V.T418

Artist Research and Artwork

Students will research an artist of their choice and create a series of works that are informed by the style, genre, or media used by the artist who was researched. This assessment is designed so students will be inspired by famous artists. It is not meant to have students simply replicate a master work.

This item has been voluntarily field-tested by Michigan teachers with a non-representative sample of students.


This is an analytic rubric. The column on the left shows the dimension that is being measured in the student’s performance. The levels across the top row indicate the performance level in the dimensions. Occasionally all dimensions and performance levels are exemplified by multiple students in a single recording.

Teacher Scoring Rubric

  • Dimension
  • Composition

    Arrangement of elements and principles of design to create a work of art

  • Craftsmanship

    Handling of materials to demonstrate purposeful technique and manipulation of media

  • Creativity

    Use of problem solving to invent new and interesting adaptations of material, style, and content to reveal something new

  • Communication of Content

    Use of all other rubric items to communicate content visually

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • The work is not complete or does not successfully use elements and principles of design to compose a work of art informed by the style, genre, or media from the artist researched.

    N/A at this time.
  • Student somewhat uses elements and principles of design to compose a work of art informed by the style, genre, or media from the artist researched.

    N/A at this time.
  • Student adequately uses elements and principles of design to compose a work of art informed by the style, genre, or media from the artist researched.

    View Exemplar
  • Student successfully uses elements and principles of design to compose a work of art informed by the style, genre, or media from the artist researched.

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  • Novice or beginning performance of skills and technique are evident in the manipulation of media to craft a work of art informed by the style, genre, or media from the artist researched.

    N/A at this time.
  • Emergent or competent use of skills and technique are evident in the manipulation of media to craft a work of art informed by the style, genre, or media from the artist researched.

    View Exemplar
  • Proficient use of skills and technique are evident in the manipulation of media to craft a work of art informed by the style, genre, or media from the artist researched.

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  • Master use of skills and technique are evident in the manipulation of media to craft a work of art informed by the style, genre, or media from the artist researched.

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  • Artwork created uses clichéd or formulaic solutions that show little to no evidence of the individual creating the work of art.

    N/A at this time.
  • Artwork created uses solutions that are adapted or predetermined with little evidence of the individual creating the work of art.

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  • Artwork created uses interesting solutions that are adapted or predetermined with some evidence of the individual creating the work of art.

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  • Artwork created uses new and interesting solutions that are imaginative and show profound evidence of the individual creating the work of art.

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  • Content created is unclear or lacking the communication of ideas by using the style, genre, or media from the artist researched. This is limited or not explored in an artist statement.

    N/A at this time.
  • Content created somewhat communicates ideas by using the style, genre, or media from the artist researched. This is somewhat explored in an artist statement.

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  • Content created generally communicates ideas intended by using the style, genre, or media from the artist researched. This is explored in an artist statement.

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  • Content created effectively communicates ideas intended by using the style, genre, or media from the artist researched. This is fully explored in an artist statement.

    View Exemplars
    View Exemplars
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