Art

This is a Visual Art course. The medium is mixed media

The objectives of the Visual Art course are for students to:

• Develop visual perception
• Learn how artists work with materials and ideas
• Acquire technical skills
• Become familiar with the elements of design
• Learn to make and articulate aesthetic judgements
• Understand art in a cultural context
• Communicate with others through art works
• Demonstrate personal thoughts and feelings in art works.

The Year 9 & 10 Visual Art courses are divided into four sequential units. The course is designed to build technical skills and confidence in using a wide range of art mediums in a variety of ways to express ideas and explore concepts. All units require students to record their ideas, plans and influences in an ‘art journal’ and all units require the study and appreciation of relevant artists and art movements.

Unit One – In this unit, students create a personalised art journal and have the opportunity to broaden their skills and means of expression using a range of mostly two-dimensional media. 

Unit Two – This unit includes two and three-dimensional work in a variety of media. An emphasis on designing through drawing prefaces each piece of work, as this skill is vital for all Art and Design students.

Units Three and Four – These units emphasise the exploration of ideas and concepts as well as continuing to develop and refine practical skills. Projects concerning the disciplines of drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture are covered. These areas are not necessarily separated and experimentation with and exploration of mixed media and digital work are encouraged.

Students wishing to study Art are encouraged to undertake all four units. However, it is also possible to enrol in single-semester units. Students enrolling in single units, particularly in Year 10 and without the experience and skills provided by Year 9 Art, may find the work more challenging than would have otherwise been the case.

Assessment

In Visual Art and Ceramics, tasks are broken down into objectives or parts so that students know what is expected of them before starting the work. The parts serve as a checklist for students and teachers so that all aspects of a syllabus have been addressed. Each project is assessed by looking at evidences in students’ practical and journal work. The ability to follow instructions, use media and techniques appropriately, explore possibilities, research relevant theory, experiment independently and creatively and produce artworks are all evidences of achievement.