Pete &  Poker
Pete: This work feels cool to me. Poker: This doesn't look 'cool' to me. What do you mean by cool? Pete: Cool can mean reserved or calm as well. Poker: It's not cool at all but hot. Can a work be cool and hot at the same time? Pete: There are no correct answers when you describe your emotions.

A Student Art Criticism Model

Beverly McIver, "Me and Renee Up Close #2"

Example of Poker's Art Criticism

DESCRIPTION
Subject matter: in this picture, there are two people (girls), one in the front of the other. Nothing is in the background. The lines are curvy; the shapes are organic; textures seem rough. Colors are mostly cool, except for the pinks and red makeup on the front girl's face.

TECHNIQUE:
The artist tended to paint this picture fast in acrylics (medium) on canvas and with thick, swirling strokes; noticeably in the front girl's hair.

ANALYSIS
The space seems tight and cropped. The front girl is cut-off and overlaps the girl in the rear. The point of view of the front face is from a three-quarter angle at eye-level and the rear face is in front view. Shading and shadows (value) are not used; although the front face is definitely darker than the rear one. The composition is asymmetrical, not balanced. When I compare the painting's colors to those on a color wheel, the color harmony seems like mixtures of complements (e.g. blue and orange) that blend to make types of grays (and browns). The background is painted in grays.

INTERPRETATON
Feelings: The front girl seems to be protecting the girl in back, or is the girl in back hiding or peeking around? The girl in front looks worrisome. Symbols: The girl in front looks "painted up" like a clown. The white area around the eyes and lips are exaggerated. Did she paint her face black, too, or did she feel black? If she had painted herself brown it might have represented hard working people who work close to the land. My new title would be "Wonder and Worry." Senses: This was tough to do. I tried to use my imagination. It feels like wood; smells like candy; tastes like chocolate and cherry; sounds like a carousel--that tune that plays over and over again.

JUDGMENT
This work is certainly not representational (photographic). It's painted too sloppily, and it's not formalistic because the shapes are not unique or noticeable. I just learned that quick sloppy strokes and colors can suggest emotion. It must be emotional to suggest sadness. Everyone can appreciate the pain in this painting. Its function also can be social criticism, such as a poster to advertise what to do in a family crisis. The painting is valuable for its expressive ideas.

Now that you've read the Student Art Criticism Model you should do well on your own paper. Don't forget to check out the assessment rubric for ideas of how to do your best work.