QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT ART
- What’s going on in this artwork?
- What was your first reaction to this artwork? Why do you think you had the reaction?
- Does your opinion about the artwork change the longer you look at it? Why?
- Describe the lines in this artwork
- Describe the colors in the artwork
- Which area of the artwork is emphasized by the artist? Why?
- Which area of the artwork is most important? Why?
- How did this artist use space? (Space in Art Examples)
- How did the artist use balance? (Artworks that Use Balance)
- How did the artist use proportion? (Artworks that Use Proportion)
- How does your eye move through the artwork? What choices did the artist make to make that happen?
- Close your eyes and describe the artwork from memory. Why did you remember what you remembered? Why did you forget what you forgot?
- How would you describe this artwork to someone who has never seen it?
- What elements of this painting seem real?
- What adjectives would you use to describe this artwork?
- What verbs would you use to describe this artwork?
- What elements seem dreamlike or imaginary?
- What is strange about this painting?
- What is mysterious about this artwork?
- What is normal about this artwork?
- What is boring about this artwork?
- Why is this artwork not boring to look at?
- What is exciting about this artwork?
- If this painting had sound effects, what would they sound like? (More activities about art senses)
- If this artwork was a brand, what would be its slogan?
- What is missing from this artwork?
- If this artwork were music, what would it sound like?
- If this artwork could dance, what song would it dance to?
- What do we know about the artist after viewing this artwork?
- If you could ask the artist a question, what would you ask him/her?
- Who do you think was this artwork created for? Why do you say that?
- How do you think the artist feels about the final product?
- How do you think this artwork was made?
- Why do you think this artist created this work?
- What do you think this artist is trying to say in this artwork? What is the meaning or message?
- What’s the story being told, if any?
- What do you think happened before this scene?
- What do you think happened next?
- What emotions do you notice in the artwork?
- What emotions do you feel when looking at this?
- How do you think the artist was feeling when he created this artwork?
- How did the artist use line, shape, and color to contribute to the mood or meaning?
- What is the title? How does the title contribute to your understanding of the meaning?
- What title would you give this artwork?
- What symbols do you notice in the artwork?
- What juxtapositions do you notice?
- Put your body into the pose of some element of this artwork. How does it feel to be in that position?
- What would it feel like to be in this artwork?
- What does this artwork remind you of? Why?
- How do you personally relate to/connect with this picture?
- How can you connect this artwork to your own life?