Describe A Piece Of Art You Like: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • What the piece of art is?
  • When you first saw it?
  • Why do you like it?
  • How did you feel about it?

Band 7

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One of the incredible piece of art that I have ever encountered is the famous portrait of Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. It was around 20 years ago when I was in standard 5 during an excursion to a museum that I first encountered this masterpiece. The very first thought that strike my mind when I saw Mona Lisa was the spirit of simplicity, the subtle smile that she had and the artistic mastermind that is being reflected in the painting. Even today when I come across Mona Lisa, I pause for a while and I glance at the eyes of this beautiful lady on the painting just to see how can somebody describe a lady in such a simplistic and a profound way in a portrait some hundreds of years ago. It is a celebration of the human artistic spirit and a reason to understand that art is not just a means of expressing someone but it also speaks about the nature of creativity that one can impose.

Follow up questions


What emotions do you feel when you see the Mona Lisa?
Every time I see the Mona Lisa, I feel a sense of awe and admiration. The painting evokes a calmness in me, and I often find myself pondering the mystery behind her smile. It makes me appreciate the depth of human emotion that art can convey.

How do you think art influences society?
Art has a profound influence on society as it reflects cultural values, challenges perceptions, and inspires change. It can provoke thought, evoke emotions, and foster a sense of community. Art encourages dialogue and can be a powerful tool for social commentary.

Have you ever tried creating your own piece of art?
Yes, I have tried my hand at painting and drawing. While I may not be as skilled as the masters, creating art allows me to express my thoughts and feelings in a unique way. It’s a therapeutic process that helps me connect with my inner self.

Band 6-7

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I would like to talk about the painting that you can see when you come into my home. Although my house is full of paintings, there is one special painting of two young ladies sitting and chatting. This reminds me and my sister. The painting itself was done by my sister. She herself is an artist. Although I am not much interested in doing artworks and paintings, I would like to learn it and try to do a little small painting someday. I want to bring the most out of myself and want to see how my imagination would be. The art that I described you of the two young ladies was done by my sister in the past year. She did it keeping in mind of us two which was recommended by my mom. She wants to have it as our memory because we are staying apart for work and studies. My sister paints mostly of sceneries and natural scenarios but this is the one painting that I have fallen in love with. This is the first painting that comes to my mind when you ask about any artwork or painting and I would surely do it.

Follow up questions


What emotions does the painting evoke for you?
The painting evokes a sense of nostalgia and warmth for me. It reminds me of the close bond I share with my sister and the memories we created together. Every time I look at it, I feel a mix of happiness and longing, especially since we are currently living apart.

How has your sister's art influenced your view on painting?
My sister's art has inspired me to appreciate the creativity and effort that goes into painting. Although I haven't pursued it myself, seeing her passion and talent makes me want to explore my own artistic side and express my thoughts and feelings through art.

Do you think art can strengthen relationships?
Absolutely! Art has a unique way of capturing memories and emotions. In our case, my sister's painting serves as a reminder of our bond, even when we are apart. It can be a beautiful way to express love and connection, making relationships feel more tangible and cherished.

Band 6-7

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00:00

There are several pieces of artworks in the world, but I generally like a piece of art which is described as Luigi da Vinci's artwork Mona Lisa. The Mona Lisa painting is very beautiful and seems mysterious because it has an oily nature and the theme of the Mona Lisa painting is very fictional. Also the Mona Lisa painting is very beautiful from the far but we can even see its closeness. The piece of art of Mona Lisa also contains many mysteries like its smile, its smile changing by time to time, it's a myth or fact we don't know. The Mona Lisa painting is firstly I saw on my mobile phone with several YouTube videos because the facts and myths are very separated in all over internet so I found it very beautiful. And also with some of the languages, the French, the Mona Lisa painting is the most expensive painting in the world and I feel that it is the biggest artwork present in the world. The art of Luigi da Vinci is also copied several times but the original painting has its own value. The painting worth millions of dollars even the now made billion of dollar paintings can't replace it because the Mona Lisa painting is very old and Luigi da Vinci is a famous genius artist of that such time so Mona Lisa painting is very precious and very rare because it's never happened again, it's only one and be only one till the end of the world. Thank you so much.

Follow up questions


What emotions does the Mona Lisa evoke in you?
The Mona Lisa evokes a sense of intrigue and admiration in me. Her enigmatic smile and the depth of her gaze make me feel curious about her story. I often find myself pondering what she might be thinking, which adds to the painting's allure.

