Hi there, and welcome to my shop! I’m an experienced Art & Design teacher with 14 years of teaching the English National Curriculum and the IB Diploma Programme. Over the years, I’ve worn many hats, including Extended Essay Coordinator, Head of Year 13, and now Head of the Art & Design Faculty. I’ve poured all my knowledge and experience into creating these resources to help students and teachers succeed in their creative journeys.
Hi there, and welcome to my shop! I’m an experienced Art & Design teacher with 14 years of teaching the English National Curriculum and the IB Diploma Programme. Over the years, I’ve worn many hats, including Extended Essay Coordinator, Head of Year 13, and now Head of the Art & Design Faculty. I’ve poured all my knowledge and experience into creating these resources to help students and teachers succeed in their creative journeys.
Overview
This resource distills the six core assignments of the new IB Visual Arts syllabus—3 at HL and 3 at SL—onto 6 separate pages, with one assignment per page. Each page clearly outlines the task requirements, submission expectations, and assessment criteria in a succinct, teacher- and student-friendly format.
What’s Inside
HL Art-Making Inquiries (EA Task 1)
HL Artist Project (EA Task 2)
HL Resolved Artworks (IA Task 3)
SL Art-Making Inquiries (EA Task 1)
SL Connections Study (EA Task 2)
SL Resolved Artworks (IA Task 3)
Why You’ll Love It
One Assignment per Page: No more sifting through lengthy guides—each task is explained on a single, dedicated page.
Accurate & Up-to-Date: Aligns with the first assessment year 2027, saving hours of research and cross-referencing.
Student Engagement: Give students a clear roadmap so they can track their own progress and stay motivated.
Time-Saving for Teachers: Ideal for lesson planning, term overviews, and quick referencing.
How It Helps
Clarity & Organization: Each page breaks down requirements, criteria, and weighting, ensuring no details are missed.
Confidence & Independence: Students can easily see what’s expected, helping them manage their creative process efficiently.
Easy Implementation: Perfect for classroom handouts, digital boards, or as a teacher’s personal reference.
This compact 6-page guide took considerable effort to create, ensuring it’s both comprehensive and easy to digest. Grab it for £6 and simplify your IB Visual Arts planning and preparation. Happy teaching!
Struggling to help students write about art? Whether you’re teaching IB Visual Arts 2025 onwards (HL & SL), A-Level Art, or GCSE Art, this comprehensive guide will transform how students analyse, describe, and evaluate artwork.
This newly updated edition of a tried-and-tested resource has been enhanced with AI support, clearer student examples, and structured writing models to align with the new IB Visual Arts curriculum, GCSE assessment objectives, and A-Level art analysis requirements.
I’m currently reviewing and updating all my IB Visual Arts resources to reflect the new course structure, so watch this space for more guides, lessons, and schemes of work coming soon!
Perfect for:
IB Visual Arts students needing structured support for the HL Artist Study
A-Level Art students refining their written analysis for coursework and exams
GCSE Art students improving their annotation and critical analysis for sketchbooks
Art teachers looking for a ready-made guide to help students write effectively about art
What’s inside?
How to analyse and describe artwork using the seven formal elements (composition, line, colour, space, texture, and more)
Sentence starters and writing frameworks to structure strong art analysis
Step-by-step breakdowns of GCSE, A-Level & IB writing requirements
Annotated student examples demonstrating successful responses
Expanded art vocabulary lists for structure, colour, mood, tone, and style
Real-world artist examples linked to IB and A-Level assessment objectives
How to reference sources correctly and avoid plagiarism in art writing
This is an essential guide that will serve as the central point of writing in my IB Art classroom—a tool that makes art analysis accessible, engaging, and meaningful.
Download now and give your students the tools to write confidently about art—whether they’re preparing for IB Visual Arts coursework, an A-Level Art essay, or GCSE Art sketchbook annotations!
