Visual Art

‘The Arts are fundamental resources through which the world is viewed, meaning is created and the mind is developed.’ 

 - Elliot W. Eisner, Professor of Education and Art, Stanford University, 1997

Visual Arts in the Middle School

Years 7, 8 and 9

All students in Years 7 and 8 study Visual Arts for one semester of each year. The Year 9 Visual Arts course is an elective subject.

Visual Arts in the Middle School focuses on students making, displaying, reflecting on and appraising images and objects with a focus on skills development.

Students develop an understanding of visual language, and perception is nurtured, enabling them to be visually literate in the visual communication of cultures and societies, past and present.

They will engage in a variety of Art experiences

that will encourage them to develop personal expression and aesthetic awareness, as well

as gain a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment

from making artworks.

The Year 7 Art course explores the Elements

of Design through a selection of expressive art

experiences. Units of study (sample) include:

• Design – Exploring the Elements
• Drawing – Stylisation of Form

Units of study in Year 8 (sample) include:

• Design - Logos, layout and presentation
• Drawing - Realism to abstraction
• Colour Theory
• Painting - Major Task.

Units of study in Year 9 (sample) include:

• Drawing – Pastel Portraiture
• Sculptural ceramics – Themed Teapot/Shoe Design
• Painting – Reflecting Life
• Printmaking – Intaglio Etching.
  

Visual Arts in the Senior School

Year 10

The Year 10 elective Visual Arts course gives students many opportunities to explore, formulate ideas, express aesthetic understanding and solve problems using visual language and expression by researching, developing, resolving and reflecting.

Students will make and display images and objects to communicate intentions and demonstrate techniques, processes, skills and understanding of materials and technologies.

Students will appraise, analyse, interpret, evaluate and reflect on images and objects by artists, designers and craftspeople within a variety of contexts.

The study of art history focuses on 20th century Modern Art movements, Indigenous Australian and Asian Pacific and Contemporary Australian artists.

Learning experiences may include, but are not limited to:

• Drawing
• Painting
• Printmaking
• Sculpture
• Assemblage
• Ceramics
• Time-based Media
  

Visual Arts in the Senior School

Years 11 and 12

Visual Art uses an inquiry learning model, developing critical and creative thinking skills and individual responses through developing, researching, reflecting and resolving.

Through making and responding, resolution and display of artworks, students understand and appreciate the role of visual art in past and present traditions and cultures, as well as the contributions of contemporary visual artists and their aesthetic, historical and cultural influences.

In Years 11 and 12, the Visual Arts subject prepares young people for participation in the 21st century by fostering curiosity and imagination, and teaching students how to generate and apply new and creative solutions when problem solving in a range of contexts.

This learnt ability to think in divergent ways and produce creative and expressive responses enables future artists, designers and craftspeople to innovate and collaborate with the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to design and manufacture images and objects that enhance and contribute significantly to our daily lives.

Visual Art is a course of study consisting of four units:

• Unit 1: Art as lens
• Unit 2: Art as code
• Unit 3: Art as knowledge
• Unit 4: Art as alternate

Units 1 and 2 provide foundational learning, which allows students to experience all syllabus objectives and begin engaging with the course

subject matter. Only the results from Units 3 and 4 will contribute to ATAR calculations.