IB VISUAL ART

CAPUCHINO HIGH SCHOOL

MS. ZAN LEVINE, VAPA DEPARTMENT CHAIR

MR. DEMIAN MARTENS, IB ART TEACHER

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND PHILOSOPHY

The IB Diploma Program visual arts course encourages students to challenge their own creative and cultural expectations and boundaries. It is a thought-provoking course in which students develop analytical skills in problem-solving and divergent thinking, while working towards technical proficiency and confidence as art-makers. 

In addition to exploring and comparing visual arts from different perspectives and in different contexts, students are expected to engage in, experiment with and critically reflect upon a wide range of contemporary practices and media. 

The course is designed for students who want to go on to study visual arts in higher education as well as for those who are seeking lifelong enrichment through visual arts.


LEARNING OUTCOMES

Throughout the course students will:

· develop the skills and techniques of investigation—both visual and written

· relate art to its cultural and historical contexts

· explore art concepts and elements

· develop and use the processes of art criticism and analysis

· develop confidence and expertise in the use of various media

· extend their knowledge of design

· share their work with an audience through displays and exhibitions or presentations

· extend individual investigation to inform practical work

· make connections between ideas and practice—both their own and others’


IB RIGOR

IB Art is not an easy class, it is sometimes quite daunting and I expect that you approach this course with integrity and resilience. The workload of this course requires strong emotional and mental qualities, as well as diligence and consistency. If you stay on track you will be working in your sketchbook daily outside of class, and working only on studio projects during studio time in class. The pace of the course is fast, and missing class will result in missing time to work on your projects and consequently a low grade.


ACADEMIC INTEGRITY 

As taken from the Visual Arts Guide, “All coursework--including work submitted for assessment--is to be authentic, based on the student’s individual and original ideas with the ideas and work of others fully acknowledged. Assessment tasks that require teachers to provide guidance to students or that require students to work collaboratively must be completed in full compliance with the detailed guidelines provided by the IB for the relevant subjects.” (p. 4 “The Visual Arts Guide”).


COURSE STRUCTURE 

The course will provide opportunities for students to develop different approaches to the practices of visual arts. The instructor will encourage students to develop their own perspectives and approaches: students’ interests and aesthetic preferences should play a prominent role in determining individual courses of study. Contextual and critical study of past, present-day and emerging practice must be integrated into studio work.