critical thinking in art criticism

Art Criticism Basics: A Beginner’s Comprehensive Guide

A painting of a woman working at a table.

Just as a detective unravels the mysteries of a crime scene, you, too, can dive into the intriguing world of art criticism. This is your chance to dissect an artwork, peeling back its layers to reveal hidden depths and meanings.

Art criticism isn’t just for scholars or critics; it’s for anyone willing to look beyond the surface of an art piece. It involves four key steps: description, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation.

You’ll start by describing what you see in front of you—the colors, shapes, and lines—and gradually delve deeper into the principles that make up the artwork. You’ll interpret its meaning based on these elements and your connection with it.

Finally, you’ll evaluate its worth. Remember that this isn’t about passing judgment but understanding and appreciating art more deeply.

So prepare yourself for a journey that will enrich your perspective on art!

What is it?

At its core, art criticism is a rich and enlightening conversation about visual art. It involves a thoughtful evaluation and discussion of the artwork’s elements, principles, meaning, and impact. It’s not just about saying if you like or dislike an artwork. Instead, it requires you to engage deeply with the work. You need to describe what you see, analyze how the artist has used various elements like color or line, interpret what it could mean based on your analysis, and evaluate its overall success.

You’re essentially becoming part of a dialogue that extends beyond yourself. This dialogue includes the artist’s intentions and the viewers’ diverse perspectives. This process can enrich your understanding of art while honing your critical thinking skills.

Steps of Art Critique

Let’s cut to the chase, darling; critiquing a masterpiece isn’t exactly akin to judging your neighbor’s questionable choice of lawn gnomes; it has more depth and finesse. It involves four essential steps:

Description: Start by painting a vivid picture of the artwork with words. Describe its colors, shapes, textures – every tiny detail that catches your eye.
Analysis: Look closely at how the artist weaves elements like line and color to convey a certain mood or message.
Interpretation: Interpret what you think the artist intended to communicate through their work.
Evaluation: Lastly, evaluate – this is where you express your opinions on whether the art successfully achieved its purpose.

Diving straight into the first step, description, you’re tasked with capturing the artwork’s essence through your lens. This means describing the piece so that anyone who hasn’t seen it can visualize it.

Start by stating the obvious – the work’s title, artist’s name, medium used, and year created.

Then, give a detailed account of what is in front of you – colors used, shapes spotted, subjects portrayed, and any noticeable techniques applied. It may seem like a simple observation, but remember that your role here is to be an ‘eye’ for those not present at this viewing.

Your words should paint a picture as vivid as possible to set a solid foundation for further steps in art criticism.

After you’ve painted a vivid picture through description, it’s time to dig deeper into the piece with analysis. This part of your critique asks you to dissect the artwork into its elemental parts – line, color, rhythm, harmony, and variety.

Look closely at how the artist has used these elements and ask yourself what impact they have on the overall work. Does a bold use of color evoke certain emotions? Do distinctive lines direct your gaze in a particular way? Is there an exciting interplay between different shapes or textures?

Analyzing these details helps you understand the artist’s technical skills and gives insight into their creative process. Remember to take your time; good analysis requires careful observation and thought.

Next up, you’re tasked with interpreting the artwork in question. This stage requires a shift from objective analysis to subjective interpretation. Consider what the artist might be trying to communicate through their work. What emotions or themes do you perceive? How does the artwork relate to your own experiences or worldview?

It’s also crucial to remember that there isn’t always a definitive ‘right’ interpretation—art is inherently subjective, and different viewers may draw different conclusions. Engage deeply with the piece and consider its impact on you. The trick here is to view and feel the art, allowing it to resonate within you before drawing any conclusions.

Remember, your interpretation is unique and valid as long as it’s supported by thoughtful insight.

So, you’ve made it to the grand finale of your critique journey – evaluation. Now’s the time to don your judgmental hat and dish out some cold, hard truths about the piece. Is it a masterpiece that could bring tears to a stone statue, or is it more akin to something your toddler nephew scribbled during nap time? Remember, this is where you’re allowed to let your personal biases frolic freely – if you think the painting looks like a catastrophic color collision, say so!

