Portfolio in Advanced classes allows students to explore areas of individual interest. Pursuing independent concepts through chosen projects enables students to discover new skills and to continue developing those learned in class.
Idea sparkers and supplies are available. (see sample below)
Each quarter students will complete 2 projects (based on the sparkers provided or on their own art concept), one artist response paper and one self-evaluation. over a nine week period students' should expect to spend one hour per week as homework. We will also have at least two days "in class".
Quarter 1 assignments were given in August....All are due October 21.
Idea sparkers and supplies are available. (see sample below)
Each quarter students will complete 2 projects (based on the sparkers provided or on their own art concept), one artist response paper and one self-evaluation. over a nine week period students' should expect to spend one hour per week as homework. We will also have at least two days "in class".
Quarter 1 assignments were given in August....All are due October 21.
sample Sparker
Anthropomorphics
Concept:
Imbuing animals, plants or objects with human qualities.
Do:
1.Consider the following list:
Birds on a coffee break
Pencils jogging
Frogs at a disco
TV’s watching TV
Corn vs. carrots playing baseball
Rocks getting married
2. Add your own ideas to the list.
3.Make a drawing, collage, cartoon or painting of your idea.
Materials:
12x18 paper
media of your choice
Anthropomorphics
Concept:
Imbuing animals, plants or objects with human qualities.
Do:
1.Consider the following list:
Birds on a coffee break
Pencils jogging
Frogs at a disco
TV’s watching TV
Corn vs. carrots playing baseball
Rocks getting married
2. Add your own ideas to the list.
3.Make a drawing, collage, cartoon or painting of your idea.
Materials:
12x18 paper
media of your choice
Four Steps in Art Criticism
There’s a lot more to looking at art than whether you “like it” or not. Being able to
critique art by utilizing the art elements, principles of design, and correct
terminology is very important. If you use these four steps and answer questions listed under each, you will have a
comprehensive method to critique any piece of art. You may use this as a rough
draft, then write a minimum 5 paragraph response paper critiquing the work of art. Be sure to include a copy of the artwork.
Describe: Tell what you see (the visual facts).
1. What is the name of the artist who created the artwork?
2. What kind of an artwork is it?
3. What is the name of the artwork?
4. When was the artwork created?
5. Name some other major events in history that occurred at the same time this artwork was created.
6. List the literal objects in the painting (trees, people, animals, mountains, rivers, etc.).
7. What do you notice first when you look at the work? Why?
8. What kinds of colors do you see? How would you describe them?
9. What shapes can we see? What kind of edges do the shapes have?
10. Are there lines in the work? If so, what kinds of lines are they?
11. What sort of textures do you see? How would you describe the?
12. What time of day/night is it? How can we tell?
13. What is the overall visual effect or mood of the work?
Analyze:
Mentally separate the parts or elements, thinking in terms of textures,
shapes/forms, light/dark or bright/dull colors, types of lines, and sensory
qualities. In this step consider the most significant art principles that were
used in the artwork. Describe how the artist used them to organize the
elements. Suggested questions to help with analysis:
1. How has the artist used colors in the work?
2. What sort of effect do the colors have on the artwork?
3. How as the artist used shapes within the work of art?
4. How have lines been used in the work? Has the artist used them as an important
or dominant part of the work, or do they play a different roll?
5. What role does texture play in the work? Has the artist used the illusion of
texture or has the artist used actual texture? How has texture been used within
the work?
6. How has the artist used light in the work? Is there the illusion of a scene with
lights and shadows, or does the artist use light and dark values in a more
abstracted way?
7. How has the overall visual effect or mood of the work been achieved by the use
of elements of art and principles of design?
8. How were the artist’s design tools
used to achieve a particular look or focus?
Interpretation:
An interpretation seeks to explain the meaning of the work based on what you have
learned so far about the artwork, what do you think the artist was trying to say?
1. What was the artist’s statement in this work?
2. What do you think it means?
3. What does it mean to you?
4. How does this relate to you and your life?
5. What feelings do you have when looking at this artwork?
6. Do you think there are things in the artwork that represent other
things-symbols?
7.
Why do you think that the artist chose to work in this manner and made these
kinds of artistic decisions?
8.
Why did the artist create this artwork?
Judgment:
After
careful observation, analysis, and interpretation of an artwork, you are ready
to make your own judgment. This is your personal evaluation based on the
understandings of the work. Here are questions you might consider:
1.
Why do you think that this work has intrinsic value or worth? What is the value
that you find in the work? (For example, it is a beautiful work of art, conveys
an important social message, affects the way that I see the world, makes
insightful connections, reaffirms a religious belief, etc.)
