1- This is a painting by Jasper Johns. 2- It was painted in The artist uses different tints of blue, golden yellow and red. 4- The painting shows overlapping numbers. 5- The painting is called Numbers. 6- The numbers take up most of the canvas. Many of the facts come from the information found in the Credit Line. Other facts came from looking at the work and describing what is there. Can you think of any other informational statements you could make about this painting? Is this work abstract? Is it Realistic? Jasper Johns (American) b.1930, Numbers 1939, Oil on wood Slide #1

Description: 1-This is a self-portrait of the artist Frida Kahlo. 2- There are three animals included in the painting: a monkey, a black cat and a black bird. 3- Large foliage fills the background. 4- The artist put in dragonflies and butterflies as well. 5- Frida is wearing a simple white shirt and a necklace with a bird pendant. 6- Frida is looking straight ahead. She does not wear a smile. 7- It looks like empty vines are wrapped around her neck and shoulders also. What else could be added here in the Description section of the Art Critiquing Process? Remember, this important step slows down the process and forces the viewer to really study a work of art. Frida Kahlo (Mexican) , Self-Portrait With Monkey, Oil on canvas Slide #2

Sometimes when you are describing a work of art, you know for certain that the work has a special classification. This painting is a landscape, a picture of a natural outdoor setting. Information such as that can be included in the description as long as you are sure. If you are familiar with different art styles, you may have already recognized this painting as done in an Impressionistic style.In fact, the study, or preliminary drawing, of this painting was the work that many consider the piece that launched the term Impressionism. How would you describe the colors and the brushstrokes. Can you make out such details as the boat, the water and a sun? Claude Monet, (French) , Impression:Sunrise, 1872 Slide #3

Jackson Pollock (American) , Full Fathom Five, 1947/48, Oil, paper, fabric, metal on wood How would you describe this painting by Jackson Pollock? Is is a picture of something recognizable? A work of art created to NOT represent anything realistic is called Non-objective. A non-objective work is not only abstract, it is made up of some of the Elements of Art without giving any importance to the subject. The expression "Art for Art's sake", has been used over and over to describe works of art such as these. Which Elements of Art do you think Pollock focuses on in this work? Which Principles of Design would you say you think he used here? Slide #4

The Check List Elements Of Art Line Shape Space Form Texture Value Color Principles Of Design Balance Proportion Rhythm & Movement Emphasis & Variety Harmony & Unity Before doing the Analysis, it helps to have a checklist of the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design. Not every Element or Principle will be used in every work of art. Fine tune your observation skills and see which ones the artist used in the work. Pablo Picasso, Spanish ( ), Guernica, 1937 Mural Slide #5

Review the checklist of Elements of Art and Principles of Design. How does Lawrence use these to create this painting? Which Elements of Art do you think Lawrence emphasized in this work? What do you notice about the Colors? Notice the strong vertical and horizontal lines created by the areas defined by the colors. Look at the strong dark lines in the background. Jacob Lawrence, American ( ), Paper Boats, 1949 Tempera on board, 18 x 24 inches, Slide #6

Which artwork seems to most capture the feeling of loneliness? Why? #1 #2 #3 Slide #8

Which Artwork uses Color to create tension? #1 #2 #3 Slide #9

Which sculpture really captures movement? Why? #1 #2 #3 Slide #10

#1 #2 #3 Which of these abstract works conveys the greatest feeling of energy? Why? Slide #11

This is the "FUN" section of the Art Critiquing Process. It is here that you will ask yourself "What does this work say to me?" You can make guesses and inferences. However, these should be educated guesses and not just random guesses. You must be able to articulate, or express yourself intelligently using words, and provide insightful comments as to why you feel the mood or the meaning of the work is...? Interpretation is very personal. Understand that your interpretation of a work may differ greatly from someone else's.

Let's take a look at this painting entitled Paper Boats. What was the artist trying to say to us? Which Elements of Art and Principles of Design does he use to express his meaning? Notice that the boys' three bodies form a triangle. A triangle represents stability. These boys appear to be very comfortable playing next to each other. The bodies form a balanced composition. What else can you say about this painting? Slide #12

Dorothea Lange (American) ) Migrant Mother, 1936, Photograph  This is a photograph of a mother with two children. She does not look happy. She is very thin. Her family is poor and she looks very tired The children huddle around the mother, perhaps hiding from the camera.  Because of the title "Migrant Mother" and the year it was taken coinciding with the Great Depression, this family struggles to survive. Maybe the father has left them. The mother appears to be oblivious to her children as she thinks about what she is going to do next.

Georgia O'Keefe (American) ,Blue and Green Music, 1919,Oil on Canvas Sometimes interpreting realistic works of art is easier than interpreting abstract works or non-objective works. Look at this unique painting. What do you notice first? Look at the title? She compares her painting to music. Can you see the similarities? Slide #13

Mary Cassat, (American) , Portrait of a Little Girl 1878, Oil on canvas When you look at this painting, chances are you will get a sense of whether you like it or not. How did Cassat's use of color influence your opinion? Do you like the color blue? Look at the pose of the young girl. Have you ever felt that way? Do you like works that look realistic? Is this a successful work of art? Slide #14

El Anatsui, (Ghana) 1944-, The Ancestors Converged Again 1995, Wood, tempera This is an unusual work of art. Do you like things that are unusual? Is this something you would display in your bedroom? Does the work have artistic merit? Do you like this work? Why or why not? Remember, you must be able to give reasons for your opinion. Slide #15

Look very carefully at this painting. Do you see Magritte's illusion? Do you like works that make you think? Why do you think this painting was titled The Human Condition? Can you see the symbolism in the painting by the window becoming part of the background? Have you ever felt that you were unnoticed? Do you like this painting? If you could re-title the piece, what would you call it? Why? Rene Magritte, (Belgium) , The Human Condition, Slide #16

Remember the Steps in the Art Critiquing Process are: Description Analysis Interpretation Judgment