Lesson video

Hello everyone, how are you today? Hope you feeling good.

I'm so pleased that you're here.

My name is (indistinct) and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson, which I'm feeling very happy about because today we are looking at evaluating artwork, which I think is very interesting.

Our lesson is called Evaluate Artwork and it 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 present my work and respond to others in a group crit.

We have some keywords in our lesson, let's go through them.

Critique, perceive, and constructive.

So what do these keywords mean? Critique is giving helpful feedback about someone's work, highlighting what is good, and suggesting ways to improve.

Perceive to notice, see or become aware of something through your senses or thoughts.

Constructive, giving helpful and positive advice that can help improve someone's work or skills.

These are our keywords, critique, perceive, and constructive.

Let's look out and listen out for them, they'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Today's lesson is called evaluate artwork and it has two learning cycles.

Prepare for a crit and take part in a group crit.

Let's begin by preparing for a crit.

So what is a critique and why do artists use them? Pause here and share with someone, what do you think? Thanks for sharing.

Let's hear a response, here's Andeep.

"Critiques or crits are structured opportunities to share, observe and discuss work and listen to feedback." Pause here and share with someone, have you taken part in a critique or a crit before? Thanks for sharing.

At the end of a project, a crit is a great way to present your finished work and get audience feedback.

Here's Jacob, "I like hearing how my work is received because even though I think I conveyed my idea, sometimes I'm surprised by the responses people have to it." Let's have a check for understanding true or false.

A crit should confirm our opinions and we expect people to always agree with our ideas.

Pause here and decide, is this true or false? Well done if you selected false.

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.

A crit is about bringing together people with different ideas to offer you new perspectives and ways of working.

How you perceive your work and how others perceive it may be very different.

Pause here to share with someone, have you had this experience, and how was that? Thanks for sharing, here's Sam.

"I chose these colors to represent seasons.

The blues are for winter, oranges for autumn." Pause here and share with someone, what do these colors represent for you? The seasons as we've heard from Sam or something else.

Thanks for sharing.

We each bring our unique perspective to the table.

Here's Jun.

"To me, the blues and oranges remind me more of a military base, perhaps in a desert landscape.

I didn't immediately think of seasons." I wonder what you thought of.

New perspectives offer up new possibilities, so it's all good.

Working collaboratively shows how important different perspectives are in the creative process.

At the start of this project, it was great to work collaboratively to create a still life.

I learned loads about how others approach a topic.

Working collaboratively has benefits at any stage.

Here's Izzy.

"Although we all started from the same point, our responses were uniquely individual.

I'm curious to see if the critique reflects that." Pause here and share with someone your experience of working collaboratively.

How did that go and where did you each end up and the same starting point.

Thanks for sharing.

Why do you think the outcomes were so varied despite all beginning with the same starting point? Pause here share with someone, what do you think? Thanks for sharing.

Let's hear from Izzy, "Art is unique in that it truly needs you to bring yourself to the work, your background, your unique perspective.

Your life experiences are all essential to the creative process." That's one of the reasons why art is so amazing.

Critiques help you learn what makes an artwork successful.

You get to see the different ways people approach a topic.

You learn from the constructive comments given to others.

You pick up vocabulary that can inform your own work.

Critique creates connections for everyone to support each other.

Let's have a check for understanding, what might we gain from taking part in a group crit? Is it A, we can practice using subject specific language.

B, enhanced critical thinking and analytical skills.

C, guaranteed artistic success and recognition.

D, improved ability to give and receive constructive feedback.

Pause here while you decide what might we gain from taking part in a group crit.

Well done if you chose answers A, B, and C.

Indeed, some of the things we can gain from taking part in a group crit are that we can practice using subject specific language.

We have enhanced critical thinking and analytical skills, and an improved ability to give and receive constructive feedback.

It's really worth taking part in a group crit.

Let's have a look at some examples of artist collaboration and learning collectively.

Black Obsidian Sound System B-O-S-S is a collective that creates immersive sound installations and performances, exploring themes of resistance, community and healing.

They're rooted in collaboration.

Assemble is a turner prize-winning architecture and design collective.

They work across disciplines, creating playful and socially engaged projects.

Their diverse skill sets require alignment and communication.

Ruangrupa is a collective art group built on interdisciplinary collaboration.

They have to navigate diverse perspectives to achieve a shared artistic vision.

Disrupt amplifies collective voices to advocate for representation and to promote inclusive accessible arts in their community.

So these are just some examples of artist collaboration and learning collectively, something so valuable.

How do you prepare for a group critique? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing, let's hear from Izzy.

"I sometimes feel nervous sharing my work, so I try to think about what I'll present and what I want to know in return from them." Sounds like a very useful approach.

Preparing for a crit can involve reviewing your work, reflecting on your choices, noting down questions or points you want feedback on, gathering materials or sketches, thinking about how to clearly explain your concepts and techniques.

Andeep is gathering work to present in a crit.

He's careful not to take too much as there isn't that much time.

He says, "I selected work that shows my final outcome, but also where the project began and how I arrived at this point.

It quickly helps visualize the story of my project based on the key moments or turning points." And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to gather your materials to present.

You could select outcomes, resources, artist inspiration, objects, anything that resonates with you.

Review your work and create three key questions.

You should reflect on your work, identify areas for improvement or clarification, and prepare to discuss your choices and processes confidently.

So pause here while you have a go at this task, gathering your materials to present and then reviewing your work and creating three key questions.

I'll see you when you're finished.

