Principles of art: balance
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can produce examples of balance in 2D and 3D forms.
Key learning points
- Balance is the visual weight of each element and how it is distributed to make the composition feel stable.
- Balance in an art work helps to lead the viewer's eye around the artwork and create a sense of unity.
- Creating work that is imbalanced can be used to depict unsettled emotions in an artwork.
Keywords
Balance - elements are arranged so the artwork feels stable and even
Asymmetrical - elements are different and not the same on both sides
Symmetrical - the same on both sides when split down the middle, creating a mirror image that looks balanced.
Common misconception
Asymmetrical designs don't balance.
Asymmetrical designs can use visual weight to create a type of balance even if the work is different on both sides.
Teacher tip
Explore your suuroundings for interesting materials that could be used for students to experiment with balance in their sculptures. Artists are referenced within the deck. It would enhance the lesson to review these artists and share their work visually with students.
Equipment
Card, colour paper, magazines, tape, found materials, wire, glue, scissors, plastercine, long skewers or sticks, wool / string or embroidery thread.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the word with its meaning:
how heavy something is
empty space around objects in a design
how much an element draws attention in art
Q2.Which element best increases visual weight?
Q3.How does the use of negative space affect a composition?
Q4.Why do graphic designers manipulate typography and negative space?
Q5.Which statement correctly explains the relationship between mass and attention?
Q6.Match the factor with its effect on visual weight:
Larger elements look heavier and more dominant
Darker colours appear more visually heavy
Solid, dense shapes seem heavier than thin shapes
Rough textures feel heavier than smooth ones
Elements placed at the bottom appear heavier
Clusters of elements seem collectively heavier
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the word with its meaning.
Distributes visual weight evenly
Creates a feeling of instability
How artists arrange elements
Elements arranged as a mirror image on both sides
Q2.Which of these helps make an artwork feel stable?
Q3.How does visual balance guide a viewer's eye?
Q4.Which statement is true about experimenting with balance?
Q5.How can artists depict unsettled emotions in artworks?
Q6.How does asymmetrical balance work in art?
To help you plan your 9 art and design lesson on: Principles of art: balance, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 art and design lesson on: Principles of art: balance, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 art and design lessons from the The principles of art unit, dive into the full secondary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.