Use some of these ‘art’ vocabulary words to help you as you analyse: composition, foreground, background, middle distance, repetition, complimentary colours, contrast, sharp, spiral, rhythm, pattern 

FACTS What is its title? Who was the artist? When was the picture made? Did the artist belong to any particular group? Was there any important event in the artist’s life or in history around the time the artist lived that may have influenced the way the artist thought and worked?

CONTENT What can be seen in the picture (what is it of?) Was the subject matter observed first hand or from memory or the imagination? Is it representational, realistic or is there some distortion or abstraction? Is there any hidden meaning suggested or obvious symbolism?

PROCESS What medium has been used? (For example, oil paint, watercolour, pencil, charcoal?) What techniques have been used? (For example, thick paint, heavy brushstrokes, brushstrokes going in certain directions, light paint strokes, soft washes of colour, dark tones, light tones, bright colours, dark colours?)

FORM How are the main shapes arranged in the composition? Describe it using the specialist vocabulary of this subject. How has the artist used line, colour and texture? Do the colours harmonise or contrast? Does one colour predominate and do a few balance each other? Are any shapes repeated? Are there curves, spirals, sharp shapes, and angular forms? Why might the artist do this? Are any areas distorted deliberately? If so, why do you think the artist did this?

MOOD What is the mood of the picture? (Is it happy, sad, peaceful, lively does create an anxious feeling?) How has the artist created the mood? Do you like the work? Say why if you do and give reasons also if you do not like it.

 CONNECTIONS TO YOUR WORK  What connections to your own work are there? How might you be able to learn from this work?