Description of the Unit – Erik Abel is an American artist whose paintings express an appealing use of geometry and color, and, particularly in his abstracted paintings of animals, clearly express symmetry, asymmetry and balance in ways that are accessible to students as young as 1^st grade. Students will observe and discuss his work, as well as other works of art that express the above terms and will then create their own Eric Abel-inspired animal illustration in oil pastel that express symmetry, asymmetry and balance.