What is established practice?

Established practice refers to works by artists that are recognised as belonging to a particular genre, style, convention, or way of working. The investigation of solutions found in established practice includes past and contemporary artworks.

Conventions appropriate to painting refer to the characteristics and constraints applicable and fitting to the field.

In class we often refer to established practice with the terminology of artist models

What is an artist model?

A practicing professional artist / painter who has been recognised by the art world and published. Work may have been in exhibitions and is in books/magazines.  They are published because of the quality of their artwork.

Artists who you find online (social media) are not considered established artists models unless you do further research and find out if they have exhibited and been published. 

Pinterest, TikTok and Instagram IS NOT your main source of inspiration

It is important that you have a range of artist models. You must make sure you have some artists that are well known an recognised with a combination of New Zealand, International, contemporary and traditional artist.

Why do we use artist models?

To learn from the success and failures of other artists’ work and for inspiration for your own work.​ 

In order to develop your art practice and skills, learners should explore different starting points and processes for making work.

You will utilise and incorporate their ideas / themes / techniques of artist models with your own work. Students are encouraged to investigate a range of approaches to painting through the study of artist models appropriate to their chosen subject matter and interests.

Artist models and established practice are a requirement of NCEA standards.

For each assessment you will be required to show your use of established practice and how you have applied it to your own work. 

Below are examples of student artworks and the use of artist models

Artist model pages and annotations in workbook, e-portfolio

Steps to create artist model page

Select artist models that appeal to you. This could be the theme, style, media or ideas.

They will be used to support you to create your own artworks. You are influenced by the artist model (established practice).

Complete the following on an A3 page.

• At least 2 visual examples of artist models  work.

• Identify the key features of the artist model. Resources below will help you to complete this and also the information on the painting conventions webpage

• Annotations, conventions application and ideas for own work

• Experiment with media. Take risks and play with recreating the techniqies / style of the artist