10-11-07

VIEWING ART

Techniques

How to catch the viewer’s eye:

Composition: Often includes underlying geometrical composition (shapes) that make picture balanced

?                          layout of main features

?                          skeleton of the work 

?                          background

?                          foreground

Line: Eye will naturally follow curve of a line until it is broken by a line running in another direction

?                          Includes focal point

Perspective: Science of painting 3-dimensional objects on a 2-dimensional surface

?                          Vanishing  point is also compositional center of the work

?                          “Center” is not necessarily in the middle of the picture

Color: Artist can make picture peaceful by using harmonious colors or tense by using colors that clash

?                          Red, blue, yellow are primary colors, all others made by blending these

?                          Colors are associated with different moods or emotions

Other visual components: lighting, texture and brushstrokes

Questions for analyzing art work

1. Where is your eye drawn? What first catches your attention? (compositional center/focal point)
2. What does the title bring to the work?
3. What can be learned or inferred knowing the title?
4. What is the setting?
5. What is the theme/message the artist is trying to convey?
6. Use descriptive words/phrases to reflect the theme.
7. What story does the painting tell?
8. Does the artwork illustrate something besides a story?
9. What is the mood conveyed by the artist?
10. How does the artist convey their message? (techniques used?)
11. What do you think the artist tried to accomplish?