How to Write About Artwork
© James Ellison 2007updated February 8, 2016
This is adapted from the Cornell Notes system.
You use this guide to gather notes about what you are going to write about
in your essay that you will then put in your Research Workbook
with images of the artwork you are writing about.
ARTISTIC PERCEPTION
Step #1 AESTHETIC QUALITIES: Advanced Standards 1.6, 3.3 & 5.2
This you do before opening a book and reading about the artist and artwork.
A. Reflect upon the work;
What is the mood?
sober, menacing, gentle, etc.
What is dominant and subordinate?
Or what has power or lack of power?
Is there tension, conflict, relaxation, etc.?
What is the purpose?
Universal concepts such as: idealism, abhorrent,
nobility, outrage, wisdom, revolution, etc.
B. Psychological analysis;
Identify and mark on the image the emotions you see;
Using the Color Emotion chart;
What do the colors in their tints, shades and subdued variations
mean?
Using the Psychological Archetypes handout;
How do the line & shapes make the meaning clearer?
Using the Page Placement sheet;
If 2-D; How does the placement of these lines & shapes on the
surface effect the meanings?
If 3-D; How does the placement of the edges and shapes effect
the meanings from every view?
Summary:
How does all this fit together?
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How to Write About Artwork
© James Ellison 2007updated February 8, 2016
Step #2 AESTHETIC ANALYSIS; Advanced Standards 1.1 & 1.2
A. ELEMENTS OF ART;
Identify which of the Elements of Art the artist chose to use, how the artist used them and ask your self why the artist
did what he/she did with them. This will either prove or correct what you found in your reflection and psychological
analysis.
You do this before you read a book.
1. LINE:
Identify and mark on the image the lines you see;
Kinds of lines
Actual = a line as in common understanding
Edge = where a shape ends
Implied = shapes line up forming a common edge
Psychic = when one thing pints to another
What kinds of lines are in this artwork?
Line Direction
vertical = power/inspiration
horizontal = peace
diagonal = action or change
What direction(s) do they go in?
What are their characteristics?
Contour = precise/stable
gesture = impression/action
How do they function?
Descriptive/structural, expressive/emotional, decorative etc.
Summary:
Why would the artist use these kinds of lines?
2. SHAPE (FORM):
Identify and mark on the image specific kinds of shapes (form) in the artwork:
2-D; circle, rectangle, triangle and/or organic
3-D; sphere, cube, cylinder, cone and/or organic
What shapes do you see?
What are their characteristics?
Idealistic, naturalistic, distorted, abstract or
non-objective
What direction(s) do they go in?
vertical = power/inspiration
horizontal = peace
diagonal = action or change
How do they function?
Descriptive/structural, expressive/emotional, decorative etc.
Summary:
Why would the artist use these kinds of shapes?
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How to Write About Artwork
© James Ellison 2007updated February 8, 2016
3. VALUE:
In 2-D abstract artwork the values are light and darkness of the shapes and or lines.
In 2-D representational artwork value is; Highlight, Crest Shadow, Cast Shadow & Reflected light.
In 3-D and Architecture it is how sunlight or room light fall on the artwork causing the same kinds of lights &
shadows as in representational artwork.
Characteristics;
What is hidden in the dark?
What is illuminated?
Is it soft or is it strong?
What is the function of the light and shadow?
Descriptive/structural, expressive/emotional, decorative etc.
Summary:
Why would the artist use this kind of value scheme ie.
light and shadow in this way?
4. COLOR: if the piece is black and white skip this one.
Identify & mark on the image the color scheme used?
Color Schemes;
Mono-chromatic Harmony: one color and it is tints and shades.
Gray Harmony: all colors used mixed with grey.
Analogous Harmony: one of the three primaries (red, yellow or blue) and all the colors that have that color in it.
Complementary Contrast: using only two colors that are opposites on the color wheel/Corona.
Temperature Contrast: using two colors one from the warm side and the other from the cool side of the color
wheel/Corona.
Intensity Proportional Balance Harmony: balancing small areas of aggressive colors like red-orange with large
areas of recessive colors like blue-green.
Color Extension Harmony: placing small amounts of a minor color in the shadows or highlights of all the colors in
the composition.
Optical Contrast or Harmony: painting each colors as it appears according to the lighting source. Monet’s hay
stack series where sunrise and sunset cloudy or bright change the colors. Thus it may have darks and lights or be
uniform in value.
Clash/Discord Contrast: using two clashing colors to make one thing stand out against another or two colors in
discord to enregize one thing against another.
What color scheme is used by the artist?
How does the color scheme function?
Descriptive/structural, expressive/emotional, decorative etc.
Summary:
Why would the artist do this?
