Artwork Analysis

Objectives: to Investigate, Analyse, Understand, & Make connections with artists and art-making practices.

Research and investigation is a vital part of the iGCSE and IB curriculum in Art & Design. Investigating and researching can include learning about a particular artist, technique, media or idea. Sometimes it will be about a specific artist, artwork, or genre. When presenting your research, it should not only have good quality writing and ideas, but should also be well designed and presented in an interesting format in your journal, and should include the following information.

• RELEVANT TITLE
• An IMAGE OF THE ARTWORK
• ARTIST'S NAME AND TITLES FOR EACH ARTWORK YOU INCLUDE ON YOUR PAGE
• DATES FOR EACH ARTWORK
• ESSENTIAL FACTS: These are bullet points. Where was the artist working? When were they living? What art movement are they a part of? What other important information is relevant to their work?
• YOUR VERSION OF THEIR ARTWORK (this could be a copy or your own version of their work incorporating your own ideas).
• FIRST IMPRESSION: Write about your first reaction to the artwork.
• DESCRIPTION: Imagine that you are describing the artwork to someone over the telephone. Tell us about the media and images.
• ANALYSIS of the FORMAL QUALITIES: What are the most important Elements of Art or Principles of Design in the work? (Click here for more on Elements & Principles). Discuss or illustrate them in your journal. Try to work out what the artist has done to achieve certain effects. What mood or feeling do you get from this work? How has the artist created this mood?
• INSPIRATION: How does this artwork inspire you? Artists constantly look at what other artists are doing and get ideas for their own work. What ideas does the artwork inspire?
• CONNECTIONS: show connections with artists' ideas, process and techniques and how it is influencing your own work. Do this by trying out a technique or media, or re purposing an image from their work to suit your own.

* please note, do NOT write out these questions on your page, this is just a tool to help you gather and include good information * Students in Grade 6-12 can use this as a starting point for learning to research and get inspiration from artists.

wikiart.org - Really great art website!! 

Quick Tips:

• Use headings & subheadings
• Use Art vocabulary (elements & principles!)
• Write legibly or type 
• DO NOT copy & paste text from wikipedia (or anywhere for that matter) into your journal. Nothing is a bigger waste of time and resources!
• Use suitable colours and styles to match the content (ie. Don't use a hot pink highlighter with hearts and stars on your page about black & white war photography!)
• Cite your sources. Write down the book or website where you found images and info.