It is good to be back with you, so how did you get on with that task? First of all, gathering your materials to present.

There are many options, but you may have gathered some things like these.

Here's Izzy, "I presented my work on a mannequin and selected some of my alternative designs and source materials to show where this idea came from." And now for the next part of your task, how did you get on with reviewing your work and creating three key questions.

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

Here's Izzy, "I looked again at my work and identified three areas I was unsure about.

One, did I communicate royalty effectively enough? Two, does the mood suit the character? And three, how could I improve technically? A great series of questions, I think it would be really helpful to get some feedback on those.

And now we're onto our next learning cycle.

Take part in a group crit.

What can you learn from a group crit? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing, here's Laura.

"From a group critique, you can learn new ideas, see different perspectives, and find ways to improve your work.

I often feel really inspired afterwards." How to approach a critique.

Be honest, but kind.

Focus on how the work can improve, not just flaws.

Be specific, explain why.

Justify your comments and suggest solutions.

Be open-minded, listen to different perspectives for growth.

Be respectful, approach feedback with care and empathy.

Here's Aisha, "I really enjoy group critiques because I get to see everyone's work, hear various new ideas, and usually come away with fresh inspiration from my own projects." Love that attitude.

What might you say to others when they present their work? Pause here and share with someone.

What might you say? Thanks for sharing.

"I try to say something positive first and then add something that surprises or confuses me about the work next." Consider the visual elements and the visual qualities in the work you see, line outline, stroke, curved, straight line, weight, contour, gestural.

Color, hue, shade, tint, saturation, palette, vibrant, muted, tertiary.

Tone, value, lightness, darkness, contrast, shadow highlights, gradual.

Pattern, repetition, motif, design, ornament, symmetry, rhythm.

Texture, feel, tactile, rough, smooth, bumpy, fuzzy, grainy.

Shape, geometric, organic, symmetrical, asymmetrical, abstract.

3D form, volume, mass, solid sculpture, depth, structure, perspective.

So many visual elements and visual qualities for us to consider.

You might consider how they use the principles of art, such as balance, visual weight in a composition, creating stability.

Emphasis, drawing the viewer's attention first.

Pattern, using a repeated element to create a sense of unity.

Rhythm, the repetition of elements to create a visual beat.

Proportion, the relationship between parts and the whole.

Unity, a sense of oneness or harmony.

Variety, use of different elements to create interest.

What are good questions to ask at a crit? Pause here and share with someone.

<v ->Thanks for sharing,</v> how, what and why are good opening words.

How did communicate your message or central idea? What were the effects of working in that way? Why did you choose to use that specific material, technique, style, et cetera.

These are some great questions to ask in a crit.

What if you can't think of any feedback, Pause and share with someone? What would you do then.

Here Jun, "It's not usually possible for everyone to give feedback each time." Andeep, "I try to use my body language like nodding or leaning forward to show I'm interested.

For example, I'm really trying to listen and I might make eye contact or give a small smile." Oh, that was so lovely.

Body language really counts, it's a very effective form of communication.

"I remind myself that it's okay.

Sometimes just listening and being supportive is helpful." Absolutely.

Let's have a check for understanding, which statement is not a good way to approach group critique.

A, be honest but kind focus on how the work can improve.

B, be specific, explain why, justify your comments.

C, be insistent, make sure you are heard even if you need to shout.

D, be open-minded listen to different perspectives for growth.

Pause here while you decide which of these statements is not a good way to approach group critique.

Well done if you selected answer C.

Indeed being insistent, making sure you are heard, even if you need to shout is not a great way to approach group critique.

But all the others are really great ways to get involved in a group critique.

And now it's time for your task.

It's time to get right into it.

Taking part in a group critique.

You could work as a class, a small group of friends or with local artists.

You should be honest, but kind specific, open-minded and respectful.

Use positive and engaged body language.

Remember those great pointers we had from Andeep earlier.

Steps, one, present your work.

Two, ask for feedback based on your prepared questions.

Three, listen respectfully.

Four, ask questions of others.

So pause here while you have a go at taking part in a group critique.

Enjoy this task and I'll see you when you're finished.

It's great to be back with you.

How did you get on with taking part in a group critique? You may have presented your work and asked the group.

Here's Izzy, "How do you think I could have used my materials to better communicate the idea of opulence and riches?" And you may have fed back to the presenter and said something like this, Here's Andeep.

"Your work is really technically proficient and your central idea is very strong.

I feel a bit confused by the us of tassels and loose threads, they feel a little messy and rough.

Is that what you hoped for?" You may have asked questions like this in your group critique.

What ideas were you trying to communicate? How effective were your materials and techniques? What were the effects of working in that way? What would you do differently next time.

In our lesson, evaluate artwork, we've covered the following.

Feedback provides a broader range of interpretations and helps you identify issues that might otherwise be missed.

Critiques offer an insight into how an audience might perceive your work, revealing what is communicated effectively.

The process helps you learn what makes work successful and develops their ability to assess and self-assess.

Group critiques and constructive criticism fosters connections leading to a more supportive community.

You can learn from the critiques given to others, absorbing insights and vocabulary that can inform your own work.

Well done everyone for joining in with this lesson.

It was great to explore evaluating artwork together, exploring what makes an effective critique, offering that constructive criticism and considering how to use body language and our tone of voice to share with each other and to offer support.

I hope you continue to have group critiques with your friends, with your fellow community of local artists, and that you'll find these fruitful and inspiring.

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

Until then, stay creative.