Writing about Expressive Art – NEW HIGHER (N6)
Our response to a range of Art work is affected by both our personal, social, historical and cultural experiences. Every person relates differently to things in their environment, and in the written section it is important that you can validate and back up your initial responses and observations in a thoughtful measured way, taking into consideration the social, historical, cultural and other factors that may have influenced the piece you have chosen to evaluate. (1.3)
During the evaluation process you will be asked to describe how artists use a range of art materials, techniques and /or technology in their work. (1.1)
You will be asked to discuss/describe the impact of artists’ creative choices in a range of their work. For example, how their application and use of the visual elements has created a certain effect? How the use of media or techniques has contributed to the overall appearance of the piece etc. (1.2)
When writing about art works, you must remember to be PRECISE, DESCRIPTIVE and describe the EFFECT of each of the artists’ decisions you are mentioning.
The following points will help you respond to Section1, Questions 3&4, part (a) in the Higher Written paper.
1. Introduce the Artist and piece including Title, Date Medium and Size.
2. Genre – What area of the Expressive Arts does it represent? (Painting, sculpture, installation, photography and printmaking.)
3. Subject Matter - What precisely is the piece of? (Portrait - Who is it? Landscape – Where is it? Still life – What is it?) Describe the work and what is happening. What
do you think it is about? Does the title help you understand the piece better? Does the artist reflect in his/her work a sense of reality or a more abstracted, romanticised outlook on the world?
4. Imagery – Discuss the choice of imagery. Can you connect with the subject matter?
Does the work link with aspects of your own life?
Abstract, semi-abstract, figurative, naturalistic, photographic, sculptural, symbolic, imaginative, dreamlike, illustrative, matter of fact, naïve, child – like, bold, realistic, ambiguous, understated, graphic, stark,
5. Context – what led the artist to create the piece? What was going on in his life at the time/ what stage was he/she at during his career? Does the piece belong to a particular style or movement? What is your opinion of this style? How does it compare with other works by the artist?
Expressionistic, Impressionistic, Fauvist, Cubist, Colourist etc.
6. Composition - How has the artist arranged the different parts of his work? How is your eye led around the piece? How does the artist use composition to create a sense of mood/ atmosphere?
Flat, triangular, pyramidal, balanced, claustrophobic, open, horizontal, vertical, lopsided, rectangular, symmetrical, layout, airy, lifeless, busy, complicated, fussy dynamic, depth, foreground, middle ground, background.
Discuss the use of techniques ie. your artist’s approach to making/creating the piece. You can do this by describing the medium, choice and use of materials, choice and use of the visual elements.
7. Use of materials – Describe the medium (materials) used to create the work? How does the choice of material affect the overall appearance of the piece? Have recycled or non – traditional materials been used to create a reaction, break new boundaries?
Free, tight, loose, painterly, thin, thick, impasto, textured, smooth, rough, blocky scumbled, palette – knife, scraped, flicked, scratchy, delicate, washes, drips, canvas, board, paper, acrylic, watercolour, gouache, oils, tempera, collage, clay, plaster, steel, aluminium, card board.
8. Mark making/ Texture can be created by applying different tools in a certain way. This could be done by a paint brush, chisel, palette- knife, sponges, photographic acids, computer, film etc. - Describe the mark making techniques that has been used to create the imagery.
Rough, smooth, lumpy, prickly, brush marks, impasto, stippled, dabs, scumbled, watery, fluid etc.
9. Texture and Pattern – Describe how pattern and texture has contributed to the overall appearance, and has added interest to the piece.
Pattern in an artwork can be used in a variety of ways. It can be part of the paint technique as seen in the swirls of Van Gogh’s self – portraits or in Munch’s “the Scream”, or in the dabs and dashes of the Impressionists.
Gustave Klimt used pattern in a very decorative way often flattening shapes and creating busy areas that look quite quilt like. In Seurat’s paintings tiny dots of his Pointillist technique give a shimmering sense of pattern when seen up close.
Busy, repeating, intricate, organic, fussy, eye- catching, geometric, detailed, ornate.
10. How is the artist’s use of materials/technique typical of or different from other works by the same artist? How does is compare to others artists working at the same time or previously?
11. Colour and Tone – How does the artist’s use of colour and tone fit the mood, atmosphere or style of the work? Are there any areas where colour has been used for a certain effect?
Colours often have symbolic meaning eg. reds and blacks often represent anger, passion or torment whilst white can symbolise purity. Cool blues might represent peacefulness or calm.
Different colours laid side by side can create particular effects where they seem to blend when seen from a distance eg. Impressionist paintings.
Bold, subtle, muted, stark, delicate, naturalistic, imaginative, vibrant, dull, light, dark, garish, monotone, earthy, hot, warm, cold cool, pastel, primary, citrus, striking, contrasting, complimentary, harmonising, vivid, loud, quiet, rich, natural, artificial, neon.
12. Shape / Form /Scale – Discuss how shape and form has been used in the piece. Has more organic, natural features compared to more geometric, mechanical forms been used to create the piece. How does scale impact the overall shape and form of the work?
Flat, abstract, simple, symmetrical, stylistic, complex, basic, geometric, sculptural, solid, severe, delicate, airy, rounded, curvaceous, smooth, bulbous, graceful, massive, enlarged, miniature, minute.
13. Line – How does the artist use line? Does the artist vary the type of line in different areas of the piece? Thick heavy lines will have a different effect from fine delicate lines. Look to see if the lines are bold, vigorous, energetic, sweeping, erratic, jaggy, scratchy, heavy, feathery, soft, organic, sinuous, tapered etc.
Are they used as lines as in some of Picasso’s paintings? Lines can cut across and break up and distort a picture as in some Cubist paintings.
14. Mood/ Meaning/ Opinion – How does the artist’s use of the visual elements (line, tone, form, texture, colour, shape, pattern,) contribute to the mood or meaning of the piece? What do you think the artist is trying to communicate? How successful do you think he was doing this? How does this piece compare with others you have looked at?
Lively, depressing, oppressive, violent, uplifting, light hearted, heavy, joyful, exuberant, playful, comic, serious, sombre, hopeful, evocative, confrontational, calm, quiet, serene, peaceful, dramatic, dark, sinister, gentle, manic, tragic.
P.T.O.
You will be asked to explain the influence of social, cultural and other factors on any of the art works selected. This knowledge will help you answer part (b) in question 3 and 4.
(Remember to relate your responses to the evidence observed in the piece.)
15. Discuss the social issues seen relating to your chosen art works ie. poverty, wealth, social position, bereavement, illness, mental health issues, love, separation, isolation, bigotry.
16. Discuss the historical factors that could affect the piece such as war, battles, inventions, political or social change etc.
17. Discuss the other factors including geographical features, location, weather, etc. that could also have influenced the work.
Remember to evaluate two pieces of work by two different artists who are working in the same genre (painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking etc.)