Art Appreciation
Preparation for the research paper:
1. The student is assigned a historically significant artist.
2. The student will find 2 articles about their artist using reliable internet sources.
3. The student will print these 2 articles, read them, and write a two-paragraph summary about each article.
4. The 2 articles and the summaries will be submitted with the Assessment Essay.
Requirements for the Assessment Essay:
1. The essay must be 3 pages long, doubled-spaced, with 1” margins on all four edges, and a maximum of 12 pt. font.
2. The student must write about the following:
• Provide biographical information (Important dates and details about the life and career of the artist.)
• Discuss historical context: What period style is the artist associated with and how is this evidenced through the artist’s personal style?
• Discuss 1 major artwork by the artist, including:
o Title
o Medium (materials used to make the artwork)
o Composition/Design/Description/Subject Matter
o The artist’s use of the Visual Elements (line, shape, value, color, texture, space) and the Principles of Design (unity, variety, balance, rhythm, emphasis, proportion)
o Content / Meaning of the artwork
• Summarize the essay with a personal response about the life and the work of the artist.
Outline:
1. Introduction – briefly, what will you talk about (artist, work, etc.)?
2. Artist’s Life (timeline, style, influences)
3. Work Description
4. Work Medium
5. Work Elements
6. Work Principles
7. Interpretation
8. Summary – how did you feel about your artist’s work and life?