Brookes Critique

Component 1: Reporting


This artwork is of Alice in wonderland, the artwork began in This
artwork is of Alice in wonderland, the artwork began in the centre
of the canvas piece which is a dominant pencil sketch with what
appears to be Alice in wonderland shown in a mirror holding
flowers followed by other sketched images of characters circulating
the mirror. Following appears the painting of the background
surrounding the sketched images with the use of purple acrylic
paint which fills the greatest part of the canvas. The use of
dominantly primary colours such as yellow, red and blue were used
to fill in Alice and the other characters, secondary colours are
present within these images but are not as evident, these are
coloured using acrylic paint.
Within the mirror image incorporates the blending of primary and
secondary colours which creates a very effective image. This
artwork has been produced onto a canvas.

Component 2: Responding

The artwork designed uses many elements that include line, colour, shape and value while
including the design principles of balance, rhythm, movement, contrast and emphasis.
The use of line is a major aspect of this artwork in the way the artwork was produced using such
thickness in areas especially in the background to create certain patterns. Following another
characteristic of the art work is prominently colour, utilising the full extent of the primary colour
such as yellow, red and blue and the use of secondary colours such as purple within the artwork.
These are used throughout in similar hues uniting the images although they appear very different
upon closer inspection. The use of blending of colours is also established within the artwork
demonstrating how each colour is able to successfully blend into another whilst keeping the
original colour thus proved great balance within the artwork.
The fact that the backdrop and its dark and light colours fill the canvas is very appealing and brings
about value to the artwork. The use of these predominantly light colours creates a certain boldness
and intensity to the work and somewhat portrays emotions of happiness and fun. Although shapes
are seen within this artwork they are not as prominent but are still of importance as in particular
the focus of the artwork is based around a geometric shape of an oval to create Alice in the mirror.
The image in the centre has been placed with a larger emphasis and is the focal point of the
artwork. Apart from the centre image of Alice, none of the images are greatly overpowering to any
of the others and appear to flow together perfectly well considering they are such different images.
They seem to have been spaced symmetrically to each other yet achieve both balance and
compliment to the abstract theme.
The artwork achieves rhythm and movement by the circular use and repetition of line in the
backdrop to produce the look and feel of movement. What is interesting about all of the elements
of the artwork is that upon first glance they all appear natural and united however all of them
contradict themselves in some aspect or another. This artwork is very inviting and almost quizzical
to the natural eye as one from first glance would suggest it is only a themed artwork but yet seems
to have been very well thought out and brilliantly implemented.

Component 3: Reflecting and Relating


Perceptions of this artwork comes directly from experiences throughout
art in school where you were taught to draw and paint the things that you
were interested in, and understood, things that you had seen before and
to express yourself within these key point. The artist was portraying what
they took away from the story what they felt was important within the
greater picture by painting Alison in the centre of the piece. The artist was
able to draw your eye first to that image and then to the other characters
relating back to the fact that as an artist it is important to choose the
overall focus of a piece and base the artwork off of that, thus creating
balance. The artwork is easily relatable to and can become emotional, as it
may represent childhood and fun times. This artwork gives you a fresh,
happy feeling that reminds you of your childhood and makes you feel
excited. Light colours are loved and the colours are arranged to make this
artwork desirable to any viewer.


Component 4: Reasoning


The use of light vivid colours represents the artists enjoyable childhood memories
creating a deeper emotional connection to their childhood, reminding her that
these light colours creates specific feeling of happiness and are fun and friendly
when seeing or being around these colours, whilst contrasting the darker
background of possibly sadness and unhappiness but this is not as apparent. The
focal point of Alice in the mirror found within the artwork may be seen as a
metaphorical representation of reflection and memories, reflection of enjoyable
childhood memories, ones in which she felt safe and protected from the world, a
reflection of the happy, fun child she once was. There may also be a deeper
meaning behind Alice in the mirror that the artist is trying to recreate joyful and
happy times with the bright colours and lines as opposed to having to take on the
responsibilities set for her now with the dull background; the artist wants to be
free with no restraints or worries like they once were. Also the image that is
replicated represents twins which are characters from Alice in wonderland, these
characters are playful, funny and jolly. By placing them directly on either side of
Alice the artist symbolises the importance of characters like these within her life,
the positive effect people like this has on their life or the lack of people like this.
All of the elements within this artwork are a depiction of the artist, the images
described above, the colour portrayed and the method for which they created this
piece. The artist was able to successfully express her childhood in many aspects.

Component 5: Reconstructing


Having taken the time to analyse, interpret and understanding the artwork I have discovered
a whole new world. A world consisting not only of the message portrayed by this artwork and
what is on paper but Ive also discovered a whole new world in the perception of the artist by
addressing each component in the evaluation of this piece. More importantly I have
discovered something about my own ideas and perceptions and how they could be either
wrong or right but also how they can change if given the opportunity to do so. I have
discovered something about uniqueness and individuality that has made me question myself
and challenge the way that I should or could address issues on perception of individuality in
the future. By demonstrating to myself how intricate and complex the world around me is I
can appreciate the world of a child who, in the life of school experience will be subjected to
and really bombarded with so many new words and I can now see how it will affect and later
change their own world. Much like the Bio-ecological model presented by Urie
Bronfenbrenner, Ive been awakened to a-whole-nother level to the depth of our
surroundings and the influence they either have or dont have on us depending on how
immersed, subjected and subjective we are to them and how they either conform or change
us as well as being aware that the effects our worlds had on us will affect the other worlds
we are subjected to in future. Therefore I see the importance of training students into being
aware of the hidden elements of our surrounding and the very real yet sometimes veiled
effect they have on us and then lead them into being able to control sensory overload into
their favour or at the least equip them with the abilities to see things for what they are: Real,
unique, determined, complex creations (either consciously or unconsciously) that have been
drawn from other real, unique, determined and complex worlds who in turn will affect the
real, unique, determined and complex futures they will co-create.