An Eye For Art
Learning to View and Appreciate Art
Here is a checklist with some key components for An Eye For Art.
Describe the Work of Art.
- Try to determine what you see.
- Is this a portrait, landscape, abstraction?
- What is the subject matter?
- Look at the artist’s work of art and determine approximately how many colors he or she applied in the art.
- Try to ascertain what medium was used – brush, palette knife, pencil, collage, pastels, etc.
- Is the art flat or do you see texture or relief in the art?
- How would you describe the lines and shapes in the art?
- Imagine trying to describe the art to someone who could not see it.
Analyze the Work of Art.
- Does any particular part of the art interest you more so than other parts of the art?
- Any dramatic areas that jump out at you?
- Does this work of art remind you of anything in particular?
- What would you say to the artist regarding the art if he or she were present?
- Does the composition of the art seem balance?
- What can be said about the objects, shapes or people in the art?
- Is there movement in the art and if so how do you think the artist rendered that movement?
- How is this art dissimilar from real life?
- Interpret the Work of Art.
- If you could name the art, what name or title would you give it?
- What made you choose that title?
- Describe the vibe or mood the art gives you.
- Visualize yourself inside the art.
- What do you feel? If possible, what sound would the art make?
- What piece of this art do you believe for the most part fascinated the artist?
- Why do you think the artist created this art?
Evaluate the Work of Art
- What do you like or dislike about the work?
- Did the artist accomplish what he or she set out to do in this work of art?
- Did the artist do a good or bad job painting this piece of art?
- Why do you think others should see this work of art?
- Give the work of art a grade.
- How did you determine that grade?
- Would you purchase this art?
- How much would you pay?
- What is worth remembering about this art?
To really understand a work of art, one might want to observe it as not as a solo, stand alone creation. There ought to be perspective and context. Each work of art is produced
within a specific situation, atmosphere and environment, and if one does not fully comprehend those situations and that background, one might never be able to truly understand what the artist is bringing to that canvas. It is recommended that you learn something about an artist’s life and the culture in which he or she lives or lived to truly appreciate a work of art.
The more you look … the more you will see.
