Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're feeling really good.

I'm so pleased that you're here.

My name is Ms. Afzal, and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson, which I'm feeling very happy about.

Today, our lesson is about analysis.

Our lesson is called Analyzing the Work of Artists and Designers: Key Elements.

Hope that sounds interesting to you.

The lesson comes from the unit of work, Second Sustained Project: Working from a Theme Changing Perspectives.

So if you are ready with some energy, focus, and enthusiasm, we'll begin our lesson.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can select artists that challenge me and analyze their work to explore visual and conceptual language.

We have some keywords in our lesson.

Let's go through these.

Context and art analysis.

What do these words mean? Context is the circumstances or situations surrounding something.

An art analysis, looking closely at an artwork to understand its meaning, techniques, and impact.

These are our keywords, context and art analysis.

Let's look out for them.

Let's listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in a lesson today.

Today's lesson is called Analyzing the Work of Artists and Designers: Key Elements.

It has two learning cycles.

Find artists that challenge you, and analyze the artwork visually and conceptually.

Let's begin with finding artists that challenge you.

Take a look at this artwork.

What kind of artist might have inspired this final outcome? Pause here and share with someone what do you think.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Alex.

"A collage artist or maybe someone interested in the interconnected nature of cities." What does it mean to find an artwork that challenges you? What do you think? Share about this with someone nearby.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Aisha.

"I think it means artists that don't just do what you're already doing.

They help you move forward with your project and make you think." Maybe you had an answer similar to this one.

Why is it important to find artists that challenge you? Pause here while you consider this.

Thanks for your consideration.

Let's hear some responses.

Different approaches inspire experimentation.

They push you to try new techniques and ideas.

It makes you explore concepts and meaning.

Engaging with complex art improves your ability to discuss and interpret it.

Unexpected ideas and styles make art more interesting.

It teaches you to be adaptable.

I wonder if you considered any answers like these.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Engaging with art improves your ability to discuss and interpret it, moving your ideas forward.

Pause here and decide, is this true or false? Well done if you selected true, and now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause here while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this: The more you look, the greater your understanding will be.

How do you know if an artist, artwork, or art movement is going to help you? Pause here and share about this with someone nearby.

Thanks for sharing.

Does it connect to what you're interested in? Pause here and discuss this with someone nearby.

Even if an artist or movement is challenging or strikingly different, it should still connect to your interests in some way.

What might this artwork connect to? Pause here and share your ideas.

Thanks for sharing.

Let's look at some responses.

So this artwork might connect to collections, handbags, Christmas.

"I think it might connect to theater and performance." When finding an artist or artwork as a stimuli, consider, does it make you think? What does this mean? Why did they do that? Why these materials? Does it get your mind going thinking of questions? If an artist, artwork, or art movement is making you think about things you've never considered before, it can result in exciting responses or new directions.

Here's Izzy: "How do artists represent summer?" And Jacob: "How do designers use layers?" And Aisha: "What textures can I use to help make meaning in my designs?" What questions do you have about your work so far? Pause here and share these with someone nearby.

Thanks for sharing.

Izzy and Aisha are thinking of questions to help develop their ideas.

"My graphics project is based on the words I found in the still life we made.

They include body, impact, verdict, and woman." And Izzy, "A question might be how do artists make work about the body? Or are you interested in the ways the female body is presented in TV and film?" "I can look for artists that use words to draw shapes.

How would you do that?" Pause here and share with someone, how would you look for artists that use words to draw shapes? Thanks for sharing.

When looking at an artwork or artist, you might ask, "Does it inspire you to try something new?" If it's making you want to experiment or step out of your comfort zone, that's worth pursuing.

Here's Alex.

"I've never thought of using those colors to symbolize that." And Laura, "I want to try that technique." This is what we want, some kind of inspiration and enthusiasm and energy to try something new.

Does the artwork or artist challenge your perspective? Pause here and share with somebody.

Thanks for sharing.

Artwork that makes you see things differently can help you to expand your own ideas.

"I never thought art could be about that," says Izzy.

And, "I didn't know you could use art to talk about these issues," says Jun.

We absolutely can.

It's useful to ask, "Does the artwork make you want to create?" If an artwork or artist is making you want to pick up an art material and start making your own work, then it's definitely helping you.

Pause here and share with someone an artwork that you have engaged with that's really made you want to create.

Thanks for sharing.

I've been really inspired by some of Frida Kahlo's self-portraits, and they really encouraged me to try some interesting new kinds of work.

Let's have a check for understanding.

An artist might provide challenging inspiration if: A, they provide a new perspective.

B, they offer new ways of working.

C, they're very similar to your current work and style.

Pause here while you decide.

