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Visual Arts

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Examples of knowledge and skills in Visual Arts

Foundation to Year 2

In this band students are introduced to the ways that ideas and intentions are communicated in and through visual arts. They develop knowledge, understanding and skills through visual arts practices focusing on:

Representation

Subject matter

  • personal observations, sensory expression and imagination

Forms

  • drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, fibre crafts and digital imaging

Techniques

  • overlapping, patterns, colour mixing, collage, mixed media, wrapping, and paper mache

Visual conventions

  • identifying, using and interpreting line, shape, colour, texture, space, time, tone and value

Materials

  • understanding of qualities and properties of a range of materials, for example, which material is good for making tall, thin animals

Technologies

  • traditional and digital

Practices

Spaces

  • recognising the meaning of studio for visual artists and adopting appropriate behaviour in the studio as a specialised space, for example, cleaning up, organising materials, naming work and exhibiting work

Skills

  • observational – seeing, noticing and viewing critically

Processes

  • describing, explaining, exploring, questioning, selecting, interpreting, imagining, designing, experimenting, constructing, creating and displaying

Viewpoints

  • contexts – recognising artworks from different cultures particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and works from Asia, and from different times

Years 3 and 4

In this band students develop their knowledge of how ideas and intentions are communicated in and through visual arts. They build on and refine their knowledge, understanding and skills through visual arts practices focusing on:

Representation

Subject matter

  • such as past histories, heritage, significant events and community celebrations

Forms

  • drawing, design, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography and film

Styles

  • figurative, realism, expressionistic, impressionistic and others

Techniques

  • photo-montage, weaving, block printing, digital imaging, wrapping, pottery and others

Visual conventions

  • identifying, using and interpreting a selection of design elements and design principles

Materials

  • understanding qualities and properties of a range of materials

Technologies

  • traditional and digital

Practices

Spaces

  • recognising the meaning of studio, and adopting appropriate behaviour in the studio as a specialised space, for example, cleaning up, organising materials, naming work and exhibiting work

Skills

  • investigative – researching, discovering and reinterpreting artworks from various viewpoints as artist and audience
  • observational – seeing, noticing and viewing critically
  • practical – use of visual arts materials, equipment and instruments

Processes

  • investigating, determining, conceiving, experimenting, questioning, predicting, testing, evaluating, comparing, analysing, observing, identifying and connecting

Viewpoints

  • contexts – recognising artists and artworks from the past, and from different cultures, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and from Asia

Years 5 and 6

In this band students develop their knowledge of how ideas and intentions are communicated in and through visual arts. They build on and refine their knowledge, understanding and skills through visual arts practices focusing on:

Representation

Subject matter

  • such as environment (macro/micro), physical and conceptual properties of materials and technologies

Forms

  • cross-media – drawing, design, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, film, etc.

Styles

  • figurative, expressionistic, abstract, surrealism, Dada, digital art, etc.

Techniques

  • collage, drawing, screen printing, digital imaging, construction and environmental sculpture

Visual conventions

  • identifying, using and interpreting a selection of design elements and design principles

Materials

  • understanding of possibilities and restraints (qualities) of a range of materials

Technologies

  • traditional and digital

Practices

Spaces

  • recognising the meaning of studio, and adopting appropriate behaviour in the studio as a specialised space, for example, cleaning up, organising materials, naming work and exhibiting work
  • presenting artworks in formal and informal spaces to enhance meaning; influence of viewpoints and audience on artworks; form and function

Skills

  • expressive – interpreting subject matter through various contexts and/or viewpoints to enhance understanding and create a personal response to stimuli
  • conceptual – developing a thought or idea into a visual representation
  • practical – using visual arts materials, equipment and instruments

Processes

  • investigating, conceiving, experimenting, selecting, refining, predicting, testing, evaluating, comparing, analysing, identifying, evaluating, judging and displaying

Viewpoints

  • expression – physical, psychological, sensory and intuitive
  • contexts – recognising artists and artworks who work in cross-media and those who install their artworks in various locations. Refer to artists and audiences from different cultures, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and from Asia

Years 7 and 8

In this band students develop their knowledge of how ideas and intentions are communicated in and through visual arts. They build on and refine their knowledge, understanding and skills through visual arts practices focusing on:

Representation

Subject matter

  • such as contemporary culture, and historical and cultural representations of art, craft and design

Forms

  • art, craft and design: including painting, sculpture, printmaking and photography

Styles

  • Postmodernism, contemporary constructivism, Pop, street art, graphic/poster design, industrial design and digital art

Techniques

  • manga, drawing, installation, digital imaging, graffiti and environmental sculpture

Visual conventions

  • select, apply and evaluate a range of design elements and design principles

Materials

  • combining and manipulating a range of physical and digital materials

Technologies

  • traditional and digital

Practices

Spaces

  • understanding role of the studio for artists: learning to share responsibility for preparation, cleaning and storing work
  • display – presenting artworks in formal and informal spaces to enhance meaning; considering the influence of viewpoints and audience on artworks; form and function

Skills

  • expressive – interpreting subject matter through various contexts and/or viewpoints to enhance understanding and create a personal response to stimuli
  • conceptual – developing a thought or idea into a visual representation
  • practical – use of visual arts materials, equipment and instruments
  • multi-modal – to use a combination of two or more sensory modes

Processes

  • investigating, elaborating, researching, experimenting, manipulating, documenting, enhancing, reflecting, acknowledging, comparing, analysing, identifying, evaluating, judging and displaying

Viewpoints

  • expression – physical, psychological, sensory and intuitive
  • recognising artists, artworks and audiences that promote a conceptual understanding. Refer to artists, artworks and audiences from different cultures, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and from Asia

Years 9 and 10

In this band students develop their knowledge of how ideas and intentions are communicated in and through visual arts. They build on and refine their knowledge, understanding and skills through visual arts practices focusing on:

Representation

Subject matter

  • such as conceptual art and emerging technological performances

Forms

  • art, craft and design: including painting, sculpture, printmaking, performance, and installation

Styles

  • contemporary trans-media, film as art, virtual collaborative art forms, animation, and interactive art

Techniques

  • installation, digital imaging, environmental sculpture, performance, and virtual interactive games

Visual conventions

  • select, apply and evaluate a selection of design elements and design principles

Materials

  • combining and manipulating a range of physical, digital and virtual materials

Technologies

  • traditional, digital and virtual

Practices

Spaces

  • understanding the role of the studio for artists; learning to share responsibility for preparation, cleaning and storing work
  • display – presenting artworks in formal and informal spaces to enhance meaning; considering the influence of viewpoints and audience on artworks; form and function; artists and designers working individually or collaboratively

Skills:

  • expressive – interpreting subject matter through various contexts and/or viewpoints to enhance understanding and create a personal response to stimuli
  • critical – deconstructing and interpreting the meaning and messages of an artwork, and responding to it through different contexts and/or viewpoints
  • conceptual – developing a thought or idea into a visual representation
  • practical – use of visual arts materials, equipment and instruments
  • multi-modal – to use a combination of two or more sensory modes

Processes

  • conceptualising, challenging, researching, enquiring, manipulating, adapting, documenting, evaluating, interpreting, deconstructing, comparing, analysing, planning, judging and displaying

Viewpoints

  • persuasion – recognising artists, artworks, and audiences that promote a conceptual understanding from a persuasive perspective. Refer to artists, artworks and audiences from different cultures particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and from Asia
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