GCSE ART & PHOTO

PROJECT SUPPORT BOOKLET

GUIDANCE ON HOW TO CREATE A THOROUGH AND HIGH

QUALITY PROJECT
SUCCESS CRITERIA, ANNOTATION, ANALYSIS AND
EVALUATION GUIDES AND WRITING FRAMES.
ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES
 EXPLORE THE STARTING POINT (A01/3)
Success Criteria: PRESENTING YOUR TITLE
o Generate some ideas for a title
PAGE
page.
o Link your background and title How do you want to
style to the theme of the present your question?
question. • Think about your
o The title page should include strengths.
the question. • What ideas can you
o It can be over two pages/slides find on the internet, in
if you choose so. art books, in
o Remember good/clear magazines.
presentation is vital.
o From here on in each page
should be a piece of work in
itself- beautifully presented at
all times!

Success criteria: CREATING A MIND MAP

¢ Make the design of the mind
map in the theme of the
question.
¢ Lay out ideas roughly first.
¢ Include descriptive words,
keywords and phrases relating
to the topic/theme.
¢ Include appropriate images in
presentation.
¢ Note: You can do it on a
computer or on paper
Success criteria: RESEARCHING ARTWORK & IDEAS
— Create a mood board of TO CREATE A MOOD BOARD
ideas, images and artists’and
photographers work to inspire MOOD BOARD
you
— Find lots of images on the
internet by looking at the artists
and photographers written in
the question
— Include lots of ideas and
plenty of images to inspire you
— For example: In the question
FOOD find images of things
that show artists and
photographers who have
worked with food, fruit or
sweets etc.
— When you find different artists
and photographers, record
their name and label their
work
— You must reference the artists
and photographers names
where possible
— Include keywords

Use
www.pinterest.com
Search for themes/artist names
as a starting point.
 EXPLORING AND RESEARCHING ARTISTS (A01)
Success criteria:
ARTIST RESEARCH
¢ Research a minimum of two
photographers
Minimum of
¢ The first photographer will two artists
be clearly linked to the
starting point Key artist
information
¢ Your second photographer
will be of your choice, and
will be linked to the Present
theme/question or Images of
represent a technique that their work
is a suitable link Copy sections
¢ Present pages on these of their work

