Part II – Brief Description
In a few sentences describe the work. What does it look like? Is it a representation of something? Tell what is shown. Is it an abstraction of something? Tell what the subject is and what aspects are emphasized. Is it a non-objective work? Tell what elements are dominant. This section is not an analysis of the work yet, though some terms used in Part III might be used here. This section is primarily a few sentences to give the reader a sense of what the work looks like.
Part III – Form
This is the key part of your essay. It should be the longest section of the essay. Be sure and think about whether the work of art selected is a two-dimensional or three-dimensional work.
VISUAL ELEMENTS
- Line (straight, curved, angular, flowing, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, contour, thick, thin, implied etc.)
- Shape and Form (what shapes are created and how)
- Light and Value (source, flat, strong, contrasting, even, values, emphasis, shadows)
- Mass and Volume
- Color (primary, secondary, mixed, complementary, warm, cool, decorative, values)
- Texture (real, implied)
- Space (depth, overlapping, kinds of perspective)
- Time and Motion
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
- Unity and Variety
- Balance (symmetry, asymmetry)
- Emphasis and Subordination
- Rhythm & Repetition
- Contrast
- Scale and Proportion (weight, how objects or figures relate to each other and the setting)
Part IV – Opinions and Conclusions
This is the part of the essay where you go beyond description and offer a conclusion and your own informed opinion about the work. Any statements you make about the work should be based on the analysis in Part III above.
- In this section, discuss how and why the key elements and principles of art used by the artist create meaning.
- Support your discussion of content with facts about the work.
- Consider this question: What is the nature of art?