VCE Studio Arts + VCD

Scope of study

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, you will develop your individual art practice, and communicate ideas and meaning using a range of materials, techniques and processes.

In the practice of Making and Responding, you will develop your 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, you will recognise the interplay between research, art practice and the analysis and interpretation of art works.

This study provides you with an informed context to support an awareness of art as a tool for cultural, social and personal communication, and the stimulus and inspiration to develop your art practice.

 

Rationale

VCE Art Creative Practice introduces the role of art in contemporary and historical cultures and societies, and values the meaningful and unique impact of artists on the development of arts knowledge, tradition and experiences, both locally and globally. You will build an understanding of how artists, through their practice and the artworks they create, communicate personal experiences and ideas, and cultural values, beliefs and viewpoints. In this study, you will view artworks and investigate the working practices of artists from different cultures and periods of time. You will be challenged to articulate your understanding of the meanings and messages contained within artworks and to examine the effects of artworks upon the viewers or audiences who experience them. You will learn to pose and solve problems, and work independently and collaboratively, to create and convey meaning through art making.

Throughout the study you will have opportunities to construct knowledge and communicate personal interpretations by working as both artist and viewer or audience. In making artworks, you will use your creativity to solve problems and experiment with visual language and expression. You will create personal responses and meaning by applying diverse materials, techniques and art processes. You will develop skills in research, art history and critical theory to analyse, interpret and debate the ideas and issues that are raised by artworks and by artists in their practice.

VCE Art Creative Practice uses inquiry through art practice to develop your critical and creative thinking skills and individual responses through researching, exploring, experimenting, developing, reflecting, refining and resolving. Through Making and Responding, and through the presentation of artworks in different contexts, you will understand and appreciate the role of visual art in past and present traditions, societies and cultures.

By building skills in visual literacy and creative and critical thinking, which are essential to both artist and viewer or audience, learning in VCE Art Creative Practice empowers you to be discerning, and to engage with and make sense of what you see and experience. You are equipped with practical and theoretical skills that enable them to follow pathways into tertiary art education, further training in art-related careers, as well as roles that require highly developed critical and conceptual engagement with ideas and issues. VCE Art Creative Practice also offers you opportunities for personal development and encourages you to make an ongoing contribution to the culture of their community through participation in lifelong art-making practices.

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Structure

The study is made up of four units.

Unit 1: Interpreting artworks and exploring the Creative Practice

Unit 2: Interpreting artworks and developing the Creative Practice

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

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

Each unit deals with specific content contained in areas of study and is designed to enable students to achieve a set of outcomes for that unit.

Each outcome is described in terms of key knowledge and key skills.

 

A glossary defining terms used across Units 1 to 4 in the VCE Art Creative Practice Study Design is included in the companion document Advice for teachers.

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Unit 1

Interpreting artworks and exploring the Creative Practice

 

Unit 2

Interpreting artworks and developing the Creative Practice

 

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