Art and Design (Fine Art)

Course summary

Many students study Art and Design to give them a solid grounding to enter the Creative Industries. Most students who take this course have been successful at GCSE and many are interested in going into creative professions such as Architecture, Film-making, Make-up and Prosthetics, Fashion Design/Retail, Photography, Graphic Design, Animation, Interior Design, Stage and Set Design, Props Making, Tattooing, Hairdressing, Gardening and Landscape Architecture. However, many students do this A level as a balance against academic subjects and it is accepted by all universities as a stand-alone A level. The course will give you the ability to work independently, think creatively, and gain skills in many visual language techniques. You will explore the work of contemporary artists, be encouraged to see their work firsthand and finish the course with a major exhibition of your work. Year 1: The course consists of an ‘Introduction to Techniques’, a theme-based project, and several months of workshop practice exploring techniques, genres, and styles of artwork. This will include painting, drawing, printmaking, 3D work, and photography. Students will: explore a wide range of studio techniques, and they will produce work in the studio and outside. They will visit galleries, take part in life drawing workshops, and have the opportunity of trips and visits abroad. They will learn to use IT programs to digitally manipulate images, they will be introduced to contemporary and significant historical artists, learn how to evaluate images, and use their techniques to further enhance their work. Students are required to produce a portfolio of practical work and a short essay of 500 words explaining their influences and how they see their work developing as a result of research. Year 2: Year 2 is two units of work. Unit 1 is an independent project, written by the student, expanding on previous studies and exploring in depth their ideas and influences. As part of this, an extended essay is submitted alongside the portfolio of work. Unit 2 is dictated by the exam board and is a practical unit, culminating in a 15-hour exam, where students will produce an outcome based on earlier developments. Students can work in any medium that they have studied throughout the course. An exhibition is mounted to showcase the work and students have to select and mount their show as it is part of the moderation process.