How do you think art influences culture?
Art plays a crucial role in shaping culture by reflecting societal values, beliefs, and emotions. It can inspire change, provoke thought, and foster connections among people. The Mona Lisa, for instance, has influenced countless artists and remains a symbol of artistic achievement.

Have you ever tried creating your own piece of art?
Yes, I have tried creating my own art. I enjoy painting and sketching, though I am not a professional. It allows me to express my feelings and thoughts creatively. While my works may not compare to masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, the process is fulfilling and enjoyable.

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Band 6-7

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The first time the piece of art that I saw was a painting shown to me by a friend, which displayed a beautiful sea, a calm and serene sea, with beautiful sunlight whistling over it. The moment I saw the painting, the first thoughts in my head was of peace and calm. This connected me with my soul, connected me with every single aspect of me which was calm. This painting showed me my inner self. It was a beautiful picture of art which displayed both calmness and serenity. The painting was something of uniqueness which I would always remember throughout my life. The painting displayed emotions and connected me to myself. The painting was a piece of art that I can never forget. It was a way the colours, the sun and each and every part of it was just perfectly modelled. This painting showed each and every one of us what was really necessary in our life.

Follow up questions


What emotions do you think art can evoke in people?
Art has the power to evoke a wide range of emotions in people, from joy and inspiration to sadness and nostalgia. It can resonate with our personal experiences and feelings, allowing us to connect deeply with the artwork and reflect on our own lives.

How important is art in our daily lives?
Art plays a significant role in our daily lives by providing aesthetic pleasure, provoking thought, and fostering creativity. It can enhance our environments, influence our moods, and even serve as a form of communication that transcends language barriers.

Do you think art can influence our perspective on life?
Absolutely, art can profoundly influence our perspective on life. It can challenge our views, inspire change, and encourage us to see the world from different angles. Through its various forms, art can spark conversations and promote understanding among diverse cultures.

Band 6-7

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00:00

A piece of art that I like is a dance reel that I recently saw from one of my favorite dance creators. I don't necessarily like fine arts or paintings as such, I'm more towards performing arts, so I like watching dance reels and music videos. This reel specifically had such a lively vibe, it exuded energy and exuberance. It was one of my favorite choreographies by this creator called Dharmak Samani. He is one of the rising dance creators in India today. I love attending his workshops, I have attended about 5 or 6 till now. He is currently on his fall tour and he is climbing upwards to new heights. Dance is my expression of personality, which is why I am so connected with it. This reel in specific really appealed to me because I wish to learn this one choreography of his that I haven't learned till now. I kind of have the steps of it in my mind ingrained because I've watched it so many times. But I still would like to attend a workshop of his which focuses on this choreography. He is also coming to Australia where I'm planning on going, so I'm excited to attend his workshop there as well.

Follow up questions


What do you think makes dance a unique form of art?
Dance is unique because it combines physical movement with emotional expression. It tells stories without words, allowing for personal interpretation. The rhythm, music, and choreography create a powerful connection between the performer and the audience, making it a dynamic and engaging art form.

How has attending workshops influenced your dancing skills?
Attending workshops has significantly improved my skills. They provide hands-on experience and direct feedback from talented instructors like Dharmak Samani. Learning in a group setting also motivates me to push my limits and explore new styles, enhancing my overall dance ability.

What role does music play in your appreciation of dance?
Music is integral to my appreciation of dance. It sets the mood and rhythm, guiding the movements and emotions expressed in the choreography. A great piece of music can elevate a dance performance, making it more impactful and memorable, which is why I love dance reels that combine both.
Show all 26 answers

Cue 1:What the piece of art is?

  • Begin by naming the piece of art and the artist, if known.
  • Provide a brief description of the art, including its medium and style.

Example

The piece of art I admire is a painting called 'The Dance of Life' by the renowned Indian artist, Raja Ravi Varma. It is an oil painting that beautifully depicts a traditional Indian dance, showcasing vibrant colors and intricate details.


Cue 2:When you first saw it?

  • Mention the specific location where you first encountered the artwork.
  • Include the time frame, such as the year or season, to give context.

Example

I first saw this painting during a visit to the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi about two years ago. It was a sunny afternoon, and the gallery was filled with art enthusiasts, which made the experience even more special.


Cue 3:Why do you like it?

  • Explain the elements of the artwork that resonate with you, such as colors, themes, or emotions.
  • Share any personal connections or memories that enhance your appreciation of the piece.

Example

I love this painting because of its vibrant colors and the way it captures the joy of dance. It reminds me of my childhood when I used to watch my grandmother perform classical dance. The emotions portrayed in the dancers' expressions are so captivating that I feel a sense of happiness every time I look at it.


