Art & Design Department @ Key Stage 3

We cover several topics throughout each academic year.
These include:

Year 7    -       The Face

Students explore the face as a starting point.  They create images of themselves from memory, observation and imagination.  They develop skills using traditional materials and processes and have the opportunity to combine traditional and digital media.
They learn about the ideas, methods and approaches used by other artists who have made images of themselves and/or portrayed others.

Year 7   -   Natural Forms

Students explore natural forms as a starting point.  They develop their observational skills whilst experimenting and exploring a number of traditional and new materials.  They look at the work of Graham Sutherland and Henry Moore and form an understanding of line and the various techniques employed to use it effectively.
Students are then introduced to Poems and characters from films linked with trees.  From this the students use their own imagination to create their own tree beard character initiating from a log drawing.
Further activities involve, printmaking, collage, ceramics and/or mixed media sculptures.

Year 7 – Architecture and Buildings

Students explore the architecture of both Gaudi and Ely Cathedral as a starting point. They will make observed drawings from photographs and then move on to producing imaginative designs for different house facades using both Gaudi and Ely cathedral as their source of inspiration. They will then go on to make their chosen design as a clay relief façade, exploring texture and modelling techniques.

Year 7 -  Colour

Students will explore colour theory. They will learn how to mix secondary and tertiary colours and many other technical terms.  They will then work on a team exercise in which they will each copy a section of an enlarged painting which must then fit together both in its proportions as a drawing and by colour matching.  Accuracy of drawing and colour mixing is key along with student’s working with others painting the neighbouring sections. The final paintings will be assembled together and used as large wall displays around the school.

Year 7 - Cross curricular project

Festivals

Working in collaboration with RE and Drama students will design and create ceramic Diva lights to be used in the short production they will take part in Drama having understood the story and origins of the Hindu “Divali” Festival.
Students will explore “Rangoli” patterns and produce clay wrap round forms which they will decorate with Pierced work rangoli patterns.  Once these are fired they will then paint using relevant Hindu colours.

Year 8     -      Animals in Art

Students explore the use of animals in art.  They create accurate observed drawings of animals which lead to the creation of a 3D animal in clay.  They look at the work of Henri Rousseau and develop their own compositions of a jungle scene having studied the shape and detail of flowers and plants. Once drawn, they look carefully at the use of colour to create variation and depth.
They learn about Foreground, Middle-ground and Background.

Year 8    -    The Human Figure

Students explore the human figure.  They gain an understanding of proportions and joints by drawing from real life.  Having studied accurately proportioned figures the students analyse fashion figures and recognise that they are instead elongated and exaggerated.
Looking at contemporary Japanese Fashions students draw their own fashion figures and clothe them in the contemporary designs studied. Once drawn they carefully recreate the colours using mosaic style collage.
Looking at the sculptures of Giacometti, students produce wire and mod-roc sculptures in the style of the artist.

Year 8   -   Emphasizing form through tone

Students explore tone whilst studying still-life.  They gain an understanding of tonal effects and colour families. The students develop the skills to create the illusion of 3D form on a flat surface by using changes in value.  They understand how to create dramatic and subtle changes in value having investigated shading techniques such as hatching, cross-hatching, stippling, scribbling and blending. They will then move into monochromatic studies having investigated gradated scales of tints and shades.

Year 8  - Matisse and Klimt

Combining figure drawing from life and artist’s figure studies from secondary sources students will study the use of pattern and colour in the figurative work of Matisse and Klimt.  The project aims to introduce the concept of simplification of form and composition through the use of mixed media, colour and pattern. This is a project which is accessible to students of all abilities and generally results in good outcomes.

Year 9   -    Fruit   -   Media Investigations

Students explore media through observational studies of Fruit.
They develop awareness and understanding of the characteristics of a variety of artist materials. 
They learn about the ideas, methods and approaches used by other artists who have made images of fruit.

Year 9   -  Reflective Surfaces

Students explore reflective surfaces through observational drawings of a hand held shiny bauble.
They develop awareness and understanding of the characteristics of reflections.  They learn about distortion and how to create a sense of depth using tone.

Year 9  -  Sgraffito Pots

Students explore the ‘Sgraffito’ decoration technique alongside designing and then creating their own 3-Dimensional piece decorated with patterns taken from a specific culture.
They develop an understanding of the process of designing as well as developing skills in clay such as the wrap-round and coil technique.

Year 9 – Artist Alphabet

Students explore the work of other artists by copying either whole or sections of their own chosen artist’s work.  They then overlay a collage letter /number in a contrasting colour. When displayed together as an alphabet or in numerical order this produces a fantastic wall display. Students develop colour mixing skills and proportion accuracy drawing as well as visualising the work of other artists.

Year 9 – Pop Art

Students will be introduced to the work of British Pop artist Richard Hamilton.  Focussing on his collage “Just What is it That Makes Today’s Home so Different, so Appealing?” of 1956 they will consider how the interior space, people and objects placed within in it reflect the era in which it was produced.  Students will then produce a collage based on this idea and develop their knowledge of the key themes of pop art along with their collage and design skills.  To explore this further they will also look at Andy Warhol prints of famous icons of the period. They will choose their own modern icon and produce a series of prints using the printing techniques and prepared surfaces that mimic Warhol’s methods.  Students will develop an understanding of the style and colours associated with Pop Art and will explore the print making process.