Art – Fine Art

Key Contact:  Jamie Malone Jamie.Malone@gryphon.dorset.sch.uk

Syllabus Information:  Students study AQA A Level Art and Design: Fine Art

A Level Fine Art at the Gryphon allows students to explore the genres of Fine Art whilst developing personal creativity through careful observation and the development of skills in recording, drawing, image-making, assemblage, painting and making (clay and mixed media). During the first project, students respond to the theme of Emotions in Portraiture (sub-topics of this theme can also be explored/decided upon, e.g. realist portraiture, abstract, fauvist, particular time periods, etc) and builds skills in: drawing and painting observations; light and form; facial features and anatomy; sculpting facial features; artist studies and critical analysis; experimental drawing (historical and contemporary techniques); classical proportions of the face; monochrome/colour painting, which all builds towards a refined sketchbook and final piece.

In the second project, students engage with a Personal Investigation exploring the genres of Fine Art within their chosen theme. Students investigate and observe their foci in-depth, rigorously recording ideas and further building upon their knowledge of historical and contemporary artists both visually and contextually, whilst increasing their clarity of presentation and composition; all of which leads to professional-looking portfolios of work to aid their future studies at University or Foundation.

Students finish the course on a third project which is an externally set exam (Final Exam Project); students are given a list of externally set themes to respond to in the form of a sketchbook and final piece (the final piece is created during a 15 hour invigilated exam over three days).

All of the exciting projects covered, follow the practices of professionals in key vocations of Fine Art and each element of the curriculum builds skills, critical thinking, confidence and enjoyment, leading to unique experiences and outcomes. KS5 fulfils all the practical skills and experiences for students to help to enable them to progress effectively to creative arts courses or similar at University or Foundation. Students are assessed on the four Assessment Objectives: AO1: Contextual Studies/Artist Studies/Ideas; AO2: Experimentation and development of technique; AO3 Drawing, recording, development of ideas; AO4 Final pieces, appreciations, original drawings/paintings/works from own photography or life.

The course mark-weighting is as follows: 60% Coursework (Natural Forms and Sustained Project) and 40% Externally Set Task (Final Exam Project)

Course Content

Year 12

• Half Term 1-2: Emotions in Portraiture (introduction, recording, experimentation)
• Half Term 3-4: Emotions in Portraiture (monochrome portrait and artist studies)
• Half Term 4-5: Emotions in Portraiture (artist studies continued)
• Half Term 5-6: Emotions in Portraiture (final piece, process and evaluation) and introduction to Personal Investigation.

Year 13

• Half Term 1: Personal Investigation
• Half Term 2: Personal Investigation (including final piece, process and evaluation)
• Half Term 3: Personal Investigation (including final piece, process and evaluation)
• And Externally Set Task
• Half Term 4: Externally Set Task (concluding with 15hr Examination final piece)
• Half Term 5: Conclude coursework module.

Assessment

Students will complete all sketchbook tasks as per the checklist/hand-in dates and related Fine Art outcomes for the 12 assessment tasks in Year 12 and Year 13. These tasks will be cohesive to the structure and flow of the sketchbook. The Assessment headings are as follows:

Year 12

• Emotions in Portraiture
• Emotions in Portraiture: Introduction
• Emotions in Portraiture: Recording and Observational Work
• Emotions in Portraiture: Light and Form
• Emotions in Portraiture: Facial Features
• Emotions in Portraiture: Portrait drawing
• Emotions in Portraiture: Monochrome Portrait
• Emotions in Portraiture: Artist Studies and Appreciations.
• Emotions in Portraiture: Artist Studies and Appreciations.
• Emotions in Portraiture: Final Piece Preparation
• Emotions in Portraiture Final Piece
• Personal Investigation
• Personal Investigation: Introduction
• Personal Investigation: Recording and Observational work.

Year 13

• Personal Investigation: Artist Studies, Appreciations.
• Personal Investigation: Recording and Observational work.
• Personal Investigation: Artist Studies, Appreciations.
• Personal Investigation: Recording and Observational work. Final Piece Preparation.
• Personal Investigation: Final Piece. Process and Evaluation

Externally Set Task:

• Externally Set Task: Introduction.
• Externally Set Task: Observational Work.
• Externally Set Task: Artist Studies.
• Externally Set Task: Appreciations and Responses.
• Externally Set Task: Examination 15 hours (invigilated) Final piece. Process and Evaluation.

Homework

Students will be set homework once per fortnight in conjunction with the Checklist/Hand-in-tasks. Homework tasks will include specific project related research, literacy and drawing, together with completion of classwork.

Useful information, links and resources

AQA | Art and Design | Subject content | Fine art
How your work is assessed: AQA | A-level | Art and Design | Scheme of assessment