Art 1 Final Exam Paper
Due January 23, 2015
As a Final Exam project, students will compose a 2 [full] page self assessment paper which focuses on
how he or she progressed through the semester. The paper should be written in complete sentences, use
paragraph form and should be spellchecked. Each paper should at the minimum address the questions on the
following list and should correctly use the art vocabulary we work with in class. All papers should be
double-spaced and written in a 12 point font Times New Roman. Comic Sans and colored fonts are only
appropriate for eight-year-olds writing stories about unicorns and dragon slayers. Five points will
be deducted for failure to follow each of the formatting criteria stated above.
Components of the Paper:
1. Introduction: Who are you as an artist? Base this information on facts about your art or self-perceptions.
This should serve as an introduction to your art. Reach out and welcome your audience into your portfolio.
Why do you make your art? What inspired you to make it? What does your art signify or represent? How do
you make art? What is your art made of? What does your art mean to you? Be personal: write in the first
person (for example, “I am...”, “I do...”, “I make...”, etc). Be specific and avoid obscure references.
2. How many works have you completed? Name them, either by description only or by title and description,
if desired.
3. Which three pieces from your portfolio are most successful? Explain why. What have you done
especially well? What makes these three works the focal point of your portfolio? Describe these pieces
using the Elements of Art (texture, shape/form, [positive/negative] space, color, value, line) and Principles
of Design (balance, proportion, rhythm/movement, emphasis, unity/variety) used in class. IF YOU DON’T
KNOW WHAT THESE WORDS ARE REFERING, LOOK THEM UP!!! We have used these terms all
semester both verbally in class and during each written critique.
4. Which three pieces from your portfolio are least successful? Explain why. Are there areas of the works
that are successful, in spite of your dissatisfaction with the overall works? What could you do, as an artist, to
improve these works? Are these reasonable assumptions? How long would it take you to make these
adjustments? Most importantly, would you be willing to spend the time improving these less-successful
works?
5. Rate your overall portfolio. Give specific numeric grades or written language (strong, moderate,
weak, etc.). Why have you evaluated your portfolio in this way? Is there one area of your portfolio that is
especially successful? Which area is it? Explain why. Is there one area of your portfolio that is noticeably
weaker than the rest? Which area is this? Explain. What steps can you take to improve these weaker areas?
6. Growth: Look at your portfolio chronologically, to the best of your ability. Does your overall portfolio
show evidence of conceptual, perceptual, and expressive development, as well as technical skill? Have you
become more explorative or inventive? More trusting of others’ advice/opinions? Cite specific examples of
growth. For example, “In my shattered values piece...I realize that my animal proportions are skewed.
However, in my soap sculpture... my proportions have not only improved, but I also learned how to sketch
to prevent these errors in future planning.”