Responding to Art
Your Name: _____________________________________ Date: __________________________
Art Criticism:
As an observer, you are also an art critic. Good observers and art critics describe, analyze, interpret, and
finally judge the work. Apply these principles to one of the artworks in the Fine Art Center.
The name of the artwork I selected is:
___________________________________________________________________
The artist is:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Describe what you see in the artwork.
People: (Who are they?)
____________________________________________________________________________
Animals:
________________________________________________________________________________________
Objects:
________________________________________________________________________________________
Time of Day: (How do you know?)
_____________________________________________________________________
Location:
________________________________________________________________________________________
Analyze the elements of art and principles of design that the artist used. Think about how the composition is
organized and how the different parts of the artwork relate. Think about why the artist made the choices he or
she did.
Colors: (primary, secondary, warm, cool, tone, value)
Lines: (Straight, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curving, smooth, jagged, broken, thick, thin, directional,
converging)
Shapes/Forms: (geometric, organic, hard-edged, free form)
Textures: (rough, smooth, shiny, soft, hard, bumpy, fuzzy, actual, visual, simulated)
Space: (deep, flat, shallow, overlapping, negative, positive, linear/aerial perspective)
1 Other: (focal point, emphasis, movement, rhythm, pattern, repetition, balance, proportion, unity, variety)
Interpret the meaning of this artwork. What is the painting about? What was the artist’s purpose for creating
it? Sometimes the name of the artwork contains a clue you can use to answer these questions. Different
people have different interpretations of the same mural. A personal answer is fine as long as you give valid
reasons for your response.
Judge how successful the artist was in creating this work of art. Before you write your answer, think about
these issues: purpose of the artwork, use of the elements of art and the principles of design, communicating
ideas or concepts, benefit the artwork will have to others.
Respond to one of the following statements and explain your response.
I like this artwork because….
I do not like this artwork because……
Adapted from a student worksheet in "Exploring the Christopher Still Murals in the Florida House of
Representatives: A Teacher's Resource Guide," 2002 www.faae.org
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