But remember: as much as we love our opinions, they should be backed up by solid reasoning. No throwing senseless shade here! Ask yourself: What’s its worth? Does it make an impact, or does it leave you indifferent?

Elements of Art

After thoroughly evaluating the artwork, you might wonder what’s next. It’s time to delve deeper into the ‘Elements of Art’.

These elements are vital details that build up an art piece, including line, shape, form, value, color, texture, and space. They’re like the DNA of an artwork; without them, a piece can’t exist!

When observing a work of art closely, try to notice how these elements combine to create a cohesive whole. Look at how lines move your eye around the painting or how colors evoke certain emotions.

By understanding these fundamental components in every artwork you critique, you’ll develop a solid base for your criticism and gain better insights into an artist’s intention.

Imagine a painting without lines – it’s nearly impossible. Lines are the basic building blocks of any visual art form. They provide structure, define shapes, and guide your eyes through an artwork.

As you critique art, pay close attention to how artists use lines. Are they straight or curved? Bold or faint? Do they follow a particular direction? These choices can convey emotion, suggest movement, and create depth in the piece.

Also, consider line variation. Different thicknesses or types of lines (like dotted or dashed) can evoke different feelings. A powerful artwork often employs diverse line techniques to capture viewers’ interest and communicate its message effectively.

Remember, understanding lines is your first step towards insightful art criticism.

Dive deeper into the artwork’s narrative by exploring its use of value. Value in art refers to the lightness or darkness of colors. It’s a significant factor in creating an illusion of form and depth, making your subject appear three-dimensional on a flat surface.

Examine how the artist uses contrasting values to emphasize certain areas within their piece. Does the artwork have a wide range of values, from very dark to extremely light? Or does it limit itself to a narrow spectrum? Notice how these choices affect the mood and focus of the work.

Remember, there’s no right or wrong here – just different artistic decisions leading to unique effects. With each critique, you’ll gain insight into this vital element and enhance your understanding of art.

Having explored the importance of value in art critique, let’s now shift our focus to ‘Tone.’

The tone is a critical aspect to consider while critiquing artwork. It refers to the overall mood or atmosphere that the painting creates. This is conveyed through elements like color, lighting, and composition.

As you delve deeper into understanding an art piece, note how it makes you feel. Does it evoke a sense of calmness or induce anxiety? Perhaps it stirs up feelings of joy or melancholy? The tone set by the artist often guides these emotional responses.

Recognizing and articulating this can enrich your critique significantly as it shows your emotional engagement with the artwork.

Outmane is the founder of Proactive Creative. He is an artist/designer.

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Arts Academy

in the Woods

How Art Education Fosters Critical Thinking and Why It Matters

These days, the ability to grasp the logical connection between ideas is a necessary skill.

Unless you’re a hermit living in a cave, there is so much information coming at all of us at any given moment.

Being able to discern which information is of worth – and which is not based in reality – requires critical thinking.

So What Exactly Is Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking is often synonymous with reflective and independent thinking. It means knowing how to take in the data and then come to a reasonable conclusion.

Those who engage in critical thinking are constantly questioning ideas and assumptions rather than just accepting what’s being peddled to the masses.

Critical thinkers want to know that the incoming information is representative of the bigger picture. If they determine that it’s not, they’ll take the necessary measures to get that additional information.

Critical Thinking Versus Being Critical

Critical thinking is not the same thing as being argumentative or critical/judgmental of other people. Sure, critical thinking can expose errors or poor reasoning.

But it’s also crucial for cooperative reasoning and then moving toward constructive tasks. Because acquiring more knowledge improves and strengthens one’s theories and arguments. And this subsequently leads to enhanced work processes.

How Art Improves Critical Thinking

Because critical thinking tends to incorporate logical and rational thinking and veers from instinct, many people see it as a hinderance to creativity.

After all, creativity requires breaking the rules, right? (Well, yes and no .)

Still, critical thinking truly requires out-of-the-box thinking. Rather than just taking popular approaches and swallowing them whole, critical thinkers challenge the consensus. This means they often have to pursue less popular thoughts or approaches.

