1) The document provides instructions for critiquing artworks using a four step process of description, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation. 2) The description step involves listing objective details of the artwork including title, artist, medium, and subject matter. 3) The analysis step examines how the formal elements of art including line, shape, color, and more are used in the composition. 4) In the interpretation step, the critique draws on the prior description and analysis to discuss feelings and meanings evoked by the artwork. 5) Finally, the evaluation step renders an opinion on the success and merit of the artwork based on the preceding steps.

1. HOW TO CRITIQUE ART

2. We will Critique this artwork
together.
The Starry Night
Vincent Van
Gogh
Oil on Canvas
1889

3. Critique Instructions
1. When Critiquing you must use the
following four steps/slides in
sequence!
2. The Four Steps:
1. Describe
2. Analyze
3. Interpret
4. Evaluate/Judgement

4. Step One: Description
 FIRST- Write down the Title, Author, Date and
Style of the Artwork.
 Make a list of all the things they you see in the
work.
 Describe the subject matter. (What it is about,
what is happening, if there is no subject
describe the elements)
 Quickly sketch the artwork in your sketchbook.
 Do not make any kind of judgment about the
work.
 It is Important to carefully, non-judgmentally
observe the art.

5. Step 1
Swirls, stars,
buildings, rolling
hills, a large tree,
the moon, trees, a
church.
This appears to be a
night time scene
painted from an
elevated position.
There is a town in
the foreground, hills
in the mid-ground,
and a star-filled sky
in the background.

6. Step Two: Analysis
 Pay close attention to which art elements the
artist used.
Line, Shape, Color, Value, Texture, & Space.
(Form is 3-d and will not apply to painting
critiques)
 LOOK for ways the elements were used to
organize the composition using
rhythm, balance, movement, proportion, variet
y, emphasis, and unity.

7. Step 2
The Artist has used a cool color
palette of blues, greens and
violets, with a complimentary
orange-ish yellow coloring the
lights and stars.
There is a variety of line thickness
and direction in the brush strokes
of color.
There is a contrast of geometric
shapes in the houses and the
organic shapes of the surrounding
landscape.
Movement is created by the swirls
in the sky and the brushstrokes
used. Also the tree creates a
sense of motion as it wavy lines

8. Step Three: Interpretation
 List any feelings or moods you get from the
artwork.
 Think creatively and imaginatively at this
stage.
 Base your interpretation on what you’ve
concluded in the first two steps of the critique
process.

9. Step Three: Interpretation
Calm, excited, mellow, sad,
relaxed
The colors of this artwork
create a sense of calm for
me and yet the yellowish
orange in the moon
appears like a fire craker
and creates a sense of
excitement at the same
time.
The lines and waves of the
colors used also add the
calmness of this artwork
reminding me of rolling
water.

10. Step Four: Judgment/Evaluation
 Decide whether the work is successful or has
merit.
 Support you judgment with answers from the
first three steps.

11. Step Four: Judgment/Evaluation
This is an artwork that
has successfully used
the elements and
principles of art to
create a painting that
shows emotion and life
through expressive
brushstrokes. The
subject matter evokes
a clam feeling while the
colors successfully use
contrast to create a
calm excitement in the
night time sky.
An excellent post
impressionist
PAINTING!