Q&A for How to Critique Artwork

Consider how the piece of artwork makes you feel and what sort of immediate reaction you have to it. Try to stay open to interpretation and view the piece without any preconceptions to get the most out of it.

An art critique allows the artist to understand how they influence their audience. It also allows the audience/viewer to gain a better understanding of that artists' work. (For example you could discover that a painting was influenced by WW1 and how the artist is linked to that event.) It is also a spur to deciding what you really think is the meaning, even through disagreement with the critic.

Memento mori, the medieval Latin practice of reflection on death and mortality.

Intent is something that you would explore during the "Interpretation" part of the critique (Part 3).

The job of an artist is to make years of practice and experience look effortless; whether that be a ballerina pirouetting delicately across a stage or a poet playing with his words. Surely that artist would look at whatever you do and think you make it look easy too. It's practice, knowledge and certainty that makes it look effortless even though it is far from so. Watch a beginner artist and you'll learn a very different picture of things!

Ask yourself some of these questions: Has it been done many times before? Does it seem to follow a trend everyone else is following? Does it look similar to other art? If the answers are yes, then it might not be very original. If you've never seen anything like it before, then it's very original!

Well, we need ways to distinguish between art and great art, so critique helps us qualify what makes a good piece of art.

Key points include the themes, focus and identifying the contrast, shapes, balance as well as other principles of composition.

Does the art say what the artist wants it to say? Did the artist use the tools correctly? How does the art make me feel?