IGCSE ART & DESIGN
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The exam is not a threat, it’s an opportunity.
AO1 Record
IGCSE
observations, experiences and ideas which are appropriate to intentions.
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AO1
Once you’ve read through the exam paper, start your preparation work by taking the following steps:
Checklist
Mind-map
Research
Photograph
Observational studies
To help you come up with a range of ideas, create a brainstorm or a mind-map. This should take no longer than 20-30 minutes.
Look for dictionary definitions and thesaurus alternatives for the theme title.
Using a digital camera or your camera phone is a great way to capture visual information quickly especially when you’re outside the classroom. Images can be used later as reference material in support of your drawing.
Producing strong observational studies is an extremely important factor in being successful in the final exam. The whole preparation period depends on this being done well. Don’t compromise on this!
This checklist is to help you make sure that you answer this assessment objective as thoroughly as possible.
When taking photographs, consider:
Create drawings, paintings from first-hand observation using some of the following ways: ink pen on colour paper; pencil studies on prepared grounds; colour pencil on black/ coloured paper; watercolour/acrylic studies; coloured pens on brown craft paper; ink applied with brush; oil/chalk pastel studies; charcoal studies; mixed media studies etc.
Only tick the boxes if you really mean it!
The mind-map will help you identify: • • • •
areas that interest you subthemes and associated ideas areas you might not have thought of items, objects and places suitable for first-hand observation
AO1 Student Examples
Search for news stories or magazine articles and images related to your theme. Create a ‘mood board’ on
Pinterest.
Identify places (and how to get there!) such as museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, gardens, parks, markets etc, wherever you can collect relevant visual information. Go there! Identify objects suitable for drawing from direct observation in the classroom. Collect the objects ready for drawing!
• the visual elements. Are you focusing on pattern, line, form, texture etc. • composition; take images from unusual viewpoints, close ups etc. • are your images in focus? Do they have enough detail? Are they beautiful?
For each box, be honest with yourself, have you completed the tasks to the best of your ability? FF Recorded your initial ideas through making a brainstorm or mind-map? FF Did you research, select and collect relevant imagery and information from magazines, books, and internet sources? FF Did you visit museums, parks, gardens, markets and other locations that have what you want to record. Sketch and photograph? FF Did you take a series of photographs suitable, relevant and supportive of your initial ideas? FF
Did you work from primary resources and from first hand observation? Did you focus on what was in your own environment? Could you see, touch, smell it, draw it?
FF Did you make a range of studies using a variety of techniques and media? Check the studies completed from the following list: ££ Pen (or any media) on prepared ground ££ Pencil/colour pencil on brown paper ££ Ink pen on cartridge paper ££ Colour pencil on black paper ££ Oil pastel on tissue paper with dye ££ Charcoal studies on newsprint ££ Paint studies (acrylic & watercolour) ££ White pen on earth tones ££ Mixed media
All student examples were awarded A or A* grades by the external examiner.
FF Does your chosen idea allow you to make best use of your artistic abilities and strengths?
AO2 Analyse
IGCSE
and evaluate images, objects and artefacts, making informed connections with the work of others.
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AO2
All artists use other artists’ work to learn from and get ideas.
Checklist
Research
Investigate
Artist studies
Begin your research by looking at the work of other artists. You can start by joining the group pinterest board for the examination. On the board you will be able to share your initial findings related to the theme. To do this ‘pin’ interesting art you’ve found at websites such as: thisiscollosal.com; booooooom.com; artchive.com etc.
Choose three artists who are either working with similar themes to you and/or use techniques and processes which suit your ideas.
Describe What do I see? Analyse How is the work organised? Interpret Explore their artwork, investigating its context What is happening in the work? and the artists intention. Ask yourself: What is the artist trying to say? How does it relate to your work? Judge What medium are they working in? What do you think of the work? Go here for more detailed instruction. How can you use their ideas, techniques and methods in your own art work? Be sure to include pictures of the artists’ Use the describe, analyse, interpret and judge work, referencing them using the MLA format. method of analysing artwork.
