1. Define the Purpose of the Artwork (theme/meaning):

• to create beauty
• to reveal truth
• to immortalize
• to express religious values
• to stimulate the intellect
• to create order and harmony
• to create chaos
• to reflect society and culture
• to protest injustice/raise social consciousness
• to express the universal
• to meet the needs of the artist

2. Analyze the Elements of Art

• Locate the Focal Point (where your immediate attention/eye goes).
• Define the Medium (painting, fresco, sculpture, photography).
• Abstract or Realistic, Apollonian or Dionysian?
• Analyze the use of light and dark. Does color saturation or hue create a psychological effect or mood?
• Analyze the effect of Texture (brush strokes, molding strokes).
• Analyze Lines, Shapes, and Space (look for overlapping, relative size, position, and linear perspective).
• Define the purpose of objects/figures and their relative size and placement.
• Explain any symbols/themes (people, objects, colors, placement, and size). Does your piece convey a social or political message?