Art Criticism Paper

Chambers - Art Criticism Paper

Due Monday April 7th No late papers accepted. You can turn them in early.

Format - the paper is to be typed, double-spaced, twelve point standard typeface, and 1000 words in length (four pages total = approximately two pages for each artwork). Attach the drawings of the artworks at the end. Do not include a folder or binding, instead staple in the upper left corner.

Select two artworks from the list attached.

Make a detailed drawing of each of the two works. The drawings should be about the size of your sketchbook. Note their frame of reference (vertical, horizontal, square).

Each work of art will require the format below:

Opening paragraph - one that introduces the art work – Name of Artist, Title, Date, Medium/Media, and Size.

Description paragraph (What do I see?)
For description, you must be objective and carefully make a list of all the things you see in the work. At this point, do not try to guess why things are there or what they mean. Do not write that a mother is holding her daughter, write that a woman is holding a child (You can later conclude that it is the mother in the Interpretation paragraph).

List any literal objects in the artwork that you can see i.e. trees, people, animals, mountains, rivers, etc. and their type, color, number, position, etc.
Write where these objects are placed in relationship to each other and in relationship to the edges of the picture plane (i.e. the woman is placed slightly to the left and holding the baby in her left arm, placing the baby in the center of the picture plane).
Consider the point of view that the artist used. Do you see it from above, from below, from far away, from close up, from inside looking out, from outside looking in, etc.

The elements of art (line, shape, texture, color, value, space, form) can be used in realistic works to help describe more details (the dress has an overall pattern of horizontal stripes, the texture of the table top was rough with the grain of the wood running vertically, etc.)

Analytical paragraph (How is it organized?)
In analysis, you discover how the main principles of art are used to organize the art elements. You may not find every principle of art used in a single artwork.

In this step consider the most significant art principles that were used in the artwork. You do not have to use all of them but at least three, enough to write a good paragraph.

Emphasis – Is there a focal point? If so, what is it and why do we see it first. Is there a secondary focal point? If so, what is it and why do we see it first. Think of placement on the page (is it near the center), think of contrast (is it the lightest, the brightest, the largest, the one with the pattern, etc), think directional lines or direction of gazes that move your eye to this focal point.
Variety – How has the artist varied the components in the art work? Art there large and small objects, light and dark places, bright and dull colors, sharp and hazy areas, etc.
Balance– How is the work balanced? Is it perfectly symmetrical, near symmetrical, asymmetrical?
Proportion and Scale– refer to the relative size of one object to another within the work. Artists can change the normal size, scale, or proportion of things through distortion and exaggeration for personal expression and emphasis.
Unity – How has the artist achieved a coherence of the whole? Are there things repeated or similar; are there spatial connections that connect them.

Movement - How does your eye travel through the composition?
Rhythm created by repetition of the elements to create a feeling of movement (visual tempo or beat)

Interpretation Paragraph (What is the artist saying?)
An interpretation seeks to explain the meaning of the work based on what you have learned so far about the artwork. It is here that you can make guesses. Do not be afraid of being different. Your interpretation can express your feelings, but these should be backed up by observation. Consider what you have seen in the other paragraphs, i.e. Did the artist distort or exaggerate? Did the artist use dramatic value? Did the artist use arbitrary colors? Warm colors? Cool colors? Did the artist use expressive lines?

What kind of statement do you think the artist is trying to make?
Why do you think the artist create this artwork?
What do you think it means? What does it mean to you?
How does this artwork relate to you and to your life? Why?
What feelings do you have when looking at this artwork? Why?
Why do you think that the artist chose to work in this manner and made these kinds of artistic decisions?
Do you think there are things in the artwork that represent other things (symbols)?

Judgment paragraph (Is this a successful work of art?)
After careful observation, analysis, and interpretation of the artwork, you are ready to make your own judgment. This is your personal evaluation based on the understandings of the work(s). Here are questions you might consider:

Why do you think that this work has intrinsic value or worth? What is the value that you find in the work(s)? (For example - is it a beautiful work of art, does it convey an important social message, does it affect the way that I see the world, does it make insightful connections, does it reaffirms a religious belief, etc.)
Do you think that the work(s) has a benefit for others? Do you find that the work communicates an idea, feeling or principle that would have value for others?
Does the work lack value or worth? Why do you think this is so? Could the reason you find the work lacking come from a poor use of the elements of art? Could the subject matter by unappealing, unimaginative, or repulsive?
Rather than seeing the work as being very effective or without total value, does the work fall somewhere in-between? Do you think that the work is just o.k.? What do you base this opinion on? The use of elements of art? Lack of personal expression? The work lacks a major focus? Explore your criticism of the work (s) as much as you would any positive perceptions. Realize that your own tastes and prejudices may enter into your criticism. Give your positive and negative perceptions.

Surrealism - (a 20th century movement of artists and writers (developing out of Dadaism) who used fantastic images and incongruous juxtapositions in order to represent unconscious thoughts and dreams)

Here is the Rubric I use to grade the paper:

Museum Paper Rubric – Ten Points Possible

Name _________________________

Art Work # 1 ___________________________________________________

Drawing ______ (1 point possible)

Paper ______ (4 points possible)

Art Work #2 ____________________________________________________

Drawing ______ (1 point possible)

Paper ______ (4 points possible

Total Points