Sketchbook

3.A. Your First Critiquing ‘Job’

Sketch of the Batiked "Blue Wall," chalk pastels, Cea Winter 2008

(Time: 45 min.)

Okay, it’s your first day and you’re already on the case.Your ‘employer’ wants the lowdown and your opinion of the Leo Twiggs painting, The Blue Wall. You have only two tools to work with, the ‘Famous Four’ investigation questions and your razor sharp mind. The only other thing you’ve been given is location: straight through your textbook to p. 29, take a left and go up the stairs to the top. You can’t miss it - it takes up half the wall.

Let the investigation begin.

1) Description: What are all the things I see in the work?(medium, images, objects, body language of figure[s]…)

2) Analysis: How is the work organized?(How does the artist create the message or mood by the way he/she uses the elements and principles? -perspective, color, emphasis...)

3) Interpretation: What is the artist saying here?Look at the title and ask yourself how it relates to the artpiece. (If this artpiece were a bumper sticker, what would it say?)

4) Judgement:Is the work successful? Why or why not? Does the artist get his/her idea across clearly? (Would you advise your employer to buy it?)

Audio Example of Art Interpretation: Once you have found the painting "The Blue Wall," and taken a few minutes to look it over, ask yourself the "Famous Four" investigation questions. Then click on the button below to hear one person's critique of the painting. Form your own opinion.

The Blue Wall Critique

(MP3 audio)

(click on black arrow to start)

If no audio bar appears above, listen to "The Blue Wall Critique" on main course page

To do this exercise, click , below, to bring up an edit box. Type your answers into the box. When you are done, click (Remember the title.)

Evaluation Criteria:

Student shows awareness, insight and boldness in answering the questions and interpreting the artwork. All questions are answered completely.

Description:	/ 5
Analysis:	/ 5
Interpretation:	/ 5
Judgement:	/ 5

Total: / 20