Art Criticism

Bellwork 1/9/18
Copy these terms in your sketchbook:
craftsmanship – The act of working carefully and
skillfully with your hands.
medium – The material art is made from, eg. clay
or paint
subject matter – The main topic, theme, or image
in a work of art.
aesthetics - a set of principles underlying and
guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic
movement
What is an art critic?
 What do you think of
when you think of a
critic?
 Do you think of
someone who is mean
and finds everything
they can wrong with an
artwork?
All About Art
Critics
For Ceramics
 WHAT IS AN
ART CRITIC?
People who analyze art with a certain
process. They usually evaluate the
aesthetics of the art and it’s success.
Anyone can be an art critic!
 Art criticism is the
process of evaluating
artworks.
 The process does not
have to be negative.
 In art criticism you
follow four steps to
make a judgment about
an artworks success.
Why art criticism?
 Art criticism allows you to

?
judge an artwork more
objectively.
 This allows you to make a
judgment that is based on
factual information instead
of simply opinion.
 Making judgments based on
fact instead of opinion is
much stronger and more
thorough way of looking at
artworks.
When do I use art criticism?
 Art criticism is appropriate to use whenever
you are asked to judge an artwork.
 With a few changes it could also be used to
judge music, literature or drama.
 The process prepares you for making other
judgments such as decisions about major
purchases such as cars and homes. The
more you practice making a educated
informed judgment, the easier it will be for
you to make important decisions!
All About Art
Critiques
For Ceramics
 WHAT IS AN
ART CRITIQUE?
WHAT? An in depth discussion about a
piece of art that evaluates its success.
(Topics of discussion might be: subject
matter, color choices, texture, composition
effectiveness, emotional impact and what
the artist seems to have intended.)
WHY? It is enlightening for the artist to hear
how others react to any piece of artwork.
Informal Critique
 An informal critique is usually a one-on-one
verbal discussion about the artist’s work
between peers, from a more experienced
artist or a friendly critic. To be of any use to
the artist, this discussion should be
educational, thought provoking, constructive
and encouraging.
Formal Critique
 A formal critique is a learning tool that
is used in art schools and professional
art associations where an artist places
their work on display for comment by
their peers or from more experienced
artists. A critique is a learning
experience like no other, but it can be
brutal to an artist's ego.
Describe what you
think a critique
will look like.
What could go wrong?
What could go right?
 When being critiqued, you need to:
Put your ego aside and take notes.
 I will focus on constructive
criticism.
 When critiquing, you need to:
focus on the positive and  TAKE
participate. HEART!!!
 I will focus on facilitating a
constructive environment. Here are
a few ways
 Use I WONDER statements: “I we can
wonder what their intent was make sure
behind putting this line here?” our critiques
are successful
Use the
Sandwich
Method
Something
you like…
Because…

Work on
this…

Add this to
improve…

Something
else you
like…
REMEMBER!
All About Art
Criticism
For Ceramics
 WHAT IS ART
CRITICISM?
The discussion or evaluation of visual
art. It should be done in a four-step
process: describing, analyzing,
interpreting and deciding.
Four Steps to Art Criticism
 Step One- Describing

 Step Two- Analyzing

 Step Three- Interpreting

 Step Four- Judging

You should critique art in four
ways:
DESCRIBE ANALYZE
 List everything that
 Explain how the
things you see are
you see. If you don’t being used in the
know what it is, ask work. “I think the
artist use this to…”
yourself. Form, “I
wonder…”  How are lines,
statements. shapes, or other
elements used?
 Eye movement?
 What do I see?
You should critique art in four
ways:
INTERPRET DECIDE
 Make guesses about  Make a value
what the artist did. “I judgment. Form an
think the artist did opinion on the artwork.
this because…”
 What is going on in  Did the artist
the artwork? accomplish their goal?

 How does it make  What did the artist do

you feel?
best?
Now you try
Use the artwork on the next
slide to complete the four
step art criticism process!
Credit Line-
Crystal Morey – The Human Animal Relationship
Step 1- Describing
In the first step you give a description of the artwork. You
explain-
 Size, Medium, and Process (found in credit line of artwork!)

 Subject and Objects in the artwork (tell what you see)

 3 Elements of Art (be sure to explain how the artist used

them!
Step 3- Interpreting
In this step you explain the mood or meaning of
an artwork.

Be sure to explain and justify your answer,

don’t just put “the artwork looks sad”!
Step 2- Analyzing
In this step you explain how the artist organized the
artwork (the composition.)
Choose three principles of design and be sure to
explain how the artist used them with the elements
of art!!
Step 4- Judging
In the final step you make a judgment of whether or not the
artwork is successful based on one of three aesthetic
views-

 View #1- Subject- The artwork is successful only if it is

realistic.
 View #2- Content- The artwork is successful if it creates
a strong mood or feeling.
 View #3- Composition- The artwork is successful if the
artist successfully used the elements and principles
together to make a good composition.
Remember you only pick one view and you justify you
answer!!
On your own…
Let’s walk through the handout together as you
analyze the piece of pottery on your table.