Getting To Know a Painting
Art Criticism Worksheet
Name: ______
Grade: ______
Title of art work: ______
Year: ______
Medium: ______
Location: ______
How to criticize a work of art – Doing art criticism is like playing detective. You must assume that the artist has a secret message hidden inside the work. Your job is to solve the mystery and find the message.
Step 1. The Facts – Describe what you see in a work of art.
1.)Lines – What kind of lines do you see?
Sharp____ Thick____ Jagged____
Heavy____ Choppy____ Vertical____
Diagonal____ Fuzzy____ Thin____
Curved____ Graceful____ Smooth____
Horizontal____ Straight____ Soft____
2.)Shapes – What kind of shapes do you see?
Circles____ Rectangles____ Curved____
Soft-edged____ Squares____ Triangles____
Angular____ Hard-edged____
3.)Textures – What kinds of textures do you see?
Rough____ Soft____
Smooth____ Hard____
Shiny____ Dull____
4.)Colors – What kinds of colors do you see?
Bright____ Warm Colors: Cool Colors:
Soft____ Reds____ Blues____
Dark____ Oranges____ Greens____
Strong____ Yellows____
Opposite Colors: Neutral Colors:
Blues and Oranges____ Browns____
Reds and Greens____ Grays____
Yellows and Purples____ Whites____
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5.)Objects – What kinds of objects do you see?
Young people____ Old people____
Buildings____ Boats____
Animals____ Musical instrument____
There are no objects____ Trees____
Sky____ Rocks____
Water____ Food____
Step 2: The Technical Analysis –
Look at the way the facts are put together.(Designed)
6.)Balance – What kind of balance is used?
Asymmetrical - (each side of the work of art is different) ____
Symmetrical - (each side of the work of art is similar) ____
A bit asymmetrical – (each side of the work of art is a little different) ____
7.)Light areas – Squint your eyes and look at the painting. Where do you see the lightest areas?
Right side____ Left side____ Top____
Bottom____ Middle____
8.)Dark areas – Now squint your eyes again and look at the painting. Where do
you see the darkest areas?
Right side____ Left side____ Top____
Bottom____ Middle____
9.)Focal point – What is the first thing that you see when you look at the work
of art?
______
10.)Illusion of space – What kind of space is used?
Deep space (painting looks like you can see for miles) ____
Shallow space (you cannot see very far) ____
Flat space (things do not seem 3-dimensional) ____
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11.)Rhythm created by repetition – What do you see repeated in the work of art?
Lines____ Draw the kinds you see repeated the most______
Shapes____ Draw the kinds you see repeated the most______
Colors____What colors are repeated the most______
Step 3: Interpretation- what is the purpose or meaning of the artwork?
Now go back and reread how you described the facts (step 1) and how the facts are put together (step 2). These are the clues to the meaning and purpose of the artwork. They will help you answer the following questions.
12.)The artist seems to be primarily concerned with imitating nature.
Yes____ No____
13.)The artist is most interested in expressing a feeling or an emotion.
Yes____ No____
14.)The prime concern of the artist seems to be with lines, shapes, colors, and textures and with the design or composition.
Yes____ No____
15.)Does the name of the painting tell you about the meaning or purpose?
Yes____ No____
16.)Which of the following words best describe what you think is the meaning of this artwork? (you may use as many words as you need and add some of your own)
Strength____ Beauty____ Love____
Madness____ Excitement____ Courage____
Horror____ Fear____ Hope____
Hate____ Anger____ War____
Adventure____ Mystery____ Happiness____
Old Age____ Fun____ Peace____
Sadness____ Death______
Interest in color______
Interest in shapes______
Interest in line______
Simplicity of design______
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Complexity of design______
Enjoyment in work______
Step 4: Judgment – Judge the work of art.
17.)This painting is an excellent____ good____ bad____ example of:
Imitationalism (imitating nature) ____
Emotionalism (showing a feeling or emotion) ____
Formalism (making the viewer aware of lines, shapes, color, design).
18.)I Like____don’t like____ this art work because (indicate facts relevant to your decision).______
______
______
Cox/Hume -4-