COURSES

Art & Design (Fine Art)
Overview
If you enjoyed GCSE Art then you are undoubtedly
going to find A level an absolute delight. It provides
a much richer and more personal experience where
you are encouraged to become an independent
learner and express yourself in your own unique
way. You will acquire a wonderful insight into the
techniques and processes of professional artists and
be inspired to respond in your own way. You will
embark on a journey of discovery of art and culture
often globally inspired, with your personal responses
being well-documented in sketchbooks, giving your
own views of the art and artists you have seen and
discovered and evaluate your work as it evolves.
Approach
The subject is obviously practically based and a wide
range of media is available for you to embrace;
such as a drawing, printing, printmaking and
photography, as well as a more in-depth research
and analysis of artists and their work. However, there
is an increasing written element which becomes
much more significant during the second year of
the course, when a journal or essay is required.
The range of subject matter you will follow is
extensive and where a thematic response is the
preferred option, you can draw from your own
interests, whether they be social, moral, political
or simply portraits or landscapes.
There is a strong tradition of drawing at Millfield
and there will be an opportunity to attend life
drawing classes during the course. These involve
drawing from the figure, mark-making, painting
and printmaking activities.
You will be provided with all the necessary materials
such as paints, acrylic, watercolour, inks, oil pastels,
charcoal etc. to foster a multimedia approach to
your work.
Studying Art is not simply for people who want to
paint portraits or landscapes. The skills developed
will allow you to develop your own personal interests
in many areas, such as advertising, animation,
architecture, CGI (computer-generated imagery), fine
art (including painting, printmaking, photography
and sculpture), fashion, graphics, illustration,
interior design, multimedia, set design, theatre
design, textiles and many other areas of what is a
multimillion pound industry with many
employment possibilities.
Course outline
This course offers the opportunity to explore and
experiment with a wide range of drawing, painting
and printmaking materials, techniques and practical
skills. Much developmental work is produced in
personal sketchbooks exploring meanings, messages
and ideas. This includes the study of, and annotated
analysis of other artists’ work and art movements,
against which you will set your own ideas in context.
Your imagination and enthusiasm for visual language
is paramount, and your final outcomes should
demonstrate your individual strengths and interests.
The subject matter will range from observational life
drawing through to printmaking outcomes, to
compositions on themes of your choice.
Year 1 (AS)
Unit 1: A practical exploratory Portfolio Coursework
project with supporting sketchbooks is developed
over two terms.
Unit 2: A 5 hour externally set assignment is
undertaken in the spring or summer term, and is
based on one of five themes set by the Exam Board.
14
Millfield Sixth Form Courses 2014-2015