Describe a specific painting or piece of art that you have encountered – IELTS Speaking part 2, 3

When drawing a question like 'Describe a painting or work of art that you have seen,' you might panic because you may not know much about art or painting. However, do not worry; you should review some suggested questions before the examiner's test.

Preparing yourself with vocabulary and ideas is crucial when entering the exam room to brainstorm this topic.

1. Vocabulary Describe a painting or work of art that you have seen – IELTS Speaking part 2

1.1. Emotions/ the intended message of the artist

• One of the things that I love about this painting is: Một trong những điều tôi yêu thích ở bức tranh này là…
• Another thing I find fascinating about this painting is: Một điều nữa tôi thấy hấp dẫn về bức tranh này là….
• Tobe mesmerized: bị mê hoặc
• Mesmerizing: có tính mê hoặc
• It’s hard to put into words: khó diễn tả thành lời
• The real McCoy = the original thing: bản gốc
• It seems as if … : có vẻ như rằng ….
• It makes me think of …: nó khiến tôi nghĩ về ….

1.2. Categories of artistic creations

• Painting: bức vẽ
• Portrait: chân dung
• Landscape: phong cảnh
• Oil painting: sơn dầu
• Abstract painting: tranh trừu tượng
• Water color painting: tranh màu nước
• Sculpture: điêu khắc
• Photo: ảnh

1.3. Narrate the image

1.4. The selection of colors

• Bold: táo bạo
• Vibrant: rực rỡ
• Subtle: nhẹ nhàng
• Earthy (earthlike): earthy (giống trái đất)
• Naturalistic: tự nhiên

1.5. Describe the artwork

• Stunning (adj): thu hút
• To stand out: nổi bật
• Reproduction (n): bản làm lại
• Replica (n): bản sao
• The real McCoy: bản gốc
• Genuine (adj): thật
• Immaculate (adj): nguyên chất, nguyên vẹn
• Focal point (n): tiêu điểm

1.6. Expressing the emotions

• Hands down (phrase): chắc chắn (= definitely)
• To do justice to: đại diện cho, thể hiện rõ ràng cho
• To be struck by: bị làm cho bất ngờ
• Transfixed (adj) sững người, sửng sốt
• To give off a vibe: đem lại cảm giác gì
• Sombre (adj): u buồn, u tối
• To decipher: phân tích
• To contemplate: thưởng ngoạn, lặng ngắm

2. Sample essay Describe a painting or work of art that you have seen – IELTS Speaking part 2

Describe a piece of art you have previously viewed.

You should articulate:

• Where you saw it
• What it was about
• When you saw it
• And explain how you felt about it

2.1. Example 1

To tell the truth, I am not exactly a big fan of art as I find them quite difficult to understand. However, there is this painting that really mesmerized right at the moment I laid my eyes on it. It was an oil-painting portrait named “Little Thuy” by Tran Van Can, who is a nationally-acclaimed Vietnamese painter.

To the best of my recollection, it was in my 4th grade when I saw this picture for the first time. Actually, I didn’t saw it in person but in my art textbook as the real McCoy was displayed in Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam. Of the paintings in my fine art textbook at that time, “Little Thuy” stood out to me most because of her angelic face and the exceptional painting technique of the painter.

The portrait depicted a young girl named Thuy, who resided adjacent to his residence. From her appearance, I estimated her age to be between 8 to 10 years old. She wore white attire, seated halfway on a chair with her eyes wide open.

She wasn’t smiling cheerfully like her peers found in other paintings, but looked rather emotionless and inscrutable. It was believed that her eyes reflect the soulful world of Chan Van Can as he witnessed the then westernization of Vietnamese society. According to the textbook, this painting was considered one of the best artworks in the first half of the 20th century, when oil painting was newly introduced to Vietnam.

Speaking of my feelings about “Little Thuy”, it’s hard to put into words but there’s some charm about this painting that appealed me to this day. Hopefully, I can have the opportunity to visit Hanoi to admire the beauty of this masterpiece with my own eyes.

Translation:

To be honest, I am not exactly an art enthusiast because I find them quite challenging to understand. However, this particular painting truly captivated me the moment I laid eyes on it. It is a portrait in oil, titled “Little Thuy” by Tran Van Can, a renowned national artist from Vietnam.

From my best recollection, it was during my fourth-grade year when I first saw this painting. Actually, I didn't see it firsthand, but in my art textbook, McCoy was indeed exhibited in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Among the paintings in my art textbook at that time, “Little Thuy” stood out the most to me due to the angelic face and the artist's exquisite drawing technique.

The painting portrays a girl named Thuy who lived next to his home. Judging by her appearance, I guessed she was about 8 to 10 years old. The girl wore white clothes, half-sitting on a chair, with her eyes wide open.

Cô ấy không mỉm cười như những người bạn cùng tuổi trong các bức tranh khác mà lại có vẻ lạnh lùng và khó hiểu. Được cho là đôi mắt của cô phản ánh thế giới tâm hồn của Trần Văn Cẩn khi ông chứng kiến quá trình phương Tây hóa của xã hội Việt Nam. Theo sách giáo khoa, bức tranh này được coi là một trong những tác phẩm nghệ thuật xuất sắc nhất trong nửa đầu thế kỷ 20, khi tranh sơn dầu mới được giới thiệu vào Việt Nam.

