Black, White and Red all over - Brief Article

Here's a "quickie" assignment to remind students of basic design principles. This project requires few directions or materials, and it works for many ages--from introductory high school art to elementary art classes.

In addition to scissors and glue, provide construction paper in four colors that contrast and harmonize. With this particular class, I used 12" x 18" paper in red, black, cream and white (or brown).

Explain to the students that they should cut or tear no more than nine shapes from three of their colored papers. Using the fourth sheet as a support, they should arrange their shapes on this background. (If your artists are younger, you might ask for only five to seven cut or torn shapes.)

Stress the importance of variety in size, shape and color. If all of the elements are too similar, the results can be boring. Request, too, that balance and unity be considered. Most of my students used informal, asymmetrical balance, as formal balance can seem stodgy and dull.

Encourage the artists to use some overlapping. They might also pierce a few shapes with holes or slits. Discuss with them how to use emphasis to define a center of interest.

This project takes only 20 minutes or so, and it can even be a good way to use up some of those paper scraps you've been saving! The finished works are striking when displayed together. It's a graphic, eye-catching way to communicate some of the rules of composition.

Paula Guhin teaches art at Central High School in Aberdeen, S.D., and is a Contributing Editor for Arts & Activities.

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COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group