2.
Do you think that the work has a benefit for others? Do you find that the work
communicates an idea, feeling or principle that would have value for others?
3.
What kind of an effect do you think the work could have for others?
4.
Does the work lack value or worth? Why do you think this is so? Could the reason
you find the work lacking come from a poor use of the elements of art? Could the
subject matter by unappealing, unimaginative, or repulsive?
5. Rather than seeing the work as being very effective or without total value, does the work fall somewhere in-between? Do you think that the work is just o.k.? What do you base this opinion on? The use of elements of art? Lack of personal expression? The work lacks a major focus? Explore your criticism of the work as much as you would any positive perceptions. Realize that your own tastes and prejudices may enter into your criticism. Give your positive and negative perceptions.
There’s a lot more to looking at art than whether you “like it” or not. Being able to
critique art by utilizing the art elements, principles of design, and correct
terminology is very important. If you use these four steps and answer questions listed under each, you will have a
comprehensive method to critique any piece of art. You may use this as a rough
draft, then write a minimum 5 paragraph response paper critiquing the work of art. Be sure to include a copy of the artwork.
Describe: Tell what you see (the visual facts).
1. What is the name of the artist who created the artwork?
2. What kind of an artwork is it?
3. What is the name of the artwork?
4. When was the artwork created?
5. Name some other major events in history that occurred at the same time this artwork was created.
6. List the literal objects in the painting (trees, people, animals, mountains, rivers, etc.).
7. What do you notice first when you look at the work? Why?
8. What kinds of colors do you see? How would you describe them?
9. What shapes can we see? What kind of edges do the shapes have?
10. Are there lines in the work? If so, what kinds of lines are they?
11. What sort of textures do you see? How would you describe the?
12. What time of day/night is it? How can we tell?
13. What is the overall visual effect or mood of the work?
Analyze:
Mentally separate the parts or elements, thinking in terms of textures,
shapes/forms, light/dark or bright/dull colors, types of lines, and sensory
qualities. In this step consider the most significant art principles that were
used in the artwork. Describe how the artist used them to organize the
elements. Suggested questions to help with analysis:
1. How has the artist used colors in the work?
2. What sort of effect do the colors have on the artwork?
3. How as the artist used shapes within the work of art?
4. How have lines been used in the work? Has the artist used them as an important
or dominant part of the work, or do they play a different roll?
5. What role does texture play in the work? Has the artist used the illusion of
texture or has the artist used actual texture? How has texture been used within
the work?
6. How has the artist used light in the work? Is there the illusion of a scene with
lights and shadows, or does the artist use light and dark values in a more
abstracted way?
7. How has the overall visual effect or mood of the work been achieved by the use
of elements of art and principles of design?
8. How were the artist’s design tools
used to achieve a particular look or focus?
Interpretation:
An interpretation seeks to explain the meaning of the work based on what you have
learned so far about the artwork, what do you think the artist was trying to say?
1. What was the artist’s statement in this work?
2. What do you think it means?
3. What does it mean to you?
4. How does this relate to you and your life?
5. What feelings do you have when looking at this artwork?
6. Do you think there are things in the artwork that represent other
things-symbols?
7.
Why do you think that the artist chose to work in this manner and made these
kinds of artistic decisions?
8.
Why did the artist create this artwork?
Judgment:
After
careful observation, analysis, and interpretation of an artwork, you are ready
to make your own judgment. This is your personal evaluation based on the
understandings of the work. Here are questions you might consider:
1.
Why do you think that this work has intrinsic value or worth? What is the value
that you find in the work? (For example, it is a beautiful work of art, conveys
an important social message, affects the way that I see the world, makes
insightful connections, reaffirms a religious belief, etc.)
2.
Do you think that the work has a benefit for others? Do you find that the work
communicates an idea, feeling or principle that would have value for others?
3.
What kind of an effect do you think the work could have for others?
4.
Does the work lack value or worth? Why do you think this is so? Could the reason
you find the work lacking come from a poor use of the elements of art? Could the
subject matter by unappealing, unimaginative, or repulsive?
5. Rather than seeing the work as being very effective or without total value, does the work fall somewhere in-between? Do you think that the work is just o.k.? What do you base this opinion on? The use of elements of art? Lack of personal expression? The work lacks a major focus? Explore your criticism of the work as much as you would any positive perceptions. Realize that your own tastes and prejudices may enter into your criticism. Give your positive and negative perceptions.