The examiner wants to see you come out of your comfort zone and be bold and courageous whilst experimenting with new materials and mediums, learning something about yourself or others in the process. You will have a number of months, to research the theme of your choice (or the theme set out by your course) and create a preparation journey in your sketchbook. Do not mistake aesthetic appeal for pretty. It is much better to have a narrow, well executed body of work, rather than a broad project that is scattered and incoherent. From this, we want to know the aim of their art practice. For example, one of my most recent students took fruit, waited until it rotted and decayedand then strung them up on the classroom wall using nails and string. Thanks for your message! Although I won the art prize last year I am struggling with ideas for our theme which is Manmade. Would live a copy to share with my students. The platform that connects tutors and students. Enter your email address to get new resources by email. It was finding the creative influences that were right for the students that should be my aim. I stand by that, and hope that all art teachers would, too. Heres some ideas to make sure they do just that. If you know others who would benefit from this article, please share using the social media buttons below! I was looking for inspiration for my Y11 daughter who is struggling to decide on a medium for her next piece. Your work is often best driven not just by an emotion, but by a message (which will then provoke an emotional response in you and viewers). You want the examiners to believe that this is something personal to you you dont want them to suspect you have produced the whole thing from second hand imagery sourced off the internet. The assessment is not the time to be experimental! For example, we dont need to know how many children a person had, but we may want to know what their relationships were like if their work is directly related to the experience of family life. DeviantArt: More Like Box Circus by SpicyMeggiemoo, GCSE Natural Forms - Personal Response Final Piece. Generally I dont give grade 9s too often really, its more when we are marking full projects at the end of the year, when students have had a chance to act on feedback. At the moment my new idea is the loss of innocence/complete mental destruction and changed perception of the world through the experiences of war, told from a third person point of view with a solider as the main character (like a narrative). It would be so great to see some of these before my daughter chooses her GCSEs as there hasnt been much of an opportunity to review GCSE art shows the last two years and shes worried shes not good enough. GCSE Analysing and evaluating Artists and designers often record ideas they have for artworks and designs. You will be given an overriding theme, subject, task or brief which you will be asked to focus your attention on and to engage with in a personal way. No problem I hope it is helpful for you and your students! Students who extract an emotive response from the examiner by selecting issues that they really believe in are much more likely to achieve better results than those who simply choose aesthetically pleasing but somewhat superficial subjects. Once you have an idea, you can then start to think about ways of exploring this aesthetically. There have been some good folios based on second hand imagery i.e. Yes, no problem! This final piece incorporates the candidate's visual research and contextual studies. Heres where you can find the Student Art Guide on social media: . I have just shared these with you too . The key, however, is not to produce an exceptional final piece and a separately superb sketchbook, it is to make them both absolutely brilliant and (most importantly) for them tolink together. Will Universites ever informally review portfolios? Thanks. Thanks, Im really glad youve found it useful! Since these art projects were for the externally set exam, the marks made up 40% of the total grade. The theme is Reflections and I have 3 ideas but can't think of any more. Your teacher will no doubt tell you that more is best and that examiners like to see a sketchbook that barely closes because it is bursting at the seams with ideas! When thinking about a landscape theme, remember that the word landscape can be interpreted quite widelyi.e. Make a textural collage of ideas, as in this GCSE Art mind map by Jessica Rump, while studying at King's Lynn Academy: Exploring the topic Force, this mixed media mind map contains a wealth of details, texture and depth. I am really struggling to find ideas for my theme of landscape this year. Please send me a copy. For instance, you can look at and seek help from numerous student websites, exam boards and forums with regards to your course, and a quick search on Google Images or Pinterest will result in a load of images and examples of others' final art pieces. Remove the topics for which the source material is too simple and won't provide enough visual variety to explore for two academic years. Also after reading your tips I realise it has to convey emotion. It is getting more expensive to keep online thanks! Do students believe she has achieved what she set out to do? Five pointers for better written analysis. All students achieved a Grade 9, but that is also including the 60% coursework component. Each artist has a range of interests, experiences and perspectives. