Transcript More art terms… - Union Endicott High School

Anna Strattan 2014
Components
of Critique
Sorry…a critique is an ESSAY.
The Essential Steps of Art Criticism
1.
2.
3.
4.
Description (includes intro paragraph)
Analysis
Interpretation
Judgment
When you remember the four
steps, think of these questions….
1.
2.
3.
4.
Description
Analysis
Interpretation
Judgment
- What do I see?
- How is the work organized?
- What message does this artwork communicate (interpret)?
- Is this a successful work of art?
Part I
Description
Introduction/Inventory
•
The introduction, includes information about the artwork that you are going to describe
such as *credit line information – artist, title, date created, etc.
•
The “Description” should include the following information:
–
Subjects/characters - Items described must include things that are essential for interpretation!
FACTS ONLY!!!
–
Inventory of items seen in the work. Items described must include things that are essential for
interpretation! FACTS ONLY!!!
NOTE: This is NOT the paragraph to talk about Elements and Principles
A critique is an ESSAY.
Introduction/Inventory.
Make the first sentence count, and grab the reader’s attention.
Ex.
This critique will discuss the (type of art – painting/sculpture/print, etc.)
entitled, (insert title), (insert Artist ). The (medium/media) painting was created in
(date it was created) and measures (insert measurements – if applicable). This
piece can be classified as (abstract, realistic or non-objective) because the
elements are (explain how you determined its classification)
Note:
Abstract – exaggerated from life
Non-objective – focus on only formal elements (elements and principles of design)
Realistic- idea and technique from life
Introduction
Faith Ringgold. The Sunflower
Quilting Bee at Arles. 1991
Acrylic on canvas, tie-dyed,
pieced fabric border
74 x 80"
Ex.
This critique will discuss the painting entitled, The Sunflower Quilting Bee at Arles,
by artist, Faith Ringgold. The mixed media painting was created in 1991 and measures 74 x
80 inches. This piece can be classified as Abstract because the elements are exaggerated
from a life-like situation.
Description
Ex.
Surrounded by the flowers, eight African American women line the middleground, holding the edges of an outspread quilt pieced with more sunflowers. To the
side and slightly behind them in a field of sunflowers, Van Gogh stands quietly in the
background, holding a vase of his beloved sunflowers. The buildings of the village are
shown in the background, painted with the bright hues.
Faith Ringgold. The Sunflower
Quilting Bee at Arles. 1991
Acrylic on canvas, tie-dyed,
pieced fabric border
74 x 80"
Part II
Analysis
THE ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
-Ask yourself….What (elements) stand out ….
Color.
Shapes.
Forms. lines.
Texture. Light and shadow. (value.)
-Then answer and how was it used …(the principles)
Balance *Contrast * Emphasis/ focal pt * Movement* Pattern *
Analysis
EX.
Color is the main element in this painting by Faith Ringgold. The sunflowers' colors stick out
with their yellow, brown, and black. The houses in the back of the scene are painted unique colors
like red, pink, yellow, and green. The border is a mixture of reds, blues, whites, and blacks. Ringgold
uses a complementary color scheme where bold reds standout against the green trees and
background of the quilt.
The circles are repeated in the sunflowers and faces on the women creating pattern and
unity. The flowers circular shape contrasts the line and geometry of the building in the background.
Part III
Interpretation
FIRST - Determine the most important parts of the painting that tell the
meaning or artist’s story….should relate to ‘Description’
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Size of piece
Quilt
Ladies
Van gogh
Sunflowers
Adapted from http://voscreativearts.blogspot.com/
Interpretation
Ex.
There are African-American women all gather around a quilt, working on it together.
All the women seem to be from different eras in history, perhaps they are famous and the
meeting at the quilting bee. The women are pictured as quilters in order to piece together a
better world, perhaps suggesting the value of collaboration versus the lone individual, standing in
the background, Van Gogh. Van Gogh contributes to the meaning of the piece in that there are
many sunflowers in the background of the painting, and Vincent Van Gogh is well known for his
sunflower paintings. The rich saturated hues is reminiscent of Van Gogh’s use of color.
Part IV
Judgment
Was the artwork successful?
Use ideas and information in previous parts of the critique and State whether the
composition and technique are successful or not and why. Mention if the art is an
example of imitationalism, formalism or emotionalism and why.
Note:
Artwork can only fall under
one aesthetic theory.
