In this first chapter, you will learn the most important terms and techniques in making art. We will go through the basic elements of creating visual images and shapes. You will get to test different materials and work with different aspects of visual arts. In this chapter, you will learn about dots and lines, shapes and forms, colour, and light and shadow. You will also learn about pointillism and art photography.

In this chapter, you will only do small tasks at first. When you have learned about the basic elements, you will create a work of art of your own using everything that you have learned.


Objectives for this chapter (NCC 2014)

In this chapter, the pupil is encouraged to observe the arts and visual culture especially through the basic elements of visual arts. Discussion and expression on observations and thoughts is encouraged, both verbally and visually through thinking tasks and testing out different means of visual production. (O1, O2, O3.) The pupil is guided to use different elements of visual art to their advantage, and to use different techniques and materials. Both two-dimensional and three-dimensional techniques are included. (O4.) The chapter contains an exploratory approach to visual work, where the pupil is encouraged to test out different approaches to making visual art and to gain knowledge of diffrent techniques through exploration (O5). Interpretation of images is done both verbally and visually through different types of tasks throughout the chapter (O7). Visual arts are examined from the viewpoints of history and culture through terms and techniques. This chapter aims to inspire the pupil to apply different materials and techniques from different times and cultures in their own visual production. (O8, O9). These materials and techniques focus and are based on the basic elements of visual art; dots and lines, shapes, forms, composition, colour, light and shadow.


Key content areas (NCC 2014) in this chapter

C1 Pupils' own visual cultures: In this chapters, contents are selected from different visual cultures. The pupils have a choice to select those images which they find most interesting to work with the most. In the final section, "Your own artwork", the pupil's own visual work is used as the basis for analysing the basic elements of art.

C2 Visual cultures in the environment: The contents are selected from different envinronments and cultures of art. Both traditional and contemporary means of making art are included. The pupil's understanding of image production is emphasised through the selected contents. Contents are also selected from the pupil's own environment and surroundings, as the chapter encourages to seek visual elements anywhere and everywhere. 

C3 The worlds of visual arts: Contents are selected from visual arts produced in different times and cultures. These different contents are selected to represent the basic elements of visual art and to deepen the pupil's understanding of the elements. Works of art are used as a basis for the pupil's own visual work.