Critically Analysing the Work of Other Artists and Designers
Copying a painting neatly is not enough. Learn to analyse the work of other artists like a critic: the formal elements, how it was made, what it means, and what you think of it.
Justify the choices, the way you are assessed
Free interactive practice on the decisions the assessment actually asks you to justify.
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Analyse, do not just copy
For AO1 you have to critically analyse the work of other artists and designers. A neat copy of a painting scores badly. What wins marks is analysing it: not just saying what you see, but asking how it was made, why, and what you think of it. This module shows you how to look at art like a critic and build your own viewpoint.
The formal elements
The formal elements are the visual building blocks you analyse in any artwork:
Describing or analysing?
The jump from a low grade to a high grade is the jump from describing to analysing:
Match the element to its meaning
- Line
- Colour
- Tone
- Texture
- The marks that lead the eye
- The hues, and whether they are warm or cold
- The lightness or darkness
- The surface quality, real or suggested
Which is analysing?
Which comment ANALYSES the work, rather than just describing it?
- The dark tones in the corner pull your eye to the figure and build a tense mood
- There is a person standing on the left
- The picture uses red, blue and green
- The painting is quite large
Four things to analyse
When you analyse an artwork, look at four things. The formal elements (line, colour, tone and so on). The techniques and media (how it was made, and with what). The meaning (what the work is about or says). And the context (when, where and why it was made). Then add your own view.
Match the focus to its question
- Formal elements
- Techniques and media
- Meaning
- Context
- How do the line, colour and tone work?
- How was it made, and with what materials?
- What is the work about or trying to say?
- When, where and why was it made?
A strong analysis?
Select the TWO things that show CRITICAL understanding.
- Questioning why the artist made a choice
- Giving your own opinion, with reasons
- Copying the artwork as neatly as possible
- Listing the colours without comment
Build a critical response
Put the parts of a strong critical response into a sensible order.
- Describe what you can see
- Analyse how the formal elements work
- Explain the meaning and context
- Give your own viewpoint and how it inspires you
Name the kind of point
For AO1 you must _____ the work, not just copy it. Saying the tone darkens steadily from the left edge to the right is a point about the _____ elements. Saying the paint was dragged on dry with a palette knife is a point about _____. Saying it was made in the first winter of the war is a point about _____. Saying you find the mood colder than the title promises is your own _____.
Spot the analysis
Tap the TWO comments that ANALYSE the work, rather than just describing it.
- The jagged lines make the scene feel violent and unsettled.
- The warm colours draw the eye to the centre and feel welcoming.
- There are three trees in the background.
- The artist used oil paint on canvas.
- The painting is in a gold frame.
Which response?
For each student response, choose whether it is describing, analysing, or copying.
- A student writes: the sky is blue and there are two boats. What is this?
- A student writes: the empty space around the boats makes them feel lonely and small. What is this?
- A student carefully redraws the whole painting, line for line, and writes nothing about it. What is this?
Analyse a work
Choose an artwork or design you know and critically analyse it, giving your own viewpoint. This is written in English and is not auto-marked.
- Name the work and briefly describe what you see
- Analyse two formal elements, such as colour and tone, and their effect
- Explain what the work might mean and its context
- Give your own viewpoint and how it could inspire your work