Art Analysis GUIDELINES
1. Before you begin to study the artwork, take a moment to look over the entire
artwork. Answer the following questions:
a. What category does the art fall under? _____ Painting _____ Drawing _____
Mixed media _____ Metal work _____ Sculpture _____ Lithograph _____ Ceramic
_____ Other
b. Which type of art do you consider this piece? _____ Fine art _____ Folk art
_____ Outsider art _____ Corporate art _____ Commercial art _____ Other
c. Is the piece in a frame? If so, describe the frame.
d. If the art is an image, what is it printed on (paper, cardboard, metal, or glass)?
e. Are there any unusual markings or writing on the piece that are not for artistic
interpretation, front or back? Describe it.
f. Can you find the artist’s mark or signature? A date?
2. Turn your attention to the piece as a whole. Take a few minutes to look at the
artwork in its entirety and answer the following questions.
a. Write a paragraph describing the art.
b. List adjectives that describe any emotions you feel while looking at the art.
3. Take a closer look at the artwork. Divide the image into equal sections of 4, 6 or 8
depending on the size of the image. Closely study each section individually and fill
in the following chart one section at a time.
People Buildings & objects Activities
4. Look at each section of art again and record any symbols you find and what you think
they might mean.
Symbol Meaning
5. List anything new that you discovered.
a. Based on the information above, write a paragraph about what this artwork tells
us?
b. List any new questions you have.
c. Where can you find the answers to these questions?
BLOOM'S TAXONOMY FOR ART
EVALUATION What is your opinion of the painting? Why?
SYNTHESIS What ways would you render the subject differently?
ANALYSIS Explain what you think the artist is trying to say about the subject matter.
APPLICATION If you could interview the artist, what questions would you ask?
UNDERSTANDING What is the subject or theme?
KNOWLEDGE Describe the painting.
WHEN LOOKING AT A WORK OF ART, ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
What kinds of things do you see in this painting? What else do you see?
What words would you use to describe this painting? What other words might we use?
DESCRIBE IT
How would you describe the lines in this picture? The shapes? The colors? What does this
painting show?
Look at this painting for a moment. What observations can you make about it?
How would you describe this painting to a person who could not see it?
How would you describe the people in this picture? Are they like you or different?
How would you describe (the place depicted in) this painting?
What does this painting remind you of?
What things do you recognize in this painting? What things seem new to you?
RELATE IT
How is this painting like the one we just saw? What are some important differences?
What do these two paintings have in common?
How is this picture different from real life?
What interests you most about this work of art?
Which objects seems closer to you? Further away?
What can you tell me about the colors in this painting?
What color is used the most in this painting?
ANALYSE IT
What makes this painting look crowded?
What can you tell me about the person in this painting?
What can you tell me about how this person lived? How did you arrive at that idea?
What do you think is the most important part of this picture?
How do you think the artist made this work?
What questions would you ask the artist about this work, if s/he were here?
What title would you give to this painting? What made you decide on that title?
What other titles could we give it?
What do you think is happening in this painting? What else could be happening?
INTERPRET IT
What sounds would this painting make (if it could)?
What do you think is going on in this picture? How did you arrive at that idea?
What do you think this painting is about? How did you come up that idea?
Pretend you are inside this painting. What does it feel like?
What do you think this (object) was used for? How did you arrive at that idea?
Why do you suppose the artist made this painting? What makes you think that?
What do you think it would be like to live in this painting? What makes you think that?
What do you think is good about this painting? What is not so good?
Do you think the person who painted this do a good or bad job? What makes you think so?
EVALUATE IT
Why do you think other people should see this work of art?
What do you think other people would say about this work? Why do you think that?
What grade would you give the artist for this work? How did you arrive at that grade?
What would you do with this work if you owned it?
What do you think is worth remembering about this painting?
ELEMENTS OF ART
LINE
a. What kinds of lines do I see? (identify specific types: curved, diagonal, horizontal, vertical, zigzag,
etc.)
b. Where are examples of these kinds of lines found in the art work? (be specific!)
COLOR
a. What are the dominant colors/color relationships that I see in the work? (identify specific names of
colors or color relationships: warm colors, cool colors, complimentary colors, analogous colors,
triadic colors, split complimentary colors)
b. Where are examples of these colors/ color schemes found in the art work? (be specific!)
VALUE
a. Where do I see light and dark values in the work?
b. Where are there the strongest contrasts of light and dark values located in the work? (be specific!)
TEXTURE
a. What kinds of textures do I see in the work? (identify: rough, smooth, bumpy, etc.)
b. Where are examples of these types of textures located within the art work? (be specific!)
SPACE
a. What type of representation of space am I seeing? (identify: shallow two- dimensional space, flat
two-dimensional space, deep three dimensional space)
b. What objects are located in: Foreground? Mid-Ground? Background?
c. Does there seem to be an equal amount of negative (empty) space and positive space or not?
SHAPE
a. What kinds of shapes do I see? (identify: geometric shapes/organic shapes)
b. Where are examples of these kinds of shapes located in the art work? (be specific!)
ART PRINCIPLES
BALANCE
a. Which kind of balance is shown in the work of art? (Identify: asymmetrical (informal) balance or
symmetrical (formal) balance.
b. What element(s) of art was used to create that kind of balance?
VARIETY
a. What elements of art are used to create a sense of diversity and change in the work?
b. Explain how those elements are used.
PROPORTION
a. What elements of art are used to relate the whole work to its individual parts?
b. Is there evidence in the work to support distortion or accuracy in the shapes/forms?
c. Explain how those elements are used.
GRADATION
a. What element(s) of art are used to create a sense of gradual change in the work?
b. Identify which parts of the work show the use of gradation.
RHYTHM
a. What element(s) are used in the work to create a feeling of visual tempo or beat?
b. Explain where these element(s) of art are located in the work to create this principle.
(be specific!)
PATTERN
a. What element(s) of art are used to create exactly repeated patterns in the work?
b. Explain where these element(s) of art are located in the work to create this principle.
(be specific!)
MOVEMENT
a. What element(s) are used in the work to create a feeling of visual movement or action that guides
the viewer’s eye through the work?
b. Explain how that element is used in the work and identify specific areas in the work that
demonstrate movement.
EMPHASIS
a. Identify where the focal point(s) is in the work. (sometimes there is more than one)
b. What element(s) are used to direct the viewer’s attention to the focal point(s)?
c. Explain how that element creates a feeling of emphasis or contrast.
HARMONY/UNITY
a. What element(s) are used to unify or hold the work of art together in a pleasing way?
