Does it remind you of anything you have seen before?
Describe
What is the form? (Painting, sculpture, mural, advertisement, etc)
What is the medium? (charcoal, acylics, oils, etching, ceramic, etc)
What is the subject matter? (Non-objective or figurative ie: landscape, portrait, nude, still-life, etc)
Is there a narrative? Does the image tell a story?
Analyse
How have the elements of art (line, colour, tonal values, texture, shape, space) been used?
How have the principles of design ( rhythm, unity, proportion , balance, emphasis, variety) been used?
What techniques and methods (conventional or non conventional, direct or indirect) have been used?
What is the style of representation (impressionistic, expressionistic, abstract, simplified, stylised etc)
Detailed Formal Analysis (using the Elements of Art and Principles of Design to break down an artwork) Remember not all of these need to be answered. Only the parts that are most dominant in the work should be addressed)
1. Colors:
Which type of palette has the artist used: is it bright or dull, strong or weak?
Are the colors mostly complementary, primary, secondary or tertiary?
Which colors are used most, and which are used least in this artwork?
Are the colors used different ways in different parts of the artwork?
Have the colours been applied flat (straight from the tube), or have different colors been mixed?
2. Tones:
Is there a use of light/shadow in this artwork?
Where is the light coming from? where are the shadows?
Are the forms in the artwork realistically modeled (does it look 3D)?
Is there a wide range of tonal contrast (very light highlights and very dark shadows) or is the tonal range quite narrow (mostly similar tones)?
3. Use of Media:
What medium has been used?
How has the artist used the medium (applied thick or thin? How can you tell?)
Can you see brushstrokes, mark making or texture? Describe the shape and direction of the brushstrokes/marks. What size of brush was used?
Was is painted, drawn, sculpted quickly, or slowly? What makes you think this?
4. Composition:
What type of shaped are used in this artwork? (rounded, geometric, curved, etc.)
Is there a mixture of different types of shapes or are all of the shapes similar?
Are some parts of the composition full of shapes and some empty or are the shapes spread evenly across the artwork?
Are some shapes repeated or echoed in other parts of the artwork?
Does the whole composition look full of energy and movement, or does it look still and peaceful?
How did the artist create this movement or stillness?
What is the center of interest in the composition?
How does the artist draw your attention to it?
5. Mood/Emotion:
What do you think the artist wanted you to feel when you look at this artwork?
What has he/she used to create a mood? (think about the colors, shapes, tones, etc.)