Description of
IB Visual Arts
Investigation
Workbooks
Huh? I have to do
what?!
Workbooks…aka…sketchbooks
 Purpose:
Investigation work involves
independent contextual, visual and
critical investigation and reflection, both
visual and written.
 They are integral to studio practice and
should reflect the student’s critical visual
and written investigation.
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The most famous artist sketchbooks are those
of Leonardo da Vinci. His sketchbooks are
filled with drawings, diagrams and written
notes of things he saw and ideas he came up
with.
Pablo Picasso produced 178 sketchbooks in
his life time. He often used his sketchbooks to
explore themes and make compositional
studies until he found the right idea and
subject for a larger painting on canvas.
Henry Moore, filled one of his sketchbooks
with drawings of sheep that often wandered
by the window outside his studio.
So…what do I put in there?
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Pictures, drawings, poetry, letters, emails,
thoughts, scribbles, magazine cut outs, studies
of artists, documentation of your visit to the
art museum or an art show.
They want to see your personal interests and
ideas. They want to see you write about your
thoughts.
Showing failed attempts or ideas is also great.
Most importantly, written investigative ideas
and beginning drawings/sketches of what will
become your final studio work. Show your
thought process!
Format
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Purchase a
sketchbook.
Unlined.
Book format is best
for maintaining the
quality of your
ideas.
Also, something
you feel
comfortable writing
in…some of them
are uncomfortable
to use.
Places to purchase: Meinengers,
Hobby Lobby, Walmart, Target
Leonardo da Vinci’s Sketchbooks…look familiar?
More of
Leonardo
Michelangelo's
sketch
Some others…
We need to think about
theme…
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Avoid busy work. All work done in this class is
essential for your portfolio.
A theme is a great way to tie in all your work
and allows you to branch out and investigate
without the busy work.
Investigation, a thorough investigation is what
IB is looking for in your sketchbooks.
Themes should be deeper in nature,
something YOU are passionate about, and
something YOU can visualize.
Do we really have Fate leading our lives, Growing old, Fear of
not being successful, fear of change, fear of being alone,
curiosity, contentment, change in the chapter of your life, idea
of true beauty, struggle to be the perfect weight, to drink
alcohol or not, peer pressure, smoking and just how cool it
looks, struggle to jump social classes, relationships between
yourself and your parents, how you feel when your friend
becomes pregnant, your parents relationship: successful or not,
will I ever be in love, will someone I love ever love me the same,
is God even real, why does it seem we fight men who wear
turbans, why do I ignore my intuition, how do we help the rest
of world, why does the US seem to help everyone else, how do
we fix the inner city problems, knowledge is power or is it,
plastic bag wars: US shoppers use an estimated 102 billion
plastic shopping bags a yr, not fixing things but simply replacing
them, lack of effective communication or empathy,
confronting your own prejudices, what you are doing with your
life that your parents didn’t do with theirs, confines of fashion,
Americas fear or acceptance of fat people, the people of
Haiti, the damage in Japan, approval or disappointment of
Obama, if one can put a gun in the hands of a 18 yr why can’t
they have a glass of beer: struggle of teenage qualifications
and responsibilities, eating disorders, cutting, depression, love.
I don’t even know how to get
started…well 1st answer these:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
What are all the things I like?
Write down some things that really pisses you off.
Have you had any reoccurring dreams?
What did you like as a kid?
Describe a favorite memory with the family.
Have you had anything on your mind lately that
doesn’t go away?
Describe the last piece of art you saw that really
inspired you.
Think about what is going on in the world. What
comes to mind first?
What are some things that you are afraid of?
Requirements
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2 pages of investigation/drawings/writings a
week.
Leave space in the upper corner of each
page for your candidate number.
Number each page and put the date you
completed it.
Try to fill up the page….try.
First assignment: draw and write about things
you did as a kid that you wish you still did
today.