10thGradeCourseWorkTheBeginning

Sensations
Week1:Selectatopic
1. Brainstormideasquickly.Studentsoftentakefartoolongonthis
process(thisisacommonmistakemadebyhighschoolArt
students).
2. Selectatopicwhichallowsyoutoworkfromfirsthandobservation
intheclassroom.Therearecertainadvantagestobeingabletoset
upandarrangeitemswithintheclassroomitself.Drawingfrom
secondhandimagestakenbyothersordrawingsolelyfromyour
imaginationshouldbeavoidedatalmostallcosts.Examiners
frequentlycommentthatlowgradeworkischaracterizedbya
relianceoncopyingfromsecondarysourcessuchastheInternetor
magazinephotographs(June2013ExaminerReport),withthe
strongestwork,ontheotherhand,alwayssupportedbyexcellent

Week 2 &3:- First Preparatory

Sheet
Treat the first preparatory sheet as
an opportunity to identify your
subject matter and explore this from
a range of different angles and scales, using a range of different black
and white mediums.
Recommendations:

supportingstudieswithanemphasisonthoroughinvestigationfrom
primarysources.
3. Ensureyoursubjectmatteriscomplex,interestingandvaried.For
example,threeorangesisunlikelytoprovidesufficientvarietyto
sustainanentiresubmission.Lookforatopicthatisvisually
interestingandcontainsavarietyofshapes,textures,detailsand
forms.
TakeBeautifulPhotographs
Find and gather all of the objects and background
materials that you are contemplating including
within your project, and take beautiful photographs of these using a high
quality camera. Treat these as artworks in themselves. Take close-up details,
as well as single objects and whole arranged scenes. Do not worry about your
final piece at this point, simply observe and record your subject matter,
noticing the shapes, proportions, textures and forms. Select items carefully,
so that your work is imaginative and personal.
Once completed, we will approve the photographs (and your topic) and offer
advice.

Do not worry about forming complete

compositions': instead record, draw or
paint interesting objects, combinations of
objects, parts of scenes or enlarged details,
investigating a variety of appropriate items
and background materials from different
angles, viewpoints and scales. Try to include
every object or scene that you intend to
include within your project. Dont worry
about what your final work will look like.
Consider this phase visual research into your subject matter.
Gather, record, research and investigate (through drawing and
painting) a variety of appropriate first-hand sources, working from
direct observation or your own photographs. This prep sheet helps
you to gain the marks in AO1: Gathering, recording, research and
investigation (assessment will be explained in more detail at the end
of this article).
Focus upon producing strong, realistic, observational drawings
and paintings
accurately depicting
shape, tone,
proportion,
perspective,
surface/textural
qualities and form.
Even those who wish
to move towards an
interpretative or
abstract should begin
working from
observation.

Work primarily in black and white (or monochrome). While this

is not a requirement, eliminating colour in the initial phase of
investigation simplifies this part of your project. It allows you to
focus on accurately representing shape, proportion and tone, before
moving onto more complex tasks in later prep sheets. Use black and
white mediums that you are able to control well, while ensuring that
you include sufficient experimentation and a wide enough range of
different mediums. We recommend that students complete 4 12
artworks, using mediums selected from the list below:
1. Graphite pencil on white cartridge drawing paper. These
drawings may
be partially
incomplete
i.e. trailing out
to become line
only around the
edges.
2. Ink pen or biro pen on brown Craft paper or coloured paper
that fits in with the colour of your subject matter. This might be
a line drawing, such as a cross-contour drawing or a
continuous line drawing or a more realistic piece that
is shaded using techniques such as cross-hatching.
3. Black and white colouring pencil on grey paper,
with the paper showing through visible for the midtone.
4. Indian ink and white paint or black and white
pencil over a watered down Indian ink ground. This
will create an awesome irregular blotchy ground to
work over.
5. Graphite pencil,
black biro pen
and/or acrylic
over a textured
ground of
collaged text or
patterned or
textured paper.
This may be pieces of old wallpaper, or things specific to your
topic, i.e. a page from an old recipe book for a food related
topic. You may also wish to use white paint for highlights.

6. Black biro pen over a ground of splashed ink or smeared

acrylic paint, with tone applied using the biro pen, possibly
white paint or white pen for highlights. Ensure that any colours
used tie in with the colours of your subject matter.
7. Indian ink applied using a stick. This can be onto ordinary
white paper, or something more exciting, such as a torn piece of
cardboard box.
8. Black and white charcoal on drawing paper.
9. White charcoal on black paper.
10. Black watercolours or ink on
watercolour paper.
11. Black and white photographic prints
(do not cram your sheet with photographs
as a space-filling mechanism, but a few
high quality photographs, printed on matt
paper, can make it clear you worked from
observation and can help the examiners
see and understand your starting point).
12. Any other black and white drawings or
paintings in another medium.

All images form ISL IGCE students from 2015, text adapted fromhttp://www.studentartguide.com/

ChecklistforIGCSEArtcoursework.
AO1: Gathering, recording, research and investigation
List of items To be
completed
1

Brainstorm/ Mind map.

Minimum of 6 excellent
photographs relating to
project (Professionally
printed if possible)

Between 4 and 12 drawings

or paintings of interesting
objects, combinations of
objects, parts of scenes or
enlarged details.

Completed
Completed
but needs
to best of
improvement ability

Tick off your choices on the previous page. You do not need to
use all of these methods.
Remember the emphasis is always quality. You do not need to
demonstrate every technique on the list. It is better to do less,
well. Always select something that is appropriate for your
project and focus on creating awesome observational
drawings.
Marks are not given for annotation but it can help to jot down
note/ideas to clarify your thoughts in the spaces in and around
your drawings.