6th Grade Art- Exploring Place: The 5 Senses Art Criticism Activity

We humans rely on our senses to take in and interpret the world. When we think about appreciating art, we think first of our sense of sight. Questions such as, “What do you see?” or “What might the artist be portraying?” come to mind. But, there are other ways to perceive art —ways that involve using our other senses that lead to further inquiry about the art we are experiencing. Asking questions about art works that engage the imagination and senses is easy and it makes us take the time to look. It also takes us past such simple thoughts as “I like this” or “I don’t like this.” This worksheet activity is going to give you the chance to practice describing a work of art using the 5 Senses.

Assignment Due: 5/29/2020 If you have questions or encounter any trouble, feel free to email your teacher throughout the week.

Supplies: A computer or phone to review the assignment materials, plain white or lined paper,

and a pen or pencil. Optional supplies: a printer to print the worksheet.

Directions: You will be choosing one of the three art works presented to you on the PDF attached. Read the steps below to complete the assignment.

1. Carefully look at the three works of art. Decide which one you would like to use to answer

the questions on the worksheet. You need to only choose one. Analyze the art work you

chose and think about how the image connects to the 5 Senses…sight, taste, touch, sound

and smell. Consider the following:

• Taste is often considered the most difficult sense to write about. We all may know what a fresh apple tastes like, but how do you describe that taste?

• Touch is easy to overlook. It is immediate and requires physical connection. Texture is an important part of touch.

• Sound is a great sense to use to create a mood and it also has a huge impact on humans. Some sounds can make us smile or cry, be tense or relaxed.

• Smell is linked strongly to memory and nostalgia because when our brain processes scent, it travels through our memory and emotion sections. Visualize what the smell does. Does it creep into your nose? Wrap around you? Follow you? (credit: Ivan Siarbolin).

2. Answer the questions on the printed worksheet or type your answers in a word document and share it on Office 365 or email it to your teacher. If you write out your answers, make sure your printing or writing is legible.

When you are done with the above work, take a photo of it, or scan it and email it to your art

teacher on or before 5/29/2020.

E X P LO R I N G P L A C E : T H E 5 S E N S E S

A RT C R I T I C I S M A C T I V I T Y

CAREFULLY LOOK AT THE THREE WORKS OF ART ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDES.

Choose only one work of art for this assignment.

The worksheet follows the slides of art work, as well as a recommended timeline for completing this project.

Title/Year: The Goldfinch, 1654Artist: Carel FabritiusMedia: Oil painting

Detail of painting

Title/Year: Indecision, 2001Artist: Tomas SanchezMedia: Oil painting

Title/Year: Still Life of Grapes, Lemons, Apricots, Crayfish and Box of Blue Velvet on a Wooden Entablature Near a Window, 1650Artist: Laurens CraenMedia: Oil painting

STUDENT NAME: __________________________________ DATE: _______________

ART CLASS CURATOR | https://artclasscurator.com/ | ©2017 Cindy Ingram

EXPLORING PLACE: THE 5 SENSESInstructions: Imagine you have entered the painting. Describe the environment using the 5 senses.

ARTWORK TITLE: _____________________________________________________

ARTIST/CULTURE: ______________________________ DATE OF ARTWORK: __________

WHAT DO YOU HEAR? WHAT DO YOU SEE?

WHAT DO YOU SMELL?

WHAT DO YOU TASTE?

WHAT TEXTURES CAN YOU FIND?

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE HERE?

Assignment Schedule Recommendation

You should spend up to 60 minutes per week working on the activity. These are suggested timelines, to help you break these larger projects into smaller, more manageable activities.

5 days per week: 12 minutes per day Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Read the assignment directions and become familiar with what you will need to do.

Look at the three works of art and decide which one you will use for the assignment. Analyze the art work that you chose.

Fill out two of the boxes on the worksheet. Make sure you write your name on the paper.

Fill out an additional two boxes on the worksheet.

Fill out the last two boxes on the worksheet. Make sure you have filled out the information at the top and your name is on your work. Hand it in by emailing an image of it to your teacher.

3 days per week: 20 minutes per day Monday Wednesday Friday Read the assignment directions and become familiar with what you will need to do. Look at the three works of art and decide which one you will use for the assignment. Analyze the art work that you chose.

Fill out three of the boxes on the worksheet. Make sure you write your name on the paper and you fill out the information at the top of the worksheet.

Fill out the last three boxes on the worksheet. Make sure you have filled out the information at the top and your name is on your work. Hand it in by emailing an image of it to your teacher.

2 days per week: 30 minutes per day Tuesday Thursday Read the assignment directions and

become familiar with what you will need to do. Look at the three works of art and decide which one you will use for the assignment. Analyze the art work that you chose. Fill out three of the boxes on the worksheet. Make sure you write your name on the paper and you fill out the information at the top of the worksheet.

Fill out the last three boxes on the worksheet. Make sure you have filled out the information at the top and your name is on your work. Hand it in by emailing an image of it to your teacher.