural work, "Expressions in Blue." So we can see there are a number of artists that create unity in their work.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which statements describes how to create unity in an artwork? Is it A, bringing elements close together, B, repeating elements, C, using a wide range of materials, or D, simplifying the arrangement? Pause a video and decide which statements describe how to create unity in an artwork.

Well done, if you went for statements A, B, and D.

Unity can be made by using proximity, repetition, and simplicity.

A mind map is a way of creating unity between your theme and the artwork.

It might include words that explore the connection between the elements of art and the theme, additional keywords that connect with the theme, and images that respond to the theme.

These students are creating a mind map.

"My theme is music.

I've included words to describe the sounds, along with the shapes and colours it evokes." "I link the theme to the elements of art." "Architecture includes tall buildings with balconies, so I've included geometric shapes like rectangles and long straight lines." There are many ways to create a mind map.

You could follow these steps.

Theme in the middle.

For example, coral reef.

Add elements of art: pattern, composition, line, tone, colour, shape, form, texture.

And then write keywords for each strand on the page.

Connecting images can be added to.

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

I'd like you to explore ways of creating unity between your theme and future artwork.

So create a mind map based on a theme and add words for each element of art: line, tone, colour, pattern, texture, shape, form, and composition.

Add any additional keywords that connect to the theme, and you could add images that respond to the theme.

So pause here while you have a go at creating a mind map based on your theme.

How did you get on with creating a mind map based on a theme? You should now have lots of ideas on your mind map that are linked directly to a chosen theme, and you can apply these ideas in the next task to create unity in a printed textile design.

So now we're onto our next learning cycle: create artwork unified around a theme.

Sam is thinking about the connection between proportion and unity.

"I'm designing each piece, but considering the whole.

I want each section of my work to be unified." Richard Serra considers the size and proportion of shapes and structures to create unified compositions in his large scale sculptural work.

He uses simplicity and repetition of shapes to create unity.

And here we can see examples of repeated overlapping shapes.

Creating artwork with unity can enhance the impact.

It can also help convey the artist's ideas.

To convey means to express or communicate an idea, feeling, or message through the artwork.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Why might you consider unity when creating an artwork? Is it A, to convey ideas, B, to enhance the impact, or C, to create variety? Pause the video while you decide how you might consider unity when creating an artwork.

Well done, if you selected answers A and B.

You should consider unity to help convey ideas and enhance the visual impact of your artwork.

Artists applying unity.

Mastura Abdul Rahman demonstrates unity by using harmonious colours and shapes inspired by nature.

Saleem Arif Quadri's, "Landscape of Longing," 1997 applies proximity in the arrangement of the separate pieces that sit closely together on the wall.

And Althea McNish created unity in her textiles using repeated patterns inspired by tropical flora from her native Trinidad.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Unity can be created by linking the elements of art around a topical theme.

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

Well done, if you selected true.

Thinking about the whole theme in relation to the elements of art can help you to create a unified artwork.

Aisha is creating a fabric design based on her theme.

She's looking very happy about it, I must say.

"I looked at my mind map for inspiration.

For the colours, shapes, and lines to make sure they link to my theme.

I'm using simplified, repeated shapes, placing them closely together to help create unity." You could use watercolours to paint a design onto fabric using the shapes and colours explored in your mind map.

I like this limited colour palette that's been used.

Really effective.

And now it's time for your next task.

I would like you to create a pattern on your background fabric.

Use your mind map to help you.

You could use watercolours, use ink, use fabric, paints, or dyes, use different tools to create marks.

So pause here while you have a go at this task, creating a pattern on your background fabric using your mind map to help you.

I'll see you when you're finished.

So how did you get on with that task, creating a pattern on your background fabric, using your mind map to help you? You might have painted a design like this one.

Here's Lucas.

"I used orange based on coral and repeated circles close together to create unity." Wonderful.

We've got all those aspects of unity there.

We've got the simplicity, proximity, and the repetition.

I wonder if you considered those in your creation as well.

And now we're onto our final learning cycle: design and print using a block.

Repetition helps create rhythm and makes artwork feel more connected.

Gustav Klimt used repeated shapes in "The Kiss," 1907-1908.

A repeating rectangle motif is used for the man's body while circles are used for the woman and flower.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Repetition creates variety and disorder.

Pause the video, 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 the video while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Repetition helps create rhythm and makes artwork feel more connected.

Islamic art uses symmetry and intricate geometric patterns that create a sense of unity.

Islamic patterns symbolise balance and order.