photographers- images of
Describe &
their work and write about interpret their work
their work and background
¢ Explain how the Express your
opinion about
photographers link to the their work
question/theme, why you
like their style or techniques Analyse two
or why they are interesting images of
each artists
and want to use them in work
your work
¢ Include images of their work
¢ Use the visual literacy sheet
to help you
¢ Analyse at least two images
of each photographers’
work
 PHOTOGRAPHER RESEARCH - ANNOTATION GUIDE
PHOTOGRAPHER’S NAME & DOB
Quote:
• Find a quote by the photographer about
their work
Artists background:
• List 5 key facts about the photographer
Description:
• What type of work does the
photographer make?
• What is the work about?
First Impressions: Challenge Q’s
• What was your first thought when you
saw the photographer’s work?
• What captured your attention?
Visual Elements:
• Describe/list the visual elements the
photographer has used in the work? For
example: colour (be specific)
EXAMPLE
Success criteria: Basic/level 4 and below
• Write clearly and in detail about the
photographer’s work
• Aim to use work that links to the
theme through style and also
technique
• Include a range of images
• Present on a minimum of one page
• Copy the photographer’s work to
show off your skills
Personal opinion:
• What do you like about the
photographer’s work? Why?
• What do you dislike? Why?
Narrative: Challenge Q’s
• Is the artwork about a certain
subject?
• Has the work got a story or a
message?
• Where do you think the story
comes from?
• What do you think is happening
in the artwork?
 ARTIST RESEARCH - ANNOTATION GUIDE
PHOTOGRAPHER’S NAME & DOB
Background Info: Research basic background of
the photographer. Who are they? When were they
born/die and where did they come from? Are they
part of an art movement? What is the art movement
about? How do they relate to the project?
Visual Description: What does the work look like?
What is in the photograph? What is the foreground
and background? What is the subject matter
Initial Judgement: What is your first reaction to the
work? What was your first thought when you saw it?
What captured your attention? Do parts of the
piece draw your attention more than others? What
are they? Why?
Visual Description: What visual elements and
objects are used in the piece? How is the work
organised?
Can you describe the colours? Can you describe
how the artist has used colour? Eg, Descriptively,
emotionally. What effect does the colour scheme
create? What is the mood of the piece? What has
inspired the photographer to produce this work?
Techniques: How has the photographer made this
piece of work? How did they take it? How did they
edit it?
EXAMPLE
Success criteria: Level 5-7
• Write clearly and in detail about the
photographer’s work
• Aim to use work that links to the theme
through style and also technique
• Include a range of images
• Present on at least one page
• Copy the photographer’s work to show
off your skills
Personal opinion:
• What do you like about the work? Why?
• What do you dislike? Why?
Emotional: Does the piece make you feel
a particular way? Describe how it makes
you feel and why?
Narrative: Is the artwork about a specific
subject? What do you think the
photographer is trying to say or represent?
Could the work have a symbolic meaning
or moral meaning? Has the work got a
story or a message? What do you think is
happening? Where is the action set?
Where do you think the story comes from?
Can you imagine what happened before
or what will come next? What are the
similarities and differences in telling stories
through photos and in writing?
 ARTIST RESEARCH - ANNOTATION GUIDE
PHOTOGRAPHER’S NAME & DOB
(HIGHER LEVEL)
Photographer’s background: Research their basic
background. Who are they? When were they born/die and
where they come from? Are they part of an art movement?
What is the movement about? How do they relate to this
project?
Visual Description: What does the work look like? What
is in the photo? What is the foreground and
background? Is the image realistic, distorted
(changed), abstracted or simplified? What is the
style?
Initial Judgement: What is your first reaction to the
work? What was your first thought when you saw it?
What captured your attention? Do parts of the
piece draw your attention more than others? What
are they? Why?
Visual Description: What visual elements and objects are
used in the piece? How is the work organised? What are the
devices applied? Can you illustrate a visual example. How
does it lead your eye around the work? What is the main
focus point? Where is it weighted? Why do you think this…?
Which objects seems closer to you? Further away? Is the
artwork busy and complicated or simple in design? How?
Can you describe the colours the artist has used? What
colour is used the most in this artwork?
Techniques: Which techniques has the photographer used
to take this photo? How? Has the photo been edited? How?
Emotional: Does the piece make you feel a particular way?
Describe why or how it makes you feel? How does the
composition/colour/tone etc exaggerate the feeling/ mood
of the piece? What is the mood or atmosphere of the
piece?
EXAMPLE
Success criteria: 7-9
• Write clearly and in detail about the
photographer’s work.
• Aim to use work that links to the theme
through style and also technique
• Include a range of images
• Produce 2 pages of work on this
• Aim to copy some of the photographer’s
work to show your skills
• Give your own opinion about their work
and justify your thinking
• Use appropriate terminology
• Present your page to reflect the artist
style/materials/techniques
Personal opinion:
What do you like about the work? Why?
What do you dislike? Why? Have your perceptions
changed towards this piece since analysing it?
How have your thoughts changed? Why?
Comparing
Can you compare this work to another
photographer’s work you have studied? In what
whys are they similar? In what ways are they
different? Link in
movements…ideas…themes…culture….In what
ways are they dissimilar?
Narrative: What is the subject matter?
What do you think the photographer is
trying to say or represent? Could the work
have a symbolic meaning or moral
meaning? Has the work got a story or a
message? What do you think is
happening? Where is the action set?
Where do you think the story comes from?
Can you imagine what happened before
or what will come next? What are the
similarities and differences in telling stories
in photography and in writing?
 SENTENCE STARTERS FOR EVALUATIONS & ANNOTATIONS
Visual description: Narrative & Emotions:
• The work I am describing is called… • The artwork is about…
• The artist’s work reminds me of… • The artist is saying..
• I particularly like the … • It makes me think about..
• In my own work I would like to… • The work makes me feel…because….
• I think the artist is trying to….
• In my opinion I feel that …
• The artists want you to think about…
• The artist creates work that…
• The artists communicates ideas by…
• This type of work is…. Personal opinion:
• The work has been composed by…… I like….because..
I dislike…because…
Initial Judgement: First impressions • The best part of the work is…
• While looking at the work… • The strengths of the work….
• Initially I thought that… • The weaknesses of the work are…
• It makes me think about.. • The reason I think this is because…..
• The artist wants you to see…
Conclusion:
Materials & Methods:
• I learned….
• The materials the artist has used to make
• I would/wouldn’t choose this work in my room
this pieces are…. because…
• I think the artist has worked • Other people should study this work because…
from….because…. • This work has survived the test of time
because…
• This artist’s work connects to the project
because….

