How to Evaluate Art
To evaluate you need to consider the craftsmanship (quality), design and aesthetic
qualities. The best way to judge these three criteria is to use the Elements and
Principles of Design.
Elements of Design
Color
Color consists of hue, value and intensity. Hue is pure and the
most intense like the color, red. Value is when white is added to
a color like, pink. Intensity refers to the brightness of a color.
The Color Wheel is the artists’ tool for understanding and
selecting color schemes. The local color of an art work is the
dominant color and the reflected color is the color that has
been changed because it reflects the colors next to it. example:
Femme aux Bras Croisés by Pablo Picasso is a monochromatic
painting.
Form
Form describes volume and mass, or the three-dimensional
aspects of objects that take up space. Forms can and should
be viewed from many angles. Form is a major part of
pottery and Sculpture. example: African sculpture
Line
Line is a mark made by a pointed tool - brush, pencil, stick,
pen, etc - and is often defined as a moving dot. It has
length and width and often suggests movement in
a drawing or painting. Hiroshige, "The Plum Garden in
Kameido"
Shape
Shape is an area that is contained and has two dimensions,
length and width, and can be geometric or organic. Artists add
shading to shapes to make them appear to have form. example:
Piet Mondrian, Composition II
Space
Space is a three - dimensional volume that
can be empty or filled with objects. It has
width, height, and depth. In drawings and
paintings space is created by perspective
showing the illusion of depth on a two
dimensional surface. Aerial perspective
uses color in landscapes and cityscapes to
show depth and distance. example:
Northumberland House in London by Canaletto
Texture
Texture refers to the surface quality, both simulated
and actual, of artwork. example: The Kiss by Ernst
Klimt
Value
Value refers to dark and light. Black is the darkest and
white the lightest. High key means the piece has mostly
light values. Low keyed means the piece has mostly dark
values.
example: Francisco de Zurbarán by Saint Rufina
Principles of Design
The Principles of Design are the concepts that are used to arrange
the Elements of Art as in arranging a composition.
Balance
Balance refers to the distribution of visual weight in a work of
art. Balance can be either symmetrical (formal) or asymmetrical in
a work of art. Symmetrical balance is a mirror image or equal
weight in a composition. Asymmetrical is when there is a larger
mass on side than on the other. example: Urhoboan African mask
Contrast
Contrast refers to differences in values, colors, textures,
shapes, and other elements. Contrasts create visual excitement
and add interest to the work. example: Portrait of Jan Six, by
Rembrandt.
Emphasis
Emphasis is used by artists to create dominance and focus in
art work. Artists can emphasize color, value, shapes, or other
art elements to achieve dominance. Emphasis is used to
communicate the purpose of an art work. example The
Milkmaid by Vermeer
Movement
Visual movement is used by artists to direct viewers
through their work, often to a focal area. Sculptures
demonstrate movement as they are viewed in the round.
example: The Entombment of Christ by Caravaggio
Pattern
Pattern uses the art elements in planned or random repetitions
to enhance surfaces of paintings or sculptures. Patterns often
occur in nature, and artists use similar repeated motifs to
create pattern in their work. Many cultures use patterns in
their fabric, pottery and more. example: Indonisian Batik
Rhythm
Rhythm is the repetition of visual movement - colors,
shapes, or lines. example: Del porfirismo a la Revolución
by David Alfaro Siqueiros
Unity
Unity provides the cohesive quality that
makes an art work look as though they belong
together. example : Temeraire by Joseph
Turner