Để nói về ấn tượng của tôi về “Tiểu Thủy”, thật khó mô tả thành lời nhưng có một sức hấp dẫn nào đó trong bức tranh này đã thu hút tôi suốt từng ngày. Tôi mong muốn có dịp đến Hà Nội để trực tiếp chiêm ngưỡng vẻ đẹp của kiệt tác này.

Từ vựng nổi bật

• Laid my eyes on: lần đầu tiên nhìn thấy
• Oil-painting portrait: bức tranh sơn dầu chân dung
• Nationally-acclaimed: được đánh giá cao trong nước
• See ST in person: nhìn thấy tận mắt
• Angelic face: gương mặt thiên thần
• Exceptional: đặc biệt, xuất chúng
• Smiling cheerfully: cười vui vẻ
• Emotionless: vô cảm
• Inscrutable: không thể hiểu được
• Reflect: phản chiếu, phản ánh
• Westernization: tây hóa
• Tobe considered: được xem là
• Appeal: kháng cáo
• To this day: cho đến ngày nay
• Admire the beauty: chiêm ngưỡng vẻ đẹp

2.2. Mẫu số 2

Today, I’d like to share my fascination with a piece of art known as “Đám cưới chuột” or “Rat’s Wedding” in English. This painting holds a special place in the heart of Dong Ho village, being a best-selling artwork, primarily acquired and displayed during the Lunar New Year celebration. What sets this painting apart is its humorous and optimistic content, believed to bring good fortune in the years to come.

Interestingly, my first encounter with this artwork was at a friend’s house during my primary school days. I vividly recall how this painting sparked my young imagination, leaving me with a sense of curiosity about its underlying meanings.

As I grew older, my curiosity led me to explore the painting’s significance online. It was then that I discovered the captivating narrative behind the artwork a wedding procession of rats featuring the bride and groom, accompanied by other rat guests presenting gifts to a formidable cat, all in the hopes of ensuring a harmonious and prosperous future for the newlyweds. Essentially, this painting symbolizes the idea that even amid adversity (represented by the cats), weddings can occur joyfully and peacefully through skillful negotiation.

Lastly, I’ve become an ardent admirer of Đông Hồ’s paintings, thanks to their vibrant colors and skillful portrayal of contemporary Vietnamese traditions and customs.

Translation:

Today, I want to share my passion for an artwork called “Mouse Wedding” or “Đám cưới chuột” in English. This painting holds a special place in Dong Ho village, being the best-selling artwork, mainly bought and displayed during Tet holidays. What sets this painting apart is its humorous and optimistic content, believed to bring luck in the years to come.

Interestingly, I first learned about this artwork at a friend's house when I was in elementary school. I vividly remember how this painting sparked my childhood imagination, leaving me curious about its fundamental meaning.

As I grew older, curiosity led me to explore the meaning of the painting online. I then discovered the intriguing story behind the artwork of a mouse wedding featuring a bride and groom, along with other mouse guests presenting gifts to a formidable cat, all in hopes of ensuring a harmonious and prosperous future for the newlyweds.

Fundamentally, this painting symbolizes the idea that even in adversity (symbolized by the cats), weddings can still be joyous and peaceful through skillful negotiation.

In conclusion, I am a great admirer of Dong Ho paintings, thanks to their vibrant colors and skillful depiction of contemporary Vietnamese customs and traditions.

Lexicon:

• Fascination: sự mê hoặc
• Primarily acquired: chủ yếu có được
• Imagination: trí tưởng tượng
• Accompanied: đi kèm
• Harmonious: hài hòa
• Portrayal: miêu tả

3. Sample Answer IELTS Speaking part 3: Art

3.1. What is the fundamental purpose of art?

That’s a profoundly philosophical question, and it’s likely to elicit a wide range of responses. In my view, art fundamentally serves two noble purposes. Firstly, art should consistently elicit emotions in individuals.

Be it joy, melancholy, nostalgia, or profound sorrow, whether conveyed through portraiture, sculpture, or lifelike paintings, art should have the power to evoke specific emotions. Secondly, I believe that art functions as a means of self-expression, allowing individuals to communicate their thoughts and stories through non-verbal forms of expression.

• Profoundly philosophical: mang tính triết lý sâu sắc
• Self-expression: sự thể hiện bản thân

3.2. Do you believe that art holds equal importance to academic subjects in children's education?

Absolutely, without a doubt. Art has been scientifically demonstrated to play a vital role in nurturing a child’s creativity and nurturing their sense of individual identity, both of which are essential for their overall development. The creative skills honed through art can significantly enhance a child’s well-being and happiness. Unlike many other academic subjects, art tends to be less stressful and rigid.

Furthermore, witnessing how various artists can express the same object or emotion in diverse ways can cultivate children’s tolerance and, even more importantly, their acceptance of differences in the world around them.

• Demonstrated: chứng minh
• Cultivate: cày cấy
• Acceptance: chấp thuận

3.3. What are the benefits and drawbacks of art education?

I believe that art is occasionally undervalued in school curricula, often because its importance is underestimated, and some view art education as expensive and ultimately unproductive. Is it true that art education can sometimes be costly?

• Instances: trường hợp
• Ultimately unproductive: cuối cùng không hiệu quả
• Self-expression: sự thể hiện bản thân