Teaching the new IB Visual Arts course for first assessment in 2027? Or supporting GCSE & A-Level Art & Design students with research and academic writing? This MLA 9th Edition Referencing Guide is an essential resource for ensuring students cite their sources correctly and avoid plagiarism.
Why This Guide?
Designed for the new IB Visual Arts curriculum, covering the Process Portfolio, Comparative Study & Exhibition Texts
Ideal for GCSE & A-Level Art students who need clear, structured referencing support
Step-by-step MLA referencing for artworks, books, journal articles, and online sources
Guidance on captioning images correctly in sketchbooks and digital portfolios
Common referencing mistakes explained, with solutions to ensure accuracy
Academic integrity reminders, helping students avoid plagiarism and strengthen their research skills
Who is this for?
IB Visual Arts students preparing for the 2027 first assessment
GCSE & A-Level Art & Design students learning how to reference correctly
Teachers looking for a structured, student-friendly resource to support coursework and exam preparation
Key Features:
Essential for IB Extended Essays in Visual Arts
Easy-to-follow format for independent study
Supports all Art & Design students needing structured referencing guidance
Instant download – print or share digitally with students.
Only £4 – a must-have referencing guide for IB Visual Arts, GCSE & A-Level students.
Get your copy today and help your students succeed with academic referencing in Art & Design.
Prepare your students for success with this GCSE Art & Design Roadmap tailored to the Edexcel “Gathering” ESA 2025. This comprehensive, student-friendly guide provides a week-by-week structure, ensuring your class stays on track from their first ideas to their final 10-hour exam piece.
What’s Included:
Edexcel Aligned Objectives (AO1-AO4): Activities directly tied to assessment criteria to help students achieve their best.
Weekly Breakdown: Clear and structured tasks for each stage of the project, from brainstorming to evaluation.
Creative Inspiration: Includes tasks like mood boards, artist research, experiments with materials, and design sketches.
Versatile for All Pathways: Perfect for Fine Art, Photography, and mixed-media students.
Why It’s Essential for Teachers and Students:
This roadmap saves teachers time and provides students with clarity and focus. With engaging, achievable tasks, it helps students stay organised, meet deadlines, and produce work that reflects their personal style while meeting Edexcel’s expectations.
Download this resource today to inspire creativity, structure learning, and help your students excel in their GCSE Art & Design exam!
Transform your students’ creativity with the SCAMPER Visual Arts Resource, a powerful tool designed to inspire fresh ideas and innovative approaches to art projects. Perfect for secondary and IB Art classrooms, this resource introduces the SCAMPER framework—Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to Another Use, Eliminate, Rearrange/Reduce—to guide students in brainstorming, experimenting, and refining their artwork.
Packed with practical examples and prompts, the SCAMPER resource encourages students to explore new materials, techniques, and perspectives. It supports critical thinking, problem-solving, and artistic development, making it an invaluable tool for teachers seeking to engage students and elevate their creative potential.
Key Features:
Student-Friendly Prompts: Clear and accessible questions to encourage creative exploration.
Examples for Application: Practical ideas for brainstorming, experimentation, and peer feedback.
Flexible Use: Suitable for individual projects, group work, or feedback sessions.
Curriculum Alignment: Perfectly complements GCSE, IGCSE, and IB Visual Arts standards.
Digital and Printable: Ready for use in both online and classroom settings.
Ideal For:
Teachers looking to inspire creativity and originality in student artwork.
Art students needing structured guidance for developing and refining their ideas.
Peer feedback sessions to encourage collaboration and constructive critique.
Empower your students to think outside the box and create with confidence using the SCAMPER Visual Arts Resource!
Download today and watch their creativity soar.
Unlock your students’ creativity with The Maker’s Studio (Art Making Starting Points) – a fully customisable resource designed to inspire independent exploration in A-level and IB Visual Arts. Perfect for students developing their own artistic voice, this pack includes 10 unique starting points that blend practical tips, artist links, and innovative challenges.
