Observations of the Artwork

DESCRIBE

1.What is the overall appearance of the artwork?

  • What are its dimensions?
  • Has the artist created a unified image?
  • Does the artwork have visual interest and variety?

2. What is the subject matter of the work?

3. What media or materials were used?

4. What are the processes or techniques used?

5. How have the design elements been used?

DISCUSS 

Discuss it by looking at the work in context, that is when, where, why it was made and what influenced it’s making. Also, look at the effect created by the artist in the use of pictorial elements.

When was it made? How important is the context; that is, it’s place in history, to the appearance of the subject of the work? For example, would it be different if it was created 200 years before? How does this work relate to other works by the same artist, or to works by other artists at the same time or working with the same aim?

6. Where was it made? The city and country in which it was made provides a great deal of information.

7. Think about why it was made. What was the artists aim? How did the artist want you – the audience to feel?

8. What is the effect created by the artist? What does the use of colour, line, tone, shape, texture and form tell you? What effects or moods do they create and how do they make you feel?

EVALUATE

Finally, after considering the points above, evaluate the artwork. Evaluating asks for the your response. It needs to be objective, not personal or emotional. You are not trying to ‘promote’ the artwork or the artist who created it.

When evaluating an artwork, always explain the reasoning for your responses.

9. Has the artist successfully conveyed or addressed their message, idea or concept?

10. Have the artist’s application of the aesthetic qualities contributed to desired effect and message?

11. Have the selected materials and techniques contributed effectively in the artist’s intentions?

12. Have the characteristics of the materials and the aesthetic qualities been effectively combined? What makes this successful? Where is it evident in the artwork?

The Evaluation should not include personal feelings, only personal judgements based on your observations, unless that is specifically asked.

Do I like the work? Why or why not?

Do I think it is good? Why or why not? How am I judging what is good?

Do I think the artist has achieved what they wanted? How would you be able to determine this?