Rule of Thirds

Rule of Thirds

A guide for composition

Multiple Choice

What is emphasis?

• To make something fade into the background

• To contrast something

• To make something stand out.

• to draw something with a visual beat.

Multiple Choice

What do you think the rule of thirds is in art?

• You should always have 3 objects and place them together.

• divide the paper into thirds and place focal points on the grid

• divide paper into thee parts and place objects in the center.

• draw only one third of the piece you are imagining.

A method for creating a successful composition.

• Helps artists place the focal points and emphasize important subjects.

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Rule of Thirds

A principle of art

• uses elements to make a focal point stand out.

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Emphasis

Multiple Choice

What do you think a focal point is?

• point of interest you want viewers to see first

• a point of interest that you place in the background

• a point that you do not want viewers to notice.

• a point you are supposed to stare at in the artwork.

A point (Subject) of interest you want viewers to see first.

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Focal point

Multiple Choice

What is the focal point of this Raphael's School of Athens?

• The crowd of people

• The two figures talking in the middle

• The arch way above the people

• The man in the left corner.

Sometimes there is more than one subject the artist wants to emphasize.

you can have more than one focal point

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Focal point

Multiple Select

Select all the focal points in this image.

• the city

• the stars

• the cypress tree

• the moon

Divide the composition into thirds vertically and horizontally.

It should form a grid

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How?

Place the focal points at intersecting points.

Intersection

Place focal points along a line.

on a line

Place focal points in a third of the image. (the spaces)

in a third

Draw

Sketch out the rule of thirds grid on the painting.

Multiple Select

In "allegory of painting" by Vermeer, What are the focal points?

• the painter

• the curtain

• the lady

• the tapestry

• The brush and canvas

Open Ended

Explain where the artist placed the focal points in relation to the rule of thirds.