Their repeated forms represent the never ending nature of the universe.

I feel like I really get that impression from this image we see on the screen.

Check for understanding.

Select the features evident in Islamic patterns.

A, geometric shapes.

B, repetition.

C, symmetry.

D, people.

The video while you select the features evident in Islamic patterns.

Well done if you selected answers A, B, and C.

Islamic patterns feature geometric shapes, repetition, and symmetry, and they don't feature people.

Incorporating patterns adds visual interest while maintaining unity.

Indian block printing uses repeated designs, which are carefully arranged to create a unified pattern across fabric.

I really love the design that we can see in top left and the bottom right.

This is called a paisley design.

Sort of leaf shape with lots of other patterning around it.

Block printing involves printing with an inked block, such as a stamp.

It is a relief printing technique where the design to be inked is raised above the surface.

You can create a relief print using polyblock.

The design is drawn into the plate.

The design is pushed down to create a relief.

Ink is rolled over the plate.

The block is then printed like a stamp.

A really fun, easy, accessible way of printing.

You can also create a relief print using cardboard to create a collograph.

Card is cut into shapes.

Shapes are layered and glued.

Ink is rolled over the surface.

The block is printed like a stamp.

You can repeat your block print in regular patterns, half drop repeat, drop repeat, where they're right next to each other, and brick repeat.

And now it's time for your task.

I would like you to design and create a block for a block print based on your theme.

You could use cardboard or poly block to create your block print.

Alternatively, if you have the safety equipment, you could use linoleum.

Your design should be based on your theme.

So pause here while you have a go at this first part of your task, designing and creating a block for a block print based on your theme.

It's good to be back with you.

How did you get on with that part of your task, designing and creating a block for a block print based on your theme? You should have a block you can print with.

It might have a raised surface in relief.

It should have an interesting shape linked to your theme.

So for example, here we can see this coral-like shape linked to the coral reef theme.

For the next part of your task, I would like you to print your block print over your background fabric using a regular or irregular repeat pattern to create unity.

Here are the steps.

Roll out ink.

Roll onto your block.

Decide on the form for the repeat pattern.

Press block ink side down onto fabric.

Apply pressure using a roller.

And repeat the process.

So pause here while you have a go at your task, printing your block print over your background fabric using a regular or irregular repeat pattern to create unity.

Enjoy this part of your task, and I'll see you when you're finished.

So, how did you get on with printing your block print over your fabric background? You might have created something like this.

How wonderful.

Let's hear from Sofia.

"I layered my block over the background in an irregular pattern using the shapes in the background to help me decide on the layout.

This helped me create unity between the different elements in my design." You might have created something wonderful like this.

Pause the video and share with someone what principles of unity has Andeep used in this artwork? Well done, if you said that Andeep has used all three principles of unity.

So we can see that there's proximity between these shapes.

They're close together.

There's repetition of the shapes.

They're repeated again and again in foreground and the background.

And the simplicity.

He's chosen a simple shape of the circle.

Well done, if you noticed that.

Let's hear from Andeep.

"I painted loose circles in the background and printed the circular block on top for unity.

I chose colours from the ocean, blue for the sea, and orange for the coral to connect to my theme, coral reef." That is wonderful.

Even more unity there with the theme and the colours that were chosen.

I think you've understood the assignment, Andeep.

And I hope you have too.

I hope you've enjoyed designing and creating your own prints, keeping unity in mind throughout.

In our lesson Principles of Art Unity, we have covered the following.

Artists create unity through repetition of elements such as colour, shape, and texture.

Unity creates a sense of harmony in an artwork.

Unity can enhance the impact of an artwork and convey the artist's intended ideas or feelings.

Artists use techniques like symmetry, pattern, harmony, and proportion to create a sense of wholeness.

Block printing is a method of relief printing that creates unity through repetition.

Well done everyone for joining in with this lesson, Principles of Art Unity.

It was wonderful to explore unity together.

What is it that creates unity? That repetition, simplicity and proximity of shapes in a design.

Well done for creating your background, fabric, print, and then for creating your own block print.

I loved what you've created.

I hope you have to.

I hope you've enjoyed this exploration of unity, and I think it's a wonderful word for us to consider and just bring into our own lives.

How can we create unity even in the way that we live? Something to ponder there.

So let's pause here and bask in the feeling of accomplishment for what we've created here today.

It's so wonderful to bring unity into our artwork, into our lives, into our communities, and this whole world that we live in.

So let's keep doing that, and I'm really looking forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

I hope you feel that way too.

And until then, stay creative.