What’s Inside:
Dynamic Tasks: Engage students in diverse techniques, from abstract photography to map-based art.
Artist Inspiration: Connect projects to renowned artists like Vivian Maier, Julie Mehretu, and Imran Qureshi.
Practical Guidance: Step-by-step instructions for each task, encouraging skill-building and conceptual thinking.
Why You’ll Love It:
Ideal for both structured lessons and independent projects.
Encourages experimentation, reflection, and personal expression.
Seamlessly supports the IB and A-level Visual Arts criteria.
Whether your students are creating miniature paintings or mapping personal memories, this resource provides the foundation to develop ambitious and meaningful artworks.
Get your students started on their creative journey!
The KS4 GCSE Fine Art Handbook is the ultimate companion for students and teachers following the Edexcel GCSE Fine Art course. Designed to inspire creativity and promote independent learning, this comprehensive guide equips students with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed.
Packed with clear explanations of assessment objectives, formal elements, and practical techniques, it provides students with step-by-step guidance on developing their sketchbooks and creating meaningful artwork. The resource includes key terminology, detailed descriptions of major art movements, and contextual sources to spark inspiration and deepen understanding.
Loved by students and highly praised by teachers, this handbook is an excellent classroom resource that supports teaching and encourages students to take ownership of their learning. Whether used in lessons or for independent study, it ensures students are fully prepared to excel in their GCSE Fine Art journey.
Transform how your students approach Fine Art with this tried-and-tested resource!
Get fully prepped for the June 2025 Art & Design Externally Set Assignment (ESA) with this all-in-one resource pack. For just £20, you’ll have everything you need to help students smash their exam prep and final outcome. Fully customisable and packed with all the tools and inspiration to make teaching this years theme easy!
What’s Inside:
Complete ESA Breakdown
A clear and detailed guide to the 2025 theme, “Gathering”, with creative prompts for both Fine Art and Photography students.
Step-by-step project plans to help you develop, refine, and present your ideas with confidence
Artist & Photographer Inspiration
Explore an amazing collection of artists and photographers like Andy Warhol and Spencer Tunick.
Packed with ideas to help you connect their work to your theme and make your project stand out
Easy-to-Use AO Checklists
Simple, student-friendly checklists for hitting top marks in AO1 to AO4.
Tips for everything from developing ideas to presenting a meaningful final piece
Why This Pack?
Save Time: No need to start from scratch – everything’s ready to go and easy to tweak.
Maximise Marks: Designed to help your students meet all the criteria and push for those top grades.
Affordable & Effective: All the resources you need for less than the price of a takeaway!
Take the stress out of exam prep with this ultimate guide for the GCSE Art & Design “Gathering” theme! Packed with everything students and teachers need, it breaks down each stage of the project into easy-to-follow steps. Whether you’re brainstorming ideas, experimenting with techniques, or planning your final piece, this guide is your perfect companion.
What’s Inside?
Weekly Project Checklists: Clear tasks and goals for every stage, so no one feels lost.
Artist Inspiration: Explore works by artists like Mary Kuper, Carlton Murrell, and Kathy Ramsay Carr, with tips on creating your own responses in their style.
Creative Sparks: Mind-mapping templates, mood board ideas, and prompts to develop unique takes on “Gathering.”
Practical Techniques: Step-by-step guides for observational drawings, photo shoots, and experiments with materials like watercolours, charcoal, or digital tools.
Student-Friendly Tips: Advice on refining compositions, using textures, and creating visual impact in their work.
Mock-Up Planning: Pages dedicated to testing colour schemes, compositions, and techniques before diving into the final piece.
Evaluation Guide: A framework for reflecting on their work, helping students articulate their creative journey.
This guide isn’t just about meeting the exam criteria - it’s about helping students feel confident and inspired throughout the process. Perfect to display in lessons as a reference or for students to use at home, this resource keeps everyone on track and excited to create their best work yet.
