Sculpture Art Criticism Paper
Artist Chosen:___________________________
Sculpture Chosen: ______________________
*You must include a photocopy or print of the sculpture.
1.Print it large on the first page with your
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Name
 class section
 date
2.Label the sculpture with the credit line: the
 artist ’s name
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title
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Medium
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Date
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Size
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Location
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cite the source of the image. To cite the source of the image, either list the website or the title of the book, author and page number.
*The second page should consist of your art criticism of the selected sculpture. Write one paragraph for each art criticism step. Your paper must be one-full page, 12 pt. font, double-spaced with 1 inch margins. Include only your name on the second page.
DUE: ____________________
Websites that may be helpful: http://www.theartstory.org/section_artists.htm
http://www.npenn.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=1479 (lists of websites and info for the IMC catalogs) http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/sculpture/abstract-sculptors.htm

Step I. Description : ( “Right There” / What do I see?)
Title of Work : _____________________________________________________________________
Artist: ___________________________________________________________________________
Medium : _________________________________________________________________________
Date: ____________________________________________________________________________
Size: ____________________________________________________________________________
Location : _________________________________________________________________________
CITE SOURCE OF IMAGE (Website or Book): __________________________________________
Type of Sculpture: freestanding, relief, kinetic, or installation : ____________________________
realistic, or non objective or abstract _____________________________________________
Carefully describe what you see. What art elements (line, plane, shape, form, color, value, texture, space) are prominently used? If abstract , focus on the elements of art in the work (line, plane, shape, form, color, value, texture, space). Questions you may ask yourself include:
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Are the lines or planes thick or thin?
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What kinds of shapes are found? __________________________________________
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How many hues are there? ______________________________________________
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Where are these elements located? ________________________________________
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Explain clearly and objectively what you see as if you were describing it to someone who can ’t see it.
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Step II: Analysis ( “Pulling It Together” / How has the artist used the principles of design to organize the elements of art?) Use the chart below to help you formulate your thoughts. What are the first elements to
“jump out” at you? Find 3 elements and draw a line to the principle that describes how it is being used. Put each “match” into sentence form below.
Art Elements : visual symbols (building blocks) to make art

Line: path of moving point
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Plane: surface areas
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Shape: two-dimensional
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Form: three-dimensional
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Color: reflected light (hue, value, intensity)
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Value: lightness or darkness
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Texture: how surface feels
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Space: area around and within objects
positive space: object (figure)
Principles of Design : how the elements are organized
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Repetition: element used again and again
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Movement: sense of action
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Rhythm: visual tempo (movement by repeating elements)
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Balance: equalizing the visual elements
symmetrical: mirror image
asymmetrical: unlike objects that feel balanced
radial: elements come out (radiate) from a
negative space: empty area around object
(ground) central point
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Emphasis: make one part stand out (dominant over others)
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Proportion: size relationships (one part to another)
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Contrast: conflicting or opposing elements
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Unity: wholeness or oneness
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Variety: differences
Step II: Analysis continued. Put each “match” into sentence form. How is that art element organized by that particular principle of design? Remain objective and do not include personal feelings, opinions, or judgments yet. These first two steps of art criticism are objective.
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Step III: Interpretation ( “Artist and Me” / What is the artist trying to communicate?) Explain or tell the meaning, story or mood you think the artist is trying to convey.
Keep in mind the following questions:

How does it make you feel?
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What does it make you think? This step, along with step 4, asks you to offer your subjective
(personal views) based on the data you collected in the first two steps.
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Step IV: Judgment ( “On My Own” / Is this a successful work of art?) Here you will determine the sculpture ’s degree of artistic merit. When you look at the sculpture what aesthetic theory(s) do you bring to your critique?
A. FORMALISM , places emphasis on the composition and design qualities in the artwork.
OR
B. EMOTIONALISM , requires that a work of art must arouse a response of feelings, moods, or emotions in the viewer.
To fairly judge the work, you should consider the artist ’s intentions. For example, it would be unfair to use the theory of imitationalism if it is an abstract piece, because the artist ’s goal was not to make it realistic, but perhaps was more concerned with arousing an emotional response.
I feel that this sculpture is a success (or) failure because …. (Clearly explain and defend your decision.
Use at least two of the three aesthetic theories listed above)
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