Grade 10 · Art
Quarter 1 · Week 9 · TEKS
This Grade 10 art lesson focuses on identifying and applying the principles of design—emphasis, repetition/pattern, movement/rhythm, contrast/variety, balance, proportion, and unity—in students' personal artworks. Students will explore how to use different art media and processes to express specific ideas, meanings, and messages, while accurately using art vocabulary. The lesson emphasizes developing visual literacy through observation, imagination, and critical thinking, aligned with TEKS standards for Art Level II.
Students should have basic familiarity with the elements of art (such as line, shape, color, texture) and general art-making techniques.
The principles of design are guidelines artists use to organize the elements of art in their work. They include emphasis (focal point or area of interest), repetition/pattern (repeating elements to create rhythm or unity), movement/rhythm (visual flow or path through the artwork), contrast/variety (differences that create interest), balance (distribution of visual weight), proportion (size relationships among elements), and unity (harmony and completeness). Understanding these helps students create visually engaging and meaningful artworks.
Students learn to intentionally use principles of design to strengthen their artworks. For example, they might create emphasis by making one area darker or larger, use repetition to create rhythm with repeated shapes or colors, or balance a composition by arranging elements symmetrically or asymmetrically. Proportion affects how realistic or stylized the artwork appears. Unity ties all parts together so the artwork feels complete. Students should experiment with these principles in their own creations to communicate their ideas effectively.
Different media (such as pencil, paint, collage) and processes (drawing, layering, mixing media) can express ideas differently. Students explore which materials best convey their intended content, meaning, or message. For example, rough textures might express tension, while smooth blending could suggest calm. Using appropriate media supports the visual themes and metaphors in their artworks. Students should reflect on how their choices affect the viewer’s understanding.
Accurate use of art vocabulary helps students describe and analyze artworks clearly. Terms like emphasis, contrast, and unity should be used when discussing their own and others’ work. This vocabulary supports critical thinking and communication about art. Teachers should model vocabulary use and encourage students to incorporate these terms in reflections and critiques.
Students may think principles of design are rules that must be followed rigidly rather than flexible tools for expression. They might confuse elements of art (like color or line) with principles of design (like balance or rhythm). Clarify that principles describe how elements are arranged, not what elements are used. Also, students may believe one principle is more important than others; emphasize that effective artworks often combine multiple principles.
Look at an artwork that uses emphasis by making one area darker and larger than others. How does this create a focal point?
The darker and larger area stands out visually, drawing the viewer’s eye first. This use of emphasis guides attention and creates interest in that part of the artwork.
The darker, larger area catches attention first, making it the focal point and emphasizing its importance in the artwork.
An artwork repeats a shape and color in a pattern across the canvas. What principle of design is this, and what effect does it create?
This is repetition/pattern. Repeating elements create rhythm and unity, making the artwork feel organized and cohesive.
Repetition/pattern creates rhythm and unity, helping the artwork feel organized and connected.
Show a variety of artworks that clearly demonstrate different principles of design. Ask students to observe and discuss what they notice about how the artworks are organized visually.
Observe the displayed artworks and share ideas about which principles of design they see and how those principles affect the artwork’s impact.
This phase activates prior knowledge and introduces the principles of design through concrete examples, helping students begin to recognize these concepts in real artworks.
Model planning and creating a simple artwork that uses at least three principles of design. Think aloud about choices of emphasis, balance, and repetition while working.
Sketch ideas for their own artwork applying at least three principles of design. Experiment with different media and processes to express their ideas.
Students actively explore how to apply principles of design and select media to communicate meaning, guided by teacher modeling and support.
Discuss each principle of design with definitions and examples. Highlight how media choices affect expression of ideas and meaning. Introduce accurate art vocabulary for describing artworks.
Take notes on principles and vocabulary. Ask questions to clarify understanding. Practice using vocabulary to describe example artworks.
This phase builds conceptual understanding and vocabulary needed to analyze and create artworks effectively.
Guide students to create a personal artwork applying multiple principles of design and selecting media to express a specific idea or message. Encourage reflection on their process and choices.
Create an original artwork demonstrating principles of design. Reflect in writing or discussion on how their choices of design and media express their intended meaning.
Students deepen their understanding by applying knowledge in a meaningful project and reflecting on their artistic decisions.
Facilitate a critique session where students present their artworks and explain their use of principles and media. Provide feedback and assess understanding based on criteria.
Present their artwork, describe how they applied principles of design and media choices, and respond to peer and teacher feedback.
This phase assesses students’ ability to identify and apply principles of design and communicate their artistic intentions using appropriate vocabulary.
Sketch ideas for their own artwork applying at least three principles of design. Experiment with different media and processes to express their ideas.
Name three principles of design you can find in an artwork.
Emphasis, balance, and repetition are three principles of design that can be identified in an artwork.
Explain how balance can affect the feeling of an artwork.
Balance affects how stable or dynamic an artwork feels; symmetrical balance feels stable and formal, while asymmetrical balance can feel more dynamic or informal.
Create a simple sketch that uses emphasis and repetition. Describe your choices.
A sketch with one large, dark shape as the focal point (emphasis) and smaller repeated shapes around it (repetition) shows how these principles guide the viewer’s eye and create rhythm.
Compare two artworks: one with strong contrast and one with low contrast. How does contrast affect the viewer’s experience?
Strong contrast creates visual interest and draws attention to differences, making the artwork more dynamic; low contrast creates a softer, more subtle effect that can feel calm or unified.
Design an artwork that uses proportion and unity to express a metaphor about growth. Explain your design decisions.
Using larger shapes growing from smaller ones shows proportion related to growth; arranging elements so they connect visually creates unity, symbolizing how growth is connected and continuous.
Provide visual charts with definitions and examples of each principle. Offer step-by-step guided sketches before independent work. Use sentence starters for art vocabulary during discussions.
Use visuals and gestures to explain principles of design. Provide bilingual vocabulary lists if possible. Pair ELL students with peers for collaborative discussions.
Challenge students to analyze complex artworks for multiple principles simultaneously. Encourage use of metaphor and symbolism in artworks. Have students lead peer critiques using advanced art vocabulary.
Encourage students to observe and photograph examples of principles of design in their home or community environments, such as patterns in architecture or balance in nature, and share these observations in class.
In this lesson, students learn to identify and apply the principles of design—emphasis, repetition/pattern, movement/rhythm, contrast/variety, balance, proportion, and unity—in their personal artworks. They explore how different art media and processes can express specific ideas and messages, using accurate art vocabulary to communicate their artistic choices. Through observation, modeling, creation, and reflection, students develop visual literacy skills essential for creating meaningful and visually engaging artworks.
Use the exact standards alignment and retrieved-source provenance stored with this enrichment.