Lesson 21: Grid Drawing

Objective: To have the children create a grid drawings that shows symmetrical balance.

Vocabulary:

balance - The way parts of an artwork work together so that the parts seem equal.

grid - A pattern of squares of equal size.

symmetry or linear symmetry - The kind of balance created when both sides of something are similar or the same.

symmetrical balance - A kind of balance in which the same lines, shapes, colors, or forms are placed on both sides of an artwork.

Red House Painting by Jennifer Bartlett

Symmetrical Balance

Look closely at Red House Painting by Jennifer Bartlett. What is unusual about this painting? The artist created Red House Painting on a grid, a pattern of squares of equal size. She placed dots of color in each space on the grid. What shapes do the dots make?
Trace your finger down the middle of Red House Painting. What do you notice about the two sides? Artists can create symmetrical balance by using lines, shapes, and colors to make one side of an artwork match the other side.

Fenye's House Dining Room by Patssi Valdez

Artists can also create symmetrical balance by placing similar objects on opposite sides of the artwork. What does the painting Fenye's House Dining Room by Patssi Valdez show? Choose one object in the painting. Then look for a similar object in the other side of the painting. Does symmetrical balance create a tidy feeling or messy feeling in this painting?

Think Critically - Tell what you have learned.

Studio Time: Grid Drawing

Materials:

Sketchbooks, Pencils, Graph Paper, Colored Pencils

Plan

Think of an object or scene that has symmetrical balance. Sketch some ideas.
Check list:
- Create a drawing of a object or scene that shows symmetrical balance.
- Use a grid to help with linear symmetry.

Create

Draw a line down the middle of a sheet of graph paper.
Lightly draw your picture. Count the number of boxes in each shape to make sure you have symmetrical balance.
Color in the boxes. Use the same colors for matching shapes on each side of the middle line.

Reflect - Tell about your artwork.

Photograph and Submit your work on Google Classroom.

Photograph sketches as well as completed artwork.
"Add" (attach) to Google Classroom assignment.
"Mark as done" to submit your work for a grade.

Challenge: Stencil Design

Create a symmetrical design with two contrasting shape stencils, oil pastels, and folded paper, make a design on one side w/ overlapping shapes, create a reflection on the other side of the fold.