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How to Write About Artwork
© James Ellison 2007updated February 8, 2016
5. TEXTURE:
Identify and mark on the image the kind of texture used.
In 2-D art
Is it real? ie. If you touched it you could feel it?
Or
Is it an illusion? ie. looks real but is smooth
What are the characteristics of the texture?
Smooth through rough
In 3-D and Architecture there is only real texture
Describe the kind of texture used from smooth-rough.
How does the texture function?
Descriptive/structural, expressive/emotional, decorative etc.
Summary:
Why would the artist use this kind of texture?
6. SPACE: DEPTH, SCALE AND PROPORTION:
a. Depth;
In 2-D art; If there is depth identify and mark on the image the way depth is achieved.
Is there Field of Depth?
Foreground, Middle-ground & Background
Ways of creating Depth of Field
Size Reduction
Overlap, (often the first two are combined)
Vertical Location (closest object at bottom of page farthest object at top of page, regardless of size)
Planar Recession (vertical location + size reduction)
Diagonal Recession (with or without size reduction)
Linear Perspective (1 point, 2 point, 3 point & multiple point with or without a horizon line)
Amplified Perspective (linear perspective exaggerated)
Atmospheric Perspective
a. In value scale; white is forward black is farthest away. The grayer things are the less depth there is.
b. In color;
1. In abstraction with depth, cool colors are used to send objects to the back & warm colors to bring objects
forward.
2. In representational artwork the farther things are away the more blue is added to the actual color of the
object)
Isometric (mathematical-visually identifiable by the use of parallelograms to show depth without size reduction)
How is depth of field achieved?
How does the depth of field function?
Descriptive/structural, expressive/emotional, decorative etc.
Summary:
Why would the artist use this kind of depth?
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How to Write About Artwork
© James Ellison 2007updated February 8, 2016
b. Depth & Volume is in 3-D & Architecture;
Identify and mark on the image the way depth and volume are achieved.
Depth is the distance between the parts of the object
Describe the way the artist achieved depth?
How does the artist play with depth?
Volume is the distance from the front to the back of an object. in physical space.
Describe the way the artist achieved volume?
How does the artist play with volume?
How do they function?
Descriptive/structural, expressive/emotional, decorative etc.
Summary:
Why would the artist do create depth and/or volume this
way?
c. Scale and Proportion;
Proportion is the size of each element in relation to other elements within the artwork.
How has the artist developed the proportions, after reality or
as part of the design?
How does proportion function in this work?
Descriptive/structural, expressive/emotional, decorative etc.
Summary:
Why did the artist choose to use these proportions?
Scale is has to do to the size of the artwork itself.
In 2-D scale is;
the size of the object in the artwork in relation to the surface area.
or the size of the art work to where it is displayed
In 3-D scale is the size of the artwork in relation to its environment.
What kind of scale is in this work of art?
How does scale function in this work?
Descriptive/structural, expressive/emotional, decorative etc.
Summary:
Why did the artist choose to use this scale?
B. PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN: Advanced Standards 1.1 & 1.2
Identify which of the Principles of Design the artist chose to use. Ask yourself how and why the artist used them. This
will either prove or correct what you found in your reflection and psychological analysis.
You do this before you read a book.
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How to Write About Artwork
© James Ellison 2007updated February 8, 2016
1. UNITY:
Identify and mark on the image which kind of unity is used to organize the artwork.
Proximity; How are things grouped?
Repetition; What shapes are repeated?
Continuity; How does our eye move from one place to another?
What kind(s) of unity are in this artwork?
Summary:
Why would the artist choose one form of unity over
another?
Or
if more than one form of unity is used, which is more
important and why?
2. VARIATION:
Identify and mark on the image where things are different than the rest.;
Variety = Organized and measured design through irregular changes
How does the artwork keep changing?
Summary: Does the artist emphasize variety over unity or
unity over variety? Why would the artist do this?
3. FOCAL POINT/HIERARCHY:
Identify and mark on the image the Focal Point, then rank the dominance of the various parts
The Focal Point
Where does your eye go first?
Is there more than one focal point?
If so rank the focal points in order of importance
Hierarchy;
Dominance – what are the most important objects
Subordination – what are the least important objects Rank
the most important to the least important
Why would the artist rank them like this?
Summary:
Why is it (are they) where it is (they are)?
4. BALANCE:
A. European System
Divide and mark the image down the middle (think of the picture as balance scales). Visually weigh the objects on
the left and compare to the objects on the right.
Kinds of balance;
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How to Write About Artwork
© James Ellison 2007updated February 8, 2016
How did the artist balance the artwork?
