Time Duration: 1 class period

Unit Title: Drawing/Painting

Lesson Title: Emphasis

Objectives of Lesson

Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify focal areas and visual emphasis with shapes.

2. Demonstrate an understanding of emphasis by successfully completing activities.

Materials Needed

1. Sketchbook, drawing pencil, and eraser.

2. Construction paper, scissors, and glue sticks.

3. Newspapers.

Instructional Procedure with Approximate Time Line

1. Anticipatory Set (5 minutes)

Emphasis is used by artists to create dominance and focus in their work. Various kinds of contrast can be used to emphasize a center of interest.

An artist often uses focal areas (centers of interest) to place emphasis on the most important aspect of a work. The best placement for a focal area is a location off center about one-third from either side of the piece of paper and one-third from top or bottom.

Visual emphasis on a focal area can be achieved by having the strongest light and dark value contrasts in the painting located in a desirable place. Visual emphasis in a painting is enhanced when value passages (light or dark movements) lead to a focal area. Such visual movement places an emphasis on the focal area in a work.

In nature, emphasis might be felt when elements are isolated, such as a tree or animal. Emphasis is usually on the element that is different. A person in a landscape becomes the focus or visual emphasis of a photograph. Visual emphasis at a center of interest can be developed using shape contrast. A building in the natural environment will become a focus and therefore receives emphasis.

2. Activities (35 minutes)

• Place your sketchbook page horizontally in front of you and draw vertical lines 1/3 of the way into the paper and another 2/3 into the paper. Then draw horizontal lines 1/3 of the way down the paper and 2/3 down the paper. Where the lines intersect is a good place for a focal point or center of interest. Place a colored dot where the lines intersect. Title the page "Excellent Placements For Focal Points".
• Cut different geometric shapes of different sizes of colored paper. Cut one organic shape from a totally different colored paper. Arrange them in your sketchbook to illustrate how emphasis develops when the organic shape is the focal point. Glue the pieces down. Title your page "Organic Shape as Visual Emphasis".
• Find two photos from newspapers that emphasize as many of the elements of design (line, shape, form, color, value, texture, and space) as you can. Glue the photos on a sketchbook page and label all the art elements you can find in each photo. Title the page "Art Elements Emphasized".

3. Assessment

0 points = Activity not completed or not found. Activity not done correctly or no title.

5 points = Activity partly correct. Improve and turn in again.

10 points = Activity correct. Student demonstrates an understanding of the concept.

Lesson taken from Elements and Principles of Design Posters, Teacher’s Guide, by Crystal Productions.