Conventions: established procedures, in making art works, that use particular pictorial devices, techniques or processes to represent, organise, or interpret ideas. Traditional, stylistically or culturally accepted ways of doing things.
In Visual Arts conventions can refer to the combination of art elements, design principles, composition and style.
Conventions refer to the characteristics and constraints applicable, relevant and fitting to established practice within the fields of design, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. These include:
- drawing conventions: approaches and practices
- technical conventions: processes and procedures
- pictorial and conceptual conventions: ideas, themes, imagery and contexts
It is typically recommended that students explore the specific conventions of particular artist models and apply aspects of these in their own pictorial, personal investigations. The criteria are written to be inclusive of a wide range of approaches.
Drawing conventions include (but are not limited to):
Research, drawing notes, sketches, compositional plans, monochromatic and colour studies, collage, digital processes, painting, evaluative notes,
Technical conventions include (but are not limited to):
Wet and dry media, pencil, crayon, charcoal, conte, pen, ink, dye, paint, shellac, collage, shading blending, scumbling, impasto, glazing, layering, drips, dry brush, scratching, graffito, spray paint, wiping, stencil, transfer, multimedia, installation, in situ, digital processes
Pictorial and conceptual conventions include (but are not limited to):
Abstract, figurative, cubist, minimal, decorative, narrative, post-modern, still life, vanitas, landscape, metaphorical, symbolic, portrait, expressive, gestural, hard edge, op, pop, political, historical, cultural, pattern making, surrealist, dada, grunge, street, bombing, graffiti, animation (eg Kentridge), perspective, grid, montage, morphing, juxtaposition (colour/image), monochrome