- Definition
Repetition is when an artist uses the same shapes, colors, or lines over and over in their artwork. This can create a pattern, make parts of the art stand out, or help your eye move through the picture.
A drawing with a row of trees that all look the same uses repetition.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Repetition is like the pattern of stripes on a shirt that happens over and over again.
Ask your child: What part of this picture do you see again and again?
Common mix-up: Kids may think repetition is just copying. In art, it is a choice used to create a pattern or make a picture feel balanced.
Examples
- Drawing a border of repeating stars around a picture.
- Using the same wavy line over and over to show water.
repetition is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
