Looking at Works of Art

How to Look at a Work of Art#

When you walk into a museum or look at a picture in a book, do you just glance at it and move on? Or do you take time to really look? Looking carefully at art is a skill — and it is one of the most important skills an artist can develop!

Art appreciation means taking time to understand and enjoy artworks. It is not just about saying "I like it" or "I don't like it." It is about really SEEING what the artist made and thinking about it.

Step 1: Look and Notice#

The first step is to simply look at the artwork without saying anything at all. Spend about 30 seconds just looking. Let your eyes travel all around the picture.

Notice: What do you see? What is in the picture? What colors are there? Are there people, animals, places, or objects? Is it realistic (looks like real life) or abstract (shapes and colors that do not look like real things)?

Step 2: Describe What You See#

Now use art vocabulary to describe what you see. Art vocabulary includes words like:

• Line: Are there straight lines, curved lines, thick lines, or thin lines?
• Shape: What shapes do you see — circles, squares, triangles, or organic shapes?
• Color: What colors are used? Are they warm or cool? Bright or dull?
• Texture: Dös the surface look smooth, rough, or bumpy?
• Space: Is it crowded or open? Is there a background?
• Value: Are there areas of light and dark?

Step 3: Ask Questions#

After describing what you see, ask yourself questions:

• What is happening in this picture?
• How dös this picture make me feel?
• Why do you think the artist made this?
• What was the artist trying to show or say?

Thinking deeply about artwork is called analysis. When you analyze art, you go beyond just describing it and start to figure out its meaning.

Step 4: Connect#

Finally, make a personal connection. Dös this artwork remind you of something in your own life? Dös it make you feel something? Dös it look like a place you have been or a person you know?

Making personal connections with art makes it more meaningful to you!