Getting the most points on your Fine Arts Report

Read the Directions Carefully

Go to the San Diego Museum of Art and select a painting or sculpture currently on display by a European artist.

Make sure you keep your entrance ticket as you must turn it in with your assignment!

Write a 3-5 page, double spaced, one inch margins, 12 pt font academic essay describing the artwork, using the format described on the next slides.

Writing Your Essay

Basic essay parts• Title• Introduction [lead in, transition sentences, thesis] • Body Paragraphs [ topic sentences, good

examples, and quotes]• Conclusion [restates thesis in different words,

summarizes main points, gives your opinion]

Title + Introduction

• Clever Title• Interesting attention getter• Transition sentences that announce the artist

and artwork - include relevant information about period and style.

• Thesis Statement + plan of development– Remember the last sentence in the introduction is your

thesis statement.

Body Paragraphs• Describe the artwork by answering the questions below.

– Remember that each body paragraph must have a topic sentence with a transition that describes what the paragraph is going to talk about!

• Body Paragraph 1– What is the content of the artwork? What is the author showing us? Why is this important?

Are there certain symbols related to the artist's time period or to ours? [choose a clear order when describing the piece - top to bottom, bottom to top, left to right, right to left, near to far, etc]

• Body Paragraph 2– What is the size of the piece, and what materials are used in the making of this artwork? How

do size and materials enhance the piece? Are there certain textures that are achieved through this medium? Do they contribute to meaning? Why do you think the artist chose this form to express his/her thoughts?

• Body Paragraph 3– What colors are used in the piece? How does color contribute to overall meaning of the

piece? Think about how colors contrast or blend into one another as well as colors that are very bold versus very soft. Where is the artist directing our eyes? Why? Also consider how the artist might contrast light and dark through shading.

• Body Paragraph 4– How does the artist create movement through line and shapes within the piece? How does

movement or lack thereof contribute to meaning in the piece? How do the shapes you see contribute to the total effect?

Conclusion

Explain why you think this piece was chosen to hang or stand in a museum. What about it makes it a true work of art?

• What do you think the artist's message to the audience was intended to be? Was s/he successful? Why or why not?

• Remember, you must restate your thesis in different words and end with a clear, final thought.

• Note - get extra credit for posting your rough draft.– The instructor will give you pointers on how to improve

your paper and get a better grade.