Use the techniques and processes you discovered in your research of your chosen artists work applying them to your own studies.
This checklist is to help you make sure that you answer this assessment objective as thoroughly as possible.
Try to use the same medium as the artist (or as close to) - don’t try to recreate a watercolour with oil pastel, or an oil painting with colour pencil.
For each box, be honest with yourself, have you completed the tasks to the best of your ability?
The library, local galleries and national gallery websites are also places to visit.
AO2 Student Examples
Reflect on what techniques, methods worked well and what didn’t. How can you develop these ideas further? Can you combine some of the techniques of different artists in your work?
Only tick the boxes if you really mean it! FF
Did you describe, analyse, interpret and make a judgement about the techniques, methods and ideas of three different artists?
FF Were you chosen artists exploring similar ideas and methods to your own? FF Did you correctly reference your images and found information using the MLA format? FF Did you respond to the ideas and methods of your chosen artists through making your own studies and experiments? FF Did you make your own studies using the same medium and techniques as your chosen artists? FF Did you evaluate what worked well with your experiments and what didn’t? FF Did you show how the artist’s work connects to your own ideas and how these artists have inspired your work?
All student examples were awarded A or A* grades by the external examiner.
AO3 Develop
IGCSE
and explore ideas, using a variety of media and processes that are appropriate to intentions.
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AO3
In the words of Picasso, “If you know exactly what you’re going to do, what’s the good in doing it?”
Develop ideas
Explore techniques
Modify & refine
Trial rough
Your experiments with other artists techniques, methods and ideas in AO2 Analyse should be the starting point for further development of your ideas.
Explore the possibilities of media and techniques as they relate to your project.
Now you have demonstrated mastery of the techniques and processes of the materials you intend to use, refine your ideas, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with your artwork.
Practice your final piece of artwork in the final days before your exam. It will help you spot problems and give you a chance to correct them before the exam.
You might decide to take the best results from your experimentation, combining them to create new and unique ideas.
Work creatively with new materials or new combinations of materials to explore ideas visually.
Experiment and explore different Explore paint, or mixed media, printmaking or sculpture, or a combination or selection of compositional ideas for your final artwork. Which compositions best suit the ideas you What happens if I try this? It might not be the one or more of these. result you want but might suggest other ways Techniques used to achieve a mood? eg soft have for your artwork? Also consider the shape of your artwork. The shape of your final of working - happy accidents! Take risks! folowing lines can suggest calmness and piece shouldn’t be dictated by the size of the peace, short sharp heavy lines could suggest paper, eg. it doesn’t need to be A2, A3 etc. Try anger or agression. long, narrow, square, oval etc.
AO3 Student Examples
This doesn’t mean doing your final artwork twice. Make studies of parts of your final composition, especially the’tricky’ parts, the ones you aren’t sure how to approach. Make small scale models or maquettes of your final piece if you are workingin 3D. Use this to help you make your exam plan.
Checklist This checklist is to help you make sure that you answer this assessment objective as thoroughly as possible. For each box, be honest with yourself, have you completed the tasks to the best of your ability? Only tick the boxes if you really mean it! FF Did you develop your ideas using some of the techniques and methods discovered in AO2? FF Did you further explore your ideas by experimenting with a range of media, processes and techniques? FF Did you evaluate each step of the process - What worked? What didn’t? Why didn’t it? What do I need to do next? FF Did you show evidence of how you experimented with composition? FF Did you show how your ideas have developed towards a final composition? Does the work flow? FF
Did you produce a final working study; making final adjustments and corrections; identifying problems and how to resolve them; working out how long each section will take during the final exam?
FF Prepare all materials needed for the final exam.
AO4 Review
and refine ideas, modifying work as it progresses before presenting a coherent personal response.
The final examination is a chance for you to shine and show the examiner what you are good at.
