VCE Studio Art
What do I learn in VCE Studio Art?
VCE Studio Arts focuses on developing your individual skills as an artist, and preparing you to enter the art industry. Through a range of practical and theoretical activities you will:
How is the course structured?
The study is made up of four units. Units 1, 3, and 4 have two practical outcomes and one theory outcome. Unit 2 has one practical and one theory outcome.
The units are:
Unit 1: Studio inspiration and techniques
For the practical work you do a series of structured tasks, focussing on finding sources of inspiration and developing ideas, under teacher guidance, as the basis for making your own artworks. You are introduced to a wide range of materials and techniques and learn to use them to communicate ideas, observations and experiences.
For the theory you explore and research the ways in which artists from different times and cultures have interpreted and expressed their ideas, how they have found inspiration and used materials and techniques to make their artworks.
Unit 2: Studio exploration and concepts
For the practical work you do a mini version of Year 12, where you focus on using the studio process to produce artworks more independently. You find your own sources of inspiration, you experiment with your choice of materials and techniques, and you develop your ideas and aesthetic qualities in your visual diary, before making final artworks.
In the theory unit you develop skills in the visual analysis of artworks. Artworks made by artists from different times and cultures are analysed to understand the artists’ ideas and how they have created aesthetic qualities and identifiable styles. You explore a range of art periods, movements or styles, to develop a broader knowledge about the history of art.
You usually go on two excursions in Year 11.
Unit 3: Studio practices and processes
In this unit you do all the development work in your visual diary to get ready for your final artworks. You write your own exploration proposal to define your ideas and how you want to work. You plan and apply the studio process to explore and develop your individual ideas. You explore your chosen art form and test your materials and techniques. You annotate your visual diary explorations, and you select your best ideas as the potential directions for making your finished artworks in Unit 4.
For the theory you study two artists. You analyse ways the artists respond to their influences and cultural backgrounds, and examine their use of materials and techniques. You explore the artists' professional art practices and identify the development of styles and communication of ideas and meanings in their artworks.
You will be taken on two excursions to different art galleries in Year 12.
Unit 4: Studio practice and art industry contexts
For the practical work you use your Unit 3 development work to make your final artworks. You must make at least two high quality artworks and they must relate to each other, and to your initial proposal. You write a document explaining how your potential directions from Unit 3 were used to make your final artworks.
In the theory you look at the art industry, focusing on a variety of exhibition spaces and the different roles and tasks involved in exhibiting artworks. You look at curatorship and the presentation, promotion and conservation of artworks. You are expected to independently visit two different exhibition spaces.
FAQ:
Q. I haven't done any art electives since Year 8, can I still do VCE Studio Arts?
A. We recommend that students who are considering taking VCE Studio Art take at least one unit of Year 9 or Year 10 Art Electives, as these subjects play a significant role in developing practical and theory skills. That said, there are no official prerequisites (required subjects) for entry into Studio Art. If you’re not sure if you are at an appropriate standard, the best thing to do is speak to one of Cheltenham’s Visual Art teachers.
Q. I’m not very good at drawing. How much do I have to do?
A. Drawing is seen as a fundamental skill to most art forms. Whilst it won’t necessarily be seen in the final stages of an artwork, a lot of developmental work is done that requires reasonable (but not amazing) drawing skills. For example, in your Visual Diary you will be required to sketch out ideas, just as you did in Year 7, 8, 9 and 10. Remember, drawing is a learnt skill and everyone can improve their drawing skill with practice.
Q. What art forms can I concentrate on in Studio Art? I really want to do fashion design/metal sculpture/photography/something really ‘out there’.
Cheltenham’s Art Department is well equipped to support students who wish to concentrate on drawing, painting, ceramics, and some areas of printmaking. However we simply can’t offer every art form under the sun, both from a teacher specialisation perspective and also from a school resourcing perspective. If you wish to seriously pursue an art form not listed here (for example, photography) you need to have an in-depth and lengthy conversation with Ms Low, who is the Visual Arts Co-ordinator, and your parents/guardians about how you will resource your chosen art form (for example, bringing your own fabric and sewing machine to school, or your own photography equipment) and whether it will allow you to satisfy VCAA criteria.
Any other questions?
