Essay Plan
Art and Design: Visual Arts Study (Advanced Higher)
Where this Unit is being taken as part of the Art and Design: Expressive Course at
Advanced Higher, candidates will be required to undertake a single study which must be
linked directly to the Art and Design: Expressive Enquiry Unit.
Art and Design: Visual Arts Study covers the development of knowledge, understanding and
appreciation of the Visual Arts, historical and contemporary, through:
research and investigation of the selected area of study
♦ formulation and communication of relevant and informed personal views, opinions and
judgements.
♦
Candidates will be able to use the knowledge gained to inform and develop their own
practical work.
Art and Design: Visual Arts Study (Advanced Higher) (40hrs)
The Unit assessment is based on the study of a specific area of the Visual Arts relating
directly to the Expressive Enquiry and of personal interest and relevance. The candidate
should demonstrate the ability to research and investigate a selected area of the Visual Arts
in historical and/or contemporary
contexts and formulate, explain and communicate informed personal judgments. The
candidate should show how their work in this Unit has influenced their practical work.
The Visual Arts Study report will be 1500 – 2000 words and will arise directly from the
research and investigation carried out by the candidate. The report should establish personal
judgements and critical analysis of artists’ work and explain the influence on the candidate’s
own practical work and theme.
It should be presented in a coherent extended report either on individual sheets or in any
suitable workbook or file format. The study may include illustrations or sketches.
Note - If an electronic file format is presented for assessment centres should clearly specify
the program and format used to save the work to the file.
The use of technology and the inclusion of contemporary issues are a mandatory aspect of
the Course and should be evident within the work for Course assessment.
There are a total of 200 marks available for the Course assessment.
Art and Design Studies - Useful words
Words like: although, despite, however: or phrases like: on the other hand, from
another viewpoint, a different perspective, help to create discussion. Try to be
modest, not too definite, in stating your view with expressions like: perhaps, it
seems, it looks as if, or this could be. It might also help to make reference to what
has been said about a design or an art work by discussing a quote; you should
also reference the quote.
Example 1
Although Picasso ‘heralded the development of Cubism’ with this confrontational
painting, the movement took time to develop and though what emerged was very
radical, it does not seem to be quite so shocking. The reason for this is perhaps,
that Cubism was partly invented by another artist with a different outlook: George
Braque.
Example 2
Despite her reputation as ‘the muse’ of Gianni, I think that Donatella could be
taking the brand in a new direction since his death. Her influence can be seen in
his work, but she has also been his ‘critic’ and so it looks as if the Versace label
maintains its identity while taking a distinctly new direction. On the other hand
you could say that Donatella is just following fashion.
Example 3
Freud’s work has been described as ‘claustrophobic’. I think this is true in the
pictures that show his drab studio walls as a background; however, the images
of heads that fill the canvas and give the spectator only the details of the face,
look almost like an open space of tone and subtle colour. Freud’s ‘cold
penetrating gaze’ captures an objective view that seems to lack humanity, yet it
is a view that also reveals a ‘truth’ about the sitter.
Example 4
A hat like this is delicate, highly ornate and, for everything but ‘the cat walk and
the art gallery’, seems a bit impractical: yet, despite this, Treacy’s use of
materials, his methods of working and his ‘ironic statement’, have had an
influence that might even be seen in some parts of the main stream, high street
products.