Look Here!

Focal Point

Focal points refer to the areas of the artwork that demand the viewer's attention.

"Creating good artistic composition takes knowledge of how your artwork will be viewed.  Understanding how your audience will view your artwork will help you to communicate more effectively through your artwork. 

Creating focal points in your artwork is one way to be in control of how your artwork is viewed."

We've viewed the work Christina's World by Andrew Wyeth.  

What is the focal point in this painting?  

What did the artist do to make us NOTICE Christina?

A focal point is the area of emphasis around which the rest of a painting is centered and which pulls the viewer’s eye into the painting.

Artists have several ways to create a focal point or center of interest.  Let's look at some strategies.

Contrast

Contrast is simply defined as difference.  Difference between art elements like color, value, size, texture, and so on can intensify the elements used

Isolation

Whenever one object or element is separated from a group it becomes isolated and in turn, becomes a focal point.

   

Placement

Objects that are placed in the center of the picture plane or near center, will naturally become a focal point.

Convergence

to use implied lines to direct a viewer's eye to an object or element. 

The Unusual

to introduce an object or element that is unusual to the scene. 

Sometimes artist combine more than one method to create a focal point

Artwork with NO focal point

What will be the focal point of your art?

How will you create a point of interest in your work?

sources:

http://emptyeasel.com/2008/11/11/the-focal-point-debate-should-every-painting-have-a-focal-point/

http://thevirtualinstructor.com/how-to-create-focal-points.html

Preparing for the Art Walk - Is it done yet?

Preparing for the Art Walk

Is it done yet?

Transforming Materials (grades 1-2)

Transformation 

Wonderful Weaving (2nd - 5th grade)

weave

wēv/

Weaving is a method of textile production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth.

(there's a dragon in my art room)

Preparing your Loom:

Write your name on the loom!

Warping your Loom.  These are the strings that you will wrap around your loom and will go over and under as you weave.

(cassie stevens)

Make a cut in the center the "teeth" of the loom.  Start at the top corner, tape the warp string in place tape just under the notch.   Wrap string straight down and around the loom.  Alternate between the valley and between the cut notches.  Wrap the front and back of the loom for a pouch.  Wrap the front only for a flat decorative weaving.  

(cassie stevens)

do not cut until you are certain you have not missed any notches.  If you missed a notch, unwrap back to the missed spot and re-warp your loom.

Tape the cut string as close to the notch at possible.


Using a tapestry needle, go over and under the weft strings.  The yarn going over and under is called the WEFT.  

Pull through the excess yarn and leave a tail.  Flip over your loom and repeat the process. The yarn going across your loom, theweft yarn, will go over the yarn you went under the last row.

With your finger tips like a "comb", push down your weft/weaving after each row.

 

Incorrect Weaving                                                         Correct Weaving      (Cassie Stephens)

*See Ms. Williams to help you remove your weaving from the loom or to make a flap.

(paintbrush rocket*)


Extension:  Circle Weaving