Email Ms Low
VCE Studio Arts focuses on developing your individual skills as an artist, and preparing you to enter the art industry. Through a range of practical and theoretical activities you will:
- Be introduced to a range of new skills, materials and new ways of using familiar materials
- Improve your technical skills in your chosen art form
- Learn how to communicate ideas through your artworks
- Develop an in-depth knowledge of Art Movements and understand how art is reflective of the society, culture and historical context it is created in
- Learn how to analyse a piece of artwork and understand why it makes you feel a certain way
- Learn about different roles in the art industry and how those roles contribute to exhibitions you visit
- Develop your own ideas
- Create your own artworks
How is the course structured?
The study is made up of four units. Units 1, 3, and 4 have two practical outcomes and one theory outcome. Unit 2 has one practical and one theory outcome.
The units are:
Unit 1: Studio inspiration and techniques
For the practical work you do a series of structured tasks, focussing on finding sources of inspiration and developing ideas, under teacher guidance, as the basis for making your own artworks. You are introduced to a wide range of materials and techniques and learn to use them to communicate ideas, observations and experiences.
For the theory you explore and research the ways in which artists from different times and cultures have interpreted and expressed their ideas, how they have found inspiration and used materials and techniques to make their artworks.
Unit 2: Studio exploration and concepts
For the practical work you do a mini version of Year 12, where you focus on using the studio process to produce artworks more independently. You find your own sources of inspiration, you experiment with your choice of materials and techniques, and you develop your ideas and aesthetic qualities in your visual diary, before making final artworks.
In the theory unit you develop skills in the visual analysis of artworks. Artworks made by artists from different times and cultures are analysed to understand the artists’ ideas and how they have created aesthetic qualities and identifiable styles. You explore a range of art periods, movements or styles, to develop a broader knowledge about the history of art.
You usually go on two excursions in Year 11.
Unit 3: Studio practices and processes
In this unit you do all the development work in your visual diary to get ready for your final artworks. You write your own exploration proposal to define your ideas and how you want to work. You plan and apply the studio process to explore and develop your individual ideas. You explore your chosen art form and test your materials and techniques. You annotate your visual diary explorations, and you select your best ideas as the potential directions for making your finished artworks in Unit 4.
For the theory you study two artists. You analyse ways the artists respond to their influences and cultural backgrounds, and examine their use of materials and techniques. You explore the artists' professional art practices and identify the development of styles and communication of ideas and meanings in their artworks.
You will be taken on two excursions to different art galleries in Year 12.
Unit 4: Studio practice and art industry contexts
For the practical work you use your Unit 3 development work to make your final artworks. You must make at least two high quality artworks and they must relate to each other, and to your initial proposal. You write a document explaining how your potential directions from Unit 3 were used to make your final artworks.
In the theory you look at the art industry, focusing on a variety of exhibition spaces and the different roles and tasks involved in exhibiting artworks. You look at curatorship and the presentation, promotion and conservation of artworks. You are expected to independently visit two different exhibition spaces.
FAQ:
Q. I haven't done any art electives since Year 8, can I still do VCE Studio Arts?
A. We recommend that students who are considering taking VCE Studio Art take at least one unit of Year 9 or Year 10 Art Electives, as these subjects play a significant role in developing practical and theory skills. That said, there are no official prerequisites (required subjects) for entry into Studio Art. If you’re not sure if you are at an appropriate standard, the best thing to do is speak to one of Cheltenham’s Visual Art teachers.
Q. I’m not very good at drawing. How much do I have to do?
A. Drawing is seen as a fundamental skill to most art forms. Whilst it won’t necessarily be seen in the final stages of an artwork, a lot of developmental work is done that requires reasonable (but not amazing) drawing skills. For example, in your Visual Diary you will be required to sketch out ideas, just as you did in Year 7, 8, 9 and 10. Remember, drawing is a learnt skill and everyone can improve their drawing skill with practice.
Q. What art forms can I concentrate on in Studio Art? I really want to do fashion design/metal sculpture/photography/something really ‘out there’.
Cheltenham’s Art Department is well equipped to support students who wish to concentrate on drawing, painting, ceramics, and some areas of printmaking. However we simply can’t offer every art form under the sun, both from a teacher specialisation perspective and also from a school resourcing perspective. If you wish to seriously pursue an art form not listed here (for example, photography) you need to have an in-depth and lengthy conversation with Ms Low, who is the Visual Arts Co-ordinator, and your parents/guardians about how you will resource your chosen art form (for example, bringing your own fabric and sewing machine to school, or your own photography equipment) and whether it will allow you to satisfy VCAA criteria.
Any other questions?
Email Ms Low