1. S3/4 Portrait Essay Well done! These slides will help you complete your Portrait Essay. Have your essay in front of you. Use the help sheets to add extra bits to your essay. Write out the extra bits to add to your essay on paper or save on a pen-drive and bring to class. Then they can be added to the electronic copy of your essay once looked at by your teacher. Your essay must be finished for the 23 rd December 2010 How to use the slides Slide 2 - follow each of the 10 steps to make sure you have written about every area you need to. Slide 3 - Look at how to write a good thought you have in a clear sentence. Slides 4,5,6 - Questions to ask yourself when looking at the portraits you have chosen. There is a different section for each of the visual elements. For a successful essay you must write about each of the visual elements. Go through each question and if you have not answered the question in you essay already then answer it. Slides 7,8,9 - Here are lots of describing words and Artist’s vocabulary. Put these words in your sentences. There is a different word bank of each of the visual elements. Look at the workbank for ‘Line’ when thinking about the questions for ‘Line’, for example. Slide 10 - Here’s a writing frame to start you off when writing about the artwork.

2. How to write an Expressive Essay in 10 steps 1.Write an introduction stating what you will write about. Include Artist’s names and specific titles of artwork. 2. State which artist and artwork you will write about first. 3. Describe first artwork in detail. 4. Describe everything you see. 5. Say what you see and what it tells the viewer specifically about the subject. 6. Use the question sheets. Ask yourself each question and use work bank to add lots of describing words. 7. Find another piece of artwork by the same artist. Compare and contrast both artworks. 8. Repeat steps 2-7. 9. Compare and contrast both artists’ styles, subject matter and how they use the visual elements. 10. Say which artist or artwork you prefer and why. Due Date – 23 rd December 2010

3. The use of Visual Elements/ Write about each of the visual elements; Line, Form, Texture, Colour, Tone, Shape, Pattern. Describe a specific part of the artwork. Describe which visual element you will be writing about. Use lots of describing words (see word banks). Describe effect of visual element on – Another visual element. The person in the portrait and what it tells us about them. The composition and how it makes an area stand out. Is contrast created? For example.. ‘The artist’s use of colour is important. The cold, pale blues, greys and silvers used create a sad mood. ‘ Visual Element Describing Words Effect of visual element

4. Expressive Essay/How to start State the Artist and title of the portrait you will be writing about. Describe the portrait in full; say what you see as if describing it to someone who can’t see it. Describe the Fore-ground, Mid-ground and background. Describe the subject. If you met the person in portrait describe what you think their personality would be like. The artist will use the Visual elements and composition to make the most interesting picture they can. For the best marks you must write about – The person in the portrait and how the artist tells us about their personality. How the visual elements have been used and how they affect each other, the composition and the subject. Your opinion on the artwork and reasons why you like and don’t like specific parts of it. Composition This is where the artist has positioned everything in the artwork to – Make you look at it; draw the viewer’s eye around the painting and to the focal point. Create balance and harmony to the whole space of the artwork. Imagine you had to draw out the artwork in the simplest shapes and lines. To do.. Identify the basic shapes which make up the painting. Look for things which are lined up like a cross, a triangle or circle. Does the shape make any area stand out or bring different parts together or point to anything? Imagine the painting is a see-saw. Has the artist balanced the painting with different things in different areas? People have been shown to like things split into thirds. Has the artist split up the artwork into thirds? Say what you see in each third.

5. The use of Visual Elements/ Questions to ask yourself. Use word bank to help you with each visual element Line Describe what lines can be seen in the portrait. How have the lines been created? Have a lot of lines been used? Do the lines create basic shapes? Do the lines point to anything or make something stand out? Do the lines make basic shapes or make the composition stronger? How does the use of line affect the composition of the portrait? How does the use of line affect the balance of the portrait? Form Has the artist made things look 3-D or flat? Describe how the artist has made something look 3-D or flat; refer to using tone (light and dark). Are the forms realistic? How are the forms different from real life? Describe how the forms are positioned; refer to composition How do the forms fill the space? Texture Write about how different things in the artwork feel. Look for contrasts of texture and describe them. Describe how you think the surface of the artwork would feel. How has the paint or materials been applied to the surface?

6. The use of Visual Elements/ Questions to ask yourself. Use word bank to help you with each visual element - Colour Use describing words to say what sort of colours you see. Are there colours which go well together? Give reasons. Are there contrasting colours? Are there warm or cool colours? How do the colours create a mood or feeling to the artwork? How do the colours link to what is in the artwork and it’s theme. Tone What sort of light is in the artwork (natural, Man-Made, low light, bright)? Where is the light coming from? What is lit up and emphasised? What is dark, in shadow and hidden? How does the use of light and dark tell us about the subject and their personality? Shape Describe the sort of shapes you see. Are there a lot of one sort of shape in different parts of the artwork? Are there contrasting shapes? How do the shapes fit together? How does the position of the shapes affect the composition?