By shape = a large simple shape is balanced by a small complicated shape
By texture = a large plain shape is balanced by a small textured shape
By value = a large light are is balanced by a small dark area & visa versa
By color = a large area of cooler colors is balanced by a small area of a warm color
By position = a large shape(s) which touches the center line is (are) balanced by a small object touching the
opposite side
By direction = a large mass using diagonals (but not everything) points towards a small object
By radial = Everything points to a the major focal point
What Kind of Balance(s) has the artist used?
Summary:
Why balance it this way?
B. Asian System
Divide and mark the image diagonally so that the negative space is in one triangle and the positive space is in
another triangle;
How does the negative space balance the positive shapes?
Summary:
Why balance it this way?
5. PATTERN:
If there are any patterns (repeated marks or designs) on the image. Identify and mark them
What kind of pattern(s) do you see?
Summary:
Why would the artist use pattern?
6. RHYTHM
Two or more patterns repeated create a rhythm identify and mark it on the image
Alternating = Two patterns switch back and forth so every other pattern is the same.
Legato = Three or more elements repeat while gradually changing in a wave like manner always coming back to
the beginning.
Progressive = An element repeats while gradually changing from one thing (shape, value, color, texture, size or
direction) to another in a regular manner without returning to the original pattern
Staccato = Three or more patterns switch back and forth irregularly.
What kind of Rhythm(s) do you see in the artwork?
Summary:
Why would the artist choose one kind of Rhythm over
another?
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How to Write About Artwork
© James Ellison 2007updated February 8, 2016
7. MOTION
If there is any motion identify and mark it on the image
Repetition = same person or animal in different locations
Anticipation = a person or animal about to move
Contrast = solid stable (vertical & horizontal) shapes in contrast to transient (diagonal) looking shapes
Stop-action = a person or animal caught in motion, i.e. leaping or throwing
Diagonals = diagonal shapes are the main building block in the design
Blurring = an animal or person blurred as if you took a photo as they moved
Multiple-images = an animal or person repeated in overlaps fading away
Optical-illusion = abstract shapes used to make your see movement, i.e. Vasarely
What kind(s) of motion do you see in the artwork?
Summary:
Why would the artist use Motion?
CREATIVE EXPRESSION
Step #3: Aesthetics of Genre, Style, Media, Technique, Originality and Theme;
The how behind the what. Advanced Standard 1.8
You will have to consult various books on the medium, technique & genre for this.
1. GENRE A category within which an artwork can be placed by its main characteristics i.e. Landscape,
Renaissance etc.
What makes this artwork like the work of others?
What Genre do you think this artwork belongs to?
2. STYLE A way of creating an artwork with distinctive characteristics.
There are six major styles are:
Idealism; The style that seeks the perfect version of what is being created.
Naturalism; The style that seeks to reflect reality with all its uniqueness. This is called realism by most people but
should not be because it can be confused with the school of Realism which was not about making things look
real but about capturing real life of ordinary people rather than heroes, religious figures or mythical beings.
Distortion; The style that purposely changes reality for a specific effect or affect.
Abstract; The style that takes reality and simplifies it to its basic shapes.
Non Objective; The Style that purposely avoids reality to create designs without objective meaning.
(these six have many subsets i.e. cartoon, surrealism and impressionism are subsets of distortion)
What style has the artist used?
Why do you think the artist chose this style?
3. THE MEDIA:
What is the medium?
Summary:
Why would the artist choose to use this medium?
How well did the artist do this?
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How to Write About Artwork
© James Ellison 2007updated February 8, 2016
4. THE TECHNIQUE
Name the technique (How was it created)
What Tools were used?
brush, palette knife, chisel, camera, printing press,
construction methods etc.
What was the process used?
State how it was an additive or subtractive process.
Then list & describe the steps used in this process.
Summary:
Why would the artist choose to use this technique?
How well did the artist do this? What did this
technique add to the artwork?
5. ORIGINALITY
Originality; is the aspect of created or invented works
as being new or novel.
What are the unique features of this artwork?
Use the evidence from Steps 1 & 2.
3. THEME / MESSAGE:
Identify and mark on the image where the central idea is located.
Summary: What is the theme?
Summary: Where is the theme most noticeable?
HISTORICAL CULTURAL CONTEXT
Step #4: Research the life and times of the artist Advanced Standard 3.1
Now you need read books about the artist’s life & the time in history that he/she lived.
This will validate what you have said so far or make you take a second look.
If you disagree with the authors, it is okay, but then you need to justify your position.
1. ANSWER THESE 6 QUESTIONS
1. WHEN: Not time; kronos = date, but kyros = special
moment
When in his/her life was this created?
What is happening to her/him?
What is he/she doing about it?
