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                                                            Graphic Methods
                                                                     for
                                                              Art Discussion

Teachers use many types of graphic organizers as visual aides in discussion topics.
They are methods for visualizing comparisions and organizing facts. When discussing
works of art with students, it is very similar to discussing literature or history. There are many
elements in common that can be put into graphic organizers. Here are two effective methods
that you can use on the white board or paper flip chart with your students during your Meet
the Masters presentation.

CLICK on the images below to enlarge and for printing (or email to request a clear copy).

Blanks Versions to print up (these can be copied
on 8.5x11 paper for each student to fill out or done                          Examples for your reference:
as a group on the board):
_______________________________________________________________________________

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How to Teach Art Criticism

Here is how to facilitate an Art Criticism with your students.

Art is a process of exploration and discovery. Although students find the art project activities in art the most rewarding, State and National Standards mandate the inclusion of aesthetic and critical analysis of art works. This valuable art lesson teaches students to understand how a work of art can be judged by more than one standard. This can lead students to a richer understanding of the art works.

Talk about art with your students using one pre-selected artwork. Model an Art Criticism with four steps. Next, give your students a choice and display three or four different artworks. Instruct them to select one and complete the �Art Criticism Form�

Sunshine State Standards: V.A.D. 1.3.1, V.A.D.1.3.3.

Suggested Time: 1 hour.

Students can start during Meet the Masters, then finish up during the regular class time.

Art Criticism is an organized approach of studying and judging a work of art. Just as the professional critics review movies, books or music. In order to understand artists and their works, students must learn how to correctly talk about art.

There are four steps in an art criticism:

description
analysis
interpretation
judgement

Upon completion of art activities, teachers or presenters should always facilitate a critique or criticism of the student work. Explaining what worked and what didn't is how students learn.

A formal art criticism takes an artwork apart into four parts. Once mastered, the steps are easy to apply to other activities, and they can strengthen the understanding of the purpose and function of art.

For in-depth examination of the process refer to a book called Art Talk, Chapter 2, �Art Criticism and Aesthetic Judgment�, and �Art Talk, Art Criticism in Action.�

Select an artwork to discuss.

Materials:

A variety of art prints
Art Criticism Form
Pencil or Pen

Building an Art Vocabulary:

Art Criticism
Aesthetic Judgment
Content

Step 1 Description

Description is the first step of an art criticism. Students should act like detectives looking for the facts. Also teach students how to read the credit line. This step is just the facts.

Ask questions so students can describe, for example:

What do you see?

What is the medium?

What is the subject?

Describe the images?

Step 2 Analysis

Analyzing an artwork involves discussion of the art elements and principles of design. You are looking for information on the artist�s style. Start this step with a discussion of line.

Lines:

Students will need to discuss how the lines were used the work.
Do they outline every object? Or are they used to create crosshatching and value changes?

Color:

Discuss color.
Are the colors warm or cool?
Are the colors muted or bright?
Are colors complementary or analogous? Explain
Identify areas with blending and value changes.
How is color used to express feeling or mood? Explain

Composition:

How is the space organized?
Is their background, middle ground or foreground? Discuss

Texture:

Define texture.
How did the artist use texture? Can you identify a variety of textures to help create feeling?

Shapes:

What types of shapes are used in the artwork?

Are they freeform or geometric?
Did the artist start with simple shapes to create proper proportions?

Depending on the level of students modify this activity to meet the needs of your students. For higher level discussion incorporate the use of the principles of design and how they are used to organize the art elements.

A discussion of:

rhythm

balance

variety

movement

emphasis

proportion

harmony

unity

Step 3 Interpretation

This is the richest step in the Art Criticism process. This step is concerned with the content or mood of the work. Tell students there are no wrong answers in an interpretation. Artists speak in many different ways. Artworks will affect students in different ways, depending on their experiences.

Ask students what is the message the artist is trying to communicate?

What is happening in the work, or ask students to tell a story about the work.

Ask students to relate the images to something that happened in their lives.

Or have students to explain what the images might be saying if they could talk.

Step 4 Judgment

The last step in an art criticism is judgment.

Is the work successful?

Do you like or dislike the work? Why?

Reassure students that there are no right or wrong answers. I tell students they must be able to make a judgment based on the facts and explain why. You will find that once students have completed the first three steps, they will be able to make in-depth judgments. Some will be based on personal experiences; others will be purely aesthetic.

If you have decide to teach this activity in one class period, plan on spending approximately 30 minutes discussing all the steps. Then plan at least 30 minutes for students to complete the Art Criticism Form.

Copy and print out the form below, one for each student.

Please Note: If the forms are not printing clearly enough from this site, please let me know.
Send me a request to have one emailed to you that will print clearly.

Art Criticism Form for Grades K - 3

Printable Version - Art Criticism Form for Grades 3 - 8

Name ______________________________________ Date ___________________

Art Criticism Form

Directions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

Artist _______________________
Title of work ___________________________________

Description: What do you see? Describe the work. Identify the medium.

______________________________________________________________________________

Analysis: Describe the work according to the art elements. For example, explain

the type of line you see; describe the color, shape, texture and space.

______________________________________________________________________________

Interpretation: Tell a short story explaining what you think of the artwork? Why

do you think the artist created the work?

______________________________________________________________________________

Judgment: Give your opinion of the work. Be sure to include a reason for your

judgment.

______________________________________________________________________________

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