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Art, Graphics and Textiles

Our aim: To provide all students with the skills to observe, record and experiment with a range of media, enabling them to express creative ideas with confidence and contextual understanding. To establish a culture in which students can attain their full potential through the exploration of their own artistic ideas.

In Year 7 and 8, students develop knowledge and skills of the art formal elements working in two and three dimensions, as well as a range of textiles techniques. Students study observational drawing/recording from primary and secondary sources using a range of drawing materials and techniques. They explore and analyse the work of other artists, which leads to planning and refining ideas to produce final pieces showing inspiration from the work of others.

In Year 9, students will develop these skills and this includes producing sculptures, drawings, paintings, graphic art, appliqué and photography. Students can additionally opt for the 3D Art and Design course where they build a deeper knowledge and understanding of 3D materials. Looking at areas such as sculpture, installation, architecture, public artworks and functioning products that investigate the relationship of the human body to space using materials such as fabric, clay, wood, polymers and found materials.

At GCSE, we offer three different endorsements: graphics, textiles and art. GCSE Graphics enables students to explore drawings, photography, illustration and computer design work, such as photo editing and manipulation. GCSE Textiles focuses more on appliqué, free machine stitch, printing, dying and manipulating fabric. Students can opt for one or two of these courses to develop their specialism. The skills that they have learnt through the years will then be applied to express creative ideas with confidence and produce art, textiles and graphics that explore big ideas and themes informed by contextual understanding of different artists' work and genres.

Year 7 Topics

Term 1 & 2 - What do great artists have in their tool kits? Observational drawing techniques using lines to show tone and form. Understanding scale and proportion. Exploring pencil and pen mark making techniques. Research and contextual studies identifying choices artists have made. Exploring colour theory.

Term 3-4 – Landscapes: What colour is nature? Recording from primary and secondary sources landscapes. Taking inspiration from other landscape artists. Composing photographs looking at formal elements. Painting techniques understanding how to mix and apply paints. Learning how to plan and design a final piece responding to our local area; South Oxfordshire.

Term 5-6 – Precious Planet: Can art save the planet? Observational drawing techniques using geometric shapes and patterns to create 3D forms and a final piece. Printmaking techniques studying mono printing and mixed media techniques. Taking inspiration from other artists and annotating to explain our ideas. Exploring wider environmental social issues and endangered animals.

Year 8 Topics

Term 1-3 –Pop Art Pillow: Is a can of soup art? Observational drawing techniques of food and its packaging using marks to show texture, tone to show 3D form and shadows. Printmaking techniques of reductive poly printing. Exploring the meaning of colours, patterns and symbols to design a 3D fabric piece. Using textile techniques of hand embroidery stitch and applique to complete a final outcome. Understanding ‘Pop Art’ linking it to wider American and British culture.

Term 4-6 Portraiture: How can a ‘selfie’ be artistic and tell us about the artist? Portrait drawing techniques showing understanding of portrait portions, composition and layout. Experimental drawing techniques and use of pattern. Painting techniques focusing on blending and layering paints. Digital and physical image manipulation taking inspirational from other artists.

Year 9 Topics

Term 1 –Why is a hammer beautiful? Observational drawing techniques of hardware tools/man made objects using negative space, fine liner, charcoal and ink. Taking inspiration from other artists and understanding the historical context.

Term 2 – Can you find beauty in the imperfect? Using recycled fabric materials including denim. Textiles techniques of applique and hand embroidery. Contextual studies linked to the ‘make do and mend’ movement and Japanese Sashiko.

Term 3 – Is realistic art dead? Observational drawing techniques focusing on natural forms. Painting techniques using acrylic paints and developing colour mixing, blending and layering paint. Using the brush to create texture and detail.

Term 4 – Messages. Observational studies through digital and photographic techniques. Graphic techniques using computer manipulation and experimentation. Understanding typography, branding and the meaning behind advertising.

Terms 5 and 6 – How do we show expression in our work? Observational drawing experimenting with mark making and mixed media. Taking inspiration from other artists. Understanding of how to create personal reflections on our own work and how that can impact our work moving forward. Creating a personal and informed final piece.

Year 9 3D Art and Design option

In year 9 students can choose to develop their knowledge and practice further in the subject by choosing the 3D Art and Design course. This course takes elements from both art and design and technology that overlap. Students study architecture before creating they own building designs. They explore materials to create art pieces and the structure of textiles along with pattern and creating pieces that explore the use of different materials. Some of the questions we ask are: Which is the better construction material; cardboard or wood? Who is more influential, architects or artists? Our focus for assessment for this year course include practical skills, construction skills, Technical knowledge, subject knowledge and written skills.

Year 10 topics

Art – Component 1 (Non-Examination Assessment NEA)

Term 1-2 - Evolution of Portraiture – The History of the Face. Observational drawing of facial features using curved lines and mark making to show skin texture and subtle details. Using lines to create expression. Contextual study of Leonardo da Vinci and the ‘Seven Deadly Sins’. Research and understanding of the different sins and their visual representations. Portrait photography learning the formal techniques to compose individual photos.

Term 3-4 -Capturing the face: science or art? Contextual study of German expressionism and in depth analysis of Ernst Kirchner’s work and the effect it creates on viewers. Reductive printing techniques, lino printing using mark making to show expressions and dynamics. Experimentation with colour and mixed media to give expression and link to the chosen them.

Term 5-6 -Planning and design a final outcome based on portraits and one deadly sin. Using in depth research and personal ideas to create a range of individual designs. Experimenting with composition, pose, expression, colour. Textures and accessories. Learning to work in 3D with clay. Applying knowledge to create a clay final piece.

Textiles – Component 1 (Non-Examination Assessment NEA)

Term 1-2 – Can a place have a signature style? Responsibly researching other cultures, understanding textiles and patterns from different cultures. Observational drawing of pattern and textures. Exploring textiles techniques and colour through dying and batik.

Term 3-4 – How can museums represent cultures fairly?  Contextual studies understanding museums and preserving objects. Observational recording from primary and secondary sources. Developing applique and reverse appliqué textiles techniques.

Term 5-6 – Planning and designing a final outcome based on chosen area of study. Developing textiles techniques of machine free stitch and printing onto fabric. Applying knowledge to create a textiles final piece based on the work on ‘Cultures’.

Graphics – Illustration - Component 1 (Non-Examination Assessment NEA)

Term 1 and 2 – Visual images – more than a pretty picture? Can an image make you cry? Observational studies using line to create emotions responding to different artists’ work. Research into types of illustration comparing styles and considering how style impacts on how we view work. Developing digital colour techniques and how it can impact work.

Term 3 and 4 – What tells the story – the words or the image? Contextual studies of Surrealism and collage techniques. Building on knowledge of typography using it to convey a message in our own design work and understanding how font style can impact on how we view companies, products and poster designs. Learning to combine hand drawn and digital techniques.

Term 5 and 6 – How can graphic designers make us feel differently about our environment and our responsibility over it? Planning a final outcome based on a design brief using academic articles to enhance understanding of environmental issues. Learning about promotional materials and how these can effectively convey a message. Using this understanding in own poster design work, whilst also being able to reflect personally about the decisions being made whilst producing it.

Year 11 topics

Art, Graphics, Textiles – Completion of NEA and ‘Additional Work’. Term 3 Exam Board brief for Component 2.