Writing For Art

Improve Your ART REFLECTION WRITING

As an artist you will often have to write about your art.  When artists create they have a purpose or intent.

You are expected to reflect the art that you create in this course.  When you reflect, always write in full sentences and in paragraphs.  Remember, your digital portfolio is professional and show represent MCVI in a positive way.

Level 1

Student Observations

• • short

  • lacks detail

  • little effort evident

  • poor grammar, spelling

  • run on sentences

Level 1 Example

Quotes on Crap Assignment

"The purpose of this assignment was to bring something that was plain and boring into something completely different to make it look or mean something different.  "

Level 2

Student Observations

• • repetition of words.  

  • lacks detail

  • not much of a personal connection between the reflection and the artwork.

Level 2 Example

Bad Art Assignment

"The purpose of the bad art assignment was to produce "BAD" art into something that was not similar to a piece.  Also now I believe that I am able to try new things without having to worry about ruining the work.

What I learned by approaching art this way is that you shouldn't worry too  much about ruining your work when trying new things and just get in your zone and go with the flow."

Level 3

Student Observations

• • details are good 

  • some information thought out

  • some connection to the artwork is evident

  • grammar and punctuation make it clear to understand

Level 3 Example

Bad Art Assignment

"This is my piece for the bad art assignment.  The purpose of the assignment was to create a piece of art and not think too much about it.   I enjoyed this assignment because we had very little limitations and we were able create whatever we wished.  While creating this piece I learned that even creating "bad art" can be fun and helpful.  Because  of the lack of limitations, I was able to create what I felt like and didn't have to feel bad because it didn't come out looking like the reference picture or a specific image for an assignment."

Level 4

Student Observations

• • eloquent

  • very detailed

  • student makes personal connections to their thoughts and their artwork

  • proofread

  • you can tell what they were thinking when they did this art

  • it's like having a conversation about their artwork

  • lots of thought and effort

  • ideas separated into short paragraphs

Level 4 Example

Bad Art Assignment

"The purpose  of this assignment was to try and prove what bad art was.  The history and classic arts consider bad art to usually be graffiti or "unfinished" art or even art that is not considered beautiful to society.  No one can really label what art is because art is an expression of someone's feelings or thoughts.  

Although this assignment was to prove what bad art was, no one really could tell whose art was bad and whose wasn't.  This made me realize that your art does not need to be a Mona Lisa or a Vincent Van Gogh piece.  Sometimes art is taken too seriously to be made into something society sees as incredible when it should only be expressed by one's emotions.

I enjoyed making art this way because I felt like I was communicating my view in art.  I'm more of a sketcher, I love to draw portraits and I'm good at it, but I usually restart my drawing if I don't think it's perfect.  This assignment made me realize that there is no perfect art and that art should be a way to show your personality and your style."