Cue 4:How did you feel about it?

  • Describe your emotional response when you first saw the artwork.
  • Discuss how the piece continues to affect you or inspire you.

Example

When I first laid eyes on 'The Dance of Life', I felt an overwhelming sense of joy and nostalgia. It transported me back to my childhood, filling me with warmth. Even now, whenever I see it, I feel inspired to embrace my cultural roots and appreciate the beauty of Indian art.


Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, 'The Dance of Life' is not just a piece of art for me; it is a representation of my heritage and a source of inspiration. It reminds me of the beauty of our traditions and the joy that art can bring into our lives.


    Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.


    Tips to answer this Cue Card

    1: Vague Descriptions

    Using vague language can make your answer unclear. Avoid general statements that don't provide specific details about the artwork, as this can lead to a lack of engagement from the examiner.

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    Tip

    Be specific about the piece of art. Describe its colors, style, and what it represents to you to create a vivid image.


    2: Rushing Through Your Answer

    Speaking too quickly can lead to unclear pronunciation and missed details. This can make it difficult for the examiner to follow your thoughts and understand your feelings about the art.

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    Tip

    Take your time to articulate your thoughts clearly. Pause between points to ensure clarity and allow the examiner to absorb your answer.


    Neglecting Personal Connection

    Failing to explain why you like the piece can make your response feel flat. Personal connections add depth and interest to your answer, making it more memorable.

    bulb icon

    Tip

    Share a personal story or emotion related to the artwork. Explain how it resonates with you and why it holds significance in your life.


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    All Answers

    Here are all the answers by real-users practicing speaking for IELTS Cue Cards on our IELTS Prep App.

    Band 7

    One of the incredible piece of art that I have ever encountered is the famous portrait of Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. It was around 20 years ago when I was in standard 5 during an excursion to a museum that I first encountered this masterpiece. The very first thought that strike my mind when I saw Mona Lisa was the spirit of simplicity, the subtle smile that she had and the artistic mastermind that is being reflected in the painting. Even today when I come across Mona Lisa, I pause for a while and I glance at the eyes of this beautiful lady on the painting just to see how can somebody describe a lady in such a simplistic and a profound way in a portrait some hundreds of years ago. It is a celebration of the human artistic spirit and a reason to understand that art is not just a means of expressing someone but it also speaks about the nature of creativity that one can impose.

    Band 6-7

    A piece of art that I like is a dance reel that I recently saw from one of my favorite dance creators. I don't necessarily like fine arts or paintings as such, I'm more towards performing arts, so I like watching dance reels and music videos. This reel specifically had such a lively vibe, it exuded energy and exuberance. It was one of my favorite choreographies by this creator called Dharmak Samani. He is one of the rising dance creators in India today. I love attending his workshops, I have attended about 5 or 6 till now. He is currently on his fall tour and he is climbing upwards to new heights. Dance is my expression of personality, which is why I am so connected with it. This reel in specific really appealed to me because I wish to learn this one choreography of his that I haven't learned till now. I kind of have the steps of it in my mind ingrained because I've watched it so many times. But I still would like to attend a workshop of his which focuses on this choreography. He is also coming to Australia where I'm planning on going, so I'm excited to attend his workshop there as well.

    Band 6-7

    The first time the piece of art that I saw was a painting shown to me by a friend, which displayed a beautiful sea, a calm and serene sea, with beautiful sunlight whistling over it. The moment I saw the painting, the first thoughts in my head was of peace and calm. This connected me with my soul, connected me with every single aspect of me which was calm. This painting showed me my inner self. It was a beautiful picture of art which displayed both calmness and serenity. The painting was something of uniqueness which I would always remember throughout my life. The painting displayed emotions and connected me to myself. The painting was a piece of art that I can never forget. It was a way the colours, the sun and each and every part of it was just perfectly modelled. This painting showed each and every one of us what was really necessary in our life.

    Band 6-7

    There are several pieces of artworks in the world, but I generally like a piece of art which is described as Luigi da Vinci's artwork Mona Lisa. The Mona Lisa painting is very beautiful and seems mysterious because it has an oily nature and the theme of the Mona Lisa painting is very fictional. Also the Mona Lisa painting is very beautiful from the far but we can even see its closeness. The piece of art of Mona Lisa also contains many mysteries like its smile, its smile changing by time to time, it's a myth or fact we don't know. The Mona Lisa painting is firstly I saw on my mobile phone with several YouTube videos because the facts and myths are very separated in all over internet so I found it very beautiful. And also with some of the languages, the French, the Mona Lisa painting is the most expensive painting in the world and I feel that it is the biggest artwork present in the world. The art of Luigi da Vinci is also copied several times but the original painting has its own value. The painting worth millions of dollars even the now made billion of dollar paintings can't replace it because the Mona Lisa painting is very old and Luigi da Vinci is a famous genius artist of that such time so Mona Lisa painting is very precious and very rare because it's never happened again, it's only one and be only one till the end of the world. Thank you so much.

