Preparing for the written exam/ Portraiture

1. 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

2. 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.

3. 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. ‘ Describing Words Visual Element Effect of visual element

4. 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.

5. 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?

6. 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?

7. Critical/Art Studies/Word Bank Circle the works you use when responding to an artwork Name/Class Art Studies Vocabulary The Artist Artwork Title Materials The Viewer The Subject The Subject Matter Still-Life Portrait Self-Portrait Landscape Figure Composition Theme(s) Focal Point Technique Processes Influence Important Represents Transform Study Symbol Perspective Style Background Middle-ground Foreground Composition Influenced Space Communicates Perspective Viewpoint Stand out Emphasize Story Personality Narrative Contrast Contrasting Gaze Parts Object Two Dimensional Three Dimensional Surrounding Interior Exterior Weather Atmosphere Engaged Experimented add other words you use.. Image Realistic Simplified Detailed Layered Hidden Flat Monumental Small Intimate Life-size Powerful Stark Decorative Real Unreal Dreamlike Classic Romantic Modern Abstract Contemporary Challenging Extreme Skilful Skill Artificial Scientific Accurate Tilted Slanted add other words you use.. Composition Focal Point Balanced Balance Horizontal Vertical Order Ordered Depth Basic Harmony Unity Vanishing Point Chaotic Strong Symmetrical Asymmetric Cluttered Busy Close Distant Arrangement Diagonal Clear Upward Downward Noisy Cross Line Shape ‘Drawing the viewer/the eye in’ Angle Direction add other words you use.. Mood Feeling Feelings Emotion Energy Force Serene Relaxed Personalities Relationship Happy Sad Funny Scary Mysterious Friendly Moody Chaotic Dramatic Quiet Tense Tension Turbulent Exciting Quiet Tense Tranquil Powerful Energetic Busy Sinister Dark Sunny Melancholic Distressing Angry Upset Worried add other words you use..

8. 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 Line Drawing Sketching Expressive Controlled Simplified Fast Detailed Moving Flowing Linear Broad Hard Soft Outline Defining Defined Broken Organic Geometric Curved Gentle Wandering Slow Strong Restrained Three Dimensional Flat Sinuous Sweeping Elongated Fluid Chaotic Order Jagged Slashed Crude Dancing Heavy Light Subtle Restrained Sensitive add other words you use.. Form (3-D Shape) Tonal Light source Direction Depth Solid Structure Forms Bold Moulded Plain Heavy Light Delicate Shadow Emphasised Jutting Quiet Fore-shortening Shapeless Hazy Formless Formlessness Carved Cast add other words you use.. Tone Light Source Light Dark Shades Rendering Rendered Natural Electric Silhouette Harsh Happy Sad Funny Scary Mysterious Friendly Moody Chaotic Dramatic Quiet Reflective Tint Reflecting Golden Evening Morning Exciting Quiet Tense Summer Day Night Powerful Energetic Busy Sinister Dark Sunny Shiny Flat Flash Hint add other words you use.. Colour Palette Primary Secondary Tertiary Warm Cold Bright Bold Explosion Wild Exotic Unconventional Strong Sombre Muted Plain Vivid Quiet Muddy Vibrant Volume Expressive Mixed Spontaneous Lush Intense Harmonious Contrasting Translucent Opaque Washes Complimentary Limited Clashing Luminous Natural Unnatural Eye-catching Earthy Rich Subtle Happy Angry Sad Solid Blocks Monochrome Splash add other words you use..

9. 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 Texture Materials Textured Brushstrokes Surface Layered Layer Uneven Built Up Action Impasto Touch Movement Expression Jagged Mixed Expressive Painterly Exposed ‘Worked into’ Scumbled Rough Smooth Dry Wet Brittle Reflective Melted Flakey Cracked Distressed Scraped Sensation Wavy Warped Runny Trickled add other words you use.. Shape Figure Geometric Basic Organic Sharp Smooth Cluttered Abstract Cubist Curved Rounded Jagged Distorted Pronounced DetailedJutting Hollow add other words you use.. Pattern Repetition Decoration Detail Beauty Style Light Heavy Embellished Symmetry Eye-catching Stripes Lines Ornate Rhythm Sequence Expressive Dabs Swirling Explosion Hypnotic Dazzling Dotted Brushed Splattered Fine Elaborate add other words you use.. Scale/Size Proportions Proportioned Life-Size Across Monumental Immense Natural Focus Minute Huge Massive Minimal Overwhelming Spreading Powerful Fat Bulky Slim add other words you use..

10. 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..