Drawing and Design

Why drawing and design?

In the Junior School CBC (KICD), Creative Arts begins with drawing and design because every artwork starts as an idea sketched on paper. Learners observe their surroundings and turn them into drawings, patterns and decorative designs.

Elements of art

• Line: straight, curved, zigzag, thick or thin.
• Shape: flat outlines such as circles, squares and triangles.
• Form: three-dimensional objects like a gourd or a box.
• Colour: primary (red, yellow, blue), secondary (orange, green, purple).
• Texture: how a surface feels, for example rough bark or smooth glass.
• Space and value: the area around objects and how light or dark a tone is.

Principles of design

Balance, rhythm, repetition, contrast, emphasis and unity guide how elements are arranged to make a pleasing picture.

Steps in making a drawing

1. Observe the object carefully.
2. Lightly sketch the main shapes with a pencil.
3. Add details and correct proportions.
4. Shade to show light and shadow.
5. Colour or finish the work neatly.

Worked example

To design a repeat pattern for a kitenge-style cloth border: draw a leaf shape, repeat it in a row, alternate two colours, and keep spacing equal. The repeated leaf shows rhythm and repetition.

Materials and care

Use pencils (HB, 2B), crayons, poster paint or charcoal. Clean brushes after use, and use local, recycled materials such as old newspapers when possible.

Try it

• Draw a banana plant using only lines and shade it.
• Make a border pattern using two shapes and two colours.
• Identify the primary colours in a picture you like.
• Describe the texture of three objects in your classroom.