Visual Diary – Records and Annotations

Written annotations are an important part of demonstrating creative and critical thinking and learning.

Annotations can provide:

information, such as the title of an artwork, artist’s biographical details or when the work was made; web addresses must be provided
a record of your experiences and emotions connected to the image;
a record of how you intend to use these images to develop your own ideas;
an example of your progress through a project;

To annotate your experimental work successfully, you should explain:

Using the correct vocabulary

You must use the correct vocabulary when annotating your work to show that you are developing your knowledge, understanding and skills.

Key terms are:

Subject matter– what is shown in the artwork, such as a portrait or a still life, etc.
Composition – how the elements of the work are arranged in the artwork.
Foreground, midground and background – elements that appear to be in front or behind other aspects of the artwork.

Some common ways to appreciate and analyse art using descriptive language:

saturation- refers to the dullness or brightness of colour
geometric – refers to structured shapes such as circles, triangles, squares, etc.
organic – free flowing or rounded shapes, often related to nature
symmetry – meaning it is equal or balanced on both sides
asymmetrical – unequal proportioned elements, not equal or balanced on both sides
flat tones – refers to an applied colour that is solid, uninterrupted, and completely uniform in brushstroke, depth and shading
positive space – the space used/covered by the main figure in the artwork
negative space – the space around the main figure in the artwork
depth – the illusion of space or lack of
broken colour – colours that are broken up by using dabs or small strokes
focal point – the part of the artwork that draws the most attention
distorted – a shape that is changed and no longer looks proportioned or correct to the eye

The Elements of Art

Line – Line has a single dimension that joins two points. It has length and direction and can vary in width, length, curvature, colour or direction
Shape – Shapes are two-dimensional and are defined by a change in line, colour or tone.
Form – Forms have three-dimensions which can be visually depicted or physically present. While shape is often used in common language to describe this, it is not technically correct in Art.
Texture – Texture is the surface quality that can be observed or felt, literally or implied. It ranges from smooth to rough and can be simulated or actual.
Tone – Tones are black, white and grey and can be described as a range in terms of key or value. Tone can increase the sense of reality or three-dimensions. It can add drama if tonal contrast is used.
Colour – Its main characteristics are hue, saturation, luminosity and brightness.
We can also describe the colour as hot or cold depending on the side of the spectrum to which it belongs.

With new technologies, the following are also now included in the elements of art.

Light – This aligns closely to tone and describes the clarity of light rays that illuminate an object or installation.
Sound – Sound is an audible material in art that can be heard as noise, words or music and is more usually found in contemporary art. It may be produced naturally or electronically. It may be a component of installations, multi-media or interactive works.
Time – Time as a material relates to the physical, emotional or psychological duration of an event or experience. It is often referenced where change takes place over a period of time such as in animations, moving art and performance art.

The Principles of Art

Year 10 Art