How To:

UNIT ONE

 VCE ART

AREA OF STUDY 1: DEVELOPING IDEAS AND SKILLS.

This area of study focuses on the development of ideas, imagery and skills through the exploration of techniques and working methods. Specific tasks are set to direct and facilitate the process of investigation.

As a rule of thumb I always start off with a mixed media drawing unit for year 11 ART unit1.

Students are encouraged to explore, experiment and develop their own imagery through observational drawing and digital photography.

The investigation of an art form:

DRAWING was explored by using different materials and media such as inks, fine liners, dry pastels, collage on assorted papers.

Students were inspired by seeing the TOP ARTS at the NGV folio of drawings on brown paper bags.

Theme: CONSTRUCTED ENVIRONMENT

Task 1 RESEARCH

Students were given the theme of “Constructed Environment” to brainstorm ideas through a mind map. They were encouraged to undertake research by looking at other artists work as motivation and inspiration. They created a collage of images of artist’s work that they photocopied from art books, journals and magazines. They also took a series of 20 digital photos around their immediate constructed environment which they used as starting points for their homework drawing activities.

Students were expected to critically analyse these images and reference the key formal elements observed through annotations in their visual diaries.

Task 2 OBSERVATIONAL DRAWINGS

Students were given 2 X 50 minute sessions of class time to complete a series of drawings of details around the school environment. (10 small drawings were completed)

Task 3 EXPLORATION OF MATERIALS TECHNIQUES AND METHODS

Students were given 4 x 50 minute lessons in class to experiment with media, washes and collage effects in their visual diary documenting their thinking and working practices in the visual diary.

Teacher directed activities included media exploration, technical knowledge, safety and health issues in using media and in conceptual development of ideas.

Task 4 EXPLORING THE FORMAL ELEMENTS

Students select and investigate the following formal elements:

·    Line, shape, tone, texture, pattern, repetition, harmony, cropping and balance.

Students through annotations are encouraged to document the formal elements applied and used in their work with relevant evaluations of the effectiveness of these elements in their visual diary.

TASK 5 REFINING IDEAS AND TECHNIQUES

A total of 20 drawings were necessary as part of the criteria for assessment of which 10 completed were submitted from this exploration.

Students were required to develop and explore 10 final drawings that best illustrated the formal elements.

Final Resolution 1

A series of 10 completed mixed media drawings on mountboard

Students presented their Visual dairy as part of this assessment by showing the explorations and documentation of the investigation of drawing.

Stella Greig

VCE ART TEACHER

HEAD OF ARTS

KILLESTER COLLEGE

Copyright 2008 Zart Art & Zart Education Service