    Band 6-7

    A piece of art that I really like is a self-portrait that I actually made when I was 18 years old. The portrait was made in a particular style which was of wood burning where one has a piece of blank wood and one uses a wood burning machine where you actually burn the wood and then you can make drawings or figures that you choose. So in my class my teacher used to teach us how to do this and I found that style of art very interesting because you have to be very patient since it takes a long time to complete and you do the art by just burning dots on the wood and the whole picture is made from those dots and not anything else, no lines, no curves, only dots. So it actually took me a few months to complete because it's very tedious, tiring and needs a lot of patience but at the end it's very rewarding because all the time that you spend patiently drawing those dots finally results in something really beautiful and my teacher had helped me a lot because in the beginning it can be very tricky and especially when I was young I was not that great at art but I just liked doing it because it gave me great peace of mind. So with her help I would say finally I managed to get good results and that became my favourite piece of work because of how it turned out at the end.

    Band 6-7

    I would like to talk about the painting that you can see when you come into my home. Although my house is full of paintings, there is one special painting of two young ladies sitting and chatting. This reminds me and my sister. The painting itself was done by my sister. She herself is an artist. Although I am not much interested in doing artworks and paintings, I would like to learn it and try to do a little small painting someday. I want to bring the most out of myself and want to see how my imagination would be. The art that I described you of the two young ladies was done by my sister in the past year. She did it keeping in mind of us two which was recommended by my mom. She wants to have it as our memory because we are staying apart for work and studies. My sister paints mostly of sceneries and natural scenarios but this is the one painting that I have fallen in love with. This is the first painting that comes to my mind when you ask about any artwork or painting and I would surely do it.

    Band 6

    Here I would like to talk about a piece of art that I loved. It is a painting in the theme of nature. I saw it in my friend's home and I am a big fan of this kind of pictures. When I saw these pictures in any shop, in any galleries, I was fascinated by it by awarding the rose. In my opinion, these kind of arts give very calmness to our mind. A room filled with a lot of, a wall with a lot of pictures gives the beauty, improve the beauty of the room and really helpful to decrease our stress in our mind and give a lot of relaxation. When we tired and came to our room and we can show these pictures and relax in the calm atmosphere.

    Band 6

    There are many arts that I like, but except of all of these, I like cooking. When I was a kid, I saw a food cooking channel in which a chef makes recipes and presents it very effectively and it looks very delicious and attracts me very well. At the age of 18, I also started cooking with lots of efforts and struggles and it makes me feel very well. After doing my art, present my art, it feels very good and I like cooking and sometimes I watch YouTube videos to make my art more efficient and develop my art. I also do many efforts.

    Band 6

    I like a piece of art that is Raja Rai Verma's painting. I am very much interested in paintings. Not at all I am a good painter, but I like all the paintings of anyone. Mostly Raja Rai Verma is my most favourite one. His works call me the traditional developments or traditional look of Kerala's culture. That gives me and the whole world a wonderful and amazing view. Moreover, it gives me some pleasure by seeing if it is original or not. First I liked the picture when I went to a museum and then saw all the works of Raja Rai Verma in exhibition. At that moment I fell in love with his all paintings. His works are very well and well finished. He tells some stories like Devdas and some old ones that belong to the old kings. We appreciate him a lot. I think he had not given any achievements about his work. Most of Kerala government will give him any award, but I think it is not one. We all like him most.

    Band 6

    The piece of art that I had seen was a five-year-old drawing. This five-year-old was creating a drawing of his hometown and it was extremely wonderful to see. It was such a wonderful pleasure to experience what he was drawing. He was drawing his hometown. His hometown was full of trees and in between all the trees, there's a small cute house. It was a very precious moment for him to explain his hometown. He had later on explained about the painting that he had drawn and the situations that he was living in. Even though the situation that he was living in was not as luxury as the modern lifestyle right now, but the way he was living was extremely impressive. The way the five-year-old kid was managing his own responsibilities was very impressive. Everything was just so good and my first feeling, I felt so calm when I saw the drawing of a five-year-old. Just imagine, the five-year-old cannot be that very good at drawing, right? But still, it was very good and it was very impressive and it was a very joyous moment for me. It was a very calm and peace moment for me.
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