Senior Visual Arts

Course Overview: This full-year course focuses on learning a range of skills, processes, and techniques to develop both practical and communicative skills. Through hands-on exploration, you will investigate, generate, and resolve ideas to create your own artworks based in an Aotearoa context as well as your own culture and identity. By gaining expertise in artistic processes such as drawing, painting, printmaking, and photography, you will learn to express ideas effectively and communicate visually through your work. 

Equipment/Stationery: Art Pack from National Art Supplies or purchase an A3 spiral-bound sketchbook, a pack of drawing pencils, an eraser, a sharpener, scissors and a glue stick.

Recommended Prior Learning: 10 Art

Assessment Information

• Endorsement available: Yes

• Internal credits: 10

• External credits: 10

• Total credits: 20

• L1 Literacy credits: 0

• Numeracy credits: 0

Next Steps: Students can progress toYear12 Painting (APT200), Year12 Photography PHT200)(, or  Year12 Printmaking (APR200)

Course Overview: Over this full-year course, you will experiment with watercolour, inks, layering of acrylic paints, and learn paint application techniques. You will cultivate self-management skills as you create prolonged artworks, using critical analysis and reflection to refine your process. Guided by established practice and creative visual problem-solving, you'll make a cohesive portfolio and, in turn, build confidence and resilience in your art practice.

Equipment/Stationery: Art Painting Pack

Recommended Prior Learning: ART100 or, if you are new to the subject, HOD approval.

Assessment Information

• Endorsement available: Yes

• Internal credits: 8

• External credits: 12

• Total credits: 20

Next Steps: Students can progress to Painting 300

Course Overview: Level 2 Photography is a senior specialist Visual Arts course. You will learn to use a DSLR camera and how to digitally and physically manipulate photographs. You will also investigate established photography practice to apply to your own work. Having your own camera is a bonus, but we have school cameras available. This is a full-year course.

Equipment/Stationery: DSLR camera (optional). For guidance on which camera model is suitable, please see HOD Art if you wish to purchase a DSLR camera. A4 clearfile

Recommended Prior Learning: Year 11 Art (ART100) or  Year 11 Design & Visual Communication.

Assessment Information

• Endorsement available: Yes

• Internal credits: 8

• External credits: 12

• Total credits: 20

• UE Reading credits: 0

• UE Writing credits: 0

Next Steps: Students may progress to Year 13 Photography (PHT300)

Course Overview: Level 2 Printmaking is a full-year, senior specialist Visual Arts course designed to turn your passion for drawing and design into evolving art prints. You will gain practical, tactile experience with printing presses, carving tools, inks, and techniques like monoprinting, relief printing (woodblock and linocut), and intaglio etching. Unlike digital art, printmaking embraces "happy accidents" and endless experimentation—giving you the freedom to explore colour mixes, paper textures, and unique layer combinations. By investigating established artists to inspire your own work, you will refine your creative voice and build a two panel portfolio by the end of the year.

Equipment/Stationery: Printmaking art pack

Recommended Prior Learning:  Art100

Assessment Information

• Endorsement available: Yes

• Internal credits: 8

• External credits: 12

• Total credits: 22

Next Steps: Students progress to Printmaking 300 or Painting 300

Course Overview: Building on what you learned in Level 2 Painting, this full-year course gives you the opportunity to develop your painting techniques further and turn your personal ideas into a comprehensive, cohesive portfolio of paintings centred on a theme of your choice. Beyond refining your art-making skills, you will learn to hone your high-level critical thinking, visual literacy, and project management as you analyse artworks, critique your own work, and solve complex visual art challenges. By taking full ownership of your work from concept to final portfolio, you'll build independence, adaptability, and confidence in your creative voice. 

Equipment/Stationery: Painting Art Pack

Recommended Prior Learning: Painting APT200 or, if you are new to the subject, HOD approval.

Assessment Information

• Endorsement available: Yes

• UE approved: Yes

• Internal credits: 8

• External credits: 14

• Total credits: 22

• UE Reading credits: 0

• UE Writing credits: 0

Next Steps: Students can progress to Visual arts courses; Tertiary study (Graphic Design & Visual Communication (BDes); Fine Arts & Visual Arts Degrees (BFA / BVA); Bachelor of Screen Arts / Film & Television Production or  jobs in creative industries, or moving directly into professional studio pathways.

Course Overview: In this full-year course, you will deepen the technical and conceptual skills you built in Level 2. You will gain total creative agency to build a cohesive, themed portfolio of photography from the ground up, examining classic and contemporary photography  artists while learning to critique visual media with confidence. Having your own DSLR camera is a bonus, but school equipment is readily available so anyone can participate. This course goes far beyond taking photos—it develops high-level critical thinking, self-evaluation, and project management skills highly valued in design, creative tech, and university-level study. 

Equipment/Stationery: DSLR camera (optional). Please see HoD Art if you wish to purchase a DSLR camera of your own, for guidance on which particular model is suitable.

Recommended Prior Learning:  Photography 200 or, if you are new to the subject, HOD approval.

Assessment Information

• Endorsement available: Yes

• UE Approved: Yes

• Internal credits: 8

• External credits: 14

• Total credits: 22

• UE Reading credits: 0

• UE Writing credits: 0

Next Steps: Students can progress to Visual Arts courses; Tertiary study (Graphic Design & Visual Communication (BDes); Fine Arts & Visual Arts Degrees (BFA / BVA); Bachelor of Screen Arts / Film & Television Production); jobs in the creative industries; or moving directly into professional studio pathways.

Course Overview: Printmaking 300 offers senior students thematic freedom paired with technical printmaking methods. Built around an inquiry-learning framework, you will investigate established artists, pose critical visual questions, and solve creative and technical challenges independently. Throughout this full-year course, you will master skills in monoprinting, woodblock/linocut relief carving, and intaglio etching. By driving your own projects from research to finished print, you will cultivate strong problem-solving skills, critical thinking habits, and a self-directed work ethic, producing a high-impact portfolio tailored for success beyond school.

Equipment/Stationery: Printmaking art pack from National Art Supplies

Recommended Prior Learning: Painting 200 or HOD approval.

Assessment Information

• Endorsement available: Yes

• Internal credits: 8

• External credits: 12

• Total credits: 20

• UE Reading credits: 0

• UE Writing credits: 0

Next Steps: Graphic Design & Visual Communication (BDes); Fine Arts & Visual Arts Degrees (BFA / BVA) ; Bachelor of Screen Arts / Film & Television Production