To compare two sketches, name each change, say what it did to the picture and give a reason. A change without an effect is only a difference, and an effect without a reason is only an observation.
This lesson follows explaining the focal point and visual hierarchy. It is part of SPM subjects and learning resources.
What is a justified change?
A justified change has three parts. The change says what moved or altered, the effect says what that did to the eye or the mood, and the reason says why it suits your idea.
Remember it as “what, so what, why”. The table shows the pattern.
| Part | Question | Example word |
|---|---|---|
| Change | What is different? | “I moved…”, “I darkened…” |
| Effect | What does the viewer now notice? | “so the eye goes first to…” |
| Reason | Why does this help my idea? | “because I wanted to show…” |
Worked example: a kampung kitchen
Imagine two original sketches of a grandmother cooking in a kampung kitchen. The idea is warmth and care.
Sketch A (early version). The grandmother stands in the middle, drawn the same size as the pots, stove and shelves. The viewpoint is straight on, and the whole sketch has the same light grey pencil shading.
Sketch B (revised version). The viewpoint is lowered and slightly to the side. The grandmother is larger, and her hands stirring the pot are the darkest, most detailed part. The background shelves are drawn faintly.
Change 1: size and detail. In sketch B the grandmother and her hands are larger and darker. The effect is that the eye goes first to her hands stirring the pot, because the size and the dark tone now stand out from the faint background. The reason is that the idea is care, which is shown best through the hands.
Change 2: viewpoint. The lowered viewpoint makes the grandmother look taller and more present. The effect is a feeling of respect. The reason is that the straight-on view in sketch A made her look like just another object in the room.
Change 3: background. The shelves in sketch B are faint. The effect is that they no longer compete with the hands, and the reason is to keep the hierarchy clear.
Put together, one sentence could read: “In the revised sketch I enlarged and darkened the grandmother’s hands, so the eye goes first to the act of cooking, which matches my idea of care.”
The mistake that costs marks
A weak answer is: “Sketch B is better because I added more detail and made it neater.” It compares quality, names no specific change and gives no reason linked to the idea.
Write about decisions instead. Replace “better” with what changed, and replace “neater” with what the change helps the viewer notice. If the same sentence could describe any pair of sketches, add specifics.
Check yourself
Imagine an original sketch of a durian stall. Version A shows all the fruits in even rows under bright light. Version B moves the viewpoint to ground level, crops the picture so one split durian fills the left half, and darkens the space behind. Write one justified change sentence.
Answer
A sample sentence: “In version B I enlarged one split durian and darkened the background, so the eye goes straight to the spiky shell and the creamy flesh, because I wanted to show the texture and strength of the fruit instead of a tidy row.”
It names the change (enlarged, darkened), the effect (the eye goes to the durian) and the reason (to show texture). If yours only says “B is more interesting”, add the change and the effect.
What to study next
Apply the same reasoning to your own work in describing the development of your own idea. Then try the original practice set for mixed questions.
If you want a teacher to question your reasons with you, see online one-to-one Visual Arts tuition.