13 Questions to Help You Critique a Painting

When a student makes the effort and places their painting in front of the classroom for a critique, there is nothing more disheartening than to be met by silence.

The following are the Top 13 Questions I suggest my students ask themselves, so as to help them comment on a painting constructively:

1. How does the painting make you feel? 
   


2. What is it in the painting that generated an emotional response?
   


3. Does the painting draw your eye in and keeps you looking?
   


4. Is the composition balanced?
   


5. Is there a focal point? 


6. Does it need a focal point?
   


7. Is there contrast?
   


8. Is there texture?
   


9. Is there movement? 
   


10. In your opinion, is the painting finished?
    


11. Are there any elements in the painting that require further work?


12. Is there anything you would add or take away to make the painting more successful?
    


13. What kind of mood do you think the artist was in?

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For most of my students, silence happens for two main reasons:

1. They do not feel qualified - Students feel that in order to critique effectively, they need to know about art history and/or technicalities such as composition and perspective. They don't.
   


2. They are afraid to hurt the artist's feelings - If we are to grow as artists, we need feedback that goes a little deeper  than: "It's nice" or "I love it" or "This painting doesn't work". Think about how it would feel if someone said it to you and if necessary, re-phrase it.
   

A critique is about creating dialogue: We all have opinions and are entitled to express them.