Steps to Art Criticism

Describe what you see.

Analyze what the artist has done.

Interpret what you think it means.

Judge whether the artwork is successful and explain your reasoning.

Aesthetic ScanningDescribe the line, shape, color, texture, and

anything else pertaining to the senses in the artwork.

Analyze how the artist arranges forms.

Speculate about what type of materials and techniques were used to create the artwork.

Determine the ideas and/or mood the artist was trying to convey.

Visual Thinking Strategies

What do you see?

What is it that makes you say that?

What more can you find?

Critical ResponseWhat do you notice? Describe what you see.

What does it remind you of?

How does it make you feel? OR

What is the mood or tone?

What questions does the art raise?

Speculate about what the art means.