Talking
About Art Work
Below
are suggested criteria for judging a work of Art, including selected sources and
children's own work. They reflect
the basic elements in a work that can be identified in evaluating it.
When discussing art work these elements can be explained by asking
questions.
Content - The subject, story or idea of a picture or art work.
What
is being recorded or expressed through the activity of drawing, painting,
printing, collage, modelling etc.? What
is the idea? What does it try to
show?
Can
the child identify the content of an artwork, for example by being asked to
describe it, or to give it a title? An
abstract image may be difficult for children.
Encourage them to concentrate on and spot the elements within the picture e.g. patterns of lines, shapes, colours.
Media
-
The materials and the way they have been used.
What
kind of materials have been used? How
have they been used? What is a good
choice of materials for the work? Were
the materials well used?
Can the child identify the materials used and how they have been used, for example if the is a drawing, what was used (pencil, pen, crayon. etc.)
Line
- The marks an artist makes
What
kinds of marks or line are shown?
Are there varieties of line e.g.
thick/thin? Do the lines or
marks make a good drawing/picture? Was
it drawn from memory, imagination or observation?
See the development checklist for drawing (page 81) for different stages in the line drawing, from the haptic or scribble stage, to simple pictures, use of shading, depth, perspective etc. Young children use marks mostly to make symbols e.g. a 'lollipop' tree, later they learn how to draw a variety of lines in pattern making, decorating, and drawing from observation.
Tone
- The shading of light and darkness in line or colour.
Are
different tones used as part of the composition? Are there varieties of tone in line used e.g.
light/dark? Are there
varieties of tone in colour used e.g. lighter/darker
shades?
Colour
- The varieties of colour used.
What
colours are used? Is there a good
mixture or variety of colours used? Were
the colours suitable for the composition? What mood or feeling is expressed in the colours?
Are there different marks or broad areas of colour?
Pattern
and Design - The design or
decoration shown in the art work.
Is
the picture or art work one big pattern? Are
there patterns or decorations within it? Do the parts of the pattern or decoration fit in with the
design as a whole? Is it well
designed and decorated?
Texture
-
The surface of the painting or art work.
Does
the surface have a texture or different textures? Can the textures be seen?
Can it be felt? Has the
texture been created? Are the
surface textures good to feel/see? Are
they well created?
Space
- The spacing in 2D or 3D, within a framework.
Does
the picture/artwork show a good use of space?
If it is a drawing or painting is it well spaced/placed on the paper?
Are the parts well spaced/placed? Does
it create a sense of space e.g. through perspective? If
it is a model or 3D art work
does it show a good use of space?
Form
& Space
- The shapes shown
and structure of composition.
What
shapes are shown in the picture or art work?
Are the shapes well drawn or represented? How are the shapes put together?
Do the shapes fit the composition well?
Is the composition of shapes well balanced or unbalanced?