Balance and Composition
Art 1 – 1st six weeks, lesson #1
Concept:
Using black, white and grey construction paper, the student will produce symmetrical and radial
designs with organic and geometric shapes.
Procedures:
1. All work will be done on 5” squares of white paper. Using black and grey paper for cut shapes, each
design will be composed of (9) shapes only.
2. Shapes may be overlapped in forming the design. Cut shapes must touch on (3) sides of the
composition.
3. Craftsmanship concerns will be addressed by the following criteria:
white ground must remain clean
shapes much be cut precisely (no jagged or rough edges)
shapes must be glued down completely and securely
no glue should be seen around the edges of shapes
4. Students will sketch ideas for all three designs. Then, students will complete
 two examples of symmetrical balance: one symmetrical design using only organic shapes, and
one symmetrical design using only geometric shapes.
 two examples of asymmetrical balance: one asymmetrical design using only organic shapes,
and one asymmetrical design using only geometric shapes.
 two examples of radial balance: one radial design using only organic shapes, and one radial
design using only geometric shapes.
Completed designs will be mounted and labeled on three, separate 6”x12” pieces of brown construction
paper in the sets described above.
Evaluation for each set:
Craftsmanship
White ground must remain clean
Shapes much be cut precisely
Shapes must be glued down completely and securely
No glue should be seen around the edges of shapes
Follows directions precisely
Nine shapes are used
Shapes are overlapping
Shapes are touching on 3 sides
Squares are mounted and labeled properly
Design
Correct balance used (Symmetrical, Asymmetrical, Radial)
Correct shapes used (Organic, Geometric)
A variety of sizes used (Large, medium, small)
Overlapping used in some places to unify design and add complexity
Complexity of design
Vocabulary and Concepts:
craftsmanship
radial
asymmetrical
geometric
organic
overlapping
mounted
composition
symmetrical
rubric
repetition
“ground”