VISUAL & CRITICAL LANGUAGE

LINE: Mark,  Stroke,  Diagonal,  Slash,  Dot,  Thin,  Thick,  Wrinkle,  Crease,  
Outline,  Silhouette,  Contour,  Figure,  Profile,  Direction,  Path,  Route,  
Linear,  Curve,  Sketch,  Rough,  Representation,  Fragment,  Style,  Heavy,  
Movement,  Rhythm,  Dissect,  Swiggly,  Skeletal,  Style,  Expressive,  Detail,  
Refine,  Impression,  Suggestion,  Define,  Zigzag.      

TONE:  Light.  Dark,  Mid  Tones,  Graduation,  Smudge,  Dotted,  Cross-­

Hatch,    Shadow,  Contrast

SHAPE:  Form,  Figure,  Build,  Physique,  Contours,  Pattern,  Structure,  

Cast,  Mould,  Sculpture,  Frame,  Formulate,  Symmetrical,  Fashion,  Style,  
Geometrical,  Curve,  Silhouette,  Circle,  Ellipse,  Triangle,  Square.  

FORM: Three  Dimensional,  Cube,  Cylinder,  Ball,  Tube,  Object,  Item,  

Subject,  Sculpture,  Human  Form,  Figure,  Movement,  Construct,  
Proportion,  Skeletal,  Fragile,  Structure,  Building,  Carved,  Sphere.      

PATTERN: Shapes,  Symmetrical,  Geometrical,  Repetition,  Mirror,  

Rotation,  Mathematical,  Motif,  Design,  Decoration,  Sequence,  
Ornamental,  Order,  Arrangement,  Consistency,  Representation,  
Regularity,  Template,  Draft,  Composition.

COLOUR: Primary,  Secondary,  Tertiary,  Complementary,  Hue,  Stain,  

Tint,  Translucent,  Transparent,  Shade,  Tone,  Cast,  Monochrome,  
Pigment,  Paint,  Vivid,  Contrast,  Analogous,  Cold,  Warm,  Earthy.  

TEXTURE:  Feel,  Surface,  Grainy,  Rough,  Features,  Touch,  Smooth,  

Hard,  Soft,  Weave,  Nature,  Structure,  Mould,  Consistency,  Tactile.

SPACE:  Spacious  Room,  Place,  Blank,  Expanse,  Positive,  Negative,  

Empty,  Filled,  Break,  Volume,  Mass,  Balance,  Airy,  Atmosphere.

PERSPECTIVE:  Viewpoint,  Angle,  View,  Attitude,  Scale,  Proportion,  

Scale.

COMPOSITION:  Alignment,  Arrangement,  Picture,  Objects,  Abstract,  

Plan,  Balance,  Components,  Observation,  Image.
 RECORDING FROM DIRECT OBSERVATION
(A02 &A03)

Success criteria:
o Create a photoshoot plan for every photoshoot
o Experiment with as many appropriate techniques as is
relevant (DoF, motion, shutter speed, range of cameras,
macro)
o Print off a contact sheet for each shoot
o Analyse each photoshoot
o Print off the ‘best’ images larger and present from each
photoshoot
 TO EXPERIMENT WITH MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES (A02 &
A03)

Success criteria: EXPERIMENT WITH MATERIALS &

TECHNIQUES
¢ Experiment and develop
ideas based on your
photographs
¢ Make recreations from your
imagery in the style of the
photographer using similar Work
digitally
techniques
¢ Explore and experiment in a
similar style to the
photographers you have Experiment
researched with ways
of taking
¢ Experiment with: Photoshop,
photos
layering, painting, collage,
printing, 2D relief, image Explore
transfer, photocopy images scale
and work into them, Experiment
whatever is relevant! with ways of
manipulating
Remember to: your photos
¢ Present every page clearly
and creatively, but without
wasting too much time
¢ Include screenshots
¢ Evaluate and annotate
your progress, your
strengths, weakness,
difficulties, what worked
well and next steps…
 INITIAL IDEAS
Success criteria
¢ You will write about you initial
ideas and research your starting
point, even though you may
change your ideas later
¢ At this stage you don’t need to be
very specific if you are unsure
what you want to do
¢ Keep it general and make notes
about all of your ideas – they all
count
¢ Make sure that your presentation
matches the theme of your
project
Success Criteria:
¢ Select a few of the best ideas
you have produced so far
¢ Explain what you aiming to do
for your final piece
¢ Show how your ideas have
changed/developed form the
start of the project
(A01 & A03)
FOR EXAMPLE WRITE:
My Initial Ideas:
I want to discover more about the
subject of FOOD. The theme I have
chosen is sweets but I do like other
aspects of food too like junk food vs
healthy food. My influencing artists are
Sarah Graham, Wayne Thiebaud as
well as a few others. I chosen this topic
because I like the colours, shapes and
detail of sweets.
I want to record directly using
photography and drawing from a
range of sweets. I want to explore
different angles and arrangements to
produce interesting compositions as a
starting point. From here I would like to
experiment with a range of materials
and techniques to see what effects I
can achieve.
DEVELOPING MY BEST IDEAS
S = For my final piece I am selecting
two/three of my best experiments…….
• I think they have been the most
successful because……….
W = My other ideas I have not chosen
because…………
NS = Next I want to refine my ideas by
experimenting with these ideas further
by ……(you may choose to take more
photo’s, try experimenting with
different techniques or to gain better
images etc)
• My ideas have been varied in this
project and …..
 Initial Ideas Basic Writing Frame