Give your students the tools they need to stay on track and succeed in their GCSE Photography exam with this clear and practical AO checklist resource. It’s designed to make the assessment objectives easy to understand and help students work step by step towards meeting the criteria with confidence.
What’s Included?
AO1 (Develop Ideas): Guidance on how to research and annotate sources, create mood boards, and connect their ideas to their project.
AO2 (Refine Work): Prompts for experimenting with techniques, materials, and processes, with space to document trials and reflect on improvements.
AO3 (Record Observations): Tips for recording photographic trials, annotating contact sheets, and reflecting on what’s working as they progress.
AO4 (Present Response): Advice for presenting a final, refined body of work, documenting editing processes, and writing a reflective evaluation.
This resource is simple to use and keeps students organised, helping them feel confident about what’s expected. While designed for Pearson Edexcel Art & Design photography endorsement, it’s easy to adapt for other GCSE Art and Design boards and endorsements.
Enhance your students’ creative responses to the 2025 Pearson Edexcel GCSE Photography theme, “Gathering,” with this comprehensive artist research resource. This guide introduces a diverse selection of 33 artists and photographers whose work explores the concept of “Gathering” through innovative techniques, cultural narratives and thought-provoking compositions.
What’s Included?
Artist Profiles: Detailed insights into practitioners such as Magdalena Abakanowicz, Nan Goldin, and Archibald Motley, showcasing how their work connects to “Gathering.”
Practical Analysis Tips: Suggestions on how students can analyse composition, lighting, and subject matter to inspire their own creative work.
Research and Annotation Guidance: Prompts to help students link artist techniques and concepts to their personal projects.
Diverse Media and Perspectives: Examples of traditional and contemporary practices across sculpture, photography, painting, and digital art, broadening students’ understanding of the theme.
This resource aligns with the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Photography specification but can be easily adapted for use with other exam boards. It’s an ideal tool for guiding students as they research, analyse, and develop ideas for their final outcomes, ensuring a thoughtful and well-rounded approach to the 2025 theme.
This resource is designed to help students unlock the potential of AI to improve their research and make the Extended Essay process more efficient and effective. It gives clear, practical guidance on how to approach research with AI tools, encouraging students to work smarter and think critically about their use of technology.
From brainstorming and refining ideas to analysing data and presenting findings, the strategies in this resource can simplify the research process while maintaining academic rigour. It’s also a reminder that while AI is a powerful tool, students must evaluate outputs carefully to ensure reliability and quality in their work.
By following this resource, students will feel more confident in tackling their Extended Essays, using AI not as a shortcut but as a way to elevate their skills and understanding. It’s a supportive step towards building research capabilities for success in the IB programme and beyond.
This comprehensive art resource is designed for Year 7 students and explores Native American Indian art, focusing on totem poles and masks. The unit encourages creativity, collaboration, and cultural understanding through engaging, hands-on activities.
What’s Included:
Lesson Presentations:
Lesson 1 & 2: Introduction to Native American Indian masks, focusing on visual analysis skills, including colour, form, and symbolism.
Lesson 3: Exploration of totem poles and animal symbolism, with students choosing an animal for their sculpture.
Lesson 4 & 5: Designing totem pole segments, considering the three-dimensional qualities of their chosen animal.
Lesson 6-8: Constructing totem pole segments using foil, tape, and papier-mâché.
Lesson 9 & 10: Painting totem pole segments using layering and dry brushing techniques to create texture and detail.
Lesson 11: Assembling the class totem pole collaboratively and reflecting on the creative process.
Worksheets and Handouts:
Detailed guidance on analysing Native American Indian masks, including prompts for description, analysis, interpretation, and judgement.
A handout on the symbolic meanings of animals to inform design choices for totem pole segments.
Assessment Opportunities:
Mid-year assessment task focusing on visual analysis of Native American Indian masks.
