Meaning in Artmaking
Research—Meaning in Artmaking
 Select one contemporary artist working in a theme, media or subject matter that inspires you
 Review at least 10-15 pieces of this artist’s work
 Analyze the artist’s work for big idea, theme, subject matter and personal connection
 Write a formal analysis and reaction to your chosen artist’s work
Written formal analysis criteria:
 Your analysis should be at least 5 typed paragraphs, double-spaced and in standard 12 point font.
 Your analysis should be well organized -be sure to check your sentence structure, clarity, and spelling.
 Organize your observations about the artworks in an outline; use the following information as a guide:
I. Introduction
A. Who is the artist?
B. When were the works made?
C. What are the medium(s)?
II. Exploring a Big Idea and/or Theme
A. What is the big idea of the artist?
a. Explain what it is and how it is depicted in specific examples
b. Explain why and how it is interesting
B. What is the theme of your selection of his/her work?
a. Explain what it is and how it is depicted in specific examples
b. Explain why and how it is interesting
C. What is the subject matter used in the work?
a. Explain what it is and how it supports the theme or big idea
b. Explain why and how it is interesting
III. Use of Elements and Principles
A. Elements of Design
a. Determine the most prevalently used elements within the work
b. How do these elements create the principles used in the work?
B. Principles of Design
a. Determine the most prevalently used principles within the work
b. Why does the artist use these principles within the work?
C. Support of the theme/big idea
a. Explain how the use of these elements supports the theme or big idea presented
IV. Artist’s Connections
A. Big Idea/Theme
a. Describe how the artist is personally connected to the big idea and/or theme
B. Subject matter
a. Describe how the artist is personally connected to the subject matter
C. Visual Communication
a. Discuss how well the artist conveys his/her personal connection to the work visually
V. Personal Response to Works
A. Describe your personal response to the this work visually
a. Appreciation of technique and composition
b. Aesthetic response
B. Describe your personal response to the big idea or theme presented
C. Impact on your work
a. Discuss how this artist’s work could impact your own artwork in class
Examples of Big Ideas 
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Artist
Life Cycles
Dreams and Nightmares
Reverence for Life
Interdependence
Individual Identity
Social Identity
Aging
Power
Community
Life and Death
Emotion
Heroes
Family
Idealism
Ritual
Views of Reality
Big Idea
Janine Antoni – Compulsive Activity
Gerlovina and Gerlovin - Irrationality
Barbara Kruger – Gender Equity
Donald Sultan – Labor
Haim Steinbach – Shopping
Rosemarie Trockel – Mechanics and Electronics
Meyer Vaisman - humor
Laurie Simmons – detachment from nature
Wolfgang Laib – affinity with nature
Andy Goldsworthy – affinity with nature
Christo and Jean-Claude – space
Mel Chin – reinstatement of nature
Audrey Flack – beauty in the mundane
Charles Bell – beauty in the mundane
Jenny Holzer – use of words and ideas in public
Robert Motherwell - Emotions
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Conflict
Social Norms
Spirituality
Celebration
Uncertainty
Relationships
Suffering
Human Diversity
Materialism
Nature and Culture
Impact of Technology
Urbanization
Utopias
Fantasy
Social Order
Artist
Big Idea
David Hammons - Identity
Amalia Mesa-Bains - Identity
James Luna - Identity
Tomie Arai – Identity
William Wegman – Identity
Edgar Heap of Birds – cultural identity
Felix Gonzalez-Torres - Identity
Chuck Close- Identity
Fernando Botero - Identity
Edwin Casuga – cultural identity
Yoshitomo Nara – betrayal of innocence
Betty Laduke – art that makes a difference
Beth Pivers – whimsy
George Segal - alienation
Joseph Cornell – poetry from the commonplace
Kendra Roberts – sacred spaces
Multiple Themes – Paul Jackson ,Mark Kostabi, David Hockney, Jeremy Wolff, Ron Mueck, Lucas Samaras, Sandy
Skoglund, Jennifer Bartlett
Other sources for finding contemporary artists – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_contemporary_artists
http://www.artistaday.com/
http://www.graffitination.co.uk/index.php
and many, many more….. (artists and sources)
Rubric for Meaning in Artmaking Paper
Category
Introduction
Big
Idea/Theme
Elements and
Principles
Analysis
Artist’s
Connections
Personal
Response
Writing
Mechanics
Artistic
Language
Excellent (5)
The introduction contains a
well-developed introduction
that narrows from an
interesting attention getter to a
clear, concise, and appropriate
thesis statement.
Makes a complete, accurate
and detailed description of the
big idea/theme and subject
matter seen in the artwork.
Accurately describes several
dominant elements or
principles used by the artist
and accurately relates how they
are used by the artist to
reinforce the theme, meaning,
mood, or feeling of the
artwork.
Good (4)
Moderate (3)
Poor (1)
The introductory paragraph
The introductory paragraph
attempts to grab reader and
includes a statement of
includes an appropriate thesis
purpose for the paper.
statement.
Introduction is evident, but
no clear thesis is stated.
Makes a detailed description of
Makes a detailed description of
most of the big idea/theme
some of the big idea/theme
and subject matter seen in the
and subject matter seen in the
artwork.
artwork but may be incorrect.
Descriptions are not detailed
or complete. Descriptions
contain opinions instead of
facts.
Accurately describes a couple
of dominant elements or
principles used by the artist
and accurately relates how they
are used by the artist to
reinforce the theme, meaning,
mood, or feeling of the
artwork.
Describes some dominant
elements and principles used
by the artist, but has difficulty Has trouble picking out the
describing how these relate tot dominant elements.
he meaning or feeling of the
artwork.
Makes a complete and detailed Makes a detailed description of
Descriptions are not detailed
Makes a detailed description of
description of the artist’s
most of the artist’s connection
or complete. Descriptions
some of the of the artist’s
connection to the artwork.
to the artwork.
contain opinions instead of
connection to the artwork.
facts.
Forms a somewhat reasonable
hypothesis about the symbolic
Student identifies the literal
or metaphorical meaning of
meaning of the artwork.
the artwork and is able to
support this with evidence
from the artwork.
Student can relate how the
work makes him/her feel
personally.
The organization of the essay
is clear. Ideas are logically
sequenced.
There are few, if any, errors to
distract the reader.
The organization of the essay
is clear. Ideas are logically
sequenced. There may be a
few errors, but they are rarely
distracting.
The organization of the essay
is simple. Errors may be
distracting and may
occasionally impede
understanding.
Consistently, correctly and
fluently integrates artistic
vocabulary within the essay.
Correctly draws on many
different artistic vocabulary
terms.
Uses some artistic terms
correctly.
Student finds it difficult to
interpret the meaning of the
work.
The essay shows little or no
understanding of the task.
The essay is minimally
developed. Errors may be
frequently distracting and may
significantly impede
understanding.
Uses few, if any artistic terms
correctly.