Geometry in Art

by Kanani Miyamoto

Did you know math, science and art are closely related? Let’s use what we know about geometry to make art! Use lines, color, shape and angles to create a masterpiece.

Learning Target

● I can recognize shapes, lines and angles in visual art.
● I can use line, angles and shape in my art work.
● I can notice how some artists use geometry in their work.

Materials

Paint pad, a ruler, a sharpie and a black fineline pen.
Watercolors, paint brush, markers or crayons
Note: If you use watercolor you also need Plastic container with water, paper towel or dry rag.

Instructions

There is geometry and math everywhere! Remember: These are your ideas. There is no right or wrong way to make this artwork.

1. Use your ruler and sharpie to fill up your paper with lines! Try drawing horizontal lines, vertical lines, perpendicular lines, intersecting lines, and parallel lines.

2. Take a few minutes to look at your paper filled with lines. Can you see any shapes? Try to find squares, triangles, octagons, parallelograms… What other shapes can you find?

3. Use some color to fill in the shapes you find. Try not to use the same colors next to each other.

4. While you are coloring keep looking at your lines. Notice the angles you created. Which ones do you think look cool? Why?

Reflection

Write in your journal or draw in your sketchbook
1. How did you like this activity? Did you enjoy finding and recognizing shapes you created? What surprised you?
2. Show a friend or family member your work. Ask them to notice different kinds of line, shapes or angles they see.
3. Take a look at your surroundings. What lines, shapes and angles can you identify?

Extra

1. Look up Acute Angles, Right Angles, Obtuse Angles, and Straight Angles. Identify them in your work of art and highlight them with a bold sharpie line.
2. Look up the work of …

 

What similarities do you see in the work? What differences do you see? Can you see shapes and angles in their artwork? What do you wonder about their work?
3. Find some shapes, lines and angles in natural objects. What shapes do you see in a pinecone? What about flowers? Can you find shape, line and angles in flowers?