This student work that has been evaluated on a high level for many reasons, except for the lack of adequate citations. You are expected (and required for this course) to formally cite all references (images and sources). Please tuck the MLA format notecard into your IWB for reference.
Analyzing Artwork in your IWB: A Step-by-Step Guide
Ø Follow these steps; answer all the questions and you can’t go wrong!
Ø Remember that your own drawing/copies of the artwork should accompany ALL written analysis.
1: First Reaction
Write down your first response to the artwork.
List what you can see in this artwork.
Write down your observations in more detail, looking at these aspects of the artwork:
Colors
Now write down your personal thoughts about the work: there are no “right” or “wrong” answers here!
Based upon what you have observed already, give your opinion of the artwork. You MUST give reason.
Ø Remember that your own drawing/copies of the artwork should accompany ALL written analysis.
1: First Reaction
Write down your first response to the artwork.
- Do you like it?
- How does it make you feel?
- Does it remind you of anything you have seen before?
List what you can see in this artwork.
- Figures, colors, shapes, objects, background, etc.
- Imagine you are describing it to a blind person. Do this in as much detail as possible and use art terms.
Write down your observations in more detail, looking at these aspects of the artwork:
Colors
- Which type of palette has the artist used: is it bright or dull, strong or weak?
- Are the colors mostly complementary, primary or secondary?
- Which colors are used most in this artwork?
- Which colors are used least in this artwork?
- Are the colors used different ways in different parts of the artwork?
- Have the colors been applies flat, “straight from the tube” or have different colors been mixed?
- Is there a use of light/shadow in this artwork?
- Where is the light coming from? Where are the shadows?
- Are the forms in the artwork realistically modeled (does it look 3-D)?
- Is there a wide range of tonal contrast (very light highlights and very dark shadows) or is there tonal range quite narrow (i.e. mostly similar tones)?
- What medium has been used (oil paint, acrylic, charcoal, clay, etc)?
- How has the artist used the medium – i.e. is the paint applied thick or thin? How can you tell?
- Can you see brushstrokes, mark making or texture? Describe the shape and direction of the brushstrokes / marks. What size of brush/ pencil was used?
- Was it painted, drawn or sculpted quickly, or slowly and painstakingly? What makes you think this?
- What types of shapes are used in this artwork (i.e. rounded, curved, straight-edged or geometric shapes)?
- Is there a mixture of different types of shapes or are all the shapes similar?
- Are some parts of the composition full of shapes and some parts empty, or are the shapes spread evenly across the artwork?
- Are some shapes repeated or echoed in other parts of the artwork?
- Does the whole composition look full of energy and movement, or does it look still and peaceful? How did the artist create this movement/stillness?
- What is the center of interest in the composition?
- How does the artist draw your attention to it?
Now write down your personal thoughts about the work: there are no “right” or “wrong” answers here!
- What do you think the artist is trying to say in this artwork? What does it mean?
- What is the main theme or idea behind this piece?
- If you were inside this artwork, what would you be feeling/ thinking?
- Does the artwork have a narrative (tell a story)? Is it a religious artwork?
- Is it abstract? Is it realistic? Why?
- How would you explain this artwork to someone else?
Based upon what you have observed already, give your opinion of the artwork. You MUST give reason.
- “Franz Marc has created an effective expressive painting, because the hot colors and lively brush marks he has used add to the overall feeling of energy and excitement his is trying to create.”
- “The overall mood of this drawing would be improved if Kathe Kollowitz had used strong, dramatic shadows, instead of pale tones. Dark tones would develop the feeling of fear and loneliness in this image.”
HOW TO ANNOTATE AN INVESTIGATIONAL WORKBOOK:
Great IWB pages are engaging to look at. They show 50% words and 50% images, and show the personal hand of the artist as well as images collected from galleries and exhibits and printed out. They include SKETCHES, STUDIES AND THUMBNAILS and link to your studio work exploration.
The annotations should clearly show your thought processes and make connections to your themes, cultures and artists you have researched. Use appropriate art vocabulary. SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW, so that someone across the world who has never met you or seen your work will be able to see where you are heading with this journey.
The following tips and guidelines should help you understand how to add quality notes to your pages:
- Reveal your own thinking and personal responses (rather than regurgitating facts or the views of others)
- Explain the starting points and ideas, emphasizing personal relevance and your own connections to subjects
- Critically analyze and compare artwork of relevant artist models (both historical and contemporary artists, from a range of cultures). Discuss aesthetics, use of media, technique, meaning/emotion/ideas and the influence of an artist upon your own work. While it is important to conduct research into your artist models (and to convey an understanding of this information), avoid copying or summarizing large passages of information from other sources. Instead, select the information that you think is useful for your project and link it with your own viewpoints and observations. Use research findings to make you sound clever and knowledgeable – to prove that you are aware of the artists and cultural influences around you – and to help you to critically evaluate artworks (by giving you background information and a peek into the mind of an artist): do not use it to fill your sketchbook with boring facts.
- Demonstrate good subject knowledge, using correct vocabulary (phrases such as ‘strong contrast’, ‘draws the eye’ and ‘focal point’ etc)
- Reference of all images, artwork and text from other sources, ensuring that artists, websites and books are acknowledged (it should be obvious to an examiner which work is yours when viewing a page, so cite sources directly underneath the appropriate image. Photographs taken by yourself should be clearly labelled, so examiners know the work is yours and reward you for it)
- Communicate with clarity. It doesn’t matter whether you jot down notes or use full sentences, but never use ‘txt’ speak and try to avoid incorrect spelling, as this indicates sloppiness and can hint to the examiner that you are a lower caliber candidate
- What subjects / themes / moods / issues / messages are explored? Why are these relevant or important to the artist (or you)?
- What appeals to you visually about this artwork?
- How does the composition of the artwork (i.e. the relationship between the visual elements: line, shape, color, tone, texture and space) help to communicate ideas and reinforce a message? Why might this composition have been chosen? (Discuss in terms of how the visual elements interact and create visual devices that ‘draw attention’, ‘emphasize’, ‘balance’, ‘link’ and/or ‘direct the viewer through the artwork’ etc.)
- What mediums, techniques (mark-making methods), styles and processes have been used? How do these communicate a message? How do they affect the mood of the artwork and the communication of ideas? Are these methods useful for your own project?
- How does all of the above help you with your own artwork?
(see more at http://www.studentartguide.com/articles/a-level-art-sketchbook )