Describing Artwork

The Big Idea:

• Describing what you see.

Essential Question:

• Will describing things in artworks contribute to my understanding of the works and the art making process?

The Challenge:

• Knowing what to look for and using the right words to describe what you see to increase your overall understanding and enjoyment of art and design.

Guiding Questions:

• What are the two parts of a description of an artwork?
• What is the difference between fact and opinion in describing an artwork? (From your artwork description presentation, give an example of a fact and an opinion)
• What are two things that help describe a work of art?
• What is the easiest thing to talk about in a picture?
• What is subject matter in a work of art?
• What are the elements of design?
• How are my descriptions of artworks contributing to my understanding of art?
• How do my descriptions providing a basis for the other stages of art criticism?

Taxonomy of Thinking:

• Bloom’s New Taxonomy
• Marzano’s Dimensions of Learning
• Positive Attitudes and Perceptions About Learning
• Acquisition and Integration of Knowledge
• Costa & Kallick’s 16 Habits of Mind
• Persisting
• Managing Impulsivity
• Thinking About Our Thinking (Metacognition)
• Striving for Accuracy and Precision
• Gathering Data through All Senses
• Responding with Wonderment and Awe

Target Learning Goals:

• State Standards:
• Student Knowledge Goals: Students will know & understand...
  • Describing an artwork involves looking and listing the things that individuals can see in the work.
  • Description should list only facts, not opinions
  • A good description provides a basis for the stages of analysis, interpretation, and judgment in art criticism.
• Student Skill Goals: Students will be able to…
  • Differentiate between fact and opinion in the description process
  • Know what to look for and use appropriate words to identify and describe the facts (subject matter, elements of design and media) of an artwork
  • Explain how describing artwork helps to understand artworks and the art making process

Activities & Resources:

• 1. Class Activity – Describing - Renoir, Luncheon of the Boating Party
• 2. Handout – Guidelines for Describing and Artwork
• Image – Renoir, Luncheon of the Boating Party
• Image – Wood, American Gothic
• Image – Biggers, Shotguns
• Image – Matisse, The Casbah Gate
• Image – Carr, Scorned as Timber
• Image – Yan, Brushfire with Animals Fleeing

Reflection & Assessment:

• 3. Assessment – Describing Study Questions

Document & Publish:

• 4. Group Activity – Group Presentation Describing an Artwork
• 5. Submit - Completed Group Presentation

Images:

Renoir, Luncheon of the Boating Party

Wood, American Gothic

Biggers, Shotguns

Matisse, The Casbah Gate

Carr, Scorned as Timber

Yan, Brushfire with Animals Fleeing