Four Step Evaluation of a Work of Art

Student Handout Guiding Questions

Evaluating a work of art isnt as difficult as it may seem. There are four basic steps:
describing, analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating. Use these handy guiding questions and
youll be a pro!

Students Name: _______________________________ Date: _________________________________

Name of the Artwork Evaluated: ___________________________Artists Name:___________________

Step 1: Describe (Knowledge: ______/4)

Describe what you see in the artwork.

Objects:
What sort of artwork do you think this is? (______/1)
Portrait Figure Landscape
Seascape Cityscape Poster
Abstract Nature Still life

What kind of objects do you see in the artwork? (you may choose more than one) (______/1)
People Buildings Boats
Landscape Seascape Animals
Plants Water Food
None Other: (describe:________________________________)

What style do you think the artist primarily used? (______/1)

Realistic Abstract Non-objective

Media: What media or medium did the artist use? (What material is the work made from?)
(______/1)
Two-Dimensional:
Crayon photograph pencil ink fabric yarn
Paint (oil, acrylic, tempera, watercolor) pastels
Three-Dimensional:
Clay stone found objects
Wood glass metal papier-mache

Step 2: Analysis (Thinking & Inquiry______/14)

The Elements of Art

Lines What kinds of lines do you see? (______/0.5)

Sharp thick heavy
Jagged choppy vertical
Diagonal fuzzy thin
Curved graceful smooth
Horizontal straight broken
Zigzag dotted wavy
Other: ___________________________________________________

Shapes and Forms What shapes do you see? (______/0.5)

Circles Squares triangles
Rectangles diamonds other :________________

What forms do you see ? (______/0.5)

Cones spheres cylinders cubes

How would you describe the shapes and/or forms? (______/0.5)

Curved angular hard-edged Soft-edged
organic free-form Other:___________________________________

Colors What kinds of colors do you see in the artwork? (______/0.5)

Bright darks/lights (values) soft
strong warm colors cool colors
Neutral colors (browns, greys, earth tones)
Complementary colors (colors opposite of each other on the color wheel)
Monochromatic colors (a single color containing light and dark values of that color.)
Triadic colors ( three colors that are equidistant from each other on the color wheel; i.e.,
red, yellow, & blue; green, orange, & violet)

Texture What kinds of textures do you see? (______/0.5)

Rough smooth soft Hard
dull bumpy Other:_______________________________

Space Illusion of space: How is space used in the artwork? (circle one) (______/0.5)
Deep Space (looks like you can see for miles, a very wide range of light and dark values)
Shallow Space (shapes are flattened with limited use of light and dark values)
Flat Space (shapes appear one value/color, objects appear not three-dimensional at all.)

If the work is a landscape what do you see in each division of space?

Foreground (objects nearest the viewer) (______/1)

Mid-ground (space between the foreground and the background) (______/1)

Background (objects that appear the most distant from the viewer) (______/1)

The Principles of Design

How the elements of art in the work are arranged:
Emphasis/Focal Point
What is the first thing you see when you look at this art work? (______/1)

How do you think the artist created the focal point? (______/1)

Contrast Are there noticeable differences between light and dark areas? (______/0.5)
Yes No
If there are noticeable differences, identify where the lightest and darkest areas appear to
be in the work. Squint your eyes and look at the artwork. Circle where you see most of the
light areas. (______/0.5)
top bottom middle right left

Circle where the darkest areas are located: (______/0.5)

top bottom middle right left

Harmony/Unity Circle which elements of art have been used to create a sense of unity
or hold the work together in a pleasing way. (______/0.5)
line color value texture shape space

Balance What kind of visual balance is used in the artwork? (______/0.5)

Asymmetrical balance (each side of the artwork is different)
Symmetrical balance (the halves of the artwork mirror each other)
Radial balance (emphasis is in the center, viewers eyes are directed like the spokes of
a wheel, flower, or target moving toward the middle)

Repetition & Pattern What do you see repeated in the artwork? (______/0.5)
lines shapes colors light/dark values textures

Pattern or repetition that is used to lead the eye on a path through a work of art is called
movement. Do you see movement in the artwork? If so, where? (______/1)

Another planned use of pattern is rhythm, which can lead the viewers eye through an
artwork while also giving the work of art a pulsating or even unbalanced quality. Do you
see rhythm in the artwork? If so, where? (______/1)

Variety Variety refers to the differences of the use of the elements of art in the work.
Variety can be achieved by using different shapes, textures, colors and values in the work.
Circle the elements of art that have been used in a variety of ways to create visual interest.
(______/0.5)
lines shapes colors light/dark values textures

Step 3: Interpretation (Communication______/4)

What is the purpose or meaning of the artwork?
You uncovered clues about the meaning of this artwork in the first two steps of this
exercise. Sometimes even the name of an artwork can tell you something about its
meaning or purpose.

Explain what the name of this artwork tells you about the meaning or purpose of this work.
(______/2)

There are many purposes of art. Check which of these purposes you think the artist was
primarily concerned with in this artwork. (______/1)
Expressive art (expressing emotions, feelings, and/or ideas)
Narrative art (describing and illustrating experiences, telling a story)
Functional art (art the serves a practical or useful purpose)
Ceremonial or ritual art (work that celebrates or commemorates)
Decorative art (created for the purpose of decorating or beautifying)
Persuasive art (advertising, marketing, or propaganda art)
Formalist art (works that deal solely with the arrangement of elements of
art/principles of design as subject matter found most often abstract or
non-objective art)
Reflecting the world (art that imitates nature)

Circle the words that best describe what you think is the meaning of this artwork. (use as
many words as needed even supplying some new ones if necessary.) (______/1)
strength fear loneliness fun
mystery anger hate love
beauty courage peace war
sadness happiness madness hope
adventure excitement
interest in color complexity of design interest in shapes simple design

Step 4: Evaluation (Application______/8)

What do you think about the artwork?
What is the value that you find in the artwork? For example, is it a beautiful work of art?
Thought-provoking? Does it have an important social message? Does it give us window for
understanding the past? (______/2)

Does the work communicate an idea, feeling, or principle that would have benefit for
others? Explain. (______/2)

Rather than seeing the work as being very effective or totally without value, does the work
fall somewhere in between? Do you think that the work is just ok? On what do you base
this opinion on? (Possibilities might be the use of the elements of art, or the principles of
design; lack of personal expression; lack of major theme or focus.) (______/2)

Write a brief narrative expressing your opinion of the artwork. Include both your positive
perceptions and your criticism of the work and explain your answers. (______/2)

Total: ____________________/30