Art Creative Practice 

Art is an integral part of life and contributes to a progressive society. Artworks and visual language are a potent and dynamic means to communicate personal experiences and ideas, and cultural values, beliefs and viewpoints on experiences and issues in contemporary society.

In the study of VCE Art Creative Practice research and investigation inform art making. Through the study of artworks, the practices of artists and their role in society, students develop their individual art practice, and communicate ideas and meaning using a range of materials, techniques and processes.

In the practice of Making and Responding, students develop their skills in critical and creative thinking, innovation, problem-solving and risk-taking. By combining a focused study of artworks, art practice and practical art making, students recognise the interplay between research, art practice and the analysis and interpretation of art works.

VCE Art students are expected to participate in excursions to view art exhibitions. In order to complete folios to a high standard weekend workshops may be held and students will be required to attend these. Students will be responsible for purchasing some of their own equipment and materials where their requirements extend beyond the basic supplies provided by the school.

Unit 1: Interpreting artworks and exploring the Creative Practice

In Unit 1 students use Experiential learning in Making and Responding to explore ideas using the Creative Practice. As the artist and audience, students consider their connection to artworks, and how their communication of ideas and presentation of artworks challenge, shape and influence viewer or audience perspectives.

They focus on the making of art and examine how artists communicate ideas and meaning in artworks. They examine artists in different societies, cultures and historical periods and develop their own interpretations and viewpoints about the meanings and messages of artworks. They explore how artists create new ways of thinking and representation, while developing their own art practice.

Students explore the practices of artists who have been inspired by ideas relating to personal identity. They study at least three artists and at least one artwork from each of the selected artists. Students learn about the components of the Creative Practice and explore areas of personal interest to develop a series of visual responses. They use a range of materials, techniques, processes and art forms to create a body of experimental work in response to their research of the practices of artists and their personal observations of artworks. 

On completion of this unit the student should be able to:

• Discuss the practices of three artists, and apply the Structural Lens and the Personal Lens to analyse and interpret one artwork by each artist
• Use the Creative Practice to develop and make visual responses informed by their exploration of personal interests and ideas
• Document and evaluate the components of the Creative Practice used to make personal visual responses

• Formulate and substantiate personal opinions about artworks through their analysis and interpretation

   

Unit 2: Interpreting artworks and developing the Creative Practice

In Unit 2 students use Inquiry learning to investigate the artistic and collaborative practices of artists. They use the cultural lens, and the other Interpretive Lenses as appropriate, to examine artworks from different periods of time and cultures, and to explore the different ways that artists interpret and communicate social and personal ideas in artworks.

Students explore the collaborative practices of artists and use the Creative Practice to make and present artworks. They develop visual responses based on their investigations, exploring the way historical and contemporary cultural contexts, ideas and approaches have influenced the artworks and the practices of the artists they investigate, as well as their own art practice.

Throughout Unit 2, students examine the importance of the social and cultural contexts of artworks and analyse the varying social functions that art can serve. They also investigate how artworks can be created as forms of expression for specific social and cultural contexts. Students research historical and contemporary artworks and explore diverse and alternative approaches to making and presenting artworks.

On completion of this unit the student should be able to:

• Use the Cultural Lens, and the other Interpretive Lenses as appropriate, to analyse and compare the practices of artists and artworks from different cultures and times
• Use the Creative Practice to explore social and cultural ideas or issues to make and present at least one finished artwork using collaborative approaches
• Critically reflect on, evaluate and document their use of the Creative Practice to develop and make collaborative visual responses

Unit 3: Investigation, ideas, artworks and the Creative Practice Artworks ideas and values

In this unit students use inquiry and Project-based learning as starting points to develop a Body of Work. They explore ideas and experiment with materials, techniques and processes using the Creative Practice. The research of historical and contemporary artists is integral to students’ use of the Creative Practice and informs the basis of their investigation. Students also investigate the issues that may arise from the artworks they view and discuss, or those evolving from the practice of the artist. Unit 3 commences with students researching the practice of a selected artist as the starting point to develop a finished artwork. The finished artwork will contribute to the Body of Work developed over Units 3 and 4.

In Unit 3, the Interpretive Lenses are used in Making and Responding throughout the students’ art practice. Students apply the Interpretive Lenses to researched artworks and in their reflective analysis and evaluation of their use of the Creative Practice. They use critical and creative thinking skills to explore and develop ideas, and experiment with materials, techniques and processes.

On completion of this unit the student should be able to:

• Develop personal ideas using research that examines one artwork and the practice of an artist, and produce at least one finished artwork using the Creative Practice.
• Apply and explore ideas and an area of personal interest using the Creative Practice.

Unit 4: Interpreting, resolving and presenting artworks and the Creative Practice Artworks, ideas and viewpoints

In Unit 4 students continue to develop their art practice through Project-based and Inquiry learning as their research and exploration continues to support the development of their Body of Work. Throughout their research students study the practices of selected historical and contemporary artists to inform their own art practice. They use the Interpretive Lenses to analyse, compare and interpret the meanings and messages of artworks produced by the artists they study. Students also apply the Interpretive Lenses throughout the Creative Practice to resolve and refine their Body of Work. 

Students continue to build upon the ideas begun in Unit 3 and present a critique of their use of the Creative Practice. They reflect on the feedback from their critique to further refine and resolve a Body of Work that demonstrates their use of the Creative Practice and the realisation of their personal ideas. The students present their Body of Work to an audience accompanied by documentation of their use of the Creative Practice.

On completion of this unit the student should be able to:

• Document their use of Creative Practice and present a critique to inform the refinement and resolution of a Body of Work.
• Use the Creative Practice to resolve and present a Body of Work.
• Compare the practices of historical and contemporary artists, and use the Interpretive Lenses to analyse and interpret the meanings and messages of selected artworks.