Purpose and Aims of the Course
The purpose of the Course is to provide a broad practical experience of art and design and related critical activity. The Course provides opportunities for learners to be inspired and creatively challenged as they explore how to visually represent and communicate their personal thoughts, ideas and feelings through their work.
Learners will analyse the factors influencing artists’ and designers’ work and practice. They will use this understanding when developing and producing their own creative and personal expressive art and design work.
The skills that learners gain by successfully completing the Course will be valuable for learning, life and work.
Learners will investigate and analyse how artists and designers have used materials, techniques and/or technology in their work. Learners will then experiment, using art and design materials, techniques and/or technology to develop their ideas for creative and expressive impact.
They will develop creativity and complex problem solving skills when experimenting with materials, techniques and/or technology and experiment with different ways to realise their creative ideas. Learners will also develop their critical thinking and reflective skills when reviewing and refining their work.
The aims of the Course are to enable learners to:
- communicate personal thoughts, feelings and ideas through the creative use of art and design materials, techniques and/or technology
- analyse a range of art and design practice and critically reflect on the impact of external factors on artists and designers and their work
- plan, develop, produce and present creative art and design work
- develop personal creativity, using problem solving, critical thinking and reflective practice skills
Students are engaged in individual project work, much of which involves generating, evolving and synthesising their ideas in an environment conducive to experimentation and promoting effective learning. Structured opportunities to collaborate are designed to stretch and support the individual, developing the ability to formulate and communicate informed personal comment, judgement and speculation.
The Higher and N5 are taught in bi-level classes, which allows for movement between levels, for those who do not already have N5, depending on performance.
Due to the use of time consuming techniques and the volume of practical work expected, it is essential that both practical and written work is undertaken at home in order that course deadlines can be met. This is especially true of the written aspect of the N5 and Higher courses and formal written homework will be issued. All students should very quickly get into the habit of taking folders home, as a matter of course, to continue with practical work if they intend to achieve their full potential. It may also be necessary to use lunchtimes and supported study in order to complete work in the department.
Expressive
A practical unit taking the form of an expressive study will involve the identification and selection of a theme capable of supporting sustained study in depth of: portraiture, figure composition, landscape or still-life.
plus
Art and Design Studies: Visual Arts
The theme should link to the context, theme or area of study used as the basis of the Practical Unit.
Assessment
Assessment sessions are held where work is reviewed and students are encouraged to become involved in dialogue with each other and staff, about their work and the work of others. All work is externally marked by SQA for Advanced Higher. There are no examinations.
Design
A practical unit taking the form of a design study will involve the identification of a theme and the resolution of design problems arising from it: graphics, product, architecture, jewellery, fashion or textiles.
plus
Art and Design Studies: Design
The theme should link to the context, theme or area of study used as the basis of the Practical Unit.
Assessment
Assessment sessions are held where work is reviewed and students are encouraged to become involved in dialogue with each other and staff, about their work and the work of others. All work is externally marked by SQA for Advanced Higher. There are no examinations.
Due to the use of time consuming techniques and the volume of practical work expected, it is essential that both practical and written work is undertaken at home in order that course deadlines can be met. This is especially true of the written aspect of the Advanced Higher courses and formal written homework will be issued. Students should already be in the habit of taking folders home to continue with practical work, having completed the Higher Art and Design course, and should continue to do this as a matter of course, if they intend to achieve their full potential. It may also be necessary to use lunchtimes and supported study in order to complete work in the department.
Visits to Libraries, Exhibitions and Lectures are recommended and taking part in twilight courses and workshops are all encouraged.
- Researching ideas.
- Developing your own ideas.
- Working with others.
- Drawing and painting.
- Print making.
- Textiles.
- Ceramics.
- 3D construction.
- Presentation skills.
- Evaluating your work and artists/designers work in related areas.
- Use of industry standard software – Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
Is art and design for me?
You will enjoy this subject if:
- You enjoy being creative.
- You enjoy problem solving.
- You like working with others.
- You enjoy communicating your ideas visually.
- You want to express your own ideas and feelings.
- You would like to develop your practical skills using a wide variety of 2D and 3D materials.
- You are interested in how design can improve our daily lives.
Influential Artists & Designers
- Paul Scott Canavan – Art director at Glasgow’s Axis Studios. Bafta award winning artist and illustrator in the Scottish video game industry.
- Christine Borland – Scottish artist whose work, From Life, was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1997.
- John Byrne – Perhaps best known as the writer of ‘The Slab Boys Trilogy’. He has also been regarded as one of Scotland’s foremost television writers. He had also designed for the Traverse, Hampstead Theatre, Scottish Opera and the Citizens Theatre.
- Jane Petrie – Award winning costume designer who’s credits include: ‘Star Wars – The Phantom Menace’, ‘The King’, ‘Black Mirror’ and ‘The Constant Gardner’.
- Liam Wong – Scottish Director, Graphic Designer, Game Developer and Photographer. Best known for defining, designing and directing visual identities. Listed as one of Forbes Magazine’s influential 30 under 30.
‘The expressive element of the art & design course fascinated me, and I loved creating my own still life folio.’
Rowan McMillan 6Cr