Art and Design – Fine Art
Exam board – AQA
Entry Requirement – GCSE Grade 5 or above in Art and English would be beneficial to any student wishing to enrol on the course. It is necessary for students to have a passion for Art and access to Art materials outside of the classroom environment to enable completion of coursework which will require up to 4 hours per week at home.
Who Should I contact for more information – Mr Proctor or Mrs Crallan
What does this Course lead to?
This course is the gateway to the creative industries. fine art painter, game designer, art director, filmmaker, graphic designer, interior designer, print-maker, fashion designer, art therapist, product designer or architect. An understanding of Fine Art, its contextual relevance, and how to use it as an effective tool for presenting ideas is at the heart of a creative career.
An A level in Fine Art is a valuable element to any pathway to university to study a foundation course prior to a creative degree, from Animation to Fine Art.
What will I study
Over two years of study, students will build on Fine Art foundation skills and developing their knowledge of media and techniques. They will be encouraged to explore and immerse themselves thoroughly in the creative process, taking risks and discovering new ways of working.
Our introductory unit is entitled ‘Colour’ where students complete a series of workshops exploring colour theory and its importance historically through the classics, to more contemporary contextual references. Students will then complete a second more refined personal project up to Easter in Year 12. At the heart of this course is a great emphasis on independent and confident self-expression, supported by technical workshops and continual reflection and feedback by teaching staff.
After Easter in Year 12, students embark on their own ‘Personal Investigation’ which can take any form their creative thought process sees fit. This investigation comprises a written element of 2000-3000 words where artists are researched, and contextual understanding is displayed by linking these artists work to their own. It should involve practical experimentation and refinement of ideas in relation to the research undertaken. The written element to the unit is there to support the practical work, and as such strengthens creativity via solid contextual and technical understanding.
What are the benefits of studying this course and what will I gain from it?
Fine art enables us to question the world around us and develop our own creative response to society, culture, and the 21st century as a whole. Fine art enables us to articulate our thoughts and theories into a physical manifestation. It transcends the traditional mediums of drawing and painting into a way of presenting ideas using whichever materials we deem appropriate to explain ourselves. An ability to project ideas and creativity through the use of paint, 3D materials, lens-based media, and an array of other materials is at the heart of this subject.
Any young person wishing to pursue a career in the creative industries or advertising/marketing would hold a valuable qualification in A level Fine Art. It provides the perfect platform from which to study at degree level or an apprenticeship in any creative field.
How will I be assessed
A level Fine Art is broken down into 60% coursework represented by the ‘Personal Investigation’, and 40% exam which is 15 hours over 3 days. The exam follows 10 weeks of investigative creative responses into an exam question theme provided by AQA.
Work will be presented via sketchbooks, large scale work either on canvas, 3 dimensions, or relief pieces.
