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M4-Journal Prompts

Module 4 - Artistic Principles

JOURNAL PROMPTS

Directions: Choose at least 5 artist videos from the website ART21 Links to an external site. and update your class journal by responding to the questions in the prompt below. The artist videos are linked at the top of the ART21 page. 

Journal Prompt #1: Objective Description of Artistic Principles

Using any of the External Links, find two works of art: the first one two-dimensional, the second one three-dimensional. For each one, write four sentences describing the artistic principles present in the work. Do not refer to any subject matter. Be objective in your descriptions. An example might be; “The work makes an abundant use of pattern ”, or “This work uses asymmetric balance in its composition”.

Then, for each work, write one sentence that describes your subjective reaction. An example might be “The artwork has a dynamic feel to it” or “The scale in this work disorients me”. You may have written to a similar prompt in one of the earlier lessons. In this lesson, we are substituting the artistic PRINCIPLES for the artistic ELEMENTS.

 Journal Prompt #2:Visual Balance

Using the links below, describe the compositions of the two artworks and your reaction to them.

  • What kind of visual balance is used in each?
  • How does the balance affect the composition?
  • Explain how effective each work is in terms of unity and variety. Example: “there is variety in the colors used, but they are mostly analogous to each other, and that creates a unity in the overall effect”. Be specific and include any links or images that help support your answers.

Image 1: John Singleton Copley’s Watson and the Shark Links to an external site..

Image 2: Judy Pfaff’s Untitled Links to an external site..

 Journal Prompt #3: Compare and Contrast

Using the External Links as resources, choose two works of art from two different cultures. They can be two or three-dimensional, or one of each. Compare and contrast the two works, using the artistic principles you’ve learned about in this module. For example:

  • How do the compositions compare to each other?
  • How are they similar?
  • How are they different?
  • What are the artistic principles being used in each (repetition, rhythm, scale, differences in visual balance, etc.)? You can refer to the subject matter in each work, but focus on objective comparisons.