Dynamic Composition

In this unit, students will investigate how to compose an interesting composition by creating four distinct mixed media compositions focused on variety and unity.

Materials

  • 4 Pieces of Final Paper (thick watercolor paper)
  • Tempera Paint
  • Watercolor Paint
  • Magazine/Paper for Collage
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Ink Pen / Pencil

Content

  • Representation
  • Abstraction
  • Non-representation

Composition

  • Unity through limited color palette
  • Variety through repetition
  • Focal point through representation
  • Controlling eye movement with negative space, motion, and shape

Technical Skills

  • Tempera Painting techniques
  • Watercolor Painting techniques
  • Collage techniques
  • Representation focusing on light and shadow

Art Style

Compositional Concerns

RHYTHM
MOVEMENT
UNITY & VARIETY
PATTERN & REPETITION

Project Overview

You will be making 4 compositions. Each composition will be unique.
 This unit allows for mixed media compositions (more than one art medium can be used in the composition.) Across the four compositions, you should have used each of the following art media: tempera painting, watercolor painting, collage, and ink pen or pencil drawing. 
Your compositions should include at least one representational element, an abstract element, and a nonrepresentational element.
Your compositions should use rhythm and movement to move the eye through the composition. It should feel unified with repetition linking areas of the composition together. It should use variety so that there are enough different elements to make it interesting to look at. There should be at least one focal point, with areas of the composition having different amounts of emphasis. 

Composition Concepts

Dynamic Poses and Objects have good Negative Space and an Interesting Silhouette

  • When choosing a focal point or two or three for your composition, you want to make sure the silhouette is interesting, has good negative space, and has holes or appendages. It should not be a solid block.

  • You can make your representation element by collaging a photo from a magazine or by painting or drawing. The representational elements are often areas of focus when paired with abstraction and non-representation because they have more detail.
 
  • When cutting out collage elements, you can cut out silhouettes with solid or irregular fills at the same time to give yourself different visual options.