So if you think about, critical thinking is an absolutely necessary component of creativity. Without it, how can the creative person continue to evaluate and improve upon his or her ideas?

It’s this very process of observation and study that teaches students of the arts to more intensely observe and analyze the world. And it gives them the skills that build the foundation of critical thinking.

But Why Does It Matter?

You might think that if your path leads you to work in research, law, education, management, finance or medicine, then you’ll absolutely need this skill. And you’re right.

But no matter what you choose to do with your life, the ability to think clearly and rationally is important.

Knowing how to receive information, clearly consider it and then use it to systematically solve problems is an asset for any career. Especially in light of this new knowledge economy. To be successful in such an economy requires one to able to handle changes quickly and effectively.

There is an increased demand for workers to be able to analyze a lot of information from diverse sources, then integrate it in order to find solutions. Critical thinking promotes these skills.

It also enhances language and presentation skills. The simple act of learning to think in a more systematic and logical fashion can also improve the way one expresses ideas.

Furthermore, in having to analyze the structure of different information sources, critical thinking also improves one’s ability to comprehend.

And as we mentioned above, critical thinking actually promotes creativity. Coming up with creative solutions is more than just having new ideas. There has to be an understanding that the new ideas are useful and relevant to the required task. Critical thinking plays an important role in this.

That’s right. Critical thinking is even important for this. It’s nearly impossible to structure a meaningful life without the ability to justify and reflect on our own values and decisions. And critical thinking provides the tools for this process.

So yeah, it’s safe to say that critical thinking definitely matters.

Learning Critical Thinking with an Arts Integration Education

Arts integration education merges the important skill of critical thinking achieved through art education and blends it in with academics.

There’s no disputing the importance of STEM. The above mentioned knowledge economy requires students to understand facets of science, technology, engineering and math.

With arts integration though, there’s the added importance of art – hence the term STEAM. Arts integration isn’t looking to bypass STEM. It strives instead to create an integrated program that includes all of those, while teaching the application of skills learned through the arts – such as critical thinking.

Arts integration helps students see the world from multiple angles, and to take a design-thinking approach in finding solutions.

Teaching young people to be careful and deliberate observers can go miles toward expanding their worldview. And this, in turn, can create a stronger democracy.

Do You Want to Explore An Arts Integration Education?

So take a look at what our students have to say . And/or request a tour of our school and see what we have to offer.

Then get ready to put those critical thinking skills toward a higher purpose.

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Envisioning the Future of Online Learning pp 291–304 Cite as

Visual Thinking Courseware (VTC): Enhancing Critical Thinking Skills Among Spatial Learners

Harrinni Md Noor 5
Conference paper
First Online: 11 June 2016

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Spatial ability is the concept that generally refers to skill in representing, transforming, generating, and recalling symbolic, non-linguistic information. Therefore, visual imageries play an important role for the Spatial learners. In the 21st century, teaching and learning with technology have diversified to complement the age of digital era where technology is made available to cater for all learning styles. In this study, a Visual Thinking Courseware (VTC) was designed and developed to help solve the problem of teaching Art Criticism by introducing systematic strategies particularly on visuals to enhance students’ critical thinking skills. Built on Gestalt Theory, the objective of this research was to determine the difference in students’ performance in critical thinking skills between High Spatial Learners (HSL) and Low Spatial Learners (LSL). The methodology used in this research was quantitative and qualitative in nature. A quasi-experimental design was applied to collect the necessary data. A pretest and posttest for the two treatment groups was implemented. Four research instruments were used in the research to obtain the data namely, Index for learning Styles Questionnaire (ILSQ), Spatial Ability Test, Pretest and Posttest, and Critical Thinking Rubrics. Sixty-three post degree education diploma students participated in this study. Results showed that both HSL and LSL groups showed ability to critically think better. VTC had a greater impact on LSL critical thinking skills as compared to HSL. Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of VTC enabled spatial students to critically think better.

