Unit 3Critiquing an Artwork

Critique

An art critique is an evaluation of an artwork.

While it is true that taste is relative, there are characteristics that can be assessed to measure the artist's success in conveying a message.

Steps in a Critique

There are four steps to reading a work of art:

describe what you see,

analyze what you saw,

interpret the meaning of the work, and

make a personal judgement about the quality of the art.

Steps in a Critique

1) Use complete sentences to describe what you see in the artwork.

What is the name of the artist and the title of the work?

What year was the work created in?

Describe the literal objects you see in the work.

Steps in a Critique

2) Use complete sentences to analyze the artist's use of the elements and principles of design.

Describe the elements of art line, shape, form, value, colour, texture, and space.

Describe the principles of art balance, emphasis, proportion, movement, rhythm, pattern, unity, and variety.

Steps in a Critique

3) Use complete sentences to interpret what you have noticed about the artwork in Steps 1 & 2. Take a guess about the meaning of the work.

What is the artist trying to say in this work, and what makes you think that?

Why did the artist create the work?

What do you think is the meaning, and why?

Do you think there are symbols in this work? What are they, and what do they symbolize?

Look at the emotional content and symbols to find the meaning of the work.

Steps in a Critique

4) Use complete sentences to make a personal judgement about the work's quality. Give reasons for your judgements. Be fair and logical.

What do you think about this work, and why?

Do you like or dislike this work, and why?

Do you think the artist was successful in conveying an idea or feeling through the art, and why?

Do you think it is am important work of art; why or why not?

Would you display this work in your home; or is it good enough to put in a museum? Why or why not?

REFLECTION: UNIT 3

1) Do you think you were successful in using slab building? Describe the areas of your project that are the most successful.

2) Describe the areas of your project that need improvement. How would you change them?

3) What else would you like to make using slab-building? How would you build it?

Teaset Iraq, by Richard Notkin, 2007

So Bored, by Magda Gluszek, 2013

Fragile Fragment 5 Vessel, By Timeo Sido, 2008

Flower brick, by Joan Bruneau, 2014

by Rebekah Bogard

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