If you know what you're doing, go right to Your True View activitly; otherwise read through the information below, then get started.

Background
The purpose of Your True View is to allow you to explore the work of "unknown artists" and decide what you think. The advantage to this kind of activity is that you can look with fresh eyes because the world hasn't already decided that these works are masterpieces and belong in museums. Your True View has been saved for the end of Eyes on Art because it requires the greatest skill. You can read a more complete description of the ideas behind this activity if you like.

Basic Instructions
If you're new to this activity the best thing is to first read the instructions. Basically what you'll do in Your True View is explore current artworks posted on the Web. None of them are yet "certified masterpieces," so you get to decide. These are paintings by real living people. Some of them are considered important artists while others might be amateurs (people who do something for the love of it). If you were (and you are) an experienced art critic, how would you interpret the quality of an "unknown" work of art?

Respecting Artists' Rights
The artworks for this activity are from across the Internet. In almost all cases, the artists and galleries don't want you to do anything with the images. The way the activity is set up, you never download an image, but access it from the Web. If you want to download an image, look for the email link on the page or the site and ask permission.

The Online Galleries
Choose one of these online galleries to look through for the one work you want to give Your True View about. Although we've chosen links appropriate to secondary students, understand that occasionally a mature theme may slip into these galleries.

• Santa Cruz Visual Arts Index Local artists show their work and often give an artist's statement.
• ArtNet.com's Artists' Index A huge (and unfiltered) list of artists.
• The Blake School Online Portfolios by students
• National Gallery of Art has virtual tours and streaming slide shows