In Art and Design in Year 7 and 8 we look to help develop student’s creativity, independence and understanding of art and design. This is done through the teaching and practicing of key skills and exploration of topics that help give the students a broad knowledge of Art and Design so they are prepared for the challenges of GCSE. Students homework tasks help that builds their independence, time management and creativity. While at the same time allowing them to explore processes, materials and artists to build their understanding of art and design from around the world. Students will learn how to use Thinking Hard strategies to help them analyse work and evaluate their own work.
Year 7
In Year 7 students develop a good understanding of the key skills needed in Art and a foundation knowledge of practices and terminology that they can then effectively build on throughout their school life. This includes exploring the formal elements such as line, tone, texture, shape, form. Pattern and colour through still-life. We also introduce and refine students use of a range of materials this includes pencil, pen, paint, printmaking, collage and sculpture.
Students refine these skills further in the latter part of the year with a challenging Portrait project like those they might undertake at GCSE. In these project students build on previously taught skills and knowledge but start to learn how to conduct a more in-depth project through developmental and experimental work, focused art history research and then the production of detailed final pieces. While undertaking this project they are constantly refining their skills and developing new ways of working to give them a well-rounded skill base and knowledge of Art and Design. In the portrait project students learn how to create a photographic drawn portrait, by exploring the canon and gridding techniques, they also explore Julian Opie’s Work and acrylic painting.
Year 8
In Year 8 students build on the skills they have already learnt but are introduced to new concepts and ideas. Students start the year by exploring Landscapes. This includes learning about a range of artists and styles that students could use to record landscapes. Students also revisit and explore a range of methods of working for example gridding, impressionism and pointillism. They also investigate a variety of materials for example (paint, oil pastel, pencil) that reinforce the foundation they built on in Year 7 but also extending their knowledge and skill level.
For their second project students undertake a more imaginative project, exploring Mythical Beasts, in this project students continue to develop their understanding of different materials and refining of their skills including drawing, painting, mixed media and sculpture. Students start by creating realistic recordings of different animals and insects. They then use these drawings to develop their own mythical beasts, considering proportion, shape and form. Students create designs and drawings and eventually a model of their mythical Beasts, giving them the ability to explore a completely new way of working.