Three small composition sketches can prevent one oversized commitment

Keep early arrangements quick and rough enough to compare. Moving the main shape, changing its size or shifting surrounding space can reveal useful alternatives before the child invests effort in developing a larger image.

Make small arrangement trials. Compare focal points. Select one to develop.

Compare arrangements while changes are easy

Keep thumbnail sketches small enough to compare quickly. They are decision tools, so finish and decoration need not become the main task.

Moving the main shape off-centre changes the empty space around it.

Thumbnails can remain rough. What changed between arrangements?

Use shape stickers.

Resources

• Free Elements of Art Worksheet for Kids – Shape, Line, Color, Value, Space, Form & Texture — Use the element vocabulary as a reference while children make their own visual choices.

Further reading

• National Gallery of Australia — learning resources

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