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. To help you put some of the above advice into practice, weve prepared an accompanying download containing model A01 presentations, visual examples of an artist research page and several other art and design writing resources. Painting Coursework folio boards by Lauren Day from Green Bay High School: Painting Coursework final piece by Hera Lorandos from St. Lawrence College: Painting Coursework folio boards by Michaela Coneyof Waiuku College: Note: For inspiration about how to present your brainstorming, you may like to viewHow to make a Mind Map: creative examples for high school Art students. Ceramic work should be fired and completed before you present it for assessment, and you'll need plenty of time for drying-out and firing. As art teachers, were all familiar with the arc of a project. Even just one of the sins would be sufficient for an A2 theme. SOPHIA:Im about to begin my AS Art and we have been asked to produce work over the summer on the topic they have given us. I enjoy painting, sketching, chalk and I love mixed media work. I would love the presentation to help some of my higher achieving students. GCSE art - Final piece resource Download Now Download Now Secondary Art & Design This is a fab resource as my daughter is in her final year of GCSE and with teacher changes it has been tough, so all help is very much appreciated. It opens the door for you become a real artist making art about what matters to you. Whatever the case, as suggested in my responses to the above two questions, you need to begin by identifying issues that really matter to you and using these as the starting point for exploring landscape. There is no requirement for a final piece, though students are asked to realise intentions for AO4. Get rid of those topics for which the source material lacks any aesthetic appeal. If you are wondering how on earth to even begin your journey on the art syllabus, then don't panic! The development stage should be focused on exploring and experimenting and, remember, every idea and effort has its place even if it is less successful than another idea. AMIRIA: I really like your repression theme. Finally, I have included photographs of all of the final pieces completed in the 10 hour exam / controlled assessment. This choice is therefore very well-suited to those wishing to fulfil a career in advertising. It is difficult to say whether your topic needs to be developed further without seeing your work but the body of work as a whole should show developmentfrom a starting point towards a resolved work. Find quotes from respected art critics. perhaps a thriving industrial area that became disused for some reason and then became overtaken by graffiti / vandalism etc. By signing up you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. INAPICKLE:Hi! The real issue at hand, however, is whether you have established what your work is actually about. have a lot of vast open spaces to show freedom, buffalo skulls and dark colours which depict death of the land, a main character (a girl), her tattoos and an old school car. Thanks for your comment I have just shared it. A drawing, for example, of a doll that is proportioned unusually, may appear to be an inaccurate, badly proportioned drawing of an ordinary doll. Issue 1 This shows the candidate experimenting with materials and considering the composition for the final piece. Does the work I am producing have an aesthetic quality? the desertion (decay) of traditional urban social centres (i.e. I did the Day of the Dead festival for my GCSE and got an A*. Why? Similar colours have been used throughout, linking the different aspects of the work and making the page cohesive. Do not worry about your sketchbook becoming messy. Eliminate those which are insignificant and lacking in substance, along with those that are out of reach (i.e. Hi, thanks for your comment! (You can unsubscribe at any time.). They were on Natural Form (Fish) and Waterways. Sorry its taken a little while . Art is an excellent option that provides a balance with core subjects. So, in order to keep projects open to ensure experimentation and exploration is genuine we remove any specific final piece planning. My theme right now is Arizona (desert), which was inspired by a dream I had of an open road journey. If, however, you are fast approaching the Summer term with no clue as to which direction your art course is going to take you, then now is the time to really firm up your ideas and plans. It would be great if you can share these GCSE materials with me so that I can show them to my Grade 9students. thank you . Hi, thanks for your message! I hope its helpful in trying to explain / show the difference to your students , Thanks for your comment I shared it with you . I find this site very helpful and encouraging, so thanks. This page in Nikau's IGCSE Art portfolio begins the development of ideas towards her final piece. This doesn't mean it needs to be obviously 'pretty', as often the beauty of art is finding the beauty in the ordinary or mundane. As an Art