Planning The ten hour examination goes much quicker than you might expect. It is really important that you plan out the exam session. Break up the day into sessions, for example:
Write a materials list. This should include the things you will need to complete your final artwork during the exam.
Make sure you have practised using the materials and media you intend to use Block 1 - draw out the composition this should be done as part of AO3. This Block 2 - begin underpainting etc. will give you an idea how long things Make your plan as thorough as possible before will take. the exam. This will help you stay in control, The more you practise the skills you remain calm and stop you from panicking. need to finish your final piece the more confident you will become, allowing you to solve any problems before the exam.
AO4 Student Examples
On the day
Rules
Take all your preparation work into the exam with you.
Like any examination there are rules that all students must follow. These are:
IGCSE ART & DESIGN
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AO4
Checklist
Make sure you have all the art materials and equipment you will need for the exam available to you.
• No talking during the exam.
This checklist is to help you make sure that you answer this assessment objective as thoroughly as possible.
• No ipod’s, iphones or any other mobile device allowed during the exam.
For each box, be honest with yourself, have you completed the tasks to the best of your ability?
Bring any unusual or special materials into the exam with you. Don’t expect the art department to have it if its out of the ordinary.
• Don’t ask for or give advice to anyone else during the exam.
Only tick the boxes if you really mean it!
• You must bring all your prep work into the classroom on the first day of the exam.
FF Did you review, modify and refine your artwork as it progressed throughout the preparation period?
Have your exam plan ready and use it! Keep your space organised and tidy. Watch the clock - try to stick to your plan.
• Your teacher is allowed to help if there is a technical problem but can’t advise you about your work during the exam.
FF Did you submit all your preparation work at the beginning of the ten hour exam? FF Is there a clear connection between the exam theme and your final piece of artwork? Does your work embody the theme? FF Did you produce a coherent final piece of artwork that fulfilled your own intentions? FF Did you manage to finish your final art piece in the time allowed? FF Did you use your time well throughout the final exam and preparation period? FF Did you make an exam plan? Did you stick to it? FF Are you pleased with your final artwork?
Presenting your work All the work created over the course of the examination and preparation period must be presented on four A2 sheets. After the examination has finished you will have time to mount and present your work on four A2 black sheets. Each sheet relates to a specific assessment objective: AO1, AO2, AO3 & AO4. In the top right hand corner of each sheet you must include the label. It’s important that
• examples of direct observational studies in a range of media. • primary research - your own photographs. • make sure the work selected for AO1 is relevant and relates to the exam theme and links to your final piece of artwork.
AO2 - Analyse • analysis of the techniques, processes and ideas of 3 different artists. These need to be labelled carefully and properly referenced using the MLA format. • Application of the artists techniques, processes and ideas to your own work - you should use your observational studies and primary research from AO1. Too much writing can be interpreted as a weakness. Do not label! Writing must add something your artwork doesn’t already show.
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Layout ideas
the boards have a narrative structure. Your preparation work should tell the story of your entire process for the examination from first observations to final artwork.
Use horizontal and vertical gaps
Things to include on your boards:
A01 - Record
IGCSE
AO3 - Develop • development of your ideas and experiments from AO2 • experiments with media, colour, materials and techniques • experiments with composition for your final piece of work • partial rough of your final artwork
Use the ‘washing line’ technique. All pictures hang from an imaginary line
AO4 - Review • this will be the artwork you create in the 10 hour examination. • Your artwork should be no bigger than A2 in size. • If you produce 3D work then this must be presented as a series of photographs showing off all aspects of the work. which must fit onto the A2 board
Create a ‘horizon line’ . All pictures are placed above or below a line
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Acknowledgements
This guide has been created using the following resources: GCSE Bitesize revision: Art & Design The Art & Design Teacher’s Handbook, Susie Hodge Edexcel International GCSE Art & Design Specification www.studentartguide.com S. Hickey & L.A.McGrath The work of former IGCSE Art & Design students.