analysis of visual arts

The visual arts can be analyzed in several ways. Here are 10 guiding elements that will help you analyze art in your writing.

1. EDGE / LINE

   • 3D – boundary or edge of the mass
   • 2D – examining the movement of the vanishing point or look at succession of connected points
     • analyze characteristics of edges and lines
       • direction
       • length
       • width
       • emotional and expressive properties

2. SHAPE

   • 3D – forms and masses
   • 2D – area of color, tone, line, or combination
     • analyze characteristics of shape
       • organic (modeled after plants and animals)
       • geometric

3. COLOR

   • character of a surface by wave lengths
     • analyze characteristics of color
       • hue
       • value – amount of white or black
       • intensity
       • monochromatic / polychromatic – one color / several colors
       • analogous / complementary – remember the color wheel
       • primary palette / secondary palette

4. VALUE

   • relation of one part to another with respect to light and darkness
     • analyze characteristics of value
       • white added – lighter value
       • black added – darker value
       • chiaroscuro – dramatic (example Rembrandt)

5. TEXTURE

   • actual tactile quality of a surface
   • visual illusions of tactile qualities on a flat surface
     • analyze characteristics of texture
       • smooth
       • rough
       • impasto – thick pigment, globs of color (example Van Gogh)

6. SPACE

   • environment or background for an art work
   • voids, emptiness, absences within an artwork
     • analyze characteristics of space
       • 3D – interaction of artwork with surrounding space
       • 2D – areas of lesser visual interest

7. FORM

   • comprehensive physical design of an artwork
     • analyze characteristics of form
       • open / closed – focus only within or going out
       • dynamic / static – movement

8. BALANCE

   • controlled tension by shapes depending on variables such as:
     • placement
     • size
     • spacing
     • direction
       • analyze characteristics of balance
         • symmetrical / asymmetrical
         • formal / informal
         • structured / intuitive

9. RHYTHM / REPETITION

   • perceptible sequence of identical or similar material
     • analyze characteristics of rhythm and repetition
       • double
       • triple
       • mixed

10. DOMINANCE / SUBMISSION

    • highly accentuated versus recessive focus of attention
      • analyze characteristics of dominance and submission
        • how did the artist establish your attention around the object
        • how did the artist guide you away from certain elements toward other elements of the work