Questions for Analyzing Artworks
First Reaction- write down your first response to the artwork
Formal Analysis- write down your observations in more detail, looking at these specific aspects of the artwork:
Interpretation- your personal thoughts about the work
Questions for Reflecting on a Studio Work
- Did you like it?
- How does it make you feel?
- Does it remind you of anything you have seen before?
- Figures, colors, shapes, objects, background, etc.
- Imagine you are describing it to a blind person. Do this in as much detail as possible
Formal Analysis- write down your observations in more detail, looking at these specific 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, secondary or tertiary?
- Which colors are used most, and which are used least in this artwork?
- Are the colors used different ways in different parts of the artwork?
- Have the colors been applied flat (straight from the tube), or have different colors been mixed?
- Tones:
- 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 3D)?
- Is there a wide range of tonal contrast (very light highlights and very dark shadows) or is the tonal range quite narrow (mostly similar tones)?
- Use of Media:
- What medium has been used?
- How has the artist used the medium (applied thick or thin? How can you tell?)
- Can you see brushstrokes, markmaking or texture? Describe the shape and direction of the brushstrokes/marks. What size of brush.pencil was used?
- Was is painted, drawn, sculpted quickly, or slowly? What makes you think this?
- Composition:
- What type of shaped are used in this artwork? (rounded, geometric, curved, etc.)
- Is there a mixture of different types of shapes or are all of the shapes similar?
- Are some parts of the composition full of shapes and some 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 or stillness?
- What is the center of interest in the composition?
- How does the artist draw your attention to it?
- Mood/Emotion:
- What do you think the artist wanted you to feel when you look at this artwork?
- What has he/she used to create a mood? (think about the colors, shapes, tones, etc.)
- How has he/she succeeded in creating this mood?
Interpretation- your personal thoughts about the work
- 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?
Questions for Reflecting on a Studio Work
- How do you feel overall with the studio work?
- Define what you mean by "good" or "bad" studio work?
- What difficulties did you encounter?
- How did you overcome these difficulties?
- Does the studio work look like how you imagined it?
- What would you do differently if you could do it over again?
- What is your favorite part about your final studio piece?