¢ I want to discover more about the subject of ……….

¢ The theme I have chosen is ……………...
¢ My influencing photographers are………………....
¢ I have chosen this topic because …………...
¢ I want to record directly from sweets using ……..and ……..
¢ I intend to experiment with ………………………to develop ideas
towards my final piece.

What else can you add?

Refer to other writing frames available
Think about the theme and what ideas you already have.

My initial ideas Higher /Challenge Writing Frame

What have you done so far?

¢ The project brief I am working from is called……….
¢ I began my project by creating a …………., a ………and a ………
¢ The photographers I have researched so far are…………..and………..
¢ The photographer I am most interested in……..because…
What do you intend to do next to develop ideas towards your final piece of work?
¢ For the next part of my project I want to record from……. to link into the theme……
¢ To do this I intend to photograph…….
¢ I would like to explore…………………because…………..
¢ I would like to explore and experiment with different ideas based on my
photographs by……………..
¢ From this I hope to develop at least……….
¢ This will link to …………....(name the photographer) because…….
What else can you add?
¢ Think about the theme and what ideas you already have
¢ You can always say a few ideas that you could see doing
¢ The aim is explore ideas, not just have one and stick just to that one alone
¢ Remember ideas may loosely link or there may be an artists style you like even
though it isn’t related to the theme
 SELECTING FINAL IDEA PLANNING AND FINAL OUTCOME PREPARATION
(AO3 & AO4)

Success criteria: DO YOU NEED TO FURTHER

o Select/ develop previous ideas into REFINE YOUR IDEA?
one final idea
o State the reasons for your choice If you have changed you
o Explain links to the project starting mind after doing your
point and photographs studied experiments, you need to
o Further experiment with different include a page explaining
ways/techniques to create the final why and how, showing your
piece- mock up and practise the new idea with any new
techniques to use in the exam time
photographs you intend to
o Make notes about how you think you work from.
can make the ideas work
o Evaluate strengths and weaknesses in
the idea, materials and techniques
and explain next steps when
experimenting
o Photograph/screenshot your progress

Success Criteria PREPARING FOR THE

o Write a list of materials/equipment OUTCOME
you need to be able to produce
your final piece Do you
o Check your ideas with your know
teacher what size
o Hand in your sketchbook and final you are
piece on the deadline working
at?
Is it
achievable Have you
in the practised using
remaining your materials
time? and techniques?
 EVALUATE YOUR OUTCOME AO4
Success criteria:
¢ Describe what you did for
If you have time…
your final piece and
evaluate it
¢ Write about…

— What you made and how

you made it, describing
materials and techniques

— Is there a clear link to the

photographers you
studied? Why and how?

— If possible, show the

stages of making it your
final piece

— What do you liked about

your work and why? What
worked well?

— What were your

weaknesses and why?
How you could improve
your work?

¢ Present images of your final

piece in your book/on your
PowerPoint
 SENTENCE STARTERS FOR EVALUATIONS & ANNOTATIONS
¢ This is a series of photographs I took of…
¢ This is a collection of visual research about…
¢ This is some information gathered about…
¢ This is a copy that I made of a photograph by…
¢ I edited this using…
¢ I composed by photography by…
¢ I built it up by collaging…
¢ I photographed…
¢ I gathered the images from the internet…
¢ I photocopied the images from a book called…
¢ I found the information on the web site…

Art Terms/Dictionary
o I have learnt about…. http://www.artlex.com/
o I began by….
o I have discovered….
o I improved my skills in …
o I got better in the style of ..
o I got a better idea of…
o I have a clearer understanding of…
o I feel more confident about….
o Next I will try…to follow up this,
o I will …to build on this piece of work I will…
o I am please with the way I…
o One good element of this work is…
o The best feature of the work is…
o A section of this work that is particularly successful is
o I am not happy with…
o One area that I could improve is…
o The least successful part of this work is…
o I wish that I had…