MATH AND ART

Some artists think about and use MATH when making art, especially when they plan their composition. Composition is a fancy art way of saying where an artist arranges and places objects and elements in their art. Let's look at how artists use Symmetry, Parallel Lines and Perpendicular Lines in art.

Symmetry in Math

That imaginary line that seems to divide a symmetrical shape in half is called a LINE OF SYMMETRY. Picture it as the line where the shape could be folded in half. Why does the triangle have more than one?

Symmetry in Nature

Symmetry can be found in nature. From flowers and seashells to bodies of animals.

Radial Symmetry

SYMMETRY around an axis. Think of a bike wheel or a starfish.

Rose Stained Glass Window

Symmetry in Art

Symmetry in art can create balance and harmony and make the art visual nice to look at.

Heather Hanson is both artist and dancer. She combines both to create symmetrical artworks. Her kinetic drawings are part dance, part performance art using her body as a drawing tool and ending up as large scale pieces in charcoal or pastels.

Do you notice SYMMETRY in her art?

Let's look at a few other works of art that use symmetrical compositions.

Pantheon in the Acropolis.

Aztec mosaic ornament

Parallel Lines

PARALLEL LINES are lines that never intersect (cross) or touch and stay the same distance apart (equidistant).

Op artist Bridget Riley filled her art with lines. Here are some ways she used PARALLEL LINES.

Perpendicular Lines:

Lines that intersect or cross at a 90 degree angles. A square has four, 90 degree angles.

Let's look at some perpendicular lines in art.

Piet Mondrian's Geometric art is a great place to view PERPENDICULAR LINES. The black lines criss cross at 90 degree angles.

Here are a few more examples of PERPENDICULAR LINES!

Is it symmetrical?

Raise your hand when you see PARALLEL LINES. Can you find PERPENDICULAR LINES?

This is the same artist, Sol Lewitt. Are These lines Parallel? or Perpendicular?

of course they CREATE ART!

We know artists can paint, draw, collage, cut, sculpt, mold, weave, photograph, sketch, bead, glue, sew.

Beyond making art, what else do artists do?

ARTISTS Envision...

they visualize or picture and idea in their mind.

ARTISTS make a plan...

they think through or write the steps to make their artwork. They sketch what a drawing might look like. They get their ideas out of their head and onto paper.

ARTISTS take care and respect their materials...

including taking care of their studios. What are some ways you take care of materials? (snap that cap, don't break pencils, organize supply baskets, etc.)

ARTISTS try new things...

they are brave and take risks. they explore and experiment with new art supplies. they learn to use new tools, materials and space.

ARTISTS talk about art...

We have share time. Artists talk about their ideas, the materials they used and the process of making art.

ARTISTS make mistakes...

and are willing to try again. We know that if we make a mistake in drawing, we try 3 fixes before a new piece of paper --front and back, beautiful oops and an eraser. How does an artist fix a mistake in other studios?

ARTISTS observe...

artists look closely, pay attention and notice details.

ARTISTS collaborate...

artists work together. Artists cooperate and listen to one another to create art.

ARTISTS reflect...

they think about what went well, what they need to learn and what they can improve.

ARTISTS work hard...

they are focussed and spend time on their art. Some artists can spend years working on a piece. We say, "if you just started it today, it really should stay". (there are some exceptions to this rule, often birthday cards and jewelry)