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Noor, H.M. (2016). Visual Thinking Courseware (VTC): Enhancing Critical Thinking Skills Among Spatial Learners. In: Luaran, J., Sardi, J., Aziz, A., Alias, N. (eds) Envisioning the Future of Online Learning. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0954-9_26

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Decoding the Art Critic’s Journey: Skills, Education, and Career Insights”

Published: November 25, 2023
By: Yellowbrick

Are you passionate about art and have a keen eye for detail? Do you enjoy analyzing and critiquing artworks? If so, a career as an art critic might be the perfect fit for you. Art critics play a crucial role in the art world, providing valuable insights and interpretations of various artworks. In this article, we will explore the world of art critic jobs , including the skills and qualifications needed, potential career paths, and tips on how to break into this exciting field.

1. Understanding the Role of an Art Critic

Art critics are individuals who evaluate, analyze, and interpret artworks, providing their unique perspective and opinions. They offer insightful commentary on the artistic techniques, themes, and cultural significance of various artworks. Art critics often work for newspapers, magazines, art galleries, or online publications, sharing their reviews and critiques with a wide audience. Their reviews can greatly influence the public’s perception of artworks and artists.

2. Required Skills and Qualifications

To become a successful art critic, certain skills and qualifications are essential:

Deep Knowledge of Art History: A strong foundation in art history is crucial for understanding the context and significance of artworks. Familiarize yourself with different art movements, styles, and artists throughout history.
Strong Analytical Skills: Art critics must possess excellent analytical skills to dissect and interpret artworks. They should be able to identify artistic techniques, symbolism, and underlying themes within the artwork.
Excellent Writing Skills: Art critics need to effectively communicate their thoughts and opinions through well-crafted written reviews. Strong writing skills, including grammar, vocabulary, and clarity, are essential for this profession.
Critical Thinking: Art critics must have a sharp and discerning eye. They should be able to analyze and evaluate artworks objectively, offering constructive criticism and valuable insights.
Research Abilities: Art critics often need to conduct thorough research on artists, exhibitions, and art movements to provide informed reviews and analysis.
Passion for Art: A genuine passion for art and a curiosity to explore new artistic expressions are crucial for a successful career as an art critic.

3. Education and Training

While there are no specific educational requirements to become an art critic, a solid educational background in art history, fine arts, or journalism can be advantageous. Many art critics hold degrees in these fields, which provide them with a deeper understanding of art and the necessary skills to analyze and critique artworks effectively. New York University (NYU) offers various programs and courses that can be beneficial for aspiring art critics.

4. Career Paths for Art Critics

Art critics can explore various career paths within the art industry. Some of the common options include:

Journalism and Publishing: Many art critics work as staff writers or freelancers for newspapers, magazines, and online publications that cover art and culture. They contribute regular reviews and articles on exhibitions, artists, and art-related events.
Gallery and Museum Positions: Art critics can also find employment in galleries and museums, where they curate exhibitions, write exhibition catalogs, and offer their expertise in interpreting artworks.
Academic Positions: Some art critics pursue careers in academia, teaching art history or related subjects at universities and colleges.
Independent Criticism: Many art critics establish their own platforms, such as personal blogs or YouTube channels, to share their reviews and opinions independently.

5. Breaking into the Art Criticism Industry

Breaking into the art criticism industry can be challenging, but with persistence and dedication, it is possible. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Build a Portfolio: Start by writing reviews and critiques of artworks, exhibitions, or art events. Create a portfolio showcasing your writing skills and your unique perspective on art.
Attend Art Events: Visit art exhibitions, galleries, and museums to immerse yourself in the art world. Networking with artists, curators, and other art professionals can open doors to potential opportunities.
Submit Your Work: Submit your written reviews and articles to art-related publications, both online and print. Getting your work published can help establish your credibility as an art critic.
Learn from Experts: Consider enrolling in art criticism courses or workshops to learn from experienced art critics and professionals. Yellowbrick offers online courses that can provide valuable insights into the art criticism industry.
Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest art trends, exhibitions, and artists by reading art magazines, following art blogs, and attending art-related events. Being well-informed will enhance your credibility as an art critic.

