Introduction

This course is an exciting opportunity for students to develop their aesthetic, imaginative, and expressive abilities through practical studio work as well as in-depth investigation and critical analysis. Within a thematic structure, students will have the opportunity to develop their sensitivity and appreciation of the visual world by investigating social, cultural, and contextual references and differences. They will explore a variety of materials and processes, analysing stylistic and conceptual approaches, investigate past, present and emerging forms of visual arts, and develop their own ideas into a series of solutions stemming from personal and creative visual inquiry.

 ‘Creativity is intelligence having fun’

Albert Einstein

Course content

Year 12

In the first term students are guided to work on Canva to produce a Comparative Study of three different artworks. This is one of the three components of the course and we aim to complete this first. In term 2 students take part in a series of workshops designed to build on GCSE level skills and provide students with a greater range of approaches to develop their own work. These sessions include, still life drawing, abstraction methods, sculptural processes.  Students then select their personal theme and start developing their own work in response to personal starting points.  Students are encouraged to work to their strengths and can work in any media including drawings, paintings, prints, sculptures, collages, graphic design, photography, digital artwork, textiles or  mixed media techniques. 

Year 13 

To have a great art show, your work should show artistic growth and improvement from the beginning of the course. Art making improves with practice, so you are expected to devote extra time to learning the skills you want to acquire. In addition to artistic growth, your art should be meaningful, and speak of subjects important to you. Many students find it easier to choose subjects for their art when they focus on a theme or related theme. It is also a good idea to work in a variety of media. This will demonstrate that you are willing to research and learn new methods for making art. Your art must be original and this is best done by being thoughtful and willing to pursue your own artistic direction. To attain at the highest level a portion of your work should be conceptual. 

Sixth Form Art Room

During scheduled class time, you will use one of  the Sixth Form Art Studios, facilities and equipment. You are also encouraged to use the art room during free periods and lunch hours. However, much of your work will be done on your own time outside of school at home. For this reason, you should collect a range of art supplies that support the art that you want to make, and/or skills you want to perfect.

Key Skills Required

• Divergent and independent thinking.
• Self-awareness.
• Environmental awareness.
• Multi-cultural awareness.
• Understanding of the significance of broad critical analysis of artworks, ancient and modern, to inform the decision making process. 
• Problem solving abilities.
• Sense of humour.
• Creative manipulation of both 2 and 3 dimensional media.
• Confidence to make informed statements about their own work and that of others.

“I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it." Pablo Picasso

Entry Requirements

Whilst not essential it is highly recommended that students should have studied and achieved well at GCSE Art & Design before embarking on the IB Visual Art course. Students should have a good dose of

• Commitment
• Motivation
• Persistence
• Independence
• Creativity