Imitationalism
Emotionalism
Formalism
Let’s review the
Aesthetic Theories
Judgment
Imitationalism.
Was the focus of the artwork for your critique realism???
An imitationalist artwork is judged as good if it accomplishes this to a high degree.
If the primary purpose of the artwork is to show us how something looks in real life, then it
belongs in this category. (Imitational artworks are sometimes referred to as
"representational" because they represent what we see in the real world.)
Examples of how to defend Imitationalism in your critique:
• Imitationalism applies to areas in the artwork that look realistic/representational, such
as….
• This painting contains recognizable, realistic looking objects and scenes that closely
imitate what we see in the real world. (Write about what you claim is real about it)
• The primary purpose of imitationalist art is to portray the subject matter as realistically as
possible. In this painting….
NOTE: Portraits often fall into this category.
Judgment
Ex. This painting by Chuck Close represents
Imitationalism. This art is a type of art called
photorealism. It is so realistic looking that many people
mistake it for a photograph.
Ex. This painting of a candy store also shows a high
degree of imitationalism in that the storefront looks as
if it were a photo.
Judgment
Emotionalism.
Does the artwork focus on the meaning, or mood, or message???
Many artworks depict characters showing emotions. However, an artwork would
not usually be classified as emotionalist unless the emotion being expressed was the
primary purpose of the artwork….and YOU understand the message well enough you can
explain it!
Examples of how to defend Emotionalism in your critique:
• Emotionalism applies to this painting as the parts (list them) stress expressive qualities
(explain the qualities).
• The primary purpose of an emotionalist artwork is to vividly communicate moods,
feelings and ideas to the viewer. This piece communicates….(explain the connection to
the images to the moods/feelings/ideas)
• The main point of the artwork is to get the viewer's attention in a dramatic way and to
impact the viewer's emotions. (Explain how the artist did this)
NOTE: A good emotionalist artwork will succeed in getting the artist's message across.
Judgment
Example: This artwork by David Siqueiros is an
emotionalist piece designed to draw your
attention to the horrors of war. A screaming
baby's head emerges from the destruction.
The artist is making the point that no child
could survive in that environment for very
long.
Judgment
Formalism
Formalist artworks can be both abstract and non-objective
• The aesthetic theory known as formalism stresses the visual qualities of an
artwork.
• The focus is on the effective arrangements of lines, colors, shapes and other
elements of art.
• They are not intended to look realistic. Talk about its degree of abstrction.
NOTE: A good formalist artwork is considered to be successful if the artist has
created a visually interesting design or composition using the Elements and
Principles of Design
Judgment
Ex.
Faith Ringold’s work is a successful formalist work of art. The artwork
exhibits bold and contrasting shapes and colors effectively arranged which commands
the viewer’s attention and imagination. She used abstraction in symbolic ways such as
the position of the characters and interactions between them in the location depicted
in the painting. The pained collage of carefully arranged geometric and natural shapes
on a quilt beautifully expresses and renders Ringgold’s story about the interaction of
special places and special people.
Putting it alllllll together.
• What’s worse than writing a critique? Reading 10 of the same essays on
the same artwork!
• Write it to stand out! Write it to make it a bit more interesting!
• EDIT EDIT EDIT, read aloud, peer/parent edit! Make sure it makes sense in
grammar and conten
Tip: Hone your ideas, your voice and make it flow!
Questions to ask yourself….
IDEAS
Are you focusing on SIGNIFICANT parts of the artwork?
Are you taking a fresh perspective toward the artwork?
Are you focusing on important details that go beyond the obvious?
Voice
Does your writing express your enthusiasm and excitement about the artwork in question?
Does the style of writing keep the audience in mind?
Does YOUR personality come through in the writing?
*** always read over your writing before you hand it in!***
Organization
Does your writing follow a logical sequence of ideas?
Do you have a lead that captures the reader’s interest?
Has EVERYTHING you written clearly support your main ideas?
Review:
• Where do you look for additional information that would be valuable to include in your
Description portion of your Critique?
• When you are writing your analysis, what are you are explaining?
• When writing your interpretation , how do you connect the meaning to the artwork?
• What are the three aesthetic theories that you must between to relate to the artwork
you are critiquing?
• What is imitationalism?
• What is the primary purpose of an imitationalist artwork?
• What is formalism?
• What is the primary purpose of formalism?
• What is emotionalism?
• What is the primary purpose of emotionalism?
• Would all artworks that show emotions be classified as emotionalist?