Albany Senior High School/Coursebook/1VAR

What is this course about?
In Visual Arts you will have the opportunity to use a wide range of art media like print media, painting, sculpture, digital media and mixed media. You can choose a theme from a range of broad options. You will be encouraged to reflect your own identity and interests in the standards offered. Your teachers will work individually with you to develop your ideas. Three standards are offered; the main standard being a two board folio submission in which you will be required to generate, develop and clarify a specific and cohesive theme of visual ideas. We are responsive to your strengths and will cater this course to best meet your creativity and ideas through an authentic learning experience.

What will I learn?
We will look at a wide range of contemporary artists both international and from New Zealand and how they can inform our own practice. You will be equipped with a skills based programme at the beginning of the year which will give you the foundation to develop your own interests and style within the umbrella of visual arts. You will learn to open your mind and be influenced by a range of practices and art movements and develop a good understanding of how to use pastel, paint, ink, collage etc.. You will realise that drawing goes beyond a pencil and is simply an extension of ideas through the use of documenting via a camera, doodles, thumbnails, journal exploration, colour studies as well as sketches and painting.

What sorts of things will I do?
This course will help you discover that visual arts is a collaboration of things in which you investigate ideas and respond to artist's works. You will explore visual ideas using a camera to generate initial ideas and a range of art media to explore many different ideas. You will be able to think creatively and communicate your ideas showing your individuality and an appreciation for the arts. We will be working towards two internal assessments and one external assessment. The first internal assessment is set up to act as a forerunner to the external folio submission in which you will generate, develop and clarify ideas based on your chosen theme.

Frequently asked questions:
Q: Where might Visual Arts lead?

A: Illustrator, interior designer, graphic artist, industrial designer, web design, sign maker, clothing design, artist, teacher, architect, photographer, landscape architecture to name a few.

Q: Do I need to have taken Year 10 Art?

A: It would be helpful to have some experience in Art previously however we would love to welcome you into Visual Arts and will teach you all you need to know.

Q: Do I have to take Year 11 Visual Art if I am planning to do either Photography, Painting or Design in Year 12?

A: You are encouraged to take Visual Arts in Year 11 as it is an important foundation for Year 12 and 13 and it gives you a solid basis to help you learn to think both creatively and conceptually. It takes time to develop an awareness and understanding of the arts and especially thinking. Your teachers will help scaffold your course towards your interests so definitely let them know if your more keen on Photography etc...