Analysing the Work of an Artist or Designer
Area of Analysis Sentence Starters
Content The piece of work I have chosen to look at is called…
The work belongs to a period called…
Looking at the subject of the artwork. The piece is a…
What is it? What exactly can you see? What is happening? What is the focal point of the image? What does the work represent?
It was made…
What title has the artist given to the work? Does the title change the way we see the work?
This composition is one of a series…
What is the main theme of the work?
This piece is created from…
landscape, portrait, foreground, background, journey, moment, memory, event, story, narrative, realistic, surreal, abstract, fantasy, message, This piece is an abstract composition based on…
energy The artist created this painting to show…
Formal Elements The artist has used…
This piece was created using…
Looking at the parts that are used to make the artwork. This piece of art contains…
What colour does the artist use? What shapes can you see? What lines and marks does the artist make? What does the surface look
This surface of this piece appears to be…
like? What textures can you see? How has tone been used or represented within the piece? What kind of patterns can you see? Is
The use of colour conveys…
there any movement or rhythm within the work? How has space been used within the piece? What is the size or scale of the work?
The composition is dynamic and exciting…
My attention is drawn to…
The focal point of the piece is…
Light, delicate, rough, smooth, bright, vivid, calming, strong, dark, peaceful, large, small, cool, harmonious, juxtaposed, saturated, organic,
rounded, symmetrical, thin, thick, neat, bold, discreet
Process The artist has used…
It looks as though the artist has…
Looking at how the artwork has been developed and made. This piece has been created using…
What materials and tools have been used? What are the evidence and clues that show you how it could have been made?
This piece of art contains…
The artist has used the technique…
Painted, woven, stitched, embroidered, printed, photographed, drawn, cast, layered, collage, mixed-media, appliqued, dyed, transferred,
manipulated
Mood The artwork has a huge impact on me…
The artist is trying to challenge the viewer to…
Looking at the communication of moods and feelings. The use of……….. makes me feel…
How does the work make you feel? Why do you feel like this? Does the colour/form/texture/line/theme of the work affect your By using……….. the artist evokes a feeling of…
mood?
Quiet, thoughtful, peaceful, reflective, celebratory, contemplative, hopeful, elated, joyful
Context Given the social climate at the time this artwork was
produced…
Understanding the meaning of the artwork. The artists treatment of the subject matter/media has
Having analysed the content, form, process and mood: inspired me to…
What do you think the artist was saying? What message is the work/artist trying to communicate? What else was happening at the The message shown in this artwork has forced me think
time? Art movements/political movements/geographical influence/historical influence. about…/inspired me to consider…/made me evaluate…
