Choose any work of art. Find images of the work from multiple angles to gauge whether the work’s textural components, size, or discerning characteristics that may be flattened by photography. Once the work has been chosen, write a two page visual analysis, describing the work in detail with its design principles and its visual elements. The analysis should include vocabulary and terminology detailed in this module. Describe and discuss form and content in the work. Focus on the visual elements and how they contribute to how the work looks, impacts the audience, or the reading of the work.
Graded: discusses most, if not all, of the visual elements of the work listed \and describes how they work together to create an aesthetic experience, meaning, or impact for an audience. It also has some extra interpretive work — reading visual cues and symbolism (there is a heart in this work which could represent _____), and visual evidence or cues (the artist uses warm colors to mimic the changing colors of autumn). It is well organized, with proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. It includes an image of your work and meets the page requirement.
Consider and discuss:
• Visual Elements
• Form (including work size and shape if a sculpture, ex. If it is a sculpture, note whether or not the work is “in the round”)
• Focal point/main subject
• Content (figures or objects used, composition, colors, etc.)
• Line
• Shape
• Texture
• Color
• Value/Shading
• Modes of representation (non-representational abstract, representational, etc.)
• Materials used
• Technique (chiaroscuro, sfumato, painting, drawing, etc.)/style (self-trained, Impressionist, etc.)
• Principles of Design
• Unity and Variety
• Balance (actual weight or symmetrical/asymmetrical)
• Emphasis and subordination (focus and focal points to draw your eye; fore and background)
• Proportions and space (hierarchical scale, realistic or unrealistic proportions or scale for effect purposes)
• Rhythm (based on repetition and pattern of
• shape, lines, unity, etc.)
• Examine iconography and context as they relate to the visual aspects of the work
should be structured as follows:
• Introductory paragraph (describing the basic components of the work such as general description of content, mode of representation, perspective (if any), size, material/medium, and artist)
• Well-organized body paragraphs (each paragraph should correspond to a new topic and the paper should “flow”; ex. one paragraph on the focal point, one paragraph on color, one on texture, one on line and perspective, one on content and interpretive work etc.),
• A strong conclusion (tie everything together — how do the visual components of the work contribute to the work’s meaning or impact? Is the work successful?)
