Step 1: Learn about the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design
Your task for this assignment will be to undertake a formal analysis of different pieces of artwork. There are standard terms used to analyze and describe any piece of artwork. Please begin this assignment by learning about the Elements of Art and then the Principles of Design.
Elements of Art
For this assignment, we will consider six elements of art: line, shape, form, space, color, and texture.
Read about and see examples of each element on the J. Paul Getty Museum website: https://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/formal_analysis.html
(Links to an external site.)
Principles of Design
For this assignment, we will only consider three principles of design: balance, emphasis, and movement.
Read about and see examples of each principle on the J. Paul Getty Museum website: https://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/formal_analysis2.html
(Links to an external site.)
Step 2: Complete the written assignment
- The Paper requirements is approximately 2 pages.
- Format your paper as follows. Please include the bolded text in your paper, but do not copy the text of the prompt into your paper.
- Part A-Museum of Art, Date Visited: MM/DD/YY (for example: Museum of Art, Date Visited: 09/18/12)
Piece 1-Art Medium (for example: Piece 1-Oil Painting)
First Impression: What are your first impressions of this piece? What does it appear to be made of? Is your initial impression positive or negative? Why?
- Museum Card: Now, note the following information about the piece:
Title
Date
Medium
Artist
- Extended Viewing: Look, or stare, at the work for about 10 minutes. Examine it from as many angles as you can. Did this extended viewing and thinking change your perception of the work? Why? Did you notice any additional detail in the work?
- Elements of Art: Formally analyze this work by choosing two (2) of the Elements of Art that are most emphasized in this piece of art. Clearly discuss each of the two elements you have chosen and how they are used in this piece. What is the effect of each of these two elements? Your response should demonstrate that you understand these two elements of art.
Note: You should choose different elements for different pieces of art, so that you comment on ALL of the elements by the end of the assignment. Your assignment must include all six elements of art.
- Principles of Design: Continue your formal analysis by selecting one (1) of the Principles of Design that is most significant in this piece of artwork. (Remember that in this assignment we are only considering balance, emphasis, and movement.) What role does this principle of design play in the piece of art? What is its effect? Your response should demonstrate that you understand this principle of design.
Note: You should choose different principles for different pieces of art, so that you comment on ALL three of the principles by the end of the assignment. Your assignment must include all three principles of design.
- Part B-Campus Sculpture Tour, Date Visited: MM/DD/YY
Piece 2- Sculpture
Repeat the exercise described above (First Impression, Museum Card, Extended Viewing, Elements of Art, Principles of Design).
- Part C-Best of Show, Date Visited: MM/DD/YY
Piece 3(please include the appropriate label for the piece you've chosen; for example: Piece 3-Outdoor Sculpture)
- First, repeat the exercise described above, beneath Piece 1 (First Impression, Museum Card, Extended Viewing, Elements of Art, Principles of Design).
- Second, write a brief paragraph, explaining why you've chosen this piece as your "best of show."
Part D-Comparison
Write a paragraph comparing your experience touring the Museum of Art with your experience completing the Campus Sculpture Tour. In your comparison, please discuss the following factors in this order: environment differences in the size of the pieces, and differences in the media. At the end of this paragraph, explain which tour you preferred: the Museum of Art or the Campus Sculpture Tour. Why?