Grade 12 Activity: Identifying Principles of Art

Front

In a painting of a church, both towers on the left and right sides were drawn equally tall and identical, making the whole composition feel like a mirror image.

Back

Symmetrical

Front

A photograph shows a candle burning brightly in a dark room, where the glow of the flame stands out against the surrounding blackness.

Back

Contrast

Front

An artwork of a dancer was created using diagonal lines and swirling brushstrokes, leading the viewer's eye in circular motion, almost as if the figure were really moving.

Back

Movement

Front

A classroom bulletin board shows the same flower shape repeated in neat rows and columns, filling the entire space with the same design.

Back

Pattern or Repetition

Front

A charcoal portrait highlights deep black shadows on one side of the face and bright whites on the other, making the difference between light and dark very strong.

Back

Contrast

Front

In a sculpture display, all the figures were carved from wood, polished with the same finish, and placed on similar bases. Despite showing different poses, the collection felt consistent and complete.

Back

Unity

Front

A poster about road safety placed a bright red stop sign at the very center of the design, making it the first thing viewers notice.

Back

Emphasis

Front

A student artist arranged cut-out shapes of people in different walking poses across the wall. Though none of the figures looked exactly the same, the arrangement gave the impression of continuous motion.

Back

Rhythm

Front

In a photograph of a park, a large tree on the left side of the frame was balanced by three smaller bushes on the right side, making the image feel stable even if the elements were not identical.

Back

Asymmetrical Balance

Front

The facade of a modern building in Toronto combined glass walls with stone arches from the original structure, making the contrast between old and new strikingly visible.

Back

Juxtaposition (Type of Contrast)