Lesson One: Non-figurative art and emotions

Examples of things you would draw?

What is non-figurative?

What is non-figurative?

Think of a time when you felt calm. Imagine this time. Draw lines on your page to represent calm.

Repeat with angry, excited

Look at the person across from you? Do you see any similarities?

Colourchoice

Line choice:

Lesson Two: Non-figurative art and rhythm

Rhythm:The Principle of Design of Rhythm can be shown in art in several ways. Artworks appear to have "rhythm" when Elements and images appear to "move" through repetition, overlapping, and even pattern, giving the art a "beat" that repeats at certain intervals (just as in music and dance). Diagonal lines and shapes also help make an artwork appear to "move" and appear more dynamic. In the example below, the overlapping, diagonal shapes traveling across the composition help give the artwork a sense of "rhythm."

Movement:An artwork appears to "move" when it contains multiple lines, shapes, colors, or other objects that seem to flow or "travel" throughout the composition. Curvy and diagonal lines and shapes also can create a sense of movement in an art piece. In the example below, the curved shapes echo each other across the image, making them look like they are "moving."

Pattern:A repeating pattern, no matter how simple or complex, can also create rhythm in an art piece. The "beat" of the repeating shapes, colors, and lines (and other Elements, as well) of a pattern help the viewer's eye travel through the composition, giving a "flow" and "rhythm" to the art piece. In the example below, your eye follows the stars and arrows from left to right and back again, helping you feel the rhythm of the design.

Repetition:Repeating shapes don't have to be in an exact pattern in order to give an artwork a sense of rhythm. Similar shapes, or even exact shapes repeating in a random order, can also create rhythm and movement in a piece. In the example below, the irregular triangular shapes fill the composition, making the composition appear to have rhythm and movement.

Movement:In van Gogh's masterpiece, The Starry Night, the night sky is anything but stagnant. Van Gogh's short, flowing, swirling, colorful lines help the sky, the moon, and the stars appear as if they were alive with movement. The moving sky then becomes the focal point of the painting, making it very interesting to look at!

Something to think about:How does van Gogh's use of line to make the sky "move" help set the tone of the painting? How would the mood of the painting change if the sky were painted smooth and flat, with no movement lines at all?

Repetition:The tree in Dutch artist Piet Mondrian's abstract painting The Gray Tree is filled with similar shapes that repeat throughout the composition. The rounded spaces (that become shapes) between the tree branches flow outward into the sky, giving the entire piece rhythm through the repeating sections.

Something to think about:In addition to the repeating spaces, how do the branches of the tree itself also help establish a sense of rhythm in the painting?

In the Syndey Opera House architectural design, below, there are repeatingforms . The large, curved, pointed "shell-like" structures in various sizes establish a strong sense of movement and rhythm.

Something to think about:Do you feel that the rhythm of the Opera House makes it interesting to look at?

Practice drawing a piece of non-figurative artwork that has rhythm. Use pattern, repetition and lines that show ‘movement’.

Lesson One: Non-figurative art and Musical Influence

  1. Listen to the music for ten seconds
  2. Draw to the music

Song #1

Song #2

Song #3

Name: ______

Non-Figurative Art Project

Instructions: Create a piece of non-figurative art that demonstrates rhythm and represents a feeling or mood. You may choose to use pastel, pencil, pencil crayon or marker. You must also attach an explanation of your work of art and why you chose to use certain colours and lines, as well as how you created rhythm.

You may also choose to work on your own or with a partner of your choice.

Success Criteria for Non-Figurative art:

  1. ______
  2. ______
  3. ______
  4. ______

Level One / Level Two / Level Three / Level Four
Time / effort / Project completed with minimum effort; little thought & time spent; barely accomplishes requirements. / Project would have benefited from increased effort and time; potentially good idea but not very well fleshed out. / Project displays ample expenditure of time, thought, and effort; accomplished requirements. / Project displays a great deal of time, thought, and effort; transcended expectations/requirements.
Representation of mood/ feeling / Line and colour choice do not directly match mood or feeling / Line choice or colour choice matches mood of piece, but not both / Line and colour choice match mood and feeling of piece without having to read write-up / Line and colour choice are used in a creative way to match the mood and feeling of the piece
Rhythm / No evidence of effort to achieve rhythm / Evidence of effort to achieve rhythm but doesn’t quite seem to work for the piece / Rhythm is achieved throughout the piece through pattern and repetition, / Rhythm is achieved throughout the piece through pattern and repetition, and enhances the overall mood of the piece