Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Critiquing Art
Lesson plan for students to learn about the principles and elements of design and use them to critique art. (Note: Link to Sanford & A Lifetime of Color: Study Art does not work.)
Other
Poway Unified School District: How to Analyze Art
This tutorial will lead you through the steps on how to view and understand art. Great for all ages.
ArtLex
Art Lex: Balance
ArtLex provides a complete description of the term, "balance," with various links to show how balance relates to art. A work by Vermeer is provided as an example.
Department of Defense
Do Dea: Art Appreciation: Unit 3: Technical Aspects of Art
In this third unit of a course on Art Appreciation, students learn how to describe the technical aspects of an artist's work by discussing elements of art and principles of design. They also look at the stylistic qualities of an artist's...
McGraw Hill
My Art Studio: Elements of Art: Composition: Rhythm
Interactive activity explaining the principle of rhythm as it applies to visual art.
ArtLex
Art Lex: Movement
This site from Artlex is a fantastic description of how movement is used in the creation of art. There are links to works of art in sculpture, painting and photography as well as focused interpretations of how different types of movement...
Other
The Alphabet of Art: The Attributes
An informative site explaining the attributes of art as well as other art terms.
ArtLex
Art Lex: Emphasis
A complete description of the term, "emphasis," with links to show how emphasis relates to art. Includes examples of work by Klimt, Demuth, and Minor.
Department of Defense
Do Dea: Art Appreciation: Unit 6: Architecture and Design
In this sixth unit of a course on Art Appreciation, students learn about the history of architecture, including ancient Greek and Roman works. They will learn about Frank Lloyd Wright and about Islamic architecture. They will also look...
Other
Guidance Communications: The Alphabet of Art
A site dedicated to providing vocabulary for the elements of visual design. Includes a visual notation system for describing both the elements and attributes of art.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: Maloof on Maloof
The Smithsonian profiles the work of master furniture craftsman, Sam Maloof. While not technically sculpture, Maloof's work approaches fine art in its beauty yet has a strong element of function. Videos require QuickTime plug-in.
ArtLex
Art Lex: Harmony
This site from Artlex provides a brief but effective definition of the Principle of Design known as Harmony. There are links to other terms within the definition as well as quotations by Cezanne, Seurat and Ingres.
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: How to Appreciate a Painting
Christine A. Elmore's curriculum unit designed "to facilitate her third-graders' enjoyment of and response to fine art." This unit can be applied to all age groups and provides an extensive background on art in general.
University of Saskatchewan (Canada)
University of Saskatchewan: Value & Color
Basic color theory is discussed in relaton to computer art applications. Illustrated.
California State University
Bean and Seed Mosaic
This lesson plan offers an alternative to generic torn/cut paper mosaics by using beans and seeds. Introduce Mexican culture and have your students practice the elements of line, shape, and color.
Other
Architeacher: Architecture and Aesthetics
Learn about the aesthetic elements of architecture and how architects manipulate a building's sensory, formal, technical, and expressive elements to achieve "good design."