Drawing skills: drawing with light
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use long exposure photography to create expressive light drawings that demonstrate control of composition and light.
Key learning points
- Light can be used as a drawing tool in photography.
- Long exposure allows movement of light to be captured as lines and shapes.
- Composition and planning are key to effective light drawings.
- It’s important to consider light sources and plan a light drawing to create an effective image that shows contrast.
Keywords
Light source - the origin of the light (e.g. torch, phone light, lamp)
Exposure - the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor during a photograph
Composition - the arrangement of visual elements within an artwork
Contrast - the difference between light and dark areas in an image
Common misconception
Any camera setting will capture light drawings.
Long exposure (slow shutter speed) is essential for creating light drawings, without it, the camera won’t capture light movement, only still images.
Teacher tip
Encourage experimentation - remind pupils their first results may be blurred or unclear, but mistakes are part of learning. Frame each attempt as a test shot, prompting reflection and refinement.
Equipment
Cameras or smartphones with long exposure settings. Tripods (or stable surfaces for cameras). Torches, LED lights, glow sticks, or phone flashlights. Darkened room or space. Sketchbooks & pencils.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What do you think the term “drawing with light” could mean in art?
Q2.True or false? To capture trails of light in photography, a long exposure (slow shutter speed) is needed.
Q3.Match the camera setting to what it controls:
Q4.What does contrast mean in a light drawing?
Q5.Why might an artist use a tripod when drawing with light?
Q6.True or false? Working in groups can make light drawings more dynamic because more people can “draw” at once.
To help you plan your 11 art and design lesson on: Drawing skills: drawing with light, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 art and design lesson on: Drawing skills: drawing with light, 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 Essential drawing skills for all unit, dive into the full secondary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.