Year 10 art

Creating art helps you become a better thinker. When you draw, sculpt, or paint, you’re not just making something cool—you’re also improving your ability to understand and use visual information. These visual-spatial skills can even help you perform better in sports! By practicing art, you learn how to see and think in new ways that can be useful in all kinds of situations. 

As you keep practicing and improving in art, you’ll not only get better at creating, but you’ll also build confidence in yourself. The more you see your skills grow, the more you’ll believe in what you can achieve, both in art and in other areas of your life. Art helps you trust in your abilities and feel proud of what you create. 

Art is not just for artists! The skills you learn in art—like creativity, problem-solving, and thinking outside the box—are valuable in so many careers. Whether you want to be an engineer, a scientist, a business leader, or even work in tech, the ability to come up with fresh ideas and approach challenges creatively will help you succeed. Art helps you see the world differently, and that’s a skill everyone needs, no matter what job you choose.

These include creative industries such as:

• Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Advertising, Web Design, Game Concept Artist, Architecture, Special Effects Designer

• Artist, Photographer, Printmaker, Sculptor, Performance Art, Filmmaker, 

• Interior Design, Textile Design, Fashion Design, Costume and Set Designer

• Art Restorer, Gallery Curator, Exhibition Manager, Teacher, Art Historian

• There are also a wide range of courses available for those wanting to follow a creative digital pathway in the future. 

Visual skills are essential for a sophisticated workforce, so by studying Art you gain an education in the vital skills of learning to see and develop the ability to interpret and critique our image-saturated world. 

You'll explore both traditional and modern styles of making art, including:

• Observational Drawing and Painting: Learning to draw and paint what you see.

• Developing Ideas: Experimenting with different materials and methods to create art.

• Learning About Art in Aotearoa: Discovering the unique art and culture of New Zealand.

Here’s what you’ll focus on:

• Practical Skills: You’ll learn how to draw what you see, focusing on shapes, shadows, details, and textures. You’ll also practice getting the right proportions and perspective. Plus, you’ll get hands-on experience with painting, printmaking, and using different art tools and materials.

• Creativity and Idea Development: You’ll learn how to express your ideas and imagination through art, inspired by the work of other artists.

• Communicating and Interpreting: You’ll practice writing about art, explaining your ideas, and discussing your work and the work of others, both in writing and out loud. This will help you make connections between your art and the art you study.

Throughout this course, you’ll get hands-on experience in different areas of visual art, helping you decide which art disciplines you might want to focus on in the senior levels. You’ll also create artwork you can be proud of while expanding your creative skills. Here’s what you’ll dive into:

Introduction to Drawing and Painting

You’ll start by exploring the world of dry media, like charcoal and graphite, learning how to create detailed and expressive drawings. As you get more comfortable with these tools, you’ll move on to painting from observation, where you’ll focus on capturing details, light, and shadows. You’ll also practice using acrylic paint with precision and control.

Pepeha Woodcut Printmaking

In this unit, you’ll connect with the school’s pepeha—our unique stories and heritage. You’ll learn how to turn these cultural narratives into powerful designs. You’ll then explore reduction woodblock printmaking, where you carve and print multiple layers from a single block to create your final image. This technique will help you build the skills needed for Year 11 painting and printmaking.

Pūrākau - Character Design

Here, you’ll dive into pūrākau and mythology from your cultural heritage to inspire your character designs. You’ll study these stories to understand the characters, themes, and cultural meanings. Then, you’ll learn key drawing skills like anatomy, gesture, expression, and costume design, bringing your characters to life. This unit prepares you for Year 11 Concept Art and Design by equipping you with the technical skills and creative thinking needed for more advanced projects.

Album Covers

In this final unit, you’ll take on a personal creative project to design an album cover using any art medium you like—whether it’s painting, drawing, photography, or digital art. You’ll express your unique style and vision. Once your artwork is complete, you’ll dive into Photoshop to learn typography and design. You’ll explore how to combine text and images effectively, creating a visually striking album cover.

This course is assessed using our WC Learning Progression Framework and provides an excellent foundation for students wishing to continue onto Year 11 Painting and Printmaking or Year 11 Photography and Sculpture or Year 11 Concept Art and Design.