1. Art Critique: DAIJ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9neybpO vjaQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9neybpO vjaQ Critique is a tough but necessary part of artistic growth. If no one ever pointed out your blind spots, you’d never achieve as much as you could have. Staying in a cushy place surrounded only by people who agree with you is a comfortable place to be – but you won’t grow to your full potential if you stay there.

2. Description Just as it says, first you describe the facts, including the name of the work, artist, medium, etc. Next, what does the art look like, what is it made of, what objects do you see in it? What textures, shapes, or colors are there? Are the colors vivid and bright, or subdued? Remember, all of these are straight facts, with no opinions added yet.

3. Analysis A clear, well-written formal analysis will contain three things Name the formal elements discussed. Describe the use of the formal elements. Discuss the effects of that use of said formal element. (This discussion of effect is the analysis part of the formal analysis.)

4. Interpretation An interpretation in the philosophy of art, is an explanation of the meaning of some work of art. An interpretation expresses an understanding of a work of art, a poem, performance, or piece of literature. Basically, how does the painting make you feel? What does it make you think of? (Don’t say you think the artwork “stinks”! ) What do you think the artist is trying to communicate to you as a viewer? There aren’t really any “right or wrong” answers, in my opinion it’s the most important (and fun) step.

5. Judgment Do you feel it is original or not original? Would you hang it on your wall at home? Here’s the place for all the gut feelings that you had when you first looked at the artwork. Example: In general, I think this is an interesting and unique artwork. I enjoy the bright colors and would hang it up in my house if someone gave it to me for my birthday, but I probably wouldn’t buy it myself unless it was on sale. As an artist myself, I appreciate the technical skill it took to create such a painting, and might be inspired to create a painting similar to this in the future, but perhaps with another subject. I certainly recognize the elements of “surrealism” that Dali’s artworks are famous for, and I think it succeeds, representing this category of art fairly well.