The presence of nature in art | Art and design | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

What is observational drawing?
- drawing from your imagination and not looking at something
- drawing something you see in real life by looking at it carefully ✓
- drawing with your eyes closed but remembering something
- dolouring a picture using a chosen colour palette
What is the best way to start an observational drawing?
- Draw the larger, basic shapes first. ✓
- Draw all the tiny details first.
- Colour it in right away.
- Work from the top to the bottom of the page.
Match the terms with their correct descriptions.
- organic shapes
  
  ⇔
  
  smooth, flowing, or unpredictable edges ✓
- geometric shapes
  
  ⇔
  
  mathematical shapes like squares, triangles, and circles ✓
- irregular shapes
  
  ⇔
  
  uneven or asymmetrical shapes ✓
What does "recording" mean in art?
- creating a detailed final artwork right away
- making a visual record of something the artist sees, like a sketch or a photo ✓
- repeating the same artwork over and over
- writing about artwork in a journal
Match these key words with their descriptions.
- observation
  
  ⇔
  
  looking, noticing and paying attention to something carefully ✓
- photographic
  
  ⇔
  
  relating to or resembling photographs ✓
- evaluation
  
  ⇔
  
  the process of thinking about the success and weakness of an artwork ✓
- record
  
  ⇔
  
  to document ideas, observations, and creative processes ✓
Match the term with the best description.
- drawing from nature
  
  ⇔
  
  observing the world around us including trees, animals and flowers ✓
- observation
  
  ⇔
  
  drawing by looking carefully at something in front of you ✓
- real life
  
  ⇔
  
  looking at something real in the world around you to create art. ✓
- imagination
  
  ⇔
  
  using your own creativity to develop new ideas ✓

Exit quiz

When drawing from observation why is it best to start with the basic shapes you notice?
- to make the drawing more complicated
- to help break down the complex form into easier parts ✓
- to avoid showing any details
- to make the drawing look less realistic
Put the following steps in order for creating an observational drawing of a natural form. Arrange them from the first step to the last step.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  Develop geometric shapes to outline the basic structure.
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  Include organic shapes to capture the natural curves and irregular shapes.
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  Gradually develop tonal shading to show light and dark areas.
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  Use mark-making to show detail and texture and explore surface.
What does using a stick with ink instead of a regular pen, pencil or brush do to your drawing?
- makes the drawing look smoother and more controlled
- adds a sense of spontaneity and unexpected mark-making effects ✓
- limits the drawing to only fine details
- makes the drawing look more like a photograph
Match the term with the correct description about close observation in art.
- examining details carefully
  
  ⇔
  
  observing carefully to notice and understand individual elements ✓
- looking at the whole form
  
  ⇔
  
  seeing the general shape and size of the subject ✓
- understanding texture
  
  ⇔
  
  noticing smooth or rough surfaces ✓
- observing light and shadow
  
  ⇔
  
  looking at how light and shade fall on the subject ✓
- analysing proportions
  
  ⇔
  
  checking the size and relationship between different parts ✓
How do artists use nature in their artwork?
- copying nature exactly as it appears only
- using elements of nature like shapes, colours, and textures to inspire ✓
- by drawing man-made elements
- by using natural forms as tools or materials for creating artwork ✓
In addition to drawing from nature, how else can artists use nature in their work?
- They can use nature as a tool to draw, build, create texture or marks. ✓
- They can only draw nature directly.
- They can use natural materials, textures, and forms to create their art. ✓
- They never use natural tools or materials in their artwork.

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

Throughout history artists often turn to nature as inspiration.
Artists draw to document ideas, observations, and processes. This can be experimental or from direct observation.
Artists explore nature through representation, as well as literally creating work with and in nature.

Common misconception

Artists inspired by nature can only look carefully at natural forms and record them.

Artists can make art in and with nature as well as recording from nature.

Keywords

Observation - looking, noticing and paying attention to something carefully
Organic - shapes that do not have straight lines and are found in nature
Geometric - shapes that have uniform measurements and do not appear in nature
Record - a way to document ideas, observations, and creative processes for future reference or reflection