2a. WHERE is the place this was created?
2b. WHERE is the place this artwork represents?
Though we start with the physical we are more
interested in the meaning behind the location.
3a. WHO is/are the person(s) this artwork it is about?
3b. WHO are the people the artist created it for & why?
The symbolic meanings and implications are more
important than identification of specific individuals
4a. Why was it created?
For ideal beauty, self-expression, to encourage, to
chastise the people etc.
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How to Write About Artwork
© James Ellison 2007updated February 8, 2016
4b. Why were choices made?
The artist always makes choices those choices can
unlock and reveal hidden meanings.
5. WHAT is the context, the events that are happening
around the artist?
Social, Historical, Economic, Political, Religious
6a. HOW was the artist influenced by the world as
he/she knew it in her/his way of life and in the creation
process? Advanced Standard 4.1 & 4.3
6b. HOW did the artist influence the world through
his/her artwork? Advanced Standard 4.1 & 4.2
Summary:
How does this context add to your understanding of
the artwork or challenge your thinking?
2. RE-CREATIVE CRITICISM; Aesthetic Significance for today in your life. Personal Reflection
How does this artwork effect you?
What do the images & symbols mean in your life?
Summary:
What is the artist saying to you?
AESTHETIC VALUEING
Step #5 : Judicial Criticism; Advanced Standard 1.4 & 3.4
This is where you grade the artwork. Do not respond with another’s opinion. You are the expert because you have
done the research.
1. EVALUATE the artwork in and of its self:
How well does your Aesthetic Perception (step #1)
relate to your current opinion about the message in this
artwork?
If it is different, why?
How well has the artist used the Elements & Principles
( Step #2) to communicate the message?
Why do you think this?
How well do the Media, Uniqueness and Style
(Step #3) work in communicating the message?
Why do you think this?
How well does this artwork in its Historical context
(step #4) speak for the artist?
Why do you think this?
Summary:
What is the artist saying to you?
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How to Write About Artwork
© James Ellison 2007updated February 8, 2016
2. EVALUATE the artwork by comparing it to other artworks in history and current times.
Is this artwork a culmination of what other artists
made possible with their breakthroughs?
If so, how and why?
How and why does this artwork relate to earlier or
later pieces by this artist himself/herself?
Did this artwork influence other artists of that
time?
If so, how and why?
Did the artist inspire artists who came after
him/her?
If so, how and why?
3. NOW RANK THE ARTWORK. Preferably choose only one but if necessary you may straddle it between two categories.
Master Prophetic; Leading people into a new future
Piece
they could not see before by revealing a new
way to understand life.
Why do you think this?
Innovative; A new method or a new way of
seeing things, that makes people see the role of
art in life differently (social, political, cultural,
economic, religious).
Why do you think this?
Historical Significance; Had a role in changing
social, political, cultural, economic, religious
forces of that time.
Why do you think this?
Documentary; Reporting on social, political,
cultural, economic, religious forces of that time.
Why do you think this?
Popular; Made for acceptance at that period in
Popular time but has no lasting significance
Art
Why do you think this?
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How to Write About Artwork
© James Ellison 2007updated February 8, 2016
If you wrote into a paper copy of this use the format below to type your 7 paragraph essay from your notes.
If you typed into a digital copy of the above use the format below to cut your notes and paste them into
another word document creating a 7 paragraph essay.
This essay should be 5 pages long and glued into your research workbook.
1. Title
2. Introduction Paragraph
a. Hook: Get the readers attention by asking a question from the argument/position you are going to make.
b. Topic Sentence: In one sentence say what it is you are going to write about in this essay.
c. Thesis: in one sentence state what you are going to prove by your research.
3. 1st – 5th Body Paragraphs:
Subjects; 1. Aesthetic Perception, 2. Aesthetic Analysis, 3 Aesthetics of Genre, Style, Media, Technique, and Originality in
relation to the Theme, 4. Historical Criticism and 5. Judicial Criticism.
a. Paragraph Style
i. Topic Sentence/Main Idea
ii. Details
1. Evidence from the artwork itself or Event in the artist’s life when writing about historical criticism.
2. Explanation of the Evidence or Event.
3. Example; an image of the original diagramed to show what you are writing about.
4. Illustration; a drawing of your own demonstrating what you are writing about.
5. Elaboration of explanation after showing example or illustration.
iii. Concluding Sentence
1. Your Opinion on this subject
2. Argue against the opinion of an expert you disagree with.
4. Concluding Paragraph:
a. Thesis: in one sentence state what you have proved by your research.
b. Topic Sentence: In one sentence remind your reader how you proved your thesis in this essay.
c. Statement to Remember: Say something that is powerful.
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