Art was a valued choice for me because of the improvement of the curriculum from primary school. I'm in first year and I've already learned many new techniques like thatching. All these skills will prepare you for a possible future in art and are always fun to learn. In one year I've made a finished wire sculpture and a fired clay pot. The best part is being able to choose what you want to make, whether it be a clay jug or a clay mushroom, the choice is yours.
Daniel Nolan, 1st Year
Art was a good subject choice for me because in my old school we never did art and when we did it was to create backgrounds for our plays. In fact the most advanced thing we did relating to art was cross hatching. That all changed when I chose art as a subject in Pres. It is completely different to the art I did in Primary school. In just this year alone I have learned to sculpt, draw, colour pictures properly and shade properly. It was a great introduction to art and I hope next year I will learn even more stuff so thank you to my teacher for a great first year of art.
1st Year student
I picked art because art can really be anything. You can express yourself, your feelings, thoughts and memories. One day you could paint, the next you could do pottery. It is also good because the homework doesn’t feel like homework – its fun and good to clear your head. Coming into the year, I thought “I’m not good at art” but the first thing I did it was so much better than I thought I could do. Art is fun and a nice class to be in and I look forward to every class.
Gregory Healy, 1st Year
I never valued art until I was in state exam years, in 1st 2nd 5th you are giving a foundation on many sources this is vital For learning art and how to approach art. When it comes to 3rd and 6th year mr Rooney guides you in a Direction to your own idea’s this is where I learned to value art where i decided what I wanted to do and done it.
Leaving cert art is definitely worth choosing you don’t have to be piassco to do well just have to have a good attitude And positive thinking the marks are in the detail not the big picture.
Lee O’Reilly, 6th Year
Trust me if you don’t pick art as a subject, you will be sorry. I’ve only been doing art for 1 year and I can already tell it is 100% better than any other art you would’ve done in primary school. In art you learn so much and get to do so many more things than just drawing and painting. You get to do sculpting, pottery and much more. Art makes projects fun and it helps you develop presentation skills.
1st Year Student
Working in art for the past three years has been a great experience. You learn many things about how to draw very well and how to bring your vision to a reality. Your skill in art rapidly grows in the 3 years compared to all of primary school. I would highly recommend it if you are interested in anything from drawing to sculpting to painting to graphic design. The work required pays off in the end.
Ryan Crinion, 3rd Year
I thought art was a valued subject because I learned how to explore and imagine things differently than in primary school and also being able to draw and reflect better aswell.
Odhran S.L.
Art was a good subject choice for me because it is such a step up from art in primary school. You learn so many new types of art like batik and lino. There are so many new things you learn. You don't have to be good at drawing. Art is so much more than just drawing. You also have great skills you develop such as learning how to manage stuff better as there are strict deadlines. There are also great times when the art room is open so you can go into the art room at break or before school. This is great as you can get more work done and add small details to your work you wouldn't be able to get fone in class.
Luke Ivory, 3rd Year
I honestly have good fun being in the art class. When I go in on a Friday and Tuesday morning knowing that I have art makes the day better. Choosing art is a great decision. After a couple of months doing art I realised I love drawing, sculpting, printing, cutting, painting, glazing and all of the above. You may get a bit of homework now and again but the homework is drawing and painting so its fun. I love art. I highly recommend it.
Sean Gaughran, 2nd Year
Art was a good subject choice for me because after doing 3 years in art I now know how to finish to a deadline. Also, the music my teacher put on was calm and relaxing. I also learned many different art techniques like calligraphy which I was looking forward to since primary school.
Abishek Sunny, 3rd Year
Art was a good subject choice for me because it was a good breakup of the day where I could try and be creative. Without a question art is the least boring subject and although it can be stressful at times, it’s all worth it in the end when you can send away a folder of all your work, its more satisfying than anything else.
Robert Zieba, 3rd Year
Art was a good subject choice for me because my teacher had a lovely playlist playing soothing music in the background. I never dreaded art class because it was generally relaxing and peaceful when crafting and drawing etc.
Sam Nolan, 3rd Year
Art was a good subject choice for me because it taught me how to deal with deadlines and doing a project in my own time. This helped my organisation and independence skills that I'll use for the rest of my life.
Jack O'Keefe, 3rd Year
...of what I achieved and the experience of the workload. It was very fun altogether though. It helped me develop my creative thinking.
3rd Year Student
Art was a good subject choice for me because it opened me to be more creative and think more. It also made me feel good completing projects.
3rd Year student
I found art to be one of the most beneficial and enjoyable subjects of the last 3 years I’ve spent in the school. Since I started in pres my artistic skills have increased dramatically and I have learnt a lot about different styles and techniques.
