Kōpaki Toi - 1.4 folio development

Your folio consists of a series of related works around a theme or concept.

You are not just making cool art pictures. You are trying to say something with them to a viewer. You are having a conversation via your artwork.

A successful portfolio will take around 4-5 hours a week for 10 weeks [approx 50 hours]

Subject Reference Visual Arts 1.4 [AS91915] v3

Title Create a sustained body of related artworks in response to an art-making proposition

Level 1

Credits 5

Assessment External

Copy of as91915 1.4.pdf

Creating Connections in Your Artwork:

Your artwork should tell a story. To do this effectively, you need to think about how your pieces connect and flow together. Imagine your artwork as a collection of related pieces that unfold and develop systematically. You can achieve this by using one or more of the following:

Color: A shared color palette can create harmony and link different pieces together visually.
Subject Matter: Explore variations on a central theme or subject. For example, you might focus on portraits, landscapes, or still life, but with subtle differences in each piece.
Concept: A strong concept or idea can run through your entire series, providing a unifying thread.
Style and Technique: Experiment with a particular style or technique, such as pointillism, abstract expressionism, or photorealism, and explore its possibilities across multiple works.
Motifs: Recurring symbols, patterns, or shapes can create visual connections and add layers of meaning to your work.

By consciously developing your artwork in a series with a clear sequence, you can create a more cohesive and engaging body of work that tells a compelling story.

TIP: WHAT WORK DO YOU ALREADY HAVE THAT FITS YOUR BOARD/THEME? IF ITS THE WRONG SIZE - WHAT CAN YOU DO TO MAKE IT FIT? CROP? COLLAGE AND EXTEND?

LAYOUT

This really depends upon how your ideas develop. It is recommended that your folio consists of 5-6 works and should be well planned out with your biggest and best work at the bottom/bottom right

Use this document below of layouts. [and look at eaxmples of folios on this page]

Plan Your Layout

Grab a sheet of A1 butcher's paper and tape it to your Panel board.
Sketch out your chosen layout directly onto the paper. Don't worry about being perfect – this is just a guide!
Number each artwork in your layout from 1-5.

BOARD LAYOUT TEMPLATES

board layout ideas 2025.pdf

Bringing Your Ideas to Life

Develop Your Compositions
- For each artwork, create 2-3 thumbnail sketches in your visual diary exploring different compositions.
- Choose your favorite thumbnail and draw it onto the butcher's paper within the corresponding numbered section.
Prepare Your Painting Surfaces
- Cut your painting card (or canvas paper/watercolor paper) to the sizes needed for each artwork.
- Apply gesso to each piece and temporarily attach them to your board using Blu Tack, underneath the butcher's paper.
Experiment with Color and Technique
- - In your visual diary, play around with color schemes, painting styles, and different mediums. This will help you establish a consistent look across your panel.
Start Painting!
- - Work on multiple pieces at the same time. This helps ensure a consistent color scheme and is a great way to manage your time.
  - Begin with background washes. Apply your chosen colors to all your gessoed surfaces.
  - Sketch your compositions. Lightly transfer your designs onto the painted surfaces.
  - Block in main colors and backgrounds. Focus on establishing the overall tones and shapes in each piece.
  - Add details gradually. As your paintings progress, start refining individual pieces and adding finer details.
Remember: This is a process of exploration and refinement. Don't be afraid to adjust your plans and make changes as you go!

Why You Should Work on Multiple Paintings at Once

The image below show how working on multiple paintings simultaneously can be beneficial. In the photos of her folio we can see that she has worked on all 5 pieces. Imagine the student ran out of time. If she had only finished the first 2-3 then she would have an incomplete board [not achieved]. BUT wokring across ALL pieces means that if you run out of time, you still have a complete board with partially completed works.... this can still lead to an achievd or higher, depending upon your painitng style..

Working this way helps you:

Maintain a consistent color scheme: It's hard to mix the exact same color twice, so working across all pieces helps keep the colors unified.
Manage your time effectively: You can make progress on all your pieces even if you have limited time in each session.

This approach ensures a more cohesive and complete-looking panel, even if you face time constraints.

How do you achieve originality?

create a LOT of work and eventually you will run out of average and be forced into innovative - ideas come out of the process

How can you engage the viewer?

dramatic composition and skilful use of colour and value interesting and relatable subject matter

How do you demonstrate growth? make every picture better than the last?

To do this you need to make more than the minimum - sometimes there is regression, sometimes our next work is not our best!

How can you demonstrate technical competence?

practice practice practice learn learn learn actively seek out ways to learn..

The work you produce needs to show a clear link to your Kaupapa and skill in your chosen media. a range of techniques and media have been used to support the development of your ideas. Your selection of techniques and media could include aspects of drawing, painting, gelli printing, cyanotype and mixed media....

REMEMBER TO DOCUMENT YOUR EXPLORATIONS AND IDEAS AS YOU GO.... YOUR VISUAL DIARY SHOULD BE SHOWING COLOUR PLAY, DESIGN CHANGES AND THOUGHT PROCESS...

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