Step 1: Describe

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Before you do anything, look at the work of art. Describe it. There are a few basic questions to answer when you begin to form a critique.

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• What do you see? Are there any recognizable images? Are there any repeated images? What colors are used? How big is the art? The subject of an artwork can often be identified by answering these questions.

• What is the composition? Always pay close attention to the composition. How is the piece visually constructed? Is everything clustered in one corner? Is the imagery equally distributed in a grid? An artist can focus attention and place emphasis by deliberately arranging the pieces of a picture.

• What do you feel? Are you smiling? Are you cringing? Are you scratching your head? Art is intended to create a response in the viewer. Your own emotional response to art will reveal meaning.

Step 2: Identify

Once you have formed a description, it's time to identify some important facts.

• Who is the artist? When did he or she live? What year was this piece of art created? Identifying other information about the artist can also give context. For example, political beliefs may influence a work of art.

• What is the title? Is there a message in the name? A title will often provide important insights, especially if the art is abstract.

• What medium is used? How is the piece physically constructed? Is the image made using oil paint, pencil, or crayon? Is it a photograph? It might be sculpted out of clay, bronze, or plastic. Modern art could literally be made of anything. Always remember that the material, or medium, was chosen by the artist for a reason.

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You can find out the answers to most of these questions about J.M.W. Turner and his painting Rain, Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway by following these links.

• J.M.W. Turner - The Complete Works

• J.M.W. Turner at The National Gallery

Step 3: Interpret

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In step 3, you start to synthesize or combine the information you gathered in steps 1 and 2. Look for a message or meaning.

• What is the artist trying to communicate? The answer to this question is found in the artwork. Start by examining the subject matter. Then, think about what that subject matter is communicating. The use of red in a painting could imply anger or pain. The scale of a mouse painted larger than a house indicates the mouse is more important than the house. Artists talk to their audience using the choices they make with elements such as color, medium, scale, and composition.

• What is this art related to? What does it make you think of? Does it remind you of anything? Have you seen other art that is similar? Is the mouse making a gesture like one seen on a well-known political poster? Is this work referencing a painting of a mouse done by another famous painter? Art is always connected to the larger world. Look for those connections to find meaning in art.

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Step 4: Judge

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You've gathered information and examined the artwork. You've thought about the meaning of the piece and what the artist is communicating. Now it's time to pass your final judgment

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Do you like it?

A formal art critique goes beyond "I like it" or "I hate it." A true critic will describe why he or she likes or dislikes an artwork and explain how he or she arrived at that opinion.

Here are some questions you can ask and answer to help you describe how you feel about the artwork.

• Was it well made?

• Did it seem original?

• Was the message relevant?

• Did the artist make strong choices to communicate his or her message?

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Do you like Rain, Steam, and Speed — The Great Western Railway? Why or why not?