Success criteria for all tasks (Working Towards, Meeting, Exceeding), enabling differentiated learning.
Creative Outputs:
Students produce a portfolio of work, including mask analyses, totem pole designs, and a collaborative sculpture.
Key Features:
Cultural Exploration: Engages students with Native American traditions, fostering appreciation for diverse artistic practices.
Skill Development: Builds foundational skills in sculpture, painting, and visual analysis.
Collaboration: Encourages teamwork through the creation of a class totem pole.
Differentiated Learning: Includes clear success criteria and extension activities to challenge all abilities.
Why Use This Resource?
Aligns with Key Stage 3 Art & Design curriculum.
Integrates history and cultural studies into art lessons.
Encourages creativity and critical thinking.
Easily adaptable for higher year groups or GCSE preparation.
Bring Native American art and culture to life in your classroom with this engaging and educational resource pack!
Explore the fascinating world of Gothic art and architecture with this comprehensive unit designed for Year 7 students. This resource combines historical exploration, art-making techniques, and creative problem-solving to bring the Gothic era to life in your classroom.
What’s Included:
Lesson Presentations:
Lesson 1: Introduction to Gothic Art & Architecture – Students learn about key features of Gothic architecture and create tonal drawings inspired by famous Gothic designs
.
Lesson 2: Gargoyle Drawings – Introduces students to gargoyles, their function, and artistic characteristics, culminating in pastel or chalk drawings
.
Lesson 3 & 4: Relief Sculpture – Students design and create low-relief gargoyle sculptures using cardboard, inspired by Gothic motifs
.
Lesson 5: High Relief Gargoyle Sculptures – Develops students’ 3D art skills with mixed media, focusing on high-relief techniques
.
Lesson 6 & 7: Paper Mâché Sculptures – Students transform their designs into fully realised sculptures using paper mâché
.
Lesson 8 & 9: Painting Techniques – Teaches students how to paint their sculptures to replicate the stone-like textures of Gothic architecture
.
Home Learning Menu:
A variety of differentiated tasks to extend learning, including creative diary entries, trading cards, comic strips, and timelines inspired by Giotto di Bondone
.
End-of-Term Checklist:
Helps students ensure their sketchbooks are complete and assessments are finalised, with opportunities for reflection and mindful activities
.
Key Features:
Differentiated Learning: Tasks include clear success criteria (Working Towards, Meeting, Exceeding) to guide students.
Cross-Curricular Links: Combines art, history, and literacy through Gothic themes and creative writing.
Skills Development: Focuses on tonal drawing, relief sculpture, and painting techniques, enhancing both 2D and 3D art skills.
Creative Outputs: Students produce a portfolio of drawings, sculptures, and evaluations that showcase their learning journey.
Why Use This Resource?
Aligns with Key Stage 3 Art & Design curriculum.
Engages students with the dramatic and imaginative themes of the Gothic era.
Supports skills in observational drawing, design, and sculpture.
Easily adapted for GCSE projects.
This unit is perfect for bringing history and art together in an inspiring and engaging way!
This engaging resource pack is ideal for introducing Year 7 students to the formal elements of Art & Design, focusing on foundational skills that can be built upon in later years. The pack covers the essential elements of line, tone, colour, pattern, texture, shape, and perspective through a series of structured lessons and practical activities.
What’s Included:
Lesson 1: Line – Students explore different types of lines, their purposes, and how to incorporate them into portrait work creatively.
Lesson 2: Tone – Learn to apply tonal shading to create 3D effects using techniques like cross-hatching.
Lesson 3: Colour – Understand primary, secondary, and tertiary colours through colour mixing exercises and watercolour apple studies.
Lesson 4: Pattern – Experiment with a variety of media to record patterns, with an emphasis on layout and design.
Lesson 5: Texture – Explore texture through frottage and collage techniques inspired by Max Ernst.
Lesson 6: Shape and Form – Develop positive shape and negative space drawings using charcoal.
