Evaluation Standards

Background:

Throughout this course we will be learning the language of art. The basics of this language are the elements of art---the irreducible ingredients used to create 2D and 3D form. Just as spoken language is based on letters, sounds and grammar, art is based on elements and principles that work together to communicate ideas and meaning. We refer to them as the building blocks of composition in art. A composition is the organized layout of an image or object according to the rules of design. The best way to understand these elements and design principles is to study them in a variety of artworks. In this homework, you are asked to analyze how artists use the elements of art in composition to manifest their creative intent---the meaning or purpose of their artwork, and, even more than that, you are asked to evaluate their efforts.

Assignment: Evaluation

An art critique is a process by which we examine and evaluate a creative work---that’s no small task. There are many facets of an art piece that can be considered in its evaluation: craftsmanship, creativity, symbolism, the inspiration and emotion invoked by the piece... In this homework, we will focus on just two facets: composition using the elements of art, and creativity. You will use the evaluation standard suggested in class to form your evaluation. Here’s the procedure:

1.  Select two art works from the examples presented in class or another source of your choosing. If you choose works from the in-class examples, they must be pieces that we did NOT review in class.

2.  Evaluate the two pieces on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the best) with respect to each criteria listed under Composition and Design and Creativity. Here’s the important part: provide a short justification for you evaluation.

3.  The final step is to evaluate the evaluation standard itself. Did it support or hinder the task of art evaluation? In other words, was it easy to use and did it target the essential aspects of each category (Composition and Design and Creativity), or not? If the standard failed, tell us how to improve it.

4.  Submit your evaluation to Moodle no later than Thursday, Jan 21 at mid-night for full credit.