Critique Guidelines

1.Describe
Color, Composition, Line, Shape, Texture, Subject Matter, Medium, Location, Size…
2.Analyze
Why did the artist choose to make a shape in a certain way, create a specific hue of orange…
3.Interpret
What is the purpose of the piece? What is the artist trying to say? What connections is the artist making?
4.Decide
What do you like about this piece? What do you not like about this piece? Why? Do you like the subject? The
Formal Qualities? How would you make it if you were the artist?

How do we talk to our peers…

Speak to others as you would like to be spoken to!
Instead of this… Say this!
Your artwork sucks You could improve on…
You’re not an artist I see that you put creative effort into this because…
Why didn’t you do x? Can I show you an artist who uses a cool technique?
The teacher won’t like this Have you considered looking at x, doing x
This doesn’t look right You could change x to have x effect
If I were to do this I would Have you considered doing x?
This doesn’t mean anything I’m struggling to understand your meaning, could you
explain what your intentions were?

Positive Words:
This piece is dynamic/lit/thoughtful/well planned
This piece is strong because…
I really enjoy how you did…
I like the subject matter you chose!

Negative Words:
This piece sucks
This is ugly
Why did you use that ugly color?
Why do you care about this?
Your work doesn’t mean anything