Visual Arts

Group 6 subject

“The visual arts are an integral part of everyday life, permeating all levels of human creativity, expression, communication and understanding. They range from traditional forms embedded in local and wider communities, societies and cultures, to the varied and divergent practices associated with new, emerging and contemporary forms of visual language. They may have a sociopolitical impact as well as ritual, spiritual, decorative and functional value; they can be persuasive and subversive in some instances, enlightening and uplifting in others. We celebrate the visual arts not only in the way we create images and objects, but also in the way we appreciate, enjoy, respect and respond to the practices of art-making by others from around the world. Theories and practices in the visual arts are dynamic and ever-changing, and connect many areas of knowledge and human experience through individual and collaborative expression, creative production and critical interpretation.” IBO 2014

IB Visual Art embraces a wide variety of expressive and conceptual approaches. Students learn to investigate deeply and locate themselves within a historical/cultural context and to extend their use of materials, processes and concepts beyond traditional boundaries. The course evolves as the art and design world advances in both traditional, digital and contemporary approaches to creative thinking. Both intellectual and emotional learning are developed through the study of Visual Art.

While students are introduced to advanced processes and materials, the media they choose to use throughout the two years of the course is at their discretion. Through the investigation and experimental phases, students discover the most appropriate media and approach. The course rapidly becomes very personal.

Course content

The course encompasses a wide range of activities designed to encourage students to explore and discover new possibilities in the visual arts. Students develop ideas and themes for their studio work and refine their skills in their process portfolio (sketchbook). New art processes and concepts, the use of media, and learning research techniques that yield many possibilities for studio works are the driving force for work in the process portfolio. Gallery visits, drawings, experiments with materials and approaches, and historical and critical analysis are included. Divergent and convergent strategies are employed.

In the art studio, students develop an exciting and highly personal portfolio of work in preparation for their exhibition. Both process work and final artworks can also be used for their university admissions portfolio for those who choose to apply to further education in the visual arts.

For Visual Arts syllabus, please click here.

Skills developed

• visual literacy and observation skills

• visual research and in-depth investigation

• the ability to experiment with a range of visual solutions for communicating their intentions

• critical analysis of artwork

• to consider the social, historical, geographical and cultural influences on art

Assessment

Both the practical artwork and the process portfolio are assessed frequently throughout the course so that students can track their positive progress. At the end of the course, the work of the student will be both externally and internally assessed for the purpose of assigning the final mark.

External assessment – 60%

• comparative study – 20%

research, analyse and compare different artworks by different artists. Investigate purpose, technique and results.

• process portfolio (sketchbook) – 40%

the process portfolio is an ongoing process of art-making, engagement with different media, techniques and processes involved in making their own body of work; this is where ideas are recorded and refined in preparation for the studio work; this is internally assessed with the following criteria:

• skills, processes and techniques: practising technical skills that will later help the studio work

• critical studies: observation, reflection and analysing the work of others as well as your own work

• planning: develop ideas through compositional studies, colour and value studies and the like

• reflecting on the work of one’s own and of others to refine personal studio work

• presentation and use of specialist art vocabulary to a progressively more advanced level

Internal assessment – 40%

• studio work: an exhibition with a short written rationale

students create a portfolio of studio work over the two years and display the more resolved artworks in an exhibition; the selected artworks show evidence of their technical accomplishment during the visual arts course and an understanding of the use of materials, ideas and practices appropriate to visual communication; students reflect on changes made during the process of creation and provide a rationale for the decisions regarding the selection of certain pieces for the exhibition.

The studio work is assessed according to the following criteria:

• self-direction and independent judgment while extending personal boundaries

• sensitivity to materials chosen and ability to review work as it progresses

• understanding the ideas and techniques that underpin artistic expression

• technical skill

• thoughtful development of ideas and strategies for expression

• confidence and inventiveness

• personally relevant artwork that show cultural and historical awareness

University courses and careers

The course is useful for those wishing to pursue tertiary education in the following fields: fine art, art history, animation, architecture, interior design, theatre design, graphic design, photography, fashion, textiles and jewellery design, ceramics and industrial design, arts administration and television production. However, the course is also suitable for those who may not wish to pursue an art-related career, but would like to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of the subject as well as the ability to discover multiple solutions for any given problem and develop their creativity further.