Preparing for the written exam/ Portraiture The following sheets can be used to help you respond to Portraits and complete written homework tasks set by your teacher. The homework tasks are set to prepare you for the written Prelim and Exam. The Exam has two questions for ‘ART STUDIES’. You will be answering the PORTRAITURE section. - Question (1a) and (1b). The (a) question will ask you to write 10 points responding to a portrait. The (b) question will ask you to write 10 points (Intermediate 2) or 20 points (Higher) about two artists you have studied during the course. You must show knowledge and understanding of Artist’s work referring to specific artworks by the artists. The following sheets will help you – Write about the visual elements and the questions you should ask yourself Describing artworks and your thoughts with adjectives from wordbanks Use Subject Vocabulary

Preparing for the written exam/ Portraiture 1. Use information given about artwork to help you – The title and how it links to what you see. What materials have been used and how. How the use of materials affects the look/style/subject/theme of artwork. When it was made and how this fits into Art History and Art movements. The effect of Size and scale of artwork. 2. Describe what you see – Use subject vocabulary Identify which visual elements the Artist has focused on and why. Describe each visual element and it’s effect on other visual elements. Describe how each visual element has affected or told us more about the subject, how they have been shown and how the artist feels about them. Use several describing words to describe each visual element or part of the artwork. You must then explain it’s effect on the artwork. Describe the composition, focal point and why parts of Artwork have been positioned where they have been. Explain how the artist tells us about the subject with the use of visual elements and objects/Costume/symbols. 3. Give your opinion on the success of the artwork to tell us about the subject and be visually interesting. Refer to specific parts of the Artwork.

The use of Visual Elements/ Write about each of the visual elements; Line, Form, Texture, Colour, Tone, Shape, Pattern. Describe a specific part of the artwork. Describe which visual element you will be writing about. Use lots of describing words (see word banks). Describe effect of visual element on – Another visual element. The person in the portrait and what it tells us about them. The composition and how it makes an area stand out. Is contrast created? For example.. ‘The artist’s use of colour is important. The cold, pale blues, greys and silvers used create a sad mood. ‘ Visual Element Describing Words Effect of visual element

Responding to a Portrait The artist will use the Visual elements and composition to make the most interesting picture they can. For the best marks you must write about – The person in the portrait and how the artist tells us about their personality. How the visual elements have been used and how they affect each other, the composition and the subject. Your opinion on the artwork and reasons why you like and don’t like specific parts of it. Composition This is where the artist has positioned everything in the artwork to – Make you look at it; draw the viewer’s eye around the painting and to the focal point. Create balance and harmony to the whole space of the artwork. Imagine you had to draw out the artwork in the simplest shapes and lines. To do.. Identify the basic shapes which make up the painting. Look for things which are lined up like a cross, a triangle or circle. Does the shape make any area stand out or bring different parts together or point to anything? Imagine the painting is a see-saw. Has the artist balanced the painting with different things in different areas? People have been shown to like things split into thirds. Has the artist split up the artwork into thirds? Say what you see in each third.

The use of Visual Elements/ Questions to ask yourself. Use word bank to help you with each visual element Line Describe what lines can be seen in the portrait. How have the lines been created? Have a lot of lines been used? Do the lines create basic shapes? Do the lines point to anything or make something stand out? Do the lines make basic shapes or make the composition stronger? How does the use of line affect the composition of the portrait? How does the use of line affect the balance of the portrait? Form Has the artist made things look 3-D or flat? Describe how the artist has made something look 3-D or flat; refer to using tone (light and dark). Are the forms realistic? How are the forms different from real life? Describe how the forms are positioned; refer to composition How do the forms fill the space? Texture Write about how different things in the artwork feel. Look for contrasts of texture and describe them. Describe how you think the surface of the artwork would feel. How has the paint or materials been applied to the surface?

The use of Visual Elements/ Questions to ask yourself. Use word bank to help you with each visual element - Colour Use describing words to say what sort of colours you see. Are there colours which go well together? Give reasons. Are there contrasting colours? Are there warm or cool colours? How do the colours create a mood or feeling to the artwork? How do the colours link to what is in the artwork and it’s theme. Tone What sort of light is in the artwork (natural, Man-Made, low light, bright)? Where is the light coming from? What is lit up and emphasised? What is dark, in shadow and hidden? How does the use of light and dark tell us about the subject and their personality? Shape Describe the sort of shapes you see. Are there a lot of one sort of shape in different parts of the artwork? Are there contrasting shapes? How do the shapes fit together? How does the position of the shapes affect the composition?