student in the UK, you are likely to be enrolled on either the AQA Art & Design course or the OCR equivalent. Thank you! Hi, no problem, I just shared it! Quick drawing activities like warm ups etc. Planning page for Art and Design GCSE final piece. Below is a step-by-step guide that IGCSE, GCSE, A Level Art students (and those from manyother high school Art qualifications) may use to help brainstorm, evaluate and select an outstanding subject, topic or theme for their high school Art project. This looks like a brilliant resource. Help! This project is basically a personal experimentation project, so I can literally do anything for this project which is why Im struggling slightly to find an idea. Thanks for your comment. What you decide to work on during your exam should not be a decision you take lightly, and should be something that you have planned and put a lot of thought into. Throughout my work, the true identity of the model is hidden. Could you substitute cow skulls for buffalo skulls (your school science dept should have some)? This project is basically a personal experimentation project, so I can literally do anything for this project which is why Im struggling slightly to find an idea. Thanks in advance. She is highly dedicated, a perfectionist and (I know Im biased) an amazing artist. AMIRIA: Your ideas are not new, as such, in that others have explored them before, but I dont think they are clich. Even if these things are ultimately depicted in way that is stylised and surrealistic, it helps immensely to have quality source material the beginning. Also, I was thinking of basing my work on something manmadebut I dont know what I could possibly do under manmade. I hope this is useful for you! Any idea as to what I can base my five pages on? What does your teacher think? Would love to share with my pupils. Alternatively, you are welcome to. I usually have students work on design sheets so these are photographs of all the design sheets and any final pieces the students made. Was this difficult with time constraints and letting each layer dry? If you are familiar with the Art & Design course, you will know that your final piece counts as 40% of your overall grade and that the other 60% is awarded for the effort you put into your portfolio during the two academic years leading up to the final exam. Any particular approaches used in a final piece need to be evidenced in that preceding work. They tell us she lived in a place and time when the world was at war. The final part of the examination project is a 10-hour exam where you will create your final piece, but what exactly are you allowed to do in that time under the exam settings? I am struggling with a theme for my art A2 Level Unit 3. A Level Art Ideas: This emotive final piece, exploring a topic of self-harm, is rich and raw with emotion. Some points of focus will vary according to the medium. historical buildings seem to be something a teenager might like aesthetically, but dont appear to have much personal relevance (correct me if I am wrong). As such, in this article, we will look at how you can gain those top marks by making your portfolio and final piece tie together. Ive just shared it best of luck with your new GCSE classes! They brought it in at different stages to show me and was following a tutorial on YouTube they were really independent, it was great work . Find top resources for primary school art here. If you are getting close to the exam period and you are starting to feel a bit on edge about your choices when it comes to your final piece, then run your ideas and concerns past your art instructor, your family and your friends to see if they can offer you some encouragement or constructive criticism. Beautiful work and amazing variety in the projects. It could be about something that has happened to you in your private life or it could be your way of screaming at the world about a global issue. Imagine a diamond shape on its side You start off with a single theme, you widen your search to cover a broad range of interconnected sub-themes and then you head to a specific, related yet developed point once again which will culminate in your final piece. These could lend themselves to beautiful abstract works. 5 is great but I can see their work is worth more but lacks the depth ! Similarly, some items particularly disproportionate drawings or designs by others are very challenging for a high school student to replicate. This looks great, How do I get a copy please? Think carefully about the topics that you have written down during the above activity and now start to filter through your options. The key to picking a topic is to find one that is really important to you (on an emotional level, not just an intellectual level). When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. the work that you complete throughout the two-year period) whilst 40% will be based on how you perform in your final assessment and the final piece of artwork that you produce as a result of those 10 hours of supervised work . So far Ive been working on different postures of the human body wrapped with drapery in an attempt to symbolise repression a characteristic well known to myself as Im a repressive person. You will be able to add to your sketchbook during