New
New
Principles of art: proportion
I can create a drawing using proportions and distort them for effect.
Lesson 2 of 10
New
New
- Year 9
Principles of art: proportion
I can create a drawing using proportions and distort them for effect.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Proportion in Western art is the size and relation of different parts in a piece of art to each other
- Western ideas of proportion can aid in drawing mathematically and accurately, but they can embed ideas of the 'norm'
- Rules of proportion change depending on the culture
- We can play with proportion to create new ways of looking at a subject
Keywords
Proportion - the way different sized elements relate to each other
Stylised - drawn or made in a special way that changes how it usually looks, to fit a certain style.
Stereotype - a simple (and often incorrect) idea or image of what all people from a particular group are like.
Common misconception
Proportions are set rules and always apply
Proportions are relative to the unique form you are observing. They relate to the different sizes of the different parts but may be different for each person, place or object
It is important to draw out the differences between Western and non-Western methods of proportion. Avoid descriptions of 'ideal' proportions and reference differences when discussing Western approaches to proportion.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Pencil, paper, glue, scissors, magazines, ruler, rubber
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does a portrait usually show?
What does a portrait usually show?
A view of the land
An abstract idea
Q2.Scale in art means ...
Scale in art means ...
only how big something is.
the type of texture you create on an image.
Q3.How do you compose an image?
How do you compose an image?
You arrange the music
You create a sculpture using small components
Q4.Adjusting the scale of an artwork can ...
Adjusting the scale of an artwork can ...
select a viewpoint
affect the quality of the tone or shading
Q5.Who is the audience for art?
Who is the audience for art?
Only the artist
Only the art critics
The people who like to buy artwork
Q6.What do we call a collage assembled out of photographs?
What do we call a collage assembled out of photographs?
Diorama
Assemblage
Collage
Composition
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does proportion refer to in art?
What does proportion refer to in art?
The use of colour in a composition
Only the brushes used
Q2.What is a distorted portrait?
What is a distorted portrait?
An accurate life drawing
A landscape painting
Q3.Match the term to its definition.
Match the term to its definition.
Q4.How might an artist alter an image to create a stylised effect?
How might an artist alter an image to create a stylised effect?
Change the proportions
Use exaggerated colour
Focus on one element of art such as line, or tone
Apply pattern
Q5.Which definition describes proportion?
Which definition describes proportion?
The relative size of the object itself and its colour
The relationship between composition and colour
Q6.How can distorted features change perceptions of beauty?
How can distorted features change perceptions of beauty?
By reinforcing traditional standards
By making beauty more exclusive
By limiting artistic expression
