A brief guide to analysing a drawing

1) INTRODUCE THE DRAWING IN GENERAL TERMS 

•What is the title of the drawing?

•What is the name of the artist?

•What is the year the drawing was done?

•What is the medium? (ie the materials used to produce the picture, for example charcoal on paper, pen and ink etc) 

•What is the subject matter or general theme of the work? (eg is it a figure drawing, a map, a portrait, an autobiographical work, a picture about nature, a drawing of the city etc?) 

•Does the drawing have a particular purpose? eg Is it a diagram that explains how something works? Does it record accurately record the appearance of something? Does it express the artist's emotion or memory?

2) DESCRIBE THE DRAWING IN DETAIL

•How is line used? What does it do/express? 

•How is tone used? What does it do/express? 

•What can you say about shape and/or form in this picture? What is the effect? 

•Is texture a feature of the drawing? 

•What can you say about the composition of the drawing? What is the effect of this type of composition on the overall drawing?

•Is rhythm important in this picture? If so, say more about it...

•Is the picture balanced? Explain...

•Is perspective used in the picture? If so, describe the way that the illusion of three-dimensional space has been created.

•Is the picture harmonious? If so, in what way? 

•Are there any strong contrasts in the picture? Say more...

3) INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION

•What is the mood of the drawing? Justify your answer using information from your responses above.

•What does the drawing express? Justify your answer using information from your responses above.

•In your opinion, why is this work interesting/moving/ clever/ imaginative/thought-provoking/......?  Choose the adjective(s) that best fit(s) the work, and then justify your conclusions by referring to specific features and qualities of the drawing (including those you have discussed above).

WHAT IS THE FORMAT OF THE DRAWING ANALYSIS?

Use the link on moodle to upload your work to the classblog. “Understanding Drawing 2013” or use the blog address http://understandingdrawing2013.blogspot.hk/

Add your name to the title of the blogpost that is about the drawing you find  most interesting. Upload a picture of yourself on the post that is about the drawing your chosen drawing to blog

Then, during the rest of the course, add your detailed responses to those questions

AND

be sure to give your fellow students constructive feedback on their drawing analyses. Post your feedback in the comments section; include your name before your comment 

eg Wong Amy:(comment)[1]

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[1] Assessment of the analysis will be based on

(a) the detail and depth of your own analysis and (b) the quality and constructive nature of the online feedback that you offered your classmates