Ever wondered how to understand and discuss a drawing?

Here's a brief guide:

1) INTRODUCE THE DRAWING IN GENERAL TERMS
•What is the title of the drawing?

•What is the name of the artist?

•What is the year the drawing was done?

•What is the medium? (ie the materials used to produce the picture, for example charcoal on paper, pen and ink etc)

•What is the subject matter or general theme of the work? (eg is it a figure drawing, a map, a portrait, an autobiographical work, a picture about nature, a drawing of the city etc?)

•What is the purpose of the drawing? (eg Is it a diagram that explains how something works? Does it record accurately record the appearance of something? Does it express the artist's emotion or memory? )

2) DESCRIBE THE DRAWING IN DETAIL
•How is line used? What does it do/express?

•How is tone used? What does it do/express?

•What can you say about shape and/or form in this picture? What is the effect?

•Is texture a feature of the drawing?

•What can you say about the composition of the drawing? What is the effect of this type of composition on the overall drawing?

•Is rhythm important in this picture? If so, say more about it...

•Is the picture balanced? Explain...

•Is perspective used in the picture? If so, describe the way that the illusion of three-dimensional space has been created.

•Is the picture harmonious? If so, in what way?

•Are there any strong contrasts in the picture? Say more...

3) INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION
•What is the mood of the drawing? Justify your answer using information from your responses above

•What does the drawing express? Justify your answer using information from your responses above

•In your opinion, why is this work interesting/moving/ clever/ imaginative/thought-provoking/......?  Choose the adjective(s) that best fit(s) the work, and then justify your conclusion in terms of specific features and qualities of the drawing.