The format of your work should be as follows: Word document, 1-2 pages, typed 12-point font (double or single spaced is fine!). Do not focus on the identification information (i.e., artist, title, and date). Do not try to explain any contextual information (historical, biographical, etc.). Instead, think about what you see. Line- Describe the lines you see. Are they horizontal or vertical? Diagonal? Do they curve in an organic,
free-form way or are they straight and rigid? Thick or thin? Do you see the use of implied, directional,
psychological, etc. lines?
Shapes and/or Forms- Describe the shapes/forms you see. Are they flat and geometric (squares, circles,
etc.) and/or curved and organic like a free-form shape? Or are they three-dimensional (pyramids,
spheres, etc.) Positive/negative shapes/forms? Closed/open, dynamic, overlapping, hard/soft-edged?
Texture- Would the work of art feel soft or hard? Grainy? Bumpy? Remember, here we are referring to
the object itself, not what the object may be depicting. For example, if your work is a painting of a
porcupine on canvas, the surface would still be referring to the feel of the canvas rather than the feel of
a porcupine. Is the texture actual or implied?
Space- The area around and between objects in or on a work. In two-dimensional works, this can also
refer to depth. Does the piece take up a lot of space or give the impression of depth in the work? Does
the piece feel claustrophobic or open and airy? Is there a use of overlapping, etc. to create depth?
Linear perspective? Atmospheric perspective?
Color- The element produced when light reflects off an object and is reflected to the eye. Color is made
up of three properties:
Hue- The name of the color itself. Example) red, blue, green, yellow, etc.
Intensity- The brightness or purity of the color. Does the color appear strong and bright or faded
and dull?
Value- The relative lightness or darkness of a color. This happens when white or black is added
to a color.
There are also a variety of ways to group colors to create a color scheme. Check to see if any of the
following color schemes apply to your work:
Primary Color Scheme- Only the true colors, or colors that cannot be produced by mixing other colors
together, are used here. These are red, blue, and yellow.
Secondary Color Scheme-Any two primary colors (listed above) mixed. These colors include green,
orange, and violet.
Tertiary Color Scheme- Also referred to as an Intermediate Color Scheme, these are colors made by
mixing a primary and a secondary color together. These include colors such as blue green, yellow green,
or blue violet.
Complimentary Color Scheme- These are colors that are located directly across from one another on the
color wheel (Figure 1). These colors usually complement one another because they do not share any
common colors. For example, as shown on the color wheel below, red’s complimentary color would be
green since it is directly opposite of red on the color wheel.
Balance- The visual weight of objects, color, texture, and space. If these elements are balanced, the
work feels stable. What makes the piece feel that way? If the work is not balanced, what makes it so? Is
there more of one shape on one side than another?
Emphasis- The part of the work that catches the viewer’s attention. What part of the piece drew your
eye first? Where do you think the artist wants you to look first?
Movement- A path the viewer’s eye takes through a work. This movement can be directed through line,
shape, or certain color choices (maybe a color scheme is used to direct your eye through a work?) Which
ones apply to your work, if any? Is there movement at all or does the piece feel static and still?
Pattern- The repeating of a shape/shapes in a regulated way throughout a work. Does the pattern on
your object make it feel ‘busy’ or does it make the object feel stable, if there is a pattern at all?
Repetition- The repeating of a shape in an unregulated way that tends to give the impression of activity.
This is closely associated with pattern but differentiates from it in that repetition gives a feeling of
movement. For example, in Figure 2 below, the image on the left is an example of repetition, with the
multicolored rings displayed in a haphazard and random way. However, the image on the right is an
example of pattern with its regulated and repeated use of shapes.Proportion- A sense of cohesiveness when all parts (size, amount, or number) relate well with one
another. Is there a shape or object in your work that is much bigger/smaller than everything else in the
group? Are there far more of one shape than another?
Rhythm- When one or more elements of design are used to create a feeling of organized and repeated
movement, while including enough variety to keep the work interesting. For example, in Figure 3 below
there are repeating elements of the star, the arrow, vertical lines, and colors. However, there is enough
variety in the colors of each of the shapes to keep the image interesting. In what ways does your piece
incorporate rhythm, if any? Variety-A way of combining visual elements to achieve intricate and complex relationships, as well as
increase visual interest in the work. Are there many kinds of shapes present in your work? Colors?
Textures? Lines?
Unity- Harmony in all elements and principles. Does the work seem like it all goes together? What sticks
out to you if anything? Looking at the work, does it feel like everything fits together?
