Portfolio Presentation and Final Critique Lesson

Introduction

You’ve worked so hard through this class. As we wrap things up, let’s take some time to see how artists present their work and get your portfolio ready for presentation. Once work is presented, it’s time to reflect on your progress and critique peer work.

Lesson Key Terms

Perspective

6 ways artists create depth on a 2D surface - overlapping, size, placement, detail, color, converging lines
Converging lines - when parallel lines recede (move away from you), they appear to move closer together (converge) toward the horizon line.
Linear Perspective - a graphic system that creates the illusion of depth through lines converging at specific points.
One Point Perspective - all lines converge at 1 point
Two Point Perspective - different lines meet at different points.
Horizon line - line parallel to the horizon. This line is flat and parallel to the bottom of the paper
Vanishing point - point on the horizon line where receding parallel lines meet.

Self Portrait

Portrait - image of a person’s face
Foreshortening - technique used by artists to shorten an object to make it look as if it extends backward into space
Reductive Technique - process of removing media to lighten value
Chiaroscuro - technique of creating strong lights and darks in a drawing or painting

Development of Personal Voice

Aesthetics - refers to that which is beautiful and visually pleasing
Conceptual Art - artwork where the idea presented becomes the content of the work
Craftsmanship - refers to skill in producing expertly finished products
Subject Matter - things that are represented in a work of art such as people, buildings, and trees
Medium, media – materials used to make art
Balance - concerning equalizing visual forces or elements (symmetrical, asymmetrical, radial)
Proportion - concerning size relationships of one part to another
Emphasis - one part of an artwork that is dominant over another
Movement - creates the look and feeling of action
Pattern - decorative surface design of repeated elements
Unity/harmony - stresses similarities of separate but related parts
Rhythm - indicates movement by the repetition of elements or objects
Variety - concerning different or contrasting elements
Symbolism - a form, image, sign, or subject representing a meaning other than its outward appearance
Collage - composition developed by gluing colored paper, photographs, magazine pictures, fabric, and other 2D materials

Explore

How artists present their work professionally, what technical considerations affect the presentation, and how does your presentation show your progress and personal voice matters and we will learn more about that below.

Understanding how to present your work professionally is a skill that will constantly be developing. It’s important to remain engaged on how current artists do this. Knowing how to do this can aid in gaining awards, scholarships, grants, etc. It will always be a work in progress, and this is an important first step. Your reflections will also help you see where to take your work from here. Your work will become your best teacher! Being able to identify what needs improvement is not a criticism but an invitation to learning new skills.

Your work will grow and evolve over a lifetime. Learning this process of creation, presentation, reflection, and critique will continue in an ongoing cycle of development. As you grow, you will continue to develop and deepen your personal voice. Continuing the process of developing your art will enrichen your life always. It will give you a lens for viewing the world and a voice that is as individual as you are. Thank you for all of your hard work! Now, let’s put this together and celebrate your art!

Please read more about the final presentation and critique.

Extension

Importance of Reflection

The importance of reflection on your work is vital for every artist. For an additional challenge, take some time to write two to three paragraphs reflecting on the content of both your projects and your art journal pages. When you are creating work with your own content, where do you see this heading in the future? What topics would you like to further investigate? What evidence do you see in your current work that you would like to take further?

Are you writing about your future work without criticism? Are you seeing elements in your current work that you want to expand in the future?

IMAGES CREATED BY GAVS OR OPENSOURCE