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Writing for the Art Department
This section will address several common types of written art assignments. It will give you resources that will help you write art history reports, critiques/ analyses, and journal entries.
The Artist/ Art History Report
The artist/art history report will follow the standards and guidelines in the Writers INC. section on “Research Writing.”
Critique/Analysis of a Work of Art.
1.Describe what you see.
When you describe an artwork, identify things in the work that you can see, name, and describe. Think of it as if you were trying to describe the work to a blind person.
•List the artist, title of the work, the medium, and the date. Indicate the size of the work and what style it is.
•Some questions to ask yourself: What colors are evident? Are they bright or dull or contrasting? What are the dominant colors?
Describe the images as they exist in the work. Are they realistic or imaginary?
2. Analyze the work
When you analyze an artwork you will tell how the subject matter and elements of the work have been organized. To do this, think of the elements of art — line, shape, form, and color.
• How do the elements work together to create unity, balance, harmony, contrast, and movement?
• How do the colors contribute to the artwork?
• Where do you see complementary colors used? How does this affect the contrast? How are the elements of the work arranged?
3. Interpret what the artist is saying
Use the information from your description and analysis to help identify the meaning of the artwork.
• What is the artist trying to say about his or her human experience? The title will provide you with some clues.
• What moods or feelings do the colors project?
• Use a metaphor that relates to what the artist is saying.
• What does the work say to you?
4. Judgment
• How do the elements of art and design function together to create this work?
• How does the work compare to anything that you have seen before?
• How does the work awaken your imagination or help you feel a part of the work?
Journal Writing
Journals should also reflect the development of visual ideas. You might include such things as preliminary drawings, research sketches, photographic material, media experiments, exercises, independent drawings, or anything else of visual interest. Journaling is a great way to begin.
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