1st Year A Level Art Course Notes

A LEVEL ART & DESIGN

You have just started your A Level Art & Design course at Alton College.

Here we have offered some useful information about the course and, we hope, some good advice about how to produce your best work and achieve your potential in this subject.

A LEVEL ART LESSONS/PRIVATE STUDY:

Like all A level subjects, you will have two lessons per week - one morning session of 3 hours and one afternoon session of 2 hours. You are also expected to commit a further 4 - 5 hours of private study time per week. This may be specific assignments set by your teacher, or continuation of your project work. There will be times during the week when the Art Rooms are free for you to come and work in the Studio outside your timetabled lessons if you wish to do so. This is encouraged but you MUST be responsible for clearing away materials and ensuring the Art Studio is TIDY when you leave.

You will be given clear feedback on your level of attainment throughout the course via formal assessments and 1:1 discussions with your teacher.

ART MATERIALS:

Most Art materials are available for you to use in the Art Studios but you should always come to all of your Art lessons with at least a set of pencils (HB, 2B, 4B – sets are available to purchase from the Art Dept. for £1), pencil sharpener and eraser. It is recommended that, as you progress through the course, you also invest in some basic art materials of your own for use at home. Many Art Materials can be purchased through the Alton College Art department and a list of available materials for sale is on display in the Art Studio. You will be required to purchase your own set of 4 paintbrushes (£2) for your own personal use during the course.

Be aware that some processes and techniques such as printmaking and painting that use oil-based inks or acrylic paint can get a bit messy. An old shirt or item of clothing to cover and protect your everyday clothes is always advisable when using these materials.

One essential item that you MUST have is a SKETCHBOOK. This can be purchased directly from the Art Department at a reduced price and may be either A4 (£5) or A3 (£8) in size.

You have been set homework in your first lesson and you will need a sketchbook to complete this.

Much of your coursework will be done in your sketchbook and a good sketchbook will show the full range of your skills including drawings (sustained studies and rapid sketches), development of ideas through experiments in other media/techniques, and research into the work of relevant artists and designers. Your sketchbook should always be presented in a clear, coherent and visually exciting way. You should recognise that your presentation of work in the sketchbook also indicates your understanding and appreciation of graphic skills such as composition and typography.

ART TUTORS:

Remember that your tutor/s are there to help you. Always seek advice and guidance whenever you are unsure.

HOW TO SUCCEED:

Success at A Level Art & Design requires a balanced range of advanced skills: a good level of technical ability; an enthusiastic and industrious approach; a high degree of subject knowledge, and -that quality that is always hard to define but easy to spot - creative flair.

To achieve your potential in this subject: always strive to produce work to the very best of your ability. Push yourself to be experimental and inquiring in your approach. If you have very good skills in any particular area (painting, observational drawing), continue to extend these skills but do not retreat into them as a ‘comfort zone’. The student who succeeds on this course is the student who is open-minded, resourceful, determined and creative. Take pride in your work...and enjoy it!