Pre-U Fine Art OCR

This subject is broken down into 50 topics in 5 modules:

  1. Personal Investigation 10 topics
  2. Externally Set Task 10 topics
  3. Comparative Study 10 topics
  4. Art Related Studies 10 topics
  5. Practical Skills Development 10 topics
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  • 5
    modules
  • 50
    topics
  • 19,019
    words of revision content
  • 2+
    hours of audio lessons

This page was last modified on 28 September 2024.

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Fine Art

Personal Investigation

Experimental Drawing and Painting

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Experimental Drawing and Painting

Understanding Experimental Drawing and Painting

  • Embrace open-mindedness and curiosity. Experimental drawing and painting is all about breaking rules, trying new methods and embracing the results, no matter how unexpected.

  • Develop a grasp of traditional techniques before bending the rules. Fundamental skills, from proportion and perspective to colour theory, can be more effectively manipulated when understood.

  • Recognise the value of different mediums. Each medium, be it graphite, charcoal, acrylic, watercolour etc., has unique characteristics that can be exploited in experimental art.

Techniques in Experimental Drawing

  • Use non-traditional tools. Try drawing with twigs, cotton buds, string, feathers—anything is a potential tool. Understand how different tools affect texture and line quality.

  • Manipulate your drawing surface. Crumple paper, draw on textured surfaces, or utilise mixed-media collage as a "base" for your drawings.

  • Mix your drawing mediums. Use ink washes over graphite, oil pastel under watercolour, charcoal on top of acrylic.

Techniques in Experimental Painting

  • Incorporate non-art materials. Sand, fabric scraps, newspaper clippings can give your painting texture and depth.

  • Try polychromatic underpainting: Use a bright underpainting, and add layers of semi-transparent paint to create depth and interesting colour effects.

  • Experiment with paint application. Use palette knives, sponges, or even fingers to apply paint. Create thick impasto effects or thin glazes.

Developing Personal Investigation

  • Critically reflect on your experiments: Which techniques worked well? Which did not, and why? Is there a new method you want to try next?

  • Make a visual journal part of your investigation. Document observations, ideas, experiments, notes and reflections. This practice will help you express thoughts, track progress and develop visual literacy.

  • Use your experimental work to explore personal themes and concepts in your art. Your artistic voice is best developed through personal experimentation and exploration.

Course material for Fine Art, module Personal Investigation, topic Experimental Drawing and Painting

Fine Art

Comparative Study

Investigation into Artists’ Styles and Techniques

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Investigation into Artists’ Styles and Techniques

Exploration into Artists' Styles

  • Artistic style refers to the characteristic way an artist represents visual elements in their artwork.
  • This can be influenced by various factors, such as the artist's personality, philosophies, the period in which they lived, and their cultural background.
  • Styles can range widely, from realism where artists aim to represent the subject as objectively accurate as possible, to abstraction, where artists reduce the subject to its essential qualities without aiming to represent it accurately.

Exploring Techniques

  • The techniques employed by the artist are how they utilise their skills, tools and materials to create their artwork.
  • Techniques can involve the use of different types of brush strokes, the application of paint, the use of lighting, the manner of carving for sculptures etc.
  • Certain artists may be known for their unique or innovative techniques, which become a defining trait of their work.

Impact of Artists’ Styles and Techniques on their Work

  • The artist’s style and techniques have a significant impact on what their work communicates and how it is interpreted.
  • It influences the visual impact of the work, its mood, the emotions it invokes, and the message it conveys.
  • Understanding these styles and techniques provides a deeper understanding of the artwork, beyond its basic visual appearance.

Comparative Study of Artists' Styles and Techniques

  • Comparing the styles and techniques of different artists provides insights into their different approaches to similar themes, subjects, or ideas.
  • It helps illustrate how different artists interpret and represent the world around them, influenced by their unique perspectives and experiences.
  • This comparison can provide a comprehensive understanding of the breadth and diversity of artistic expression.

Examining Artists’ Innovations and Influence

  • Artists often bring innovations either in style or techniques, pushing the boundaries of existing conventions and challenging traditional norms.
  • These innovations can be fundamentally influential, inspiring future generations of artists and leading to the birth of new artistic movements.
  • Studying these innovations and their subsequent influences helps understand the evolution of art and appreciate the artists’ contributions to this evolution.

Influence of Culture and Time on Artists’ Styles and Techniques

  • Artists' styles and techniques are not developed in isolation, but are typically influenced by the cultural context and the time they lived in.
  • Certain styles or techniques may be characteristic of a particular culture, period, or artistic movement.
  • Understanding this interplay between the artist, their style and techniques, and their cultural and temporal context can broaden the comprehension of their work, and art in general.

Course material for Fine Art, module Comparative Study, topic Investigation into Artists’ Styles and Techniques

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