Art & Design

Key Stage 5

What can students do to develop their skills in this subject area?

• Write down all the key art vocabulary they can think of and define the terms.
• Try to describe a piece of art using as many different art words as they can think of. Challenge a friend to get a higher score.
• Pick out 5 key aspects of an artist's style and list ways in which they could use them in their own practice.
• Look at the work of an artist and try to figure out how they created their work and the process they went through. Write out the steps.
• Drawing from life. Try observing objects or environments, accurately capturing the shape, textures and light involved.
• Work for a sustained period and to compare quick, expressive sketches with more careful observations.
• Try marking your own work using the mark scheme provided.
• Create a mind-map of ideas to link to your artists and observations. Consider adding to this every class as ideas develop.
• Conduct a media experiment trying out a new process. Analyse results and consider how to improve upon the results.
• Visit a gallery. Write a review of one of the pieces seen. Include opinions as well as explanations for them.
• Try out an unconventional material or media or process– did it work, how could it be used – for example: drawing with a stick; painting with a tree branch; painting with fingers; closing eyes.
• Write an artist statement to explain their own work, inspiration and thought processes.
• Create the flyer, poster or promotional material for the end of year show.
• Enter an art competition and get experience working to a design brief.
• Create a website to display/sell their own artwork.
• Look up past examination papers online. Create a mind-map of ideas that relate to that topic. How could these be addressed?
• The student can make a list of their strengths and weaknesses in Art; what needs to be developed and what makes them stand out.

What websites could students visit to support the curriculum?

www.topmarks.co.uk - provides links to resources, sites, and artist information.
www.studentartguide.com - provides links to useful websites and exemplars of students' work.
www.nationalgallery.org.uk

How can parents/carers help and what can be done at home?

• Encourage your son or daughter to discuss how they intend to challenge themselves in their project work this year.
• Support lower school lunch-time sessions or after-Academy clubs as part of enrichment.
• Encourage your son or daughter to produce their own ideas at home too. Activities to suggest or support could include:
  
  • Drawing from life – this is an extremely important skill to develop. Try observing objects or environments, accurately capturing the shape, textures and light involved.
  • Work for a sustained period and to compare quick, expressive sketches with more careful observations.
  • Collage or drawing in response to an event or a news story will help your son or daughter to create visual stimulus with meaning.
• Gallery visits are extremely valuable for young artists and photographers, allowing them to engage with artwork in 'real life'.
• Your son or daughter could also take responsibility for extending their skills via additional workshops and making pro-active use of example A* coursework available via teachers.
• Activities: entering competitions – there are many competitions open to post-16 students run by Saatchi Gallery, The Tate, local and national Rotary clubs to name but a few, and your son or daughter should be considering entering some. Their teacher will be able to support and guide entries.