UNIT 2 ACTIVITY
Art Evaluation
Now that you are familiar with the various elements and principles of design, it is time to put your knowledge to the test!
Overview:
For this activity, you will be analyzing and evaluating several pieces of artwork.
Using a copy of the chart below (either copy/paste or recreate one yourself), you will examine each piece of art and identify the different elements and principles of design that you can see.
After looking at, and writing about, each piece, you will choose your favorite piece and write a paragraph about which elements and principles of design you think made the art your favourite.
You will also need to explain how you imagine you could change or improve this piece of art.
Instructions:
Spend some time looking at each piece of art to get a feel for them. Keep in mind all of the elements and principles that you learned about.
Take a closer look at the first piece of art. Fill out your chart, making sure to note any and all examples that you see of each element and principle of design. You may use bullet points or notes rather than complete sentences. Please feel free to continue writing on a separate sheet if there is not enough room in the chart.
The words and questions listed under each element or principle are to help get your ideas flowing and to offer examples of what to look for when examining that particular element or design. Not every element or principle will be present in each picture.
Repeat the same thing, filling out the chart for the second and third pieces of art.
Look back over all three pieces and decide which is your favorite.
Write or type a short summary about the different elements and principles of design that you noticed in this piece. Be sure to include answers to the following questions in your response:
What elements or principles of design make this piece of art successful?
Why do you like this piece of art better than the rest?
How would you describe the structural elements of this piece?
How would you change this piece of art if you were asked to re-do it and improve upon it?
Your grade will be based on how well you complete the chart, the thoughtfulness of your summary, and the neatness of your work. For more details, have a look at the rubric that follows the chart below.
Piece 1:
Piece 2:
Piece 3:
TABLE 1 Example Chart
Piece 1
Piece 2
Piece 3
Colour:
What Hues? Intensities? Shades?
Lines:
Thick, thin, jagged, smooth, short, long, dashed?
Texture:
Sharp, jagged, wispy, soft, fluffy, flat, smooth? What has texture?
Soft and smooth
Soft and flat
Sharp and fluffy
Space:
Overlapping? Perspective? Colour to show depth?
Overlapping
Overlapping
perspective
Repetition/Pattern:
Repeated shapes, objects, colours, lines?
Movement/Rhythm:
Focal point? Where do your eyes move? Why?
Scale/Proportion:
Are items proportionate? How?
Balance:
Symmetrical? Asymmetrical? Radial?
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