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in the museum you could be surprised by the artwork's size. For instance, Van Gogh's "Starry Night" is barely bigger than a telescope lens, whereas Monet's "Water Lilies" is almost as big a real-life pond. What is the effect of this artwork's size on you? Do you have to lean close to see it, like you would when holding private conversation? Is it so big that it's best seen across the room? Maybe your piece was meant to be seen from afar, or perhaps the artist wanted to make you feel like you could climb into the painting.

What is the subject of the painting or sculpture?

Is this a portrait of a person? Read the label and find out the subject's name and when the portrait was done. Is the subject young or old? Man or woman? Do they look approachable or not? The person's clothes and the objects around them can tell us as much about the person as their features and expression. Their clothes tell us whether they were rich or poor, and may tell us their occupation (for instance, if they were a priest or nun or judge or entertainer.) What are they holding? A musician would be drawn holding his instrument. Spend some time thinking about the the objects. Scales might indicate a banker or a lawyer. A craftsman might be shown with tools. An open window behind the person could show where they were born, or land they owned. Trying to figure out what objects in a portrait mean is a good pastime for groups.

Is this a landscape? Remember what you saw on your way to the museum. Decide if your piece is showing the surrounding countryside or somewhere farther away. Does the landscape look realistic or has the artist invented the place? Look closely at the features of the landscape.

Is this a "still life" or collection of everyday objects? Identify the objects that are shown in your piece. What do they have in common with each other? Think about what the objects could possibly stand for. Notice the objects in relationship to each other. Are they crowded or spread out? Are some objects better drawn or larger? Is there a repeated pattern or does one piece stand out as different from the others? Think about which object seems to be the most important, and imagine why the artist is trying to draw your attention to it.

Is this an abstract piece? If it is, check the label. The title of the piece could open up your eyes and make you wonder why you did not see it that way before. Look at the date and try to remember any events that happened the year it was painted. Perhaps the artist is commenting

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