Art has always been one of my favorite subjects and I’ve always looked forward to art class. The class is a great environment to express yourself creatively and make work you can be proud of. Unlike other classes, students have more freedom in art to explore their imagination and feel passionate about what they are making because of the freedom art class allows for.
You don’t need to be an artist to do art and I advise anyone who enjoys exploring their creativity to take on the subject
Anonymous, 3rd Year
Over the course of these 3 years, I strongly feel that I have been supported every step of the way. I’ve learned plenty and made things I previously didn’t know I was capable of. I genuinely recommend choosing this subject.
Timmy Pazur, 3rd Year
I felt that over the course of my CBA1, I developed both as an artist and a student. I learned new skills like lino cutting and block printing. I also learned how important it is to keep on top of my work and to stay organised over the course of a project or a CBA, I felt that the progressive approach rather than an exam for this year in art works well, and gives a better representation of what I learned this year. I also felt the ability to use the art room for work during lunch and before school was very valuable and helped me to get my work done to an acceptable standard. I would also like to thank my teacher for teaching me in art this year and helping me to further develop my ability as an artist.
Ewan Michel, second year
I feel art was a valuable subject choice to me as it is one of the only subjects that allows me to develop my creativity, a skill many new age jobs require as well as the ability to work to deadlines. The subject is a nice change from rote learning classes and the art room is a less stressful, open, and very welcoming environment for all students at all times. I would highly recommend art as a subject choice
Darragh Domican, 5th Year
I feel Art in Pres Bray is an essential option when it comes to the Leaving Certificate. Although I may be biased, the subject teaches you genuine skills for both the workplace and later life. It teaches discipline and self-motivation more so than any subject with the many deadlines. It also allows students to really express themselves as well as further your skills. Overall it is a subject I would gladly pick again.
Jack Massey, 6th Year
At was a good subject choice for me because it put me in a position to keep on top of my work and that trait I will carry on for the rest of my subjects.
Ryan Evans, 3rd Year.
For me I believe that art was a valuable subject as it helped me to choose what subject I would like to do in the future. It also helped me to find what subject I liked more than others. As for art I was able to be creative and express my creativity through my projects. As I’m not the most talkative person ever, conveying my emotions through my projects really helped. They also helped me to be more confident in my daily life and the work I do and present.
Raven Gabriel, 3rd Year
Things I have learned…
If only the art room walls could talk, they would have so much to tell. Here are some of the things I have learned.
I have learned how to analyse, copy, shade or colour drawings. I have learned how to make, bind, smooth and hollow pottery. I have learned how to cut, shape, stick and crush wire. I have learned how to assemble, explain and journey through a visual art sketchpad, and most of all art has taught me patience.
Luke K. Doyle, 1st Year
Art for me is a great way of relaxing and helps me to unwind, its not about memorising information other people have created and studied. Art is about being able to use your own information, you have developed yourself and I find this very stress free, even if some projects are a lot of work.
Craig Pritchard, 5th Year
When I was starting at Pres. I chose to do art for a couple of reasons. The first was I was excited to explore the things I found interesting through, not just drawing, but through sculpting, painting, printing and using objects to put something together. I also chose it because, before I started I wasn’t that good at drawing and I wanted to get better and thanks to the art class I got so much better than I ever thought I would. So for these reasons I feel like art was a valued subject choice for me.
David Carroll, 2nd year
Art was a good subject choice for me because even though there was a lot of work needed, I did enjoy actually doing the Artwork itself and the art classes were always something to look forward to.
3rd Year Student
I feel that art was a valued subject choice for me as it gave me new skills: developing ideas and expressing those ideas to people. As someone who could only draw a stickman before from studying art, I feel more confident about how I can create things in imaginative ways. I believe that art has also helped me with other subjects such as science as it has given me a new way of thinking of the world through lights shape and position. Another reason why I feel that art was a valued subject choice for me is that it is a practical subject. You learn through your understanding of what you choose to practice. As someone with ASD, the class feels more relaxing than others as you work to achieve what you want. This makes it my most favourite subject. I think that the study of art as a subject is good even if your not great at it as you can use what you learn and apply it to other areas of study. And to top it off my teacher is an exceptional art teacher.
Anonymous
I chose to study art for the Leaving Cert at the end of fourth year. My decision was between chemistry and art, I had already settled on physics so I chose art to give variety to my curriculum. I haven't regretted the decision at all, despite the difficulty of achieving high grades in art, and, if given the choice again, would still choose art.
