Aesthetic Scanning

Art Element Definitions

 

STEP 1:  Observing the Elements of Art  (“I see....”)

1.  LINE

  What kinds of lines do you see?

 horizontal vertical     diagonal thick  wavy  
 thin          curved graceful bold    
   fuzzy   calligraphic jagged straight    

                                                                                                                                                   

2.  SHAPES / FORMS

            What kind of shapes do you see?

circles  rectangles triangles squares   ovals  
soft-edged hard-edged angular curved organic  
  positive negative        

 

  What kinds of forms do you see?

cubes spheres cylinders slabs    
pyramids    organic cubes  cones    

                                                   

3.  COLORS

            What kinds of colors do you see?

WARM  COOL
COMPLEMENTARY 
 NEUTRAL bright light
reds blues
b & o
 browns dull soft
  oranges greens
r & g
 grays intense strong
  yellows violets
y & v 
 whites dark   

                                                                                     

4.  VALUE

            What kinds of lights and darks do you see?

light high key  small range low contrast    
dark         low  key large range high contrast    
  medium          

5.  SPACE    

            What kinds of space do you see?

positive background deep  
negative   middle ground   flat  
      foreground   shallow  

                

6.  TEXTURE

            What kinds of texture do you see?

rough smooth soft hard shiny dull

                                                                                     

                                          

Analyzing Art

 

STEP 2:  Looking at Composition (“I notice....”)

The following six terms are referred to as the “principles of design.”  They describe how the “elements of art” were organized (arranged) by the artist.

 

1.  EMPHASIS - FOCAL POINT

What is the first thing that you see when you look at the painting?  Why does it attract your attention?  What kind of contrast has the artist used to guide your eye?(big among small, dark among light, etc.)

 

2.  BALANCE

            What kind of balance is used?

SYMMETRICAL  (each side of the painting is similar)
ASYMMETRICAL (each side of the painting is different)
 

RADIAL (branching out in all directions from a common center - as a wheel)
  A BIT ASYMMETRICAL  (each side of the artwork is a little different)

         

3.  CONTRAST

            What contrasting things do you see?

various shapes opposite colors different textures sizes    
types of lines different values color intensities ideas    

                 

4.  PATTERN - RHYTHM

            What do you see repeated in the artwork?  Describe.

lines textures values shapes  colors

            Which are repeated the most?

5.  MOVEMENT

Where are your eyes encouraged to move in the artwork?  What has the artist done to create this feeling of movement?

repetions
  strong lines
  particular shapes - triangles, thin rectangles, thin ovals
 

recognizable objects - cars moving, people looking or walking, etc.

             

         What direction is the movement?

6.  UNITY

            How has the artist made every part of the artwork seem to belong?

By repeating:  colors,  shapes, textures, etc.

By using a consistent style (method of working with the art materials)

            Do any parts seem not to belong?