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Art Crit Step-by-Step: Evaluation of a Work of Art Worksheet

(sourced from Prof. Alana Taylor, ASU, who adapted it from “Four Step Evaluation of a Work of Art Handout”, teacher.nicholas.kyschools.us/ejohnson/art dept.)

* This is in worksheet format; you may use it as a guide to writing a formal paper. ** The title of an artwork is either underlined or italicized. Do not put in quotation marks. Student’s Name: _______________________________

Date: _________________________________________

Name of the Artwork Evaluated: _____________________________________________

Location of the Artwork Experience: __________________________________________

Step 1: Describe: Describe what you see in the artwork What kind of objects do you see in the artwork? (You may choose more than one) People Buildings Boats Landscape Seascape Animals Plants Water Food None Other: (describe _______________________________) What sort of artwork do you think this is? Portrait Figure Landscape Seascape Cityscape Poster Abstract Nature Still life Narrative Other: (List ______________________________________) What style do you think the artist primarily used? Realistic Representational Abstract Media: What medium or media did the artist use? 1. Type or category: 2-D or 3-D Two-Dimensional:

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Drawing Painting Visual communication design Printmaking Photography Textiles Digital Art Video Film Three-Dimensional: Ceramics Sculpture Architecture Performance Installation/Environments

2. What material is the work made from? Pencil Crayon Charcoal Pastels Ink Paint (oil, acrylic, tempera, watercolor, encaustic, spray paint, other: ____________) Fabric / Fiber Clay Wood Glass Mixed media / collage Paper Papier-mâché Stone Found objects Metal (steel, bronze, aluminum, copper, silver) Other: (List_______________________________________________)

Step 2: Analysis: Identifying the Elements of Art & Principles of Design The Elements of Art: what parts of art are used What kinds of LINES do you see? Sharp Thick Heavy Jagged Choppy Vertical Diagonal Fuzzy Thin Curved Graceful Smooth Horizontal Straight Broken Zigzag Dotted Wavy Other: (List ___________________________________________________) What SHAPES do you see? Circles Squares Triangles Rectangles Diamonds

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Other: (List_______________________________________________) What FORMS do you see? Cones Spheres Cylinders Cubes Other: (List_______________________________________________) How would you describe the shapes and/or forms? Curved Angular Hard-Edged Soft-Edged Organic Free-Form Other: (List_______________________________________________) What kinds of COLORS do you see in the artwork? Bright (intense) Darks/Lights (values) Soft Dull (less intense) Strong Warm colors Cool colors Neutral colors (browns, greys, earth tones) Complementary colors (colors opposite of each other on the color wheel) Monochromatic colors (a single color containing light and dark values of that color) Analogous colors (similar, families, near each other on the color wheel) Triadic colors (three colors that are equidistant from each other on the color wheel; i.e., red, yellow, & blue; green, orange, & violet) What kinds of TEXTURES do you see? Rough Smooth Hard Soft Slick Bumpy Gritty Leathery Metallic Oily Coarse Sticky Furry Fuzzy Hairy Prickly Moist Glassy Sharp Slippery Wet Grainy Velvety Spongy Powdery Other: (List_______________________________________________) Are the textures real (have actual feeling) or implied (look real)? Are there VALUES shown? Bright lights deep darks middle tones

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They are subtle shading (chiaroscuro) or sudden / starkly different Some include space; how is it used in the artwork? (Circle one) Deep Space (looks like you can see for miles, a very wide range of light & dark values) Shallow Space (shapes are flattened with limited use of light & dark values) Flat Space (shapes appear one value/color, objects appear not 3-dimensional at all) If the work is a landscape what do you see in each division of space?

• Foreground (objects nearest the viewer)

• Mid-ground (space between the foreground and the background)

• Background (objects that appear the most distant from the viewer) Does the work show perspective? If yes: 1pt 2pt 3pt The Principles of Design: How are the Elements of Art used together, arranged? EMPHASIS: focal point, dominance, where your eye goes first What is the first thing you see when you look at this artwork? How do you think the artist created the focal point? MOVEMENT: the path your eyes take through a work of art, also implied or actual movement in the work Following the point of emphasis, where do your eyes travel through the work, and what leads you in that direction? 3-D / Sculpture: Is anything actually moving in the work? If so, what is moving and what makes it move? 2-D: Does anything in the artwork appear to move (wind, water, fabric, motion…) and why does it appear to move? RHYTHM: planned use of pattern, which can lead the viewer’s eye through an artwork while also giving the work of art structure, pulse, predictability

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What do you see repeated in the artwork? Lines Shapes Forms Colors Textures Values CONTRAST: points of strong difference, often in the area of emphasis Tip: it may help to squint your eyes and look at the artwork. Are there noticeable differences between light and dark areas? Yes No Are there complementary colors used? Which ones? Where? BALANCE: the composition feels like an equal amount of weight throughout Circle what kind of visual balance is used in the artwork?

• Symmetrical balance (the halves of the artwork mirror each other)

• Asymmetrical balance (each side of the artwork is different)

• Radial balance (emphasis is in the center, viewer’s eyes are directed like the spokes of a wheel, flower, or target moving toward the middle)

UNITY: What helps create a sense of unity or helps holds the work together in a pleasing way: Line Shape Form Color Texture Value Emphasis Movement Rhythm Contrast Balance

Step 3: Interpretation: What is the purpose or meaning of the artwork? You uncovered clues about the meaning of this artwork in the first two steps of this exercise. Sometimes even the name of an artwork can tell you something about its meaning or purpose. Sometimes an artist’s statement or signs in the exhibit indicate some history or explanation. Explain what the name of this artwork tells you about the meaning or purpose of this work.

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There are many purposes of art. Circle which of these purposes do you think the artist was primarily concerned with in this artwork. • Expressive art (expressing emotions, feelings, and/or ideas) • Narrative art (describing and illustrating experiences, telling a story) • Functional art (art the serves a practical or useful purpose) • Ceremonial or ritual art (work that celebrates or commemorates) • Decorative art (created for the purpose of decorating or beautifying) • Persuasive art (advertising, marketing, or propaganda art) • Formalist art (works that deal solely with the arrangement of elements of art/principles

of design as subject matter – found most often abstract or non-objective art) • Reflecting the world – (art that imitates nature)

Circle the words that best describe what you think is the meaning of this artwork. (Use as many words as needed – even supplying some new ones if necessary.) Strength Fear Loneliness Fun Mystery Anger Hate Love Beauty Courage Peace War Sadness Happiness Madness Hope Adventure Excitement Equality Difference Culture Geography History Industry Interest in color Interest in shapes Interest in lines Complexity of design Simplicity of design The process of making art Other: (List_______________________________________________________________)

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Step 4: Evaluation: What do you think about the artwork? Do you like it; why or why not? Write a brief narrative expressing your opinion of the artwork. Include both your positive perceptions and your criticism of the work and explain your answers. Use the questions below to help you write this narrative. Also use the information you have gathered in your description, analysis and interpretation. What is the value that you find in the artwork? For example, is it a beautiful work of art? Thought-provoking? Does it have an important social message? Does it give us window for understanding the past? Does the work communicate an idea, feeling, or principle that would have benefit for others? Explain. Rather than seeing the work as being very effective or totally without value, does the work fall somewhere in between? Do you think that the work is just ok? On what do you base this opinion? (Possibilities might be the use of the Elements of Art, or the Principles of Design; lack of personal expression; lack of major theme or focus.)