Lesson 8: Perspective – Introduces one-point perspective with key vocabulary and guided practice to create fantasy landscapes.
Key Features:
Structured Learning: Each lesson includes clear learning intentions, step-by-step instructions, and success criteria to support differentiated learning.
Interactive Activities: Hands-on tasks encourage creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.
Assessment Rubrics: Levels (Working Towards, Meeting, Exceeding) for each lesson help students understand expectations and track their progress.
Student Reflection: Includes opportunities for students to self-assess their work and set targets for improvement.
Cross-Curricular Links: Aligns with the IB Learner Profile and encourages inquiry and communication skills.
Why Use This Resource?
Provides a solid foundation in the formal elements of Art & Design.
Supports Year 7 students in developing technical skills and artistic confidence.
Easy to adapt for higher year groups or introductory GCSE lessons.
Includes both individual and group tasks for diverse classroom dynamics.
This resource is perfect for engaging students in their first year of secondary Art education, setting them up for success in their artistic journey!
Year 6 Transition Art: Life Below Water Badge Design Activity
This creative resource is perfect for Year 6 transition days or environmental awareness activities. The session combines art with sustainability, encouraging students to explore the beauty of marine life while considering the challenges our oceans face.
Key Features of the Resource:
Theme: Focuses on “Life Below Water,” inspired by UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans.
Educational Content: Highlights the importance of healthy oceans, covering topics like oxygen production, biodiversity, climate regulation, and the impacts of pollution, overfishing, and climate change.
Engaging Activity: Students design their own marine-themed badges using simple materials like templates, felt-tip pens, and a badge-making machine.
Clear Instructions: Step-by-step guidance ensures students can independently create vibrant, meaningful designs that celebrate and raise awareness about ocean conservation.
Inspiration: Includes examples and prompts to help students visualise their ideas and bring their designs to life.
Why Use This Resource?
Suitable for transition days, art lessons, or environmental awareness events.
Engages students with a hands-on creative activity.
Promotes awareness of sustainability and marine conservation.
Easy to adapt for different year groups or contexts.
Bring environmental awareness and creativity together with this engaging art activity, perfect for inspiring young learners!
**Year 8-9 Art and Design: Printmaking and Paolozzi-Inspired Unit
**
This comprehensive resource pack is designed for Key Stage 3 (Years 8 and 9) and easily adaptable for GCSE Art & Design. It focuses on developing key skills in analysing, designing, and creating artwork inspired by Eduardo Paolozzi and the theme of “Power”.
The pack includes detailed lesson plans, worksheets, and presentations that guide students through the following:
Analysing Paolozzi’s Work: Students learn to explore and discuss the content, form, process, mood, and context of Paolozzi’s prints and sculptures, with clear frameworks for writing about art.
Colour and Collage Studies: Activities include colour replication using pencils and creating vibrant A3 collages that combine machine imagery and popular culture, reflecting Paolozzi’s style.
Relief Print Design and Styrofoam Printing: Students design, engrave, and print their interpretations of machine parts, with guidance on simplifying designs for impactful prints.
Collaborative A0 Artwork: Groups combine individual prints and collaged elements into a large-scale final piece, fostering teamwork and creativity.
Self and Group Evaluation: Includes worksheets and frameworks for evaluating personal and collaborative work against the original design brief, supporting critical thinking and reflective practice.
Why Buy This Pack?
Aligns with the UK National Curriculum for Art & Design.
Incorporates differentiated self-assessment rubrics for levels 1-9, ensuring accessibility and challenge for all abilities.
Encourages IB learner profile traits such as collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.
Perfect for mid-year assessments or end-of-unit projects.
Adaptable for GCSE to build foundational skills in printmaking, collage, and art analysis.
Everything you need to deliver a structured, engaging, and visually dynamic printmaking unit is included!