the exam however you ideally want to be focused on your final piece and have already completed all the preparation you need ahead of the day of the exam. I was thinking of doing Rural vs Urban but as I am in love with Venice and other historical buildings that I feel the need to paint them for my art board!! At the moment my new idea is the loss of innocence/complete mental destruction and changed perception of the world through the experiences of war, told from a third person point of view with a solider as the main character (like a narrative). She explored a fantasy / spiritualistic theme, interpreting the set starting point 'Force'. I love it! Its important to understand that were not here to create historical documents. So nice for your sharing and your teaching materials are always so helpful. Also weaved into that idea is the idea of being so easily manipulated/brainwashed by the government into being merely a playing piece/slaughtered in their game of war. If you are really stuck, take something ordinary and do something unusual to it. When first published, this article received over eight hundred comments from students looking for direction and assistance with their high school art projects. Leave a rating. The top section of the diagram contains general areas to trigger brainstorming; the bottom outlines the evaluation process. I have used it with my own classes and found it useful. Hi, thanks for your comment we use AQA. I have been thinking about doing the seven deadly sins as a project, and Ive done some research on this topic. Drawn with pencil and worked into with ink and then bleach. For example, this module is made up of architectural design, sculpture, ceramics, product design, jewellery and body adornment, interior design, environmental/landscape/garden design, exhibition design, three-dimensional digital design and designs for theatre, and film and television. Im not sure how much discussion goes on in her lessons, but some visual images of what others are doing may just reassure her. I teach art in a Special needs school and our children often respond very positively to art and do produce some amazing work. Dont own or recognise either of my final pieces anymore :-((, The platform that connects students with their private tutors, Remembering How Your GCSE Artwork Fits In, Developing Your GCSE Art Final Piece Ideas. Your site is absolutely awesome. The final piece is the synthesis of the research, recording, experimenting and evaluation . This may or may not feed back directly into their work, but helps them develop a much more rounded understanding of the arts. Students are encouraged from an early stage to begin thinking about their ideas for a final piece. Outstanding High School Sketchbooks, Art teacher blogs, websites and social profiles, Writing an Artist Study: examples, help and guidance, How to select a great topic, subject or theme, Making an art portfolio for college or university, What they didnt tell you about studying high school Art, Creative use of media for painting students, How to make an artist website (and why you need one), How to make a Mind Map: creative examples for high school Art students. I would love to see the presentation please. Tupton Hall School, GCSE Art final piece by pupil from Orleans Park School, Twickenham. What you can expect is for your teacher to introduce topics and ideas for you to explore in your own individual way, and then to see what ideas take off from there. I have just shared it . Title: Close Up, GCSE Art final piece by pupil from Orleans Park School, Twickenham. Thank you for your time, im sorry this post is so long! Any real investigation of an influence must be deeply practical, too. It is this overarching theme that your teacher will help you to develop in class without actually telling you what to do. You could even take images and digitally superimpose them onto other surfaces (i.e. OUR BOOK! In terms of firsthand subject matter, I would be hesitant about only using 3rd party images and would be particularly careful if they are just commonly available photographs (i.e. Enjoyed this article? To start with I have been looking at Leonardo da Vinci and have been inspired by his sketches of human anatomy, but I dont know how to develop this into my own ideas keeping within the Manmade topic. The student did the resin piece in their own time! My feeling is that the seven deadly sins is a very broad topic. 1. Make sure students explain any tricky terminology they use and any key ideas for art movements they mention. I was thinking of seasons but cannot find much information or artists to research and this is important because I have to write an essay on the artist. In total, there are 51 slides with examples of Grade 9 GCSE art projects. If working from an idea that stemmed from photography, then you could play with monochrome versus full colour. The key is to brainstorm, evaluate and select an outstanding subject, topic or theme for your project. ABIGAIL: Hi! When first published, this article received over eight hundred comments from students looking for direction and assistance with their high school art projects. I have to COMPLETELY rethink my original idea for my folio board (NCEA Level 3) and Im really struggling for conceptual ideas.