Well done if you selected answers A and B.

Indeed, an artist might provide challenging inspiration if they provide a new perspective and if they offer new ways of working.

Examples of artists and the ideas central to their practice are: David Hockney is known for his use of multiple perspectives and angles in his photo collages and paintings, exploring how different viewpoints can create dynamic compositions.

Alexander McQueen created dramatic, fantasy-inspired fashion designs that often drew on themes of nature and mythology.

Gunta Stolzl, a leading figure at a Bauhaus school, significantly impacted interior design through her innovative approach to textile design and weaving.

Hiroshi Sugimoto is known for his long-exposure photographs that explore the concept of time and framing, often capturing still, meditative scenes.

Lorna Simpson's work often explores themes of identity, memory, and race, using multimedia approaches like photography, collage, and film to challenge historical narratives and provoke thought on the African American experience.

And Bharti Kher's "Alchemies" delves into transformation, blending cultural symbols, materials, and forms to explore themes of identity, tradition, and the female experience in modern society.

Although easy to access, the internet isn't always the best place to source inspiration.

Look for inspiration in the world around you.

You might find inspiration from magazines, newspapers, adverts; local community artists or workshops; books; galleries, museums and exhibits; parents, friends, and neighbors; and classmates.

And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to find an artist that challenges you.

So first of all, establish your area of interest.

Create a mind map list or record your responses to these questions.

What theme, styles, or techniques excite you? What art elements are you interested in? What questions do you have about your theme? Pause here while you have a go at this task.

It's great to be back with you.

How did you get on with that task, establishing your area of interest? There are many possible options, but you may have made something like this.

Here's Izzy.

"I recorded some ideas and left space to include the artists and their work." Now, I'd like you to research artists.

Explore art from a range of sources that align with your interests.

Consider these questions: Does it make me think? Does it answer a question? Does it inspire me to try something new? Does it connect to my interests? Does it challenge my perspective? Does it make me want to create? Choose two or three artists, artworks, or movements that align with your interests and inspire you.

Pause here while you research artists and I'll see you when you're finished.

It's great to be back with you.

How did you get on with researching artists? You should have explored a range of artists and responded thoughtfully.

Here's Andeep.

"I've chosen Hiroshi Sugimoto because I'm interested in a similar theme and his work makes me question his approach.

His images are often so empty of subjects, and yet they feel so thoughtful.

How do they manage to feel so intriguing despite their simplicity?" What fantastic questions.

There are many possible options, but you may have made something like this.

Here's Izzy.

"I recorded the relevant artists in my sketchbook along with my notes.

I selected examples of their work and connecting images to stimulate ideas." And now, we're onto our next learning cycle: Analyze the artwork visually and conceptually.

How do you explore artists that challenge you? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

"You need to explore the visual response and the concept behind it." "Yes, by considering the art elements and the principles of art." "It helps you understand how the visual language interacts to express the artist's ideas and emotions.

I analyze it by considering what, how, and why." The principles of art help us create meaning.

Pause here and share with someone, can you remember the principles of art? Thanks for sharing.

Let's go through them.

Balance, depth, mass, perspective, proportion, repetition, rhythm, scale, unity, variety, and volume.

These are the principles of art.

Pause here and share with someone, which list contains all of the art elements? A: line, tone, color, shape, pattern, unity.

B: rhythm, glue, collage, color, pattern, tone.

C: line, tone, shape, color, pattern, texture, form.

Pause here while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer C.

Jun is analyzing an artwork he has found.

"I'm using content, form, process, mood, and context to guide my analysis.

I take it in turns to consider each keyword and use the art elements and art principles in my responses." Content means describing what you see.

What is it about? What do you think this artwork is about? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Let's hear from Jacob.

"I can see a felt and stitched piece with houses on fire, an old World War II style airplane, and perhaps a battleship.

The sky is gray and the sea looks a little rough." Sometimes the content is purely visual.

How would you describe this work? Pause here and shower with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Jacob.

"I would describe the overall composition and how it's arranged.

The subject is organic, possibly a flower.

There is a grid in the background.

It looks creased." Form means how they've used the art elements and principles.

How does this design use color, shape, and composition? Pause here and share with someone.

Let's see your response.

Here's Sofia.

"It's based on circles.

Contrast is provided using lines and one rectangle.

The orange leaps out against the dark green.

It has a kind of asymmetrical balance I think." Process means how the work is made.

What techniques do you think were used in this work? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Andeep.

"It looks digital.

I think they edited a photograph by making a digital mask and used that to infill text, which was transformed to fit and fill the body shape." Mood means how an artwork makes you feel.

How does the visual language in this artwork make you feel? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Izzy.

"It feels gloomy in a room, but the light is harsh and strong.