Key Takeaways:

Art critics play a crucial role in evaluating, analyzing, and interpreting artworks, providing unique perspectives and opinions.
Skills such as deep knowledge of art history, strong analytical and writing skills, critical thinking, research abilities, and a passion for art are essential for aspiring art critics.
While there are no specific educational requirements, a solid educational background in art history, fine arts, or journalism can be advantageous.
Various career paths are available for art critics, including journalism and publishing, gallery and museum positions, academic positions, and independent criticism.
Breaking into the art criticism industry requires building a strong portfolio, attending art events, submitting work to art-related publications, learning from experts, and staying informed about the art world.

By following these key takeaways and putting in the necessary effort and dedication, you can pursue a rewarding career as an art critic. Stay tuned for more informative articles on the art industry and the numerous career opportunities it offers! To enhance your knowledge and skills further, consider enrolling in the NYU | Modern Journalism online course and certificate program offered by Yellowbrick. This program provides a comprehensive education in journalism and can provide valuable insights into the art criticism industry.

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Beyond Critique: Contemporary Art in Theory, Practice, and Instruction

Critique has long been a central concept within art practice and theory. Since the emergence of Conceptual Art, artists have been expected by critics, curators, and art school faculty to focus their work on exposing and debunking ideologies of power and domination. Recently, however, the effectiveness of cultural critique has come into question. The appearance of concepts such as the speculative, the reparative, and the constructive suggests an emerging postcritical paradigm. Beyond Critique takes stock of the current discourse around this issue. With some calling for a renewed criticality and others rejecting the model entirely, the books contributors explore a variety of new and recently reclaimed criteria for contemporary art and its pedagogy. Some propose turning toward affect and affirmation; others seek to reclaim such allegedly discredited concepts as intimacy, tenderness, and spirituality. With contributions from artists, critics, curators and historians, this book provides new ways of thinking about the historical role of critique while also exploring a wide range of alternative methods and aspirations. Beyond Critique will be a crucial tool for students and instructors who are seeking to think and work beyond the critical. https://bloomsbury.com/us/beyond-critique-9781501347184/ https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Critique-Pamela-Fraser-dp-1501347187/dp/1501347187/ref=mt_paperback?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1542138882

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Art & the Public Sphere

On Education: Journal for Research and Debate

While post-critical pedagogy urges us to educate out of and toward love for the world, in this article I argue against the privileged status of love in educational discourse. I hold that renewing the world is impossible without critique, indeed without a pinch of hatred. I suggest, therefore, moving from post to neo-critique, to renewing the world by renewing critique. I start with discussing some good reasons for hating the world, and then turn to the concept of critique, which post-critical pedagogy is by no means the first to attack. A look at the thorough analysis of the modern concept of critique offered by German historian Reinhart Koselleck uncovers the deep contradictions inherent to its totalizing, rationalistic presuppositions that see nothing but absolute good and absolute evil. Koselleck's comments on premodern critique point the way to a more complex concept of critique, which transcends such binary divisions. In the last section of this article, I take some steps in this direction, fleshing out the concept of neo-critical pedagogy by thinking of art criticism.

Notebook for Art, Theory, and Related Zones

The increasing use of social media and new technologies both in artistic production and cultural promotion causes shifts in the artworld dynamics and the production of knowledge. This is specifically in terms of the amplification of the now, the quantifiable validation based on visibility and the commodification of human connectedness. They moreover affect museum policies and change the museum’s public image from a cultural-educational institution to a museum-brand with a user-oriented social media profile. How can, in this context, the critical voice of criticism be recuperated from the marketable validation-by-numbers that has come to dominate institutional policies? Discourse analysis understands language as a social semiotic in operation. With this in mind, this paper suggests the idea of ‘interpretation in operation’ as a social, interdisciplinary way of writing about art. Accordingly, one must examine how art communicates across institutional, discursive, geo-political and social contexts; determine the meaning-making processes that enable social interaction and the interpretive frameworks, social conventions and power structures that condition them; and evaluate what is achieved by this act.

Kit Messham-Muir

The Routledge Companion to Criticality in Art, Architecture, and Design

Chris Brisbin

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