How to Write a Description of an Art Work

Giving your artwork a corking title can brand all the deviation when it comes to how the audience perceives it. A good championship pushes the themes or story behind a piece of work to the fore, allowing the viewer to make connections whilst leaving room for their own interpretation. Call back, for instance, of René Magritte'southward famous painting of a piping wittily namedThe Treachery of Images (This Is Not A Pipe). With this title, Magritte pulls into discussion the complexities of representation. It is not an caption of the work, just a starting point, a goad for further idea that propels the viewer back into the painting. Likewise, a good description will keep your viewer engaged by offer supplementary information that may non be apparent in the piece itself. This extra data could brand or break a sale, and so it's important to get information technology right.

Side view portrait of young Black man looking at paintings and thinking at art gallery
Providing merely the right information in the name or description or your artwork could make or break a sale. | Photograph by iStock.com/SeventyFour

Naming your artworks

Naming your artwork is all about residuum. Ideally, a title should gesture to the theme, inspiration, or concept featured within the piece of work, without giving it away completely. The title should human activity as a prompt that tells the viewer how to approach the piece, giving them an entry point to access the narrative. Take Edvard Munch'due south famous painting Jealousy for case; this simple title clarifies the relationship of the three figures inside the painting. From just one word, we tin distinguish each character: The green confront of Munch identifies him as the forgone lover, the woman as his love, and the second male figure, his rival.

Choosing to name your piece 'Untitled' is generally not advised. However, in certain cases, it may be warranted, especially in conceptual works where the absence of a characterization is considered role of the creative statement. The minimalist Donald Judd, for example, used 'Untitled' for many of his works to erase whatever trace of himself or his decision-making. For smaller, preparatory works such as sketches, a simple descriptive championship should do the trick: 'Still life written report in pencil 2020', for instance.

When painting portraits or landscapes, it'south wise to use the proper name of the person or identify equally a title to provide context. When James Whistler came to pigment his mother in 1871, he named the piece Organization in Grayness and Black No.1, a rather vague title for a portrait that has since come to be known by the more revealing Whistler'southward Mother.

In abstract works, information technology is all the more important to provide the viewer with a 'key' as a ways of entry. When we approach Mondrian's Composition with Red, Blue, and Yellowish, we can conclude that his interests lie in formal pattern and colour theory. This assures united states of america nosotros can accept the slice at surface level. Alternatively, the championship of Jackson Pollock'south 1947 painting Lucifer reveals a night energy at work, a beautiful angel who brutal from heaven. The formal elements of the piece piece of work together with the title to advise a beauty in chaos.

Writing descriptions for your art

Writing descriptions can be some other tricky skill to chief. Descriptions should provide the viewer or potential buyer with the necessary background information below the piece of work. A great description grabs the viewer'south attention, helping them to forge a deeper connection with the piece which thereby increases the chances of a sale.

In that location are two main types of information to include when writing descriptions:

The first is your inspiration, the context behind the work. This could exist a historical moment, a person, or a personal experience. Whatever it is, explain how you incorporated the essence of your subject area into the piece of work, exist information technology through colour, texture, or limerick.

A historical or personal anecdote can be included to make it memorable. One of my favorite descriptions is of Lucian Freud'due south painting Interior at Paddington , at the Walker Fine art Gallery, Liverpool. It tells how the sitter of the portrait, Harry Diamond, was bitterly unimpressed with the artist's delineation of him. He claimed the artist had made his legs too short, to which Freud replied, comically frank, "They were too brusk." Background information imbues the work with narrative. Every time I run across this painting at present, Diamond's sulky expression makes me express mirth, as I imagine the pair squabbling during the sitting. Your audition is looking for something that grabs them, and then whilst providing insight is crucial, it'south important to keep descriptions curtailed.

Around 200 words is enough when it comes to descriptions, and so be economical with your language. Steer away from art jargon, and opt instead for clear, simple sentences, making sure that your tone is consistent throughout. If you refer to a historical period, art movement, or person, briefly clarify this with a short explanation — never assume that your audition already knows.

The second office of a clarification is more straightforward. It should include the exact dimensions of the work, too as all the materials used to create the piece, including the type of paper, sheet, board, etc. If your work is for sale you lot may also want to include information almost your packaging and delivery services. For example, how will artworks be packaged, rolled, or stretched? What are your courier and shipping times? Though there is no perfect formula to writing descriptions of your works, these guidelines tin can steer you lot on the correct path.

Further reading: How to write an artist statement

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Source: https://blog.artweb.com/how-to/name-art-write-descriptions/

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