Formal Analysis

Formal Analysis is interpreting what the artist is trying to say visually  through the color, scale, lines, space and mass. It’s an explanation of visual structure, in which certain visual elements have been arranged and the function within a composition.

 Color has three main characteristics. The hue colors such as red, green, blue, etc. The value, in terms of  how light or dark it is.  And the intensity, how bright or dull it is. Colors can be described as warm colors which are red, yellow or cool (blue, gray), depending on which end of the color spectrum they fall.

Shape and form define objects in space. Shapes have two dimensions, height and width are usually defined by lines. Forms exist in three dimensions, with height, width, and depth. The scale of the piece can also be important as the size of the piece can emphasize or deemphasize certain elements in the piece. These elements of art are components or parts of a work of art that can be isolated and defined. They are the building blocks used to create and analysis a work of art.

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