IB Visual Arts HL/SL

IB Visual Arts has taught me so much more than any art class so far. I was so used to art class focusing on one specific medium during the whole semester. When I first stepped into IB Art, I was amazed. The environment was so laid back and so welcoming. Mrs. Rothwell is the kindest teacher ever, who is quick to provide tips to work on your art! So far in the year I have worked with so many different mediums, learned different techniques, while still being able to have enough wiggle-room to work with the art in the way I liked. It’s such a rewarding place, and you seem to get lost in your artwork.

As an IB Art student, I appreciate the individuality and hands-off approach to the class. As a junior, you will be given a new medium to work with each month, though whatever you choose to create with that medium is entirely up to you, so long as it's appropriate. For example, in December, my class worked on sculpture art. My theme is environmental awareness, so I made a Christmas tree made out of plastic bags. My sculpture was almost as tall as I am and that was never an issue. You have lots of freedom to create what you want. Your junior year will consist of you experimenting with new mediums each month so for your senior year, you have a general knowledge of many different mediums and you can decide which ones to hone in on and perfect during your second year of the class.

As a senior, you are your own boss. You are in charge of nearly every aspect of the year. You are in charge of managing your time and have complete freedom in creating what you want. You are in charge of choosing your mediums and can take as long or as little as you need to on them, so long as you have enough pieces for the exam in the spring. Your senior year can be spent focusing on your theme as well as what mediums to perfect. For example, I am going to be including photography, sculpture, and Photoshop for my exam. All your pieces will be in the exhibition at the end of the year, too. During the exhibition (which you also have complete freedom over), students are celebrated for the pieces they created and the hard work they put into every single one. It's very rewarding to be recognized for your talent.

You also go on field trips and have guest speakers. IB Art has taught me a lot about who I am as a person and what I prioritize. I find that most people have a deep connection to their theme, so it's very exciting to see what others create. Passion goes into the projects. I am a lot better at time management and I was able to find new artistic mediums I had never considered trying before. I appreciate the many lessons I've learned. Being around other students inspires you to create amazing things as well. I would highly recommend taking IB art, not just for the credit, but to challenge yourself and see what you are truly capable of. It's my favorite class and I enjoy being apart of it every day.

IB Art is an extremely unique experience for any artist. I originally chose to join the class because of my budding interest in art, and the class welcomed me despite my lack of experience. Although IB Art is definitely more suited for people with a background knowledge of art, the way that the first year of IB Art is taught allows new artists like me to learn. Whether you have many or little experience in art, the class is still demanding because a lot of art needs to be finished by the deadline. IB Art is an amazing class full of new information and a challenging attitude.

This class is so much fun and I would definitely recommend it for anyone who likes art because you get the chance to work with a variety of mediums. I love this class because it's given me a chance to reconnect with my creative side and learn new techniques that have helped me to improve my art skills a lot. I also love that there is so much freedom to create what you want. There of course are times when you need to stick to a certain medium or create a specific type of project like a landscape, but there is a lot of creative freedom in terms of the style of your work and the ideas for your projects that I really appreciate. I also love this class because there is such an encouraging atmosphere. Everyone is supportive of each other and can help to give you great ideas for projects and how to improve your art, and Mrs. Rothwell is such a helpful and caring teacher. I always look forward to this class and I would highly recommend it for anyone who likes to be creative!

I think IB Art is an inspiring and encouraging class, I feel like I am constantly being motivated to think differently and be creative. I also love the aspect of translating an idea or thought into art and problem solving around that or weighing the benefits of expression with certain art forms(mediums), techniques, colors, etc. I find the general set-up of the class to be extremely invigorating since I am not limited to being around the junior, I have the chance to talk to the seniors and look at their work and realize what to expect the next year. And in general with art projects, even when we are practicing a particular skill or medium, I feel like I am still given a lot of freedom to do what I want. Very few times do I feel like I am given something specific to draw or paint and to only use a specific skill. Overall, I think the class provokes a lot of creative expression in addition to just being fun and enjoyable.