Elementary Visual School Arts

Adventures in Art Level 5 Informed Judgment 23

Name Date

Be an Art Critic glue here

Art critics speak and write about artworks, and help people think about them.

They offer reasons when they judge an artwork. Cut out the four strips. Fold

them in half to make art-criticism cards. Use the cards to talk and write about

art, as good art critics do.

1. Describe 2. Analyze 3. Interpret 4. Judge
   Look at the artwork Analyze the overall Interpret the mood, Judge the artwork
   carefully and describe design of the artwork. meaning, or ideas and give reasons for
   it as fully as you can. in the artwork. its meaning to you.

Name specifics such as Look for kinds of Discuss topics such as • Explain what you

• kind of artwork • balance • meanings of familiar think the artist


• materials • patterns subjects wanted to com-


• familiar subjects • movements municate


• lines • rhythms • moods or feelings


• colors • unity and how they are • Explain why you


• shapes/forms • variety captured think the artwork


• textures • center of interest is or is not suc-


• spaces or emphasis • ideas that may be cessful.
  expressed or shown
  in symbols • Explain why
  others might
  have a different
  opinion.


• 
  
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • 
      
      
      
      • 
        
        
        
        • 
          
          
          
          • fold here - - - - - - - - - - - - fold here - - - - - - - - - - - - fold here - - - - - - - - - - - - fold here - - - -
          
          
          
          
        
        
        
        
      
      
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Lines—straight, curved, • Balance—symmetrical • Why might the artist • What might the
  thick, thin, even, uneven, asymmetrical, radical, have wanted to portray artist be expressing
  wavy, zigzag branching this subject? or communicating?


• Shapes/Forms—large, • Patterns—repeated, • What combinations of • What purpose or
  small, geometric, varied, uniform, things seem most meaning might
  realistic, positive, alternating important? Why? others find in
  negative this work?


• Movements/Rhythms-- • Describe any special


• Colors—light, dark, diagonal, vertical, mood or feeling the • How could you find
  warm, cool, neutral, horizontal artist captured. out more about the
  bright, dull, contrasting. work? Do you


• Unity—similar lines, • Has the artist expressed need to?


• Textures—inverted, colors, and the like an idea about wisdom,
  rough, smooth, actual beauty, love, or some • State criteria for


• Variety—different lines, other theme? judging an artwork


• Spaces—realistic, colors, and the like with this style, idea,
  abstract, perspective • When and for whom was or purpose.


• Emphasis—center of this work made? How
  interest, large shapes, does this help you think • Explain whey the
  bright colors, and the about the work? work does or does
  like not meet your
  criteria for judging
  the artwork.

I know how to criticize art.