Arts

OBJECTIVE: To create a concise biography of a contemporary artist through the analysis of a

chosen work of art.

There are three parts to this activity – An Introduction, a discussion of form, and a discussion of concept.

Part One

Part one begins with you choosing an artist and a single example of their artwork from the

CONTEMPORARY ART section of this pack. The artist must be one we’ve discussed in the contemporary section of the pack, but the work can be anything they've done, whether discussed or not.

(Note: Be caref ul to select a work attributed to the artist and not an image done by someone else "in-the-

manner-of " that artist.)

Example of "in-the-manner-of".

Chuck Close Not Chuck Close

Complete the following for Part One:

1. Artist Name: (f irst and last name) 2. Country of origin and dates of birth and death: (dates f or artists still living should be noted with

the word “present.” Example: 1970-present) 3. Artwork chosen: (provide the title, the year created, dimensions, and media. Example: Boy with

Apple, 2014, 18 x24 inches, oil on canvas.) 4. Art movement the work is associated with: (note: some artists have lived and worked over the

course of several movements – name the movement associated with the chosen work.) 5. End Part One by briefly discussing what you like about the artist's work: (There’s no wrong

answer here but it should be more than just “I liked it because it looked cool.” It’s OK to start there,

but be sure to provide more insight into how you connected with the work – f ormally, emotionally, historically, conceptually, etc.) This should be a minimum of five sentences.

Part Two

Begin Part Two by inserting the image into the thread by clicking the Attach Image icon on the

toolbar above the text window. (Reminder: The artwork does not have to be from the lesson.) Then, using terms and techniques covered during this course, provide answers to the following FORMAL

questions (what the art looks like):

6. What is the medium used to create the work? Example: Is it paint? If so what paint? Oil, acrylic, etc… If it's a sculpture - is it a relief or in the round?

7. What are the characteristics of the medium used? Example: Oil paint has a very slow drying time, theref ore the artist was able to create chiaroscuro by smoothly blending the values. (You can ref erence the characteristics of any media by revisiting Lesson 3 – How is Art Made)

8. How did the medium along with other visual elements enhance the work? Example: The use of steel allowed the work to be monumental in scale. Or, the artist's use of atmospheric

perspective really gave the painting a sense of depth. (You can reference the visual elements by revisiting Lesson 2 – What Does Art Look Like)

9. Complete Part Two with an analysis of the different ways the artist has used the visual elements such as color, contrast, balance, directional forces, etc... to create the form of the

artwork. How do these elements help the viewer understand the work? Example: Because the work was an installation, the viewer was able to experience every detail as they walked

through the gallery. OR The artist’s use of the color red gives an overall feeling of anger and

aggression. This should be a minimum of five sentences in addition to the questions for Part 2.

Part Three

Now explore and discuss the CONCEPTUAL (content or idea) qualities of the artwork by answering

these next questions.

10. What do you think was the artist’s motivation for this work? (Beauty, communication, or something spiritual) Explain. (You can ref erence these motivations by revisiting Lesson 1 – What

is Art and Why Do We Make It?) 11. How do you think the cultural and historical background of the artist might have influenced

the way their work looks? Example: Growing up in China, Ai Weiwei spent his childhood surrounded by ancient temples that were destined to be destroyed.

12. What conclusions can you reach about the artist’s time period and his or her views of their world? Some things you might want to consider: spirituality, politics, economics, race or ethnicity,

gender or gender identity, ecological issues, materials, and process. Example: Ai Weiwei grew up living in a country (China) where f ree speech was often severely punished.

13. With which other artist does your chosen artist share similar concepts, approaches to subject matter, or use of materials discussed in this class? How are they similar? (Note:

There is always an answer to this question.) Spend some time thinking about the art movements,

culture, style, or techniques the artists we studied may have in common.