Elements of Art Word Design

This is a project I give to any new class I teach.  I found it on the Artsonia website- from the Lewis & Clarke Middle School page. This term I taught it to my Grade 8 and 9 students. 

It is a very good introduction to the Elements of Art (line, space, form, colour, space, texture, shape). 

It also gives students a chance to use a variety of art media to create a unique mixed media piece. 

This project is definitely alot of information in one artwork- it takes a while to complete- it took us about 2 weeks.  Here's how we did it:

First, find the middle of your paper- mark the middle at the top and bottom. Then, using a ruler, measure diagonal lines from the bottom corners to the top middle dot, and the same with the bottom.  Does this make sense?  It's an easy way to create a symmetrical design of 7 sections- one for each element to be represented in.  I told the kids they could break it up any way as long as they had 7 sections.

Then fill the whole page with one giant word or a phrase- any language. Use interesting fonts.

Essentially, you're trying to have a bit of word in each of the sections. In the end, though, the word(s) is quite obscured and difficult to read and that's totally okay.

Students could add images as well.

Now, here the student has planned out where she wants each of the elements, the colours she might use and the materials she might use and how she is going to show her understanding of the element. 

(ie- for Value, use a pencil to show a variety of values... etc.)

Then, when you've planned it out, start your good copy.

Students could use a variety of materials including: markers, chalk pastels, pencils, oil pastels, pencil crayons, watercolours, and anything they wanted for texture (some conveyed implied texture and some used real texture by gluing on things...)

Here are some Grade 8 and 9 results: can you identify the Elements of Art in each artwork?

Grade 9

Grade 8