Fine Art
Course Description
The aim of the Fine Art Course is to enable learners to:
- Seek creative solutions by using materials and techniques intelligently, imaginatively and experimentally.
- Develop your knowledge and understanding of how art and design functions and is valued in diverse cultures and at different times.
- Develop a sense of enquiry, an ability to take practical and intellectual risks, to make considered decisions.
- Make qualitative aesthetic and cultural judgements.
- Articulate your reasons for preference.
- Engage with fine art in the public domain.
Our course develops you as an artist through exploration of painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, digital media and installation. With a first-rate purpose-built studio and visiting artists’ workshops this is one of our most popular and creatively diverse courses. The course begins with a structured programme (Skill Based Unit) of practical techniques and experiments using a variety of media, which you will then take into your own personalised theme (Component 1).
Component 1 gives opportunities for learners to explore and cultivate fundamental skills, knowledge and understanding through a variety of experiences. These may include using sources, such as the local environment, gallery visits, workshops or other resources, to gather visually rich research which supports in-depth investigations. During the course, learners are encouraged to experiment, collaborate, make informed creative decisions and innovate. Your studies should be developed to achieve appropriate depth and a suitably high degree of rigour.
Component 2 is an externally set assignment by the Examination Board, Eduqas and is the final part of the course. This consists of a series of visual and written stimuli from which learners select one theme to elicit a personal practical response and outcome.
Expanders
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Course Content
Year 1:
Skill Building Phase
Personal Project: Choose to develop the area you are most interested in
Year 2:
Component 1: Personal Investigation (60% of A Level Grade)
Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (40% of A Level Grade) -
Skills Gained
As well as their subject-specific knowledge and skills, a Fine Art student will typically have gained skills in:
research and the gathering and evaluation of information
communicating effectively in oral and written form
adapting styles for different audiences
planning, implementing, evaluating and reflecting critically on work-in-progress
creativity and creative versatility
teamworking
analysing, interpreting and showing critical judgement
attention to detail
technical and IT skills
key skills valued by employers -
Pathways
A fine arts education is, by its nature, broad and diverse, rather than narrow and specialised. As a graduate of this field, you will be highly employable because of the fact that your broad education base has helped shape a set of both unique skills that are applicable to careers in the fine arts, as well as transferable skills that enable you to seek employment in careers outside of the field.
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design:
An Art Foundation course is the best way to prepare for university education within art and design – in fact, the top universities for studying art and design want you to have an Art Foundation. It is a one-year course typically studied after A Levels or other similar Level 3 qualifications. Whilst A Levels are a fantastic way to develop your skills and techniques, the Foundation course gives you the time, facilities and space to create work that is much more independently produced and pushes you to think in many different ways – it is fundamentally about problem solving and finding creative solutions to a brief – and you can also specialise in an area that you have maybe not had the chance to do at school and begin to build a specialist portfolio.
University Courses:
Fine Art
Fine Art Painting
Fine Art and Photography
Fine Art and Graphic Design
Art and History of Art
Art and Philosophy
Art and Theatre
Art and Film
Art and Psychology
Art and English Literature
Fine Art Mixed Media
Fine and Applied Art
Fine Art and Contemporary Arts Practice
Career Pathways:
Fine Artist
Concept Artist
Curator
Graphic Designer
Illustrator ● Printmaker
Set Designer
Teacher
University Lecturer
Arts Administrator
Art Gallery Manager
Exhibitions Officer
Art Therapist
Visual Merchandiser
Community Arts Worker
