Week 2 – Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptian art is instantly recognisable because of its unique style and strong sense of order. Created thousands of years ago, these artworks were not just decorative — they had deep cultural and spiritual meaning.
Figures were often shown in a very specific way: heads in profile, bodies facing forward, and eyes looking straight out. This wasn’t a mistake — it was a deliberate way of showing the most important parts of a person clearly. Egyptian artists followed rules to ensure balance, proportion, and clarity in their work.
Symbols played a huge role too. Hieroglyphs (picture symbols) were used alongside images to tell stories about daily life, beliefs, and the afterlife.
This week’s homework invites students to explore structure, symbolism, and proportion, just like Egyptian artists did. It’s a great reminder that art can follow rules and still be expressive, and that images can communicate ideas just as strongly as words.
Inspiration: Hieroglyphs, profile figures
Task Focus: Shape, symbolism, proportion
🌱 Start Here:
Draw a figure in profile using simple shapes
🌿 Build It:
Add Egyptian-style symbols and patterns
🌳 Take It Further:
Create a balanced composition using proportion, pattern, and storytelling
Reflect:
“What symbols did I include and why?”