IB Art

IB Visual Art Syllabus

IB Visual Arts (Standard Level & Higher Level) – 2 Years Courses are taken Junior and Senior Year

The IB Visual Arts curriculum consists of two years of intensive and experimental work by students in the 11th and 12th grade. It is designed to allow students to gain skills in the art making process and to learn behaviors that encourage artistic growth. Emphasis is placed on linking the core art elements and principles of design to their independent work along with art historical research, art criticism and analysis, and production. This two-year endeavor results in an extensive portfolio and workbook. Work and research is expected outside of the classroom, after school, and everyday. The IB Art student should be open-minded, willing to work hard, and interested in visual experimentation. Additionally, students will expand their knowledge base through visits to galleries, museums, and artists’ studios. The IB Art assessment (at the culmination of the program in the second year), consists of submitting a Comparative Study, a Process Portfolio, and an Exhibition of artwork. This will be a selection of all that has been completed over the two year course. These final assessments will be submitted in April of senior year. Studio work will include the following: Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Ceramics, Sculpture, Site Specific or Installation, Collage, Mixed Media, Photography, and some Digital work. Studio work should be a natural development of the student’s personal interest and style. Grading is based on understanding and execution of ideas and techniques taught, craftsmanship, personal style and experimentation, and time management and effort. Students are expected to attend class according to class schedules. Make up for absences are expected according to school and classroom policy. Make up occurs in a timely, deliberate and focused manner.

IB Visual Art Objectives

Having followed the visual arts course at SL or HL, students will be expected to:

Assessment objective 1: demonstrate knowledge and understanding of specified content

1. Identify various contexts in which the visual arts can be created and presented
2. Describe artwork from differing contexts, and identify the ideas, conventions and techniques employed by the art-makers
3. Recognize the skills, techniques, media, forms and processes associated with the visual arts
4. Present work, using appropriate visual arts language, as appropriate to intentions

Assessment objective 2: demonstrate application and analysis of knowledge and understanding

1. Express concepts, ideas and meaning through visual communication
2. Analyse artworks from a variety of different contexts
3. Apply knowledge and understanding of skills, techniques, media, forms and processes related to art-making

Assessment objective 3: demonstrate synthesis and evaluation

1. Critically analyse and discuss artworks created by themselves and others and articulate an informed personal response
2. Formulate personal intentions for the planning, development and making of artworks that consider how meaning can be conveyed to an audience
3. Demonstrate the use of critical reflection to highlight success and failure in order to progress work
4. Evaluate how and why art-making evolves and justify the choices made in their own visual practice

Assessment objective 4: select, use and apply a variety of appropriate skills and techniques

1. Experiment with different media, materials and techniques in art-making
2. Make appropriate choices in the selection of images, media, materials and techniques in art-making
3. Demonstrate technical proficiency in the use and application of skills, techniques, media, images, forms and processes
4. Produce a body of resolved and unresolved artworks as appropriate to intentions