Formally Analyze an Artwork

 pages 3

1. Look closely at the painting and begin to decipher the overall mood
2. Begin making a list of all the formal elements present in the work
3. Now, narrow down the elements to the 3-5 most important
4. Pull together an overall thesis statement
5. Go through each element and not only describe how it is used, but also explain the VISUAL EFFECT it has on the work and connect it back to your thesis