The work of artists and designers: elements of art
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can analyse how artists use materials to communicate a theme and experiment with materials to express my own theme.
Key learning points
- Consider the emotional impact of the colour scheme and how it contributes to the work's mood.
- Examine the arrangement of elements within the artwork.
- Analyse how the materials and techniques serve the themes or concepts of the work.
Keywords
Elements - the elements of art are the basic parts used to make artwork.
Analyse - to look closely at the different parts of an artwork
Theme - the main idea or message that an artwork communicates
Common misconception
The material an artist uses doesn’t matter as long as the subject or idea is strong.
The choice of materials greatly affects how an artwork looks, feels and communicates meaning. Materials can add texture, symbolism and emotional impact that deepen the viewer’s understanding.
Teacher tip
Do not let students melt plastic when experimenting with it during this lesson as it could rlease toxic fumes.
Equipment
Pen, paper or other methods of recording artist analysis, plastic (bags, bubble wrap, packaging), art materials for students to explore in combination with the plastic.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How can an artist’s choice of medium affect the meaning or impact of their work?
Q2.What are materials in art?
Q3.What makes a primary material effective in an artwork?
Q4.How can an artist use materials to express symbolic or cultural meaning in their work?
Q5.Why is clay an important material with cultural significance in many societies?
Q6.How can an artist’s emotional connection to their chosen medium affect their creativity?
To help you plan your 10 art and design lesson on: The work of artists and designers: elements of art, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 art and design lesson on: The work of artists and designers: elements of art, 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 4 art and design lessons from the First sustained project: working from a theme unit, dive into the full secondary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.