The purple adds a richness and the window feels old and grand.

It reminds me of a haunted house.

Shadows loom beyond the glass." Context means what was happening when it was made that might have impacted the artist.

It's useful to consider: What was happening in the world? E.

g.

, wars, social movements? What was happening in the artist's life? E.

g.

, personal struggles, events.

How might these things have influenced the artist's ideas or choices? If an artist painted during a time of war, what themes or content might their work reflect? How does this artwork make you feel? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Andeep.

"It feels light and hopeful.

I imagine the strong daylight hitting the mountains ready for a new day." Hmm.

I like that feeling of a new day.

How might context change our understanding of this artwork? Pause here and share with someone.

This artwork was made during the 1980s when coal miners were losing their jobs.

As coal mines were shut down, whole areas lost a vital local industry.

This pushed many areas into poverty and decline.

And Sofia, "Understanding this context leads a more melancholy tone to the image, making me feel sorrowful for what they've lost." Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Context helps you see the artwork as more than just an object or artifact.

It connects it to the time, place, and people that influenced it.

Pause here and decide, is this true or false? Well done if you selected true, and now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause here while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Consider "The Venus of Willendorf," a small limestone figure from Paleolithic Europe.

It's a fertility symbol.

It's tied to the survival and spiritual beliefs of early humans.

By understanding its context, we see it as a window into the lives, priorities, and culture of prehistoric societies.

And now it's time for your next task.

I'd like you to analyze an artwork using content, form, process, mood, and context.

Use the questions on the next slides to help you.

You could: Discuss your answers with a partner.

Share your thoughts with the class.

Record your ideas verbally.

Annotate your ideas next to the image.

Present your work digitally.

Create sketches to illustrate your ideas.

Here are the questions.

Analyze content.

What's in the artwork? What is the subject or main focus of the artwork? Are there any symbols, objects, or figures? What might they represent? What story or message do you think the artwork is trying to tell? And then to analyze form, how does it look? What elements of art are used? Line, shape, color, texture, space, form.

How are these elements arranged? Composition, balance, contrast.

Does the artwork feel abstract or realistic? And why? To analyze process, how was it made, you could ask these questions.

What materials or techniques did the artist use? Was it painted, sculpted, photographed, or something else? Does the process seem simple or complex? To analyze mood, how does it make you feel? What emotions or atmosphere does the artwork create? Does it feel calm, chaotic, happy, sad, or something else? How do the colors, shapes, or compositions contribute to the mood? And to analyze context, what was happening when it was made? What was going on in the world? E.

g.

, historical events, social issues.

What was happening in the artist's life? E.

g.

, personal struggles.

How might these factors have influenced the artwork? So pause here while you have a go at this task of analyzing an artwork using content, form, process, mood, and context, and the questions that we just looked at.

I'll see you when you're finished.

It's good to be back with you.

How did it get on with that task? Analyzing an artwork using content, form, process, mood, and context.

There are many ways to record your ideas, but you may have recorded them in this way.

Here's Jacob.

"I recorded my insights in my sketchbook with notes, sketches, and bullet points." You might have asked someone to film or record your response and said: "Content: Sugimoto's "Theaters" series captures old cinemas by taking long exposure photographs that last the length of a film, resulting in a glowing white screen.

This effect symbolizes the passing of time and the movies that have been projected.

Form: The images are black and white and feel timeless.

The contrast between the bright screen and the dark auditorium emphasizes the architectural details and the grandeur of the spaces.

Process: Sugimoto uses a long exposure technique.

By opening the camera shutter for the entire duration of a film, the screen becomes a glowing rectangle, highlighting how time and light can transform a scene.

Mood: The series evokes a nostalgic and eerie mood.

The empty theaters with their glowing screens create a sense of mystery and reflection on cinema's impact over time.

And context: Old movie theaters rather than modern cinemas are very much a thing of the past.

By capturing the essence of the film through its projection, he comments on how movies are both ephemeral and eternal." What a great and thorough analysis.

And I love that series of photos.

Highly recommend you explore those.

In our lesson, Analyzing the Work of Artists and Designers: Key Elements, we've covered the following: Selecting challenging artists moves your work forward by provoking new ideas and new lines of inquiry.

Analysis develops your ability to critique art and design thoughtfully, considering both technical skill and conceptual depth.

Examining art elements and principles help us analyze artworks.

Understanding how these elements interact can reveal the artist's intention and emotional impact.

Content, form, process, mood, and context are useful words to help us break down the analysis.

Well done everyone for joining in with this lesson.

I hope you've enjoyed exploring and analyzing the work of artists and designers and those key elements in particular.

I really enjoyed teaching you and I'm looking forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.