The Year 8 Photography Unit titled “ALIVE” is designed to introduce students to key photographic concepts and techniques, providing a foundational experience that helps them decide if they want to pursue photography at GCSE. This unit blends creativity with technical skill-building and encourages students to explore photography’s expressive potential.
Key Objectives:
Introduction to Composition: Students begin by learning the fundamental compositional rules such as the Rule of Thirds, Leading Lines, Framing, and Symmetry. These lessons aim to develop critical thinking about how composition can influence the visual impact and effectiveness of an image.
Exploring the Formal Elements: As the unit progresses, students engage with the formal elements of photography, including line, shape, form, colour, texture, and space. They practice capturing these elements through photography tasks around the school, enhancing their observational skills and ability to apply these elements in their work.
Photographer Investigation: In the middle of the unit, students are introduced to the work of influential photographers such as Slinkachu and Brian McCarty. They research their chosen photographer, create a visual analysis, and reflect on how the photographer’s techniques and themes could inspire their own work.
Photoshoot Skills Development: Towards the end of the unit, students plan and execute their own photoshoots, focusing on storytelling and technical skills. They are encouraged to develop miniature scenes inspired by their chosen photographer, using props and careful attention to lighting and composition.
Creative Reflection and Evaluation: Throughout the unit, students are asked to reflect on their most successful photographs, using descriptive and analytical language to evaluate how the formal elements were applied and how they can continue improving their technique.
This unit offers an immersive experience in photography, allowing students to explore both creative and technical aspects while building confidence in their skills. It serves as an excellent introduction to the subject for those considering it as a GCSE option.
The Year 7 unit titled “Material Things” focuses on developing students’ drawing skills, particularly in observing and depicting texture. Through a combination of photography, drawing, and visual analysis, students explore the formal elements of art such as texture, tone, and line, using fabric as a central subject matter.
Key Objectives:
Exploring Texture: Students will be introduced to different types of texture, both actual and implied. They will study examples from artists like Leonardo Da Vinci, exploring how folds in fabric are represented in art across different time periods.
Photography Techniques: As part of their learning process, students will take primary source photographs of fabric, experimenting with scrunching, folding, and layering to capture interesting textures that will later be used for drawing.
Drawing from Observation: The unit emphasizes careful observation of texture, form, and tone. Over several lessons, students will create large A3 observational drawings from their photographs, using pencil to capture the intricate details of the fabric.
Developing Technique: Students will practice using varying pressures with their pencils to create depth and tone in their drawings, filling the entire page to encourage dynamic and immersive compositions. Extensions are available for students to continue working on their drawings at home to refine and improve their work.
The project fosters an understanding of texture and the ability to translate visual elements into art through both photography and drawing, helping students build foundational skills in observation and representation.
The Year 7 unit titled “Empowerment and Equality” is a thematic art and photography project designed to explore key concepts of personal empowerment and societal equality through self-portraits and creative expression. The unit encourages students to think critically about how power, identity, and representation are communicated through body language, symbolism, and artistic techniques.
Key Objectives:
Understanding Empowerment: Students will explore what empowerment means through historical and contemporary examples in art and photography, considering figures like Henry VIII and Queen Victoria, and their own definitions of power.
Photography Techniques: Students will develop photography skills, focusing on self-portraits that convey personal empowerment. They will experiment with poses, camera angles, and lighting to communicate strength and identity.
Artistic Inspiration: The unit introduces students to the work of artists like Gabriel Garcia and Kehinde Wiley, whose styles emphasize turning ordinary people into icons of empowerment. Students will incorporate elements of these styles into their own artwork.
Collage and Mixed Media: As the unit progresses, students will combine their photographs with other elements like midground shapes, patterns, and handwritten text to create layered compositions that reflect their personal experiences of empowerment.
The project not only builds technical skills in photography and mixed media but also fosters deep personal reflection on themes of equality, power, and identity. The culmination of the unit is a final artwork where students combine photography, text, and pattern, drawing inspiration from both their own lives and the artists studied.