8 th VA COMP Common Assessment #2: Art Criticism

1. 8th VA COMP Common Assessment #2: Art Criticism Joshua Lelonek Cooper Middle School

2. Critiquing: After Kandinsky, Shania W., paint, 2013

3. Description What can you learn from the title of the artwork? • The artwork was painted in the style of Kandinsky • The artwork will be colorful and abstract; such as Kandinsky’s What subjects in the artwork can you recognize? • The hand-like shape in the center of the painting draws the viewers attention, as does the oval-like shape adjacent to it. They both have great contrast with the background. Looking at the elements of design, describe what qualities you see: • The artist shows extensive use of lines, color, and shapes in her work. She also shows an understanding of value, as she uses many shades of black and purple to contrast the emphasis of the bright red and yellow. As expected, the form was abstract, and the spacing was largely overlapping due to Kandinsky’s own form. The only texture that really pops is the ring of blue around the white oval. It almost seems like the coil of a spiral notebook, or barbed wire. What media and techniques did the artist use? • Media Used: Paint • Technique: abstract brush strokes used to model Kandinsky

4. Analysis • Emphasis: There is an emphasis on the hand-like shape in the center of this piece. • Balance: Most of the weight in this artwork appears in the background, where the artist uses some darker shades. It creates a pleasant contrast with the brighter emphasis. • Proportion: The proportion in this artwork is unusual; it is abstract. Unusual is expected. • Pattern: No patterns appear in this piece. • Rhythm or Movement: The spider web of lines that flow throughout this piece create a curvy path for viewers’ eyes to follow. • Unity and variety: The lines that a viewers’ eyes follow throughout the piece make it so that the viewer appreciates this artwork in its entirety. The contrasting colors add a pleasant variety within the work.

5. Interpretation Is there symbolism in the artwork? What do you think it means? • This artwork was painted to the tune of music. As both music and abstract art can be interpreted, this artwork could symbolize the music used to paint it. What feeling do you think the artist wanted to give the viewer when looking at the work? • The artist most likely wanted to give the viewer a colorful and contrasted abstract piece. This artwork was made to model Kandinsky’s style, so these concepts would be expected. Does the work remind you of other things you have experienced? • This artwork reminds me of an author’s hand, about to compose a rough draft in their seconds of free time between today’s activities. How does the work relate to other ideas or events in the world and/or in your other classes? • In my opinion, this artwork could also relate to a music concert. The two subjects are the singers, the dark background is the stage, the bright background is the crowd of cheering fans, and the scattered lines are the instruments.

6. Judgment What parts of the work make you feel it is a success or failure? • This artwork is a success, simply because it is finished and the artist saw fit to “publish” it in this manner. What criteria (think of the style of the work) can you list to help others judge this work? • Abstract • Use of Color • Shapes vs. Lines • Spacing (Overlapped vs. Spread) How unique is the work? Why do you feel this work is or isn’t unique? • As stated before, this artwork was painted to model the style of Kandinsky. Although the artist has used his style, no artist can perfectly copy another’s work, and the artist also used their own ideas for shapes and colors. This artwork is indeed unique. What are some improvements you feel the artist could have made to the work? • To improve this artwork, the artist could use more shapes instead of a spider-web of lines that blossom across her work.