Understanding Art Criticism

Image: Wiradjuri : www. atasteofaus.com

Art Criticism is studying, understanding and judging works of art

Why Critique Artwork?

• Solving art mysteries is one of the jobs that art critics set out to accomplish.

• What if you don’t know what an artwork is communicating?

• How can you figure it out?

• Following the steps of art criticism can help you discover lots of clues to really understand and appreciate a work of art.

The Steps of Art CriticismIn each step of art criticism, you are answering

a different question. The four steps of art criticism are:

1. Description: What do I see?

2. Analysis: How is the work organized? (Use the elements and principles of art to support your ideas

3. Interpretation: What is the artist trying to communicate?

4. Judgment: Is this a successful work of art?

Step 1. Description

Look at the work of art here.

What do you see???

Remember Only What You See!

• Circles

• Dots of all sizes

• An aboriginal animal

• Colors (white,red,yellow,orange,black)

Step 2. Analysis

• Look Again At The Artwork You Are Critiquing…..

How is the work arranged?

Break down the painting into its composition, or the way the art principles are used to organize the art elements.

Elements of Art/Design

• Line• Shape• Color• Form• Space• Texture

Elements of Art / Design

•Line :curvy ,rhythmic patterns

•Shape: geometric / organic

•Form : flattened

•Space: crowded space, flattened plane

•Texture: patterns

•Color: red, yellow, orange, black white

Principles of Art/Design

• Unity

• Balance

• Contrast

• Emphasis

• Movement

• Rhythm

• Proportion

Principles of Art/Design•Contrast : red-orange, black/white

•Emphasis: centered lizard large size

• Unity: color, shape & line

•Movement: curved, dotted circles varied sizes of circles

•Rhythm: repeated- curved pattern dots of color

•Balance: circles symmetrical

•Proportion: lizard dimensions, realistic

What do you think the aboriginal artist is trying to communicate?

Give your opinions based on the clues you have collected.

What ideas, moods emotions and stories do you think the artwork communicates?

Step 3. Interpretation

Interpretation

In the Aboriginal Dreaming Wiradiuri • The lizard is the main focus

and is emphasized with color and surrounded by repeated circles and colorful dotted patterns.

• How do the rhythmic repeated circles and dots make you feel?

Do they help the art move?

Aboriginal Dreaming

• The colors red and orange usually make one feel warmth because they are warm colors and are associated with the sun and fire, but also because the color red has a physiological affect that excites and stimulates.

• More energy is reflected from warm colors than from the cooler ones. "Warm" colors - red, yellow and orange - traditionally are thought to offer feelings of heat, whether psychological ,imaginary or real

How would you feel about the painting if it was green or overwhelmingly blue instead of red?

Do you think a change in color would change the dreaming symbolism or meaning?

Think about it?? The color blue might change the location to water instead of the sky, sun or fire.

The artwork is limited in terms of perspective. The lizard is very flat. However, the dotted, rhythmic patterns and variety of colored circles helps to make the picture move. This work is cheerful, bright and happy.

Step 4. Judgment

Do you think this artwork is successful ? Why or why not?

Judgment

What reasons can you give for your idea of why this is a good or bad artwork?

4- Step Critique Review1. Description: What do I see?

2. Analysis: How is the work organized? (use the elements and principles to support your ideas).

3. Interpretation: What is the artist trying to communicate?

4. Judgment: Is this a successful work of art?

Remember: You must complete steps 1,2,&3 completely, before you can finally judge whether a piece of artwork has merit and is successful.

Final Judgment

The aboriginal work of art Wiradiuri is colorful and with its array of warm color, offers the viewer exciting and happy emotions . The central figure of the lizard floats peacefully in the artwork. The repeated dot patterns, characteristic of the Papunya tribe allow the circles to continually move like a true dream floating in ones mind. The artwork is well balanced and is unified. I think that this piece of art demonstrates that the artist is well versed in his craft. And I feel that this is is an excellent example of an aboriginal dreaming.