This page is an example of how you should present a fine art project (as opposed to a design project that has a specific brief). Throughout your project, there are distinct stages of development that we have defined as the following and you should use as key headings:
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Examples of
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Identify Stage
This stage is about identifying what you already know about your theme and coming up with possible starting points to research further and start exploring and experimenting with a range of techniques and materials.
Activity: Theme
Your theme will be the starting point that you have been given, chosen or you have identified. Start by explaining what word/theme you are developing from.
Reference Board
A reference board should be a selection of images/references that link to your theme. Your teacher will give you some references to initially research, but you should do your own research as well. Remember to label any works of art/design with the title, name of the artist and date in case you need to refer back to theme. Below are some examples of reference boards:
Mindmap
A mindmap is a good way to start identifying what you already know and the areas you could research further into. Start with your title/inquiry/commission written in the centre of a page in your sketchbook and then branch off with possible themes/keywords that link to it. Some artists like to sketch and colour in their mindmap but it is not essential. If you have a word theme, it is also worth defining the actual term using a dictionary and writing down any synonyms (related words/ideas).
The ideas/themes are important as this will set you up for collecting visual examples as a moodboard in the next key task. Once you feel you have got all of your initial ideas down, spend some time looking through books, magazines, watching TV programmes and searching online to generate new ideas and add to your mindmap. It is a good idea to do both the mind map and the moodboard at the same time.
The ideas/themes are important as this will set you up for collecting visual examples as a moodboard in the next key task. Once you feel you have got all of your initial ideas down, spend some time looking through books, magazines, watching TV programmes and searching online to generate new ideas and add to your mindmap. It is a good idea to do both the mind map and the moodboard at the same time.
Examples
Explore Stage
Having come up with many possible ideas and starting points, you are now at a stage to select a few (try at least three) ideas to try out. At this point you should identify artists/designers that link with your chosen ideas and analyse their work to get a deeper understanding of their process and intentions behind their work. Responding to your artists, you should study their techniques either by responding to their style, processes or ideas in your own observations. This stage should feel experimental and playful. It is not a time to narrow your focus, but instead explore a variety of options.
Activity: Artist/Designer Written Analysis
Recording Ideas
Your practical responses are generally a response to your research/artist/designer. When evidencing a response or set of recordings (such as photos), follow this simple structure making sure that you include annotations explaining your ideas and reflecting on your process.
1) Document your response/recordings. If your work is in a non-digital format (i.e. in your sketchbook, a model, etc.) you will need to photograph it and upload as an image. If a set of images, please present as a contact sheet and then select three to edit and annotate explaining why you chose them. 2) Write down keywords & concepts: Include a list of keywords and ideas (concepts) linked to your response. 3) Analyse your recordings by answering these questions and using relevant art terminology/vocab:
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Example
1) Documentation of Recording (2) Keywords/Concepts
Inter-woven, DNA, linked, pattern, bound, twisted 3) Analysis In these studies, I have drawn first-hand from bamboo leaves that I have woven together. I was inspired by some of the artists who were interested in botanical studies such as Sydney Parkinson (1745-1771) and the photos of Karl Blossefldt (1898-1932) who played with scale. I have experimented with a range of drawing media from graphite, pen, oil pastels and acrylic paint. To develop these further, I would be interested in playing with the scale of drawings like Blossfeldt to focus in on the details of the plants. I think the acrylic paint studies are most effective and would like to continue with this process). Note If presenting a set of photos, show your images as a contact sheet and select a few edited photos - see example: Example of a Contact Sheet (Full set of images as small thumbnails) Edited Photos (Selected and image edited with captions)
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Plan Stage
At this point in the project, you should reflect on your initial explorations, research and experiments and decide on a single idea to develop towards a final outcome that you will be making for exhibition. This stage involves defining your final area of focus. Throughout the process of making, you may change aspects of your plan but if is well considered you should be about to foresee potential issues.
Activity: Plan/Specification
In this activity, you should summarise your key idea by defining the following key areas:
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Example
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Activity: Sketching Ideas
To accompany your plan, you should make a number of sketches/possibilities for your final piece in order to find the best design to then start making. If working towards a painting or drawing, your sketches might be possible compositions. If making a photographic outcome, you might want to consider the composition and framing/mounting options. If making a sculpture, you would include draft drawings of the final sculpture. It is essentially about creating a visual reference as a starting point.
For some outcomes, this stage will be lengthy if you need to make more recordings. For example if you have decided to paint a portrait, you will want to spend a fair amount of time recording compositions and refining techniques in your sketchbook. |
Examples
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Drafting Stage
Having decided on an idea to develop, the making stage is essentially about translating an idea into its final form/product. This stage can be lengthy as it often involves further experiments in your sketchbook or prototyping along the way. Sometimes, it makes sense to make the product entirely and then redraft a second time, but generally this is only the case when the product is relatively simple/quick to realise. In most scenarios, the product/outcome will be built up in stages that are critiqued. Sometimes during the making stage, you need to modify your designs due to unforeseen circumstances, however, many ideas should be rigorously critiqued earlier against the specification to avoid major changes. In this section, you should illustrate your process and evaluate your progress with simple annotations.
1) Include evidence of making process
2) Include annotations/comments that include:
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Examples
You should also include photos of the process to help illustrate the techniques you are using. Use your iPad to record as you go along.
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Present Stage
The final presentation of your work will most probably be an exhibition. However, at this stage, it is important to ensure that all preparatory studies are well represented in your portfolio and your eportfolio is up-to-date with your final outcome documented.
Your final piece should be ambitious but well developed through the design and making process. You will be assessed on the quality of your craftsmanship in your chosen media, but also the ideas that underpin your piece and how well you have responded to your research. It is important that the work is a result of a personal journey of exploration and discovery.
Links to Examples of Student Work |
Reflect Stage
Evaluation should take place throughout your project as this will allow you to develop. However, at the end of a project, you should write a short reflection and evaluate the entire process and ideas for the future.
Activity: Project Reflection
In your project reflection, you should reflect on the following:
- SPARK - How imaginative were you when responding to the original title? Did you explore a variety of ideas during the exploration stage and experiment with a range of materials/processes?
- CRAFTSMANSHIP - Did you refine your ideas throughout the project responding to your research? Did you improve your technical skills throughout the project? Does your final piece bring together the best of your research and experimentation?
- EXPERTISE - Did you show a good knowledge and understanding of the work of other artists/designers/contexts? Was your analysis insightful and question the meanings and messages behind works of art? Did you have a message behind your own work?
- DEVELOPMENT - What would you do if developing this project further? Has it sparked other ideas or interests?