7. Critical/Art Studies/Word Bank Circle the works you use when responding to an artwork Art Studies Vocabulary The ArtistArtworkTitleMaterialsThe ViewerThe SubjectThe Subject MatterStill-Life PortraitSelf-Portrait LandscapeFigure CompositionTheme(s) Focal Point TechniqueProcessesInfluenceImportantRepresentsTransformStudy Symbol PerspectiveStyle BackgroundMiddle-groundForegroundComposition Influenced SpaceCommunicatesPerspectiveViewpointStand outEmphasizeStoryPersonality NarrativeContrastContrastingGazePartsObjectTwo DimensionalThree Dimensional Surrounding InteriorExteriorWeatherAtmosphere Engaged Experimented add other words you use.. Image RealisticSimplifiedDetailed Layered Hidden FlatMonumentalSmallIntimateLife-sizePowerfulStark DecorativeRealUnrealDreamlikeClassicRomanticModernAbstractContemporary ChallengingExtremeSkilful SkillArtificialScientificAccurateTiltedSlanted add other words you use.. Composition Focal Point BalancedBalance HorizontalVertical OrderOrderedDepthBasic HarmonyUnityVanishing Point Chaotic Strong Symmetrical Asymmetric Cluttered Busy CloseDistant Arrangement DiagonalClearUpwardDownwardNoisy CrossLineShape‘Drawing the viewer/the eye in’AngleDirection add other words you use.. Mood FeelingFeelingsEmotionEnergyForceSereneRelaxedPersonalities Relationship HappySadFunnyScaryMysteriousFriendlyMoody ChaoticDramatic Quiet TenseTensionTurbulentExcitingQuietTense TranquilPowerfulEnergeticBusySinisterDarkSunnyMelancholic DistressingAngryUpsetWorried add other words you use.. Name/Class

8. Critical/Art Studies/Word Bank Circle the works you use when responding to an artwork The Visual Elements are used by artists to create eye-catching artwork. They may use all the visual elements in an artwork or focus on using a few or even one. The 7 Visual Elements are – Line, Form, Tone, Colour, Texture, Shape, Pattern Colour PalettePrimarySecondaryTertiaryWarmColdBrightBoldExplosion Wild Exotic UnconventionalStrongSombreMutedPlainVividQuiet MuddyVibrantVolume Expressive MixedSpontaneousLushIntense Harmonious ContrastingTranslucentOpaqueWashesComplimentaryLimited ClashingLuminousNaturalUnnaturalEye-catchingEarthy RichSubtleHappyAngrySadSolidBlocksMonochrome Splash add other words you use.. Line DrawingSketchingExpressiveControlledSimplifiedFastDetailed MovingFlowingLinearBroadHardSoftOutlineDefiningDefined BrokenOrganicGeometricCurvedGentleWanderingSlowStrongRestrained Three Dimensional FlatSinuousSweepingElongated FluidChaoticOrder JaggedSlashedCrudeDancingHeavyLightSubtleRestrained Sensitive add other words you use.. Form (3-D Shape) TonalLight sourceDirectionDepthSolidStructureFormsBoldMoulded PlainHeavyLightDelicateShadowEmphasised JuttingQuiet Fore- shortening ShapelessHazyFormlessFormlessness CarvedCast add other words you use.. Tone Light Source LightDarkShadesRenderingRenderedNaturalElectricSilhouette HarshHappySadFunnyScaryMysteriousFriendlyMoody ChaoticDramatic Quiet ReflectiveTintReflectingGoldenEveningMorning ExcitingQuietTenseSummerDayNightPowerfulEnergetic BusySinisterDarkSunnyShinyFlat Flash Hint add other words you use..

9. Texture Materials TexturedBrushstrokes Surface Layered LayerUnevenBuilt UpAction Impasto TouchMovement ExpressionJaggedMixedExpressivePainterly Exposed ‘Worked into’ Scumbled RoughSmoothDryWet BrittleReflective Melted FlakeyCrackedDistressedScrapedSensationWavy WarpedRunny Trickled add other words you use.. Critical/Art Studies/Word Bank Circle the works you use when responding to an artwork The Visual Elements are used by artists to create eye-catching artwork. They may use all the visual elements in an artwork or focus on using a few or even one. The 7 Visual Elements are – Line, Form, Tone, Colour, Texture, Shape, Pattern Pattern RepetitionDecorationDetailBeautyStyleLight HeavyEmbellished SymmetryEye-catchingStripesLinesOrnate RhythmSequenceExpressive DabsSwirlingExplosionHypnoticDazzling DottedBrushedSplatteredFineElaborate add other words you use.. Shape FigureGeometric BasicOrganicSharpSmoothClutteredAbstractCubist CurvedRoundedJaggedDistortedPronouncedDetailedJuttingHollow add other words you use.. Scale/Size ProportionsProportioned Life-SizeAcrossMonumental Immense NaturalFocusMinuteHuge MassiveMinimalOverwhelmingSpreading PowerfulFatBulkySlim add other words you use..

10. Critical/Art Studies/Writing Frame Use these phrases to start sentences or clearly say what you mean. The painting shows.. In the painting.. We can see.. This reflects.. The use of.. The artist has focused on.. This affects.. This emphasises.. That makes….stand out. The eye is drawn to.. There is a contrast between.. This influences.. This creates.. This creates a sense of. I feel.. In my opinion.. In conclusion..

11. Tone (light and Dark) Colour Texture Form (3-D Shape)/Shape Lines Composition Mood Pose/Gaze Expression Personality Subject Clothes/Costume/Symbols ‘Self Portrait With Stetson’ By John Byrne (Scottish, born 1940) Oil on canvas 1989 90 x 70cm Use of Visual elementsWhat the portrait tells us Responding to a Portrait