Sort and Select

An Art Start Art Activity

Activity objective: to develop visual literacy skills by working with visual images, art concepts and vocabulary.

Teacher Notes

Assemble a collection of small artwork reproductions. Include artworks of different periods, cultures, styles. Art postcards work well because they are easy to handle and durable, but this activity could also be done using an online collection. This activity should ideally be done as a group to allow discussion, and debate about choices.

Classroom Activities

Sort

Sort the collection into different genres or subjects of art including landscapes, still life, portraiture, history paintings, genre scenes, narratives, fantasy, non-representational, etc. Discuss each choice.

• What other categories would be useful for the collection you have?
• Are there some artworks that are difficult to categorise? Explain why.

Sort the collection into different styles including realistic, naturalistic, idealistic, expressive, abstract.

Sort the collection into different art forms (i.e. sculpture, painting, photography). Within each art form is it possible to sort further? For example: different sorts of paintings – oil paintings, watercolour or acrylic.

You could use a lotus diagram to organise your thinking here.

Select

Find two artworks for each following visual qualities. Give reasons for each choice.
From the collection identity two artworks in which:

• colour is an important element
• repetition is used to creating a strong visual rhythm
•  there is a clear focal point
•  there is an illusion of three-dimensional space
• materials and processes are used an unexpected ways.

Information and Resources

Victorian Essential Learning Standards Lotus Diagram – graphic organiser