CRITICAL THINKING STRATEGIES FOR ANALYZING ART

The goal in analyzing art involves identifying and explaining a feeling, a state of being, an action, event, or situation (subject matter and content)

The objective involves identifying the building blocks (formal elements and principles of design) and explaining the cause and effects of the building blocks (formal elements and principles of design)

 

To write a visual analysis…look closely at the composition, allow your eyes to absorb the image

• Look at the overall organization of the artwork
• How does the composition make you feel? Is the composition emotional, esthetical, passive, or active (Subject matter)
• Explain why…. (Content…remember your content is clear and focused…your content explains your subject matter.  The content is also supported by formal elements and principles of design)

Think about how the principles and elements as building blocks, your mission is to support and explain your reasoning for your subject matter through the building blocks (formal elements and principles of design)

 

 

REMEMBER ADDRESS ALL THE BUILDING BLOCKS IN THE COMPOSITION THAT YOU SEE…

CONTENT OF YOUR PAPER: Remember to use words that describe the quality of what you are saying.  Remember, “What is the meaning behind the word(s)”

 

• Think about how the building blocks of lines help in explaining your subject matter

Describe how lines support your subject matter by conveying meaning, energy, transition, gesture, and mood to your subject matter

 

• Think about how the building blocks of shapes support your subject matter

Look at how the shapes differentiate between geometric, natural shapes, and organic

 

 

• Think about how the building blocks of color and value impact your subject matter

Are the colors strong, weak, dull, muted, light, dark, bright, grey, warm, cool, symbolic, continue to explain the impact of color

 

• Think about how the building block of space that impacts your subject matter

How is the space used…is the space positive: filled with figures, shapes, or objects that commands attention….or is the space empty…explain how the impact and type of  space supports your subject matter

 

• Think about how the building blocks of emphasis and focal point
  • What attracted you to the art composition….was it the color, lines, shapes,…what was it….
  • How does that attraction support your subject matter

 

• Think about how the building blocks of scale and proportion impacts your subject matter
  • Compare the different sizes of objects in relation to the other objects and setting…how do they relate to the composition…to your subject matter
  • What is the significance of the relationship between the parts of an object, to the other parts, and to the whole…how does this support your subject matter

 

• Think about how the building block of balance is displayed in the composition

How does the balance of the composition support your subject matter?

 

• Think about how the building blocks of pattern, repetition and rhythm impacts your subject matter

Describe what continues to repeat….how is that repetition that creates movement important to you subject matter 

• Conclude with how the various building blocks formed your subject matter.