Visual Arts

2 units for each of Year 11 and HSC

NESA Developed Course

What background knowledge do I need to study Visual Arts?

There are no pre-requisites required, however this course builds on Visual Arts experiences from Stage 4 and 5. Students who have an interest in and enthusiasm for making and studying artworks are well prepared to engage with this course. Those students who did not study Visual Arts as an elective in previous years, can elect Visual Arts in Stage 6.

Why study Visual Arts?

Visual Arts fosters creative and critical thinking as evident in the making and studying aspects of this course. Students create artworks that are informed by their understanding of the Visual Arts. They acquire specific artmaking skills and learn specialized techniques. Students also develop their capacity to write about artworks as representations of ideas.

Course description:

Visual Arts encompasses the making and studying of art. It offers a range of artmaking opportunities in specific media areas, for example photography, drawing, painting, and sculptural installations. In Year 11 students are taught explicitly about how to create resolved and meaningful artworks. They also develop the capacity to apply skills in a confident manner, making informed decisions. Artmaking is complemented by the study of Visual Arts enabling students to understand artists, artworks and the artworld. These experiences form the basis of a strong foundation for the HSC course where the students create on their own a Body of Work, with the support of their teacher. In the HSC year students also complete a one and a half hour written examination.

Main topics covered:

Year 11 Course learning opportunities focus on:

• Artmaking (50%) and Art Studying (50%)

• Investigations into specific artists and artworks. Thinking critically to formulate articulate and informed points of view.

• Applying creative approaches to artmaking. This covers a range of media areas. Units investigate approaches such as Abstraction, Contemporary Artforms and Installation and more traditional areas such as Portraiture

• The acquisition of artmaking skills informed by direct experiences. For example, the twoday Art Camp at Vision Valley.

HSC Course learning opportunities focus on:

• Artmaking (50%) and Art Studying (50%)

• Completing 5 Case Studies related to investigations about artists and artworks

• The theoretical relationships between artist, artwork and audience within the art world.

• Resolving a Body of Work, within an area of interest as selected by the student

• Applying and demonstrating critical and creative thinking.

Particular course requirements:

Year 11 Course

• creation of artworks in at least two forms (media areas) and use of a visual arts diary

• investigation of ideas about artists and artworks in art studying and making

• creation of written responses, at times through examination about artists, artworks and the artworld

HSC Course

• completion of a Body of Work and use of a visual arts diary

• a minimum of five theoretical case studies (4-8 hours each) as part of the art studying component

• deeper and more complex investigations of ideas in art criticism and art history

HSC examination structure:

• written examination of one and a half hours (50%)

• submission of a Body of Work (50%)

How is Visual Arts relevant to tertiary studies and career choice?

The knowledge, skills and values gained from the Visual Arts course assist students in acquiring and building conceptual and practical skills Students gain skills in critical and creative thinking, research, analysis and judgement. These can be applied to a diverse range of university courses and related creative careers.

The development of creative and critical thinking is now a valued and transferable 21st Century skill, applicable to in a wide range of areas from the arts to engineering and science. Some students may also envisage a career as a “creative” or study path in the arts, design and architecture. Visual Arts aligns well with these fields.