MajorStAIRS Project Design

The Element of ValueAnd How it Interacts with the Principles of

Contrast and Emphasis(This project is based on the website: )

ArticulationLearning to look at Art

http://www.brigantine.atlnet.org/GigapaletteGALLERY/websites/ARTiculationFinal/MainPages/About%20This%20Site.htm

By Ashley Click

Intended Audience

Middle School Art Students

CBI Strategies Used and Incorporated:

Deductive: rule-example

Inductive: example-rule

Mathetics: Scaffolding

Interactive instruction

Instruction broken down into steps

Immediate feedback

Pedagogical Strategies and Activities used:

Comparison: Similarities and differences

Nonlinguistic representations

Mastery Learning

National Standards used in this StAIR

1. Using knowledge of structures and functions

2. Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas

3. Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures

4. Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others

5. Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines

Objective:Know the Elements of Art

Become familiar with the names of the 7 Elements of Art

Understand what the Elements of Art do in a work of art.

Identify the Element of Value in a work of art

Objective: Know The Principles of Design

Become familiar with the names of the

7 Principles of Design

Understand what Principles of Design do in a work of art

Observe how the Principles of 1

Contrast and Emphasis use the Element of Value

1 The Element of Contrast is used interchangeably with Variety. In the language of Art, they mean the same thing.

The 7 Elements of Art

Value

Line

Shape

Form

Color

Space

Texture

They are the basic parts of any artwork.

They are rarely seen by themselves.

There are many ways to use them.

An artist chooses how to use the Elements of Art, much like a chef chooses ingredients to use in his/her cooking!

The 7 Principles of Design

EmphasisContrastBalanceUnityPatternMovementRhythm

They organize the Elements of ArtThey are rarely used separatelyThere are many ways to combine themThey are the “recipes” in which we use the Elements of Art (the ingredients)

Aunt Ruby’s Recipe for CONTRAST

Add a lot of dark values and a lot of light values with just a pinch of medium values…yum!!!

S t e p #1: P la n Art

ist

Recipe book of Principles

Here’s how to use the Elements and Principles together to create a DELICIOUS work of art!!!!!

Line

Value

Form colorShape

Texture

Space

The Elements of Art

(the ingredients)

Add to picture

Step #2: Add ingredients!

Step #3: ENJOY! Light va

lues

Dark values

1Picasso’s “Guernica”

1House in the Reina Sofia Museum - Madrid, Spain. Image from Art.Com

Let’s start with the Element of Value

In the language of art, Value is how light or dark something is. In the example to the right, there is a large Range of Values.

The are light values, medium values, and dark values.This helps move our eye around the picture.

It would be boring just to stare at one part of the picture!

Artwork by Jenny

This value scale shows a full Range of Values. Do you see a range of

values in this picture?

Value scale from About Art

Artwork by Jenny

Which picture has a wider Range of Values?

#1 #2

Value can refer to color as well as black and white. See the 2 examples below:

Look how Value is used in these two works of art:

1. George de La Tour

2. Louise Nevelson

Answer the following question:

Which picture has a wider Range of Values (selection of lights, mediums, darks)?

Click for choices:

De La Tour uses the Element of De La Tour uses the Element of Value to give Value to give EmphasisEmphasis to the to the newborn baby in the picture. He is newborn baby in the picture. He is using using Contrast Contrast to draw our eye to to draw our eye to that spot. The light value is a that spot. The light value is a Contrast to the darker values. Our Contrast to the darker values. Our eye is moved to the part in the eye is moved to the part in the picture which is most different from picture which is most different from the other parts of the picture. In this the other parts of the picture. In this case, the spot we are drawn to is case, the spot we are drawn to is where the Value is the lightest. where the Value is the lightest.

The eye is immediately drawn to the Value which is most different. In this example, it’s where the Value is the lightest. That is where the Emphasis is.

EXCELLENT WORK!

Remember when we said that the Elements and Principles worked together……?

What Principle/s are working with Value in “The Newborn”

Contrast

Emphasis

Both Contrast and Emphasis

Now you’ve learned how Value can give Emphasis to a part in a pictureand produce Contrast

The Emphasis is on the white box!

Congratulations!

You are familiar with the Elements and Principles of Design.You understand how they work togetherYou can identify the Element of ValueYou know what the Principles of Contrast and Emphasis areYou understand how Contrast and Emphasis can use Value

Look at De La Tour’s “The Newborn”once more….

Where is the lightest Value in the picture?

On the newborn baby

On the head of the lady to the left

On the right hand of the woman holding

the baby

Georges De La Tour, 1640’s, Musee des Beaux Arts, Rennes

From Image from Web Gallery of Art

Louise Nevelson, Sky Cathedral, 1958, Albright Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York

Image from Albright Knox Organization via Artchive

Answers1.The Newborn, by Georges De La Tour

2. Sky Cathedral, by Louise Nevelson

12

Great Job!

Picture #1 has a wider Range of Values

No Range of Values here!

#2 Has nearly the same Value throughout the picture. Guess Again!

That’s almost right!

Contrast is definitely a Principle we find in “The Newborn”

Sorry. Try again.

Hint: which part of the picture is most different from the other parts?

That’s right!!!! Both Contrast and Emphasis work with Value in this picture.

Value is working with both Contrast and Emphasis. The light value contrasts with the darker values in the picture and in this way the head of “The Newborn” is given Emphasis.

Click here for the credits for this image.

OOOOOOH! You’re getting warmer!

Emphasis is definitely a principle used in “The Newborn” – there is definitely Emphasis on the area where the Value is the lightest!

Bingo! Right on target!!!!

Value helps employ both Principles of Design: Emphasis and Contrast

Almost.

This area is almost as light in value as the area of the newborn’s head, but not quite…