Art: Making & Exhibiting
Unit 1 Outcome 1
Explore – materials, techniques and art forms
How do artists use materials and techniques in their art making?
The official part:
In this area of we:
-
are guided through an inquiry learning process to experiment with a range of materials, techniques and processes in specific art forms.
-
develop new ways of thinking, as they investigate the characteristics, properties and application of particular materials and how they can be manipulated to create visual language and expression in an artwork.
-
are introduced to different techniques and ways of trialling them.
-
experiment with a range of techniques and approaches, developing skills that foster curiosity and creative thinking and inspire new working practices.
-
engage with artists and artworks to understand the different processes used to make artworks in specific art forms.
-
document and record their findings from their exploration and experimentation in your Visual Arts journal, to use as a reference throughout Unit 1.
-
use annotations and experimental exercises to record and reflect on your experiences, your use of techniques and the manipulation of each material used.
-
also document the meaningful connections they make between materials and techniques, subject matter, and the communication of ideas and meaning in art making.
Understanding the inherent characteristics and properties of materials, their purpose and the historical development of their use in specific art forms enables you to manipulate materials when making your own artworks.
We will investigate the appropriate health and safety practices related to each art form they explore.
VCAA, 2023-2027 Studio Arts Study Design, p. 16
Outcome 1
On completion of this unit you should be able to explore the characteristics and properties of materials and demonstrate how they can be manipulated to develop subject matter and represent ideas in art making.
To achieve this outcome the student will draw on key knowledge and key skills outlined in Area of Study 1.
Key knowledge
• the use of materials, techniques and processes in the historical development of art forms
• the inherent characteristics and properties of materials
• understanding of technical skills when using materials and techniques in art making
• the manipulation of materials and use of techniques to develop subject matter and represent ideas in art making
• the use of materials and techniques to develop visual language in art making
• methods used to document and organise written and visual reference materials
• the use of visual language and art terminology to reflect on and document art making
Key skills
• investigate the use of materials, techniques and processes in the historical development of specific art forms
• investigate the characteristics and properties of materials in art making in specific art forms
• develop and apply technical skills when using materials and techniques in art making in specific art forms
• explore how materials can be manipulated to develop subject matter and represent ideas in art making
• research how artists manipulate materials to develop subject matter and represent ideas in art making
• explore materials and techniques to develop visual language in art making
• progressively document the development of art making in a Visual Arts journal
• use visual language and art terminology to reflect on and document art making
Success Criteria:
READ:
CH 4.2 of Textbook, p 65
What we are actually going to do:
In Unit 1, you will be exploring the following inquiry questions:
How do artists use materials and techniques in their art making?
-
Remember: What is included in the Visual Arts Journal? What are the different art forms I want to look at?
-
Understand: How do artists use visual language?
-
Apply: How do I experiment with materials, techniques and processes?
How will I document and record my findings?
-
Analyse: How is the work of this artist different from another artist we viewed at the excursion?
-
Evaluate: How do I make connections between my research and art making?
-
Create: How do I create a relationship between the materials, techniques and processes
I use and the representation of subject matter?
What can I take on board and apply to/experiment with in my own art making?
Deakin PSTs: Use this resource to help you develop your questions
How you will be assessed:
Helpful stuff:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1xaYDJEyUGmA1nlOIvs6dQKYQ5tqDH1nLzdMErBUyRpY/edit?usp=sharing
(Source: https://aev.vic.edu.au/resources/)
How to annotate artworks
The following tips and guidelines should help you understand how to add quality notes to your pages:
– Reveal your own thinking and personal responses (rather than regurgitating facts or the views of others)
– Explain the starting points and ideas, emphasising personal relevance and your own connections to subjects
– Critically analyse and compare artwork of relevant artist models (both historical and contemporary artists, from a range of cultures). Discuss aesthetics, use of media, technique, meaning/emotion/ideas and the influence of an artist upon your own work. While it is important to conduct research into your artist models (and to convey an understanding of this information), avoid copying or summarising large passages of information from other sources. Instead, select the information that you think is useful for your project and link it with your own viewpoints and observations. Use research findings to make you sound clever and knowledgeable – to prove that you are aware of the artists and cultural influences around you – and to help you to critically evaluate artworks (by giving you background information and a peek into the mind of an artist): do not use it to fill your sketchbook with boring facts.
– Demonstrate good subject knowledge, using correct vocabulary (phrases such as ‘strong contrast’, ‘draws the eye’ and ‘focal point’ etc)
– Reference of all images, artwork and text from other sources, ensuring that artists, websites and books are acknowledged (it should be obvious to an examiner which work is yours when viewing a page, so cite sources directly underneath the appropriate image. Photographs taken by yourself should be clearly labelled, so examiners know the work is yours and reward you for it)
– Communicate with clarity. It doesn’t matter whether you jot down notes or use full sentences, but never use ‘txt’ speak and try to avoid incorrect spelling, as this indicates sloppiness and can hint to the examiner that you are a lower calibre candidate.
It may also benefit you to contemplate the following:
-
What subjects / themes / moods / issues / messages are explored?
-
Why are these relevant or important to the artist (or you)?
-
What appeals to you visually about this artwork?
-
How does the composition of the artwork (i.e. the relationship between the visual elements: line, shape, colour, tone, texture and space) help to communicate ideas and reinforce a message?
-
Why might this composition have been chosen? (Discuss in terms of how the visual elements interact and create visual devices that ‘draw attention’, ‘emphasise’, ‘balance’, ‘link’ and/or ‘direct the viewer through the artwork’ etc.)
-
What mediums, techniques (mark-making methods), styles and processes have been used? How do these communicate a message?
-
How do they affect the mood of the artwork and the communication of ideas?
-
Are these methods useful for your own project?
-
How does all of the above help you with your own artwork?Remember that these questions are a guide only and are intended to make you start to think critically about the art you are studying and creating.
Source:https://vcestudioarts.wordpress.com/unit-3-overview/how-to-annotate-artworks/)
Annotating Art