Critical/Art Studies/Word Bank Circle the works you use when responding to an artwork Art Studies Vocabulary The ArtistArtworkTitleMaterialsThe ViewerThe SubjectThe Subject MatterStill-Life PortraitSelf-Portrait LandscapeFigure CompositionTheme(s) Focal Point TechniqueProcessesInfluenceImportantRepresentsTransformStudy Symbol PerspectiveStyle BackgroundMiddle-groundForegroundComposition Influenced SpaceCommunicatesPerspectiveViewpointStand outEmphasizeStoryPersonality NarrativeContrastContrastingGazePartsObjectTwo DimensionalThree Dimensional Surrounding InteriorExteriorWeatherAtmosphere Engaged Experimented add other words you use.. Image RealisticSimplifiedDetailed Layered Hidden FlatMonumentalSmallIntimateLife-sizePowerfulStark DecorativeRealUnrealDreamlikeClassicRomanticModernAbstractContemporary ChallengingExtremeSkilful SkillArtificialScientificAccurateTiltedSlanted add other words you use.. Composition Focal Point BalancedBalance HorizontalVertical OrderOrderedDepthBasic HarmonyUnityVanishing Point Chaotic Strong Symmetrical Asymmetric Cluttered Busy CloseDistant Arrangement DiagonalClearUpwardDownwardNoisy CrossLineShape‘Drawing the viewer/the eye in’AngleDirection add other words you use.. Mood FeelingFeelingsEmotionEnergyForceSereneRelaxedPersonalities Relationship HappySadFunnyScaryMysteriousFriendlyMoody ChaoticDramatic Quiet TenseTensionTurbulentExcitingQuietTense TranquilPowerfulEnergeticBusySinisterDarkSunnyMelancholic DistressingAngryUpsetWorried add other words you use.. Name/Class

Critical/Art Studies/Word Bank Circle the works you use when responding to an artwork The Visual Elements are used by artists to create eye-catching artwork. They may use all the visual elements in an artwork or focus on using a few or even one. The 7 Visual Elements are – Line, Form, Tone, Colour, Texture, Shape, Pattern Colour PalettePrimarySecondaryTertiaryWarmColdBrightBoldExplosion Wild Exotic UnconventionalStrongSombreMutedPlainVividQuiet MuddyVibrantVolume Expressive MixedSpontaneousLushIntense Harmonious ContrastingTranslucentOpaqueWashesComplimentaryLimited ClashingLuminousNaturalUnnaturalEye-catchingEarthy RichSubtleHappyAngrySadSolidBlocksMonochrome Splash add other words you use.. Line DrawingSketchingExpressiveControlledSimplifiedFastDetailed MovingFlowingLinearBroadHardSoftOutlineDefiningDefined BrokenOrganicGeometricCurvedGentleWanderingSlowStrongRestrained Three Dimensional FlatSinuousSweepingElongated FluidChaoticOrder JaggedSlashedCrudeDancingHeavyLightSubtleRestrained Sensitive add other words you use.. Form (3-D Shape) TonalLight sourceDirectionDepthSolidStructureFormsBoldMoulded PlainHeavyLightDelicateShadowEmphasised JuttingQuiet Fore- shortening ShapelessHazyFormlessFormlessness CarvedCast add other words you use.. Tone Light Source LightDarkShadesRenderingRenderedNaturalElectricSilhouette HarshHappySadFunnyScaryMysteriousFriendlyMoody ChaoticDramatic Quiet ReflectiveTintReflectingGoldenEveningMorning ExcitingQuietTenseSummerDayNightPowerfulEnergetic BusySinisterDarkSunnyShinyFlat Flash Hint add other words you use..

Texture Materials TexturedBrushstrokes Surface Layered LayerUnevenBuilt UpAction Impasto TouchMovement ExpressionJaggedMixedExpressivePainterly Exposed ‘Worked into’ Scumbled RoughSmoothDryWet BrittleReflective Melted FlakeyCrackedDistressedScrapedSensationWavy WarpedRunny Trickled add other words you use.. Critical/Art Studies/Word Bank Circle the works you use when responding to an artwork The Visual Elements are used by artists to create eye-catching artwork. They may use all the visual elements in an artwork or focus on using a few or even one. The 7 Visual Elements are – Line, Form, Tone, Colour, Texture, Shape, Pattern Pattern RepetitionDecorationDetailBeautyStyleLight HeavyEmbellished SymmetryEye-catchingStripesLinesOrnate RhythmSequenceExpressive DabsSwirlingExplosionHypnoticDazzling DottedBrushedSplatteredFineElaborate add other words you use.. Shape FigureGeometric BasicOrganicSharpSmoothClutteredAbstractCubist CurvedRoundedJaggedDistortedPronouncedDetailedJuttingHollow add other words you use.. Scale/Size ProportionsProportioned Life-SizeAcrossMonumental Immense NaturalFocusMinuteHuge MassiveMinimalOverwhelmingSpreading PowerfulFatBulkySlim add other words you use..

Critical/Art Studies/Writing Frame Use these phrases to start sentences or clearly say what you mean. The painting shows.. In the painting.. We can see.. This reflects.. The use of.. The artist has focused on.. This affects.. This emphasises.. That makes….stand out. The eye is drawn to.. There is a contrast between.. This influences.. This creates.. This creates a sense of. I feel.. In my opinion.. In conclusion..