AS/A2 ART & DESIGN / PHOTOGRAPHY
EDEXCEL
ART & DESIGN
What does studying Art & Design involve?
Art and design stimulates creativity and imagination. It provides visual, tactile and sensory experiences and a unique way of understanding and responding to the world. The course enables you to use and understand art, craft and design as a form of visual communication, to have confidence in reading and evaluating visual images and artefacts. You will also develop your ability to experiment and explore a range of media to realise your intentions.
We teach from a fine art perspective – you will be expected to draw, paint, print, photograph and sculpt your observations of the world around you, developing these through sustained experimentation and by making connections with a wide range of other artists’ work. The main element of the course is practical art making in the studio, although you will also be introduced to key conceptual and *****ytical theories and be expected to undertake written *****ysis. You will need to be able to research independently and to have your own ideas about issues and your immediate environment - the world in which you live.
How will I know if I would be good at it?
You will need to have a good visual awareness, and to have studied a creative subject at GCSE such as Art & Design, Textiles, Graphics or Resistant materials. Art & Design is ideal for students who like to solve problems creatively, experiment with ways of approaching different materials and see things in a different way. Good competent drawing skills will help you establish more fluent marks as the course progresses. It would also be helpful if you have some knowledge of digital photography.
Modules that you will cover and assessment
Both AS and A2 consist of one coursework module and one taught exam module. This will be broken down into smaller workshop based units, looking at skills ranging from printmaking, painting, sculpture, photography, to critical theory and presentation. Work is marked internally according to four basic assessment objectives, the same as at GCSE.
What skills will I develop and where could studying this subject lead?
Aside from the obvious essential practical skills, studying Art & design develops your creative and visual awareness; the ability to undertake independent research, and to *****yse and interpret images. As the subject allows you to express and realise your own ideas, you gain confidence and have the opportunity to exhibit and present your work at the successful summer exhibitions.
Art & Design is an excellent creative A level that enhances research and presentation skills, strengthens understanding of other subjects. It is the pathway into a host of practical and theoretical creative subjects at university level.
PHOTOGRAPHY
What does studying Photography involve?
Photography enables you to frame your view of the world in which you live. It teaches you a unique way of understanding and responding your environment, and asks questions about how others present their views of life. The course enables you to use and understand Photography as a form of visual communication, to have confidence in reading and evaluating visual images and image making. You will also develop your ability to experiment and explore a range of photographic media to realize your intentions.
We teach from Photography from an Art & Design perspective – you will be expected to keep a detailed sketchbook in which you photograph, collage, write, draw and print your observations. These visual notes will then be developed through sustained experimentation and by making connections with a wide range of other Photographers’ work. The main element of the course is traditional black & white Photography in the darkroom, although you will also be introduced to key digital techniques and some film work. You will learn *****ytical theories and be expected to undertake written *****ysis. You will need to be able to research independently and to have your own ideas about issues and your immediate environment - the world in which you live.
How will I know if I would be good at it?
You will need to have a good visual awareness, and to have studied a creative subject at GCSE such as Art & Design, Textiles, Graphics or Media Studies. Photography is ideal for students who like to solve problems creatively, experiment with ways of approaching ideas and see things in a different way. It would also be helpful if you have some knowledge of digital photography, and access to a camera.
Modules that you will cover and assessment
This consists of one coursework module and one taught exam module. This will be broken down into smaller workshop based units, looking at skills ranging from 35mm darkroom techniques, studio lighting, digital manipulation, film, to critical theory and presentation. Work is marked internally according to four basic assessment objectives, and moderated externally.
What skills will I develop and where could studying this subject lead?
Aside from the obvious essential practical skills, studying Photography develops your creative and visual awareness; the ability to undertake independent research, and to *****yze and interpret images. As the subject allows you to express and realize your own ideas, you gain confidence and have the opportunity to exhibit and present your work at the successful summer exhibitions. Photography is an excellent creative A level that enhances research and presentation skills, strengthens understanding of other subjects. It is the pathway into a host of practical and theoretical creative subjects at university level.
For further details please see Mr. C. Whitaker