The creativity and engagement involved in art provided a completely different challenge than any other of my subjects. Working on projects, I felt as though I was not working to a fixed curriculum, but that I was electing to work for myself, making my own creative decisions along the way. This freedom and enjoyment actually helped keep my motivation high in other subjects, as I could take a sort of academic break in art. Combined with the incredibly interesting art history course, the subject is extremely rounded and helps encourage lateral thinking which can be applied to all subjects.
Jack Lawlor, 6th Year
Art gives you a chance to experience a different type of learning than other subjects offer. Although the work isn't always easy, it is very rewarding and once you become invested in a project, it's enjoyable. I would recommend art to any incoming students simply because it offers you the chance to experience a different type of learning
Leo Fortune, 3rd Year
I feel art helps me grow in school; that only class of the day you look forward to. It lets you express yourself, do what you want and not what the teacher wants you to do.
Anonymous, 6th Year
I am happy that I chose art for my Junior Cert. I feel that art helped me maintain and expand on my level of creativity something other subjects failed to do. Art allowed me to create, develop and bring to life my own ideas without interference; something I really enjoyed. While it was stressful at times, I think it was well worth it in the end.
Jack Coughlan, 3rd year
Art has been an interesting subject to do during the leaving cert and junior cert. I feel that it has been a process of constant progression which inspires you to get better and improve your knowledge of the subject and of course your techniques. Unlike a lot of other subjects, art is enjoyable and relaxing for the mind.
Anonymous
I think picking art when you come into Pres is very good because it is a very interesting subject and you’re assignments are very detailed. When you are doing an assignment you can come into the art room at break time and catch up on work you have missed. Also you never have much homework because you get given a deadline when doing an assignment so you can work on your own.
Colin O’Shea, 2nd Year
I didn't enjoy every moment of doing art, as it was a lot of work to put in and a lot of lunch time sacrificed to work on projects, but regardless, I feel like it was a valuable subject choice for me, for a few reasons.
Doing art reinforced just how much work is expected of us in secondary school. Between all of the prep sheets, support studies and finished works, doing art took a lot of work. Yet, this came with a lot of pay-off and satisfaction at the end. Finishing such a large amount of work really does feel great in the end, and that sense of relief that you get when you don't have any more work to do for the time being really encourages me to push through on my other subjects, not just art.
Another reason art was a valuable subject choice to me because it also showed clearly to me signs of improvement in my work. I still don't see my art as super high-quality, but looking back on my work from before Pres, and even in 1st and 2nd year to a degree, a lot of my newer works show very clear signs of improvement.
Overall, art has served as a visual representation to me more than any other subject of how much I've improved over time, and it's encouraged me to work harder in other subjects. I'm happy with my choice to pick it for my Junior Cert.
Gerard McKendry, 3rd Year
I felt art was a valued subject choice for me as although it was hard, I learnt a lot and I felt a sense of achievement every project I finished.
Daniel Williams, 3rd Year
Learning art can help me better understand different styles of art, such as Kesulu style, Gothic style and retro style.and like ACG and games. Learning art can help me better understand what painters mean.In particular, some games will make you want to know more about these art styles.
Tommy Chen, 3rd Year
I have always had an interest in clothes and fashion and so throughout my art projects this year I have explored my interest thoroughly which has led me to find an interest in puppet making as I am able to work with textiles and see what goes into making clothes. The art projects throughout fifth year have definitely helped me explore and understand my interest in fashion.
Ronan Dempsey, 5th Year
I chose this subject because I enjoy the free/creative aspect to it that gives you the ability to make and develop your own ideas on a project. I recommend the subject if you enjoy being creative and listening to music in class.
Anonymous
Choosing art as a subject choice has proven to have been a worthwhile decision. Art has helped me express my creativity in a way no other subject has. It has been one of my enjoyed subjects and I feel that my skills as an artist have greatly improved since I first chose the subject. I have always liked art since I was younger and have always had an interest in drawing and sketching, however, thanks to my teacher I appreciate art far more than I used to and enjoy it just as much.
Pearse O’Neill, 6th Year
I feel art was a valued subject choice for me as it makes you notice and appreciate things much more in the natural world such as nature and wildlife.
Anonymous
Art is second year is a very valued subject as it helps explore different creative processes that could help in other classes in things like projects.
Anonymous
Art was a valued subject choice for me because I could show my creativity and skills that I developed throughout the years in my work. I learned new ways/methods when doing a piece and learned to observe/see things differently and to see art work from an artistic perspective. Also it might help me in the future in college if I decide to do architecture.
Anonymous
Throughout the three years that I did art I learned different mediums of art. Art made me try different art styles and different genres of art. I learned how to use new and different types of tools. Overall it has been a great experience.
Anonymous