Art is an integral part of life and contributes to a progressive society. Artworks and visual language are a potent and dynamic means to communicate personal experiences and ideas, and cultural values, beliefs and viewpoints on experiences and issues in contemporary society.
In the study of VCE Art Creative Practice, research and investigation inform art making. Through the study of artworks, the practices of artists and their role in society, students develop their individual art practice, and communicate ideas and meaning using a range of materials, techniques and processes.
In the practice of Making and Responding, students develop their skills in critical and creative thinking, innovation, problem-solving and risk-taking. By combining a focused study of artworks, art practice and practical art making, students recognise the interplay between research, art practice and the analysis and interpretation of art works.
This study provides students with an informed context to support an awareness of art as a tool for cultural, social and personal communication, and the stimulus and inspiration to develop their art practice.
understand how the practices of artists and artworks reflect the values, beliefs and traditions of their own and other cultures
analyse, interpret and respond to artworks and ideas, both in their own work and in the work of others, using the support of the Interpretive Lenses
critically evaluate ideas and issues explored by historical and contemporary artists from different cultures and societies
develop personal ideas and expression through Making and Responding in art practice
employ practical skills in art making and develop conceptual understanding to inform aesthetic awareness and art practice
develop creative and critical thinking skills in individual responses to artworks and art practice.
Art Creative Practices explores mixed mediums through the visual forms such as digital and analogue photography, painting, printmaking or even sculpture. Students have a choice of which medium they wish to explore and specialise in based on previous Art studies in Year 9 and 10 electives.
Unit 1: Interpreting artworks and exploring the Creative Practice
Unit 2: Interpreting artworks and developing the Creative Practice
Unit 3: Investigation, ideas, artworks and the Creative Practice
Unit 4: Interpreting, resolving and presenting artworks and the Creative Practice
In this unit students use Inquiry and Project-based learning as starting points to develop a Body of Work. They explore ideas and experiment with materials, techniques and processes using the Creative Practice. The research of historical and contemporary artists is integral to students’ use of the Creative Practice and informs the basis of their investigation. Students also investigate the issues that may arise from the artworks they view and discuss, or those evolving from the practice of the artist. Unit 3 commences with students researching the practice of a selected artist as the starting point to develop a finished artwork. The finished artwork will contribute to the Body of Work developed over Units 3 and 4.
In Unit 3, the Interpretive Lenses are used in Making and Responding throughout the students’ art practice. Students apply the Interpretive Lenses to researched artworks and in their reflective analysis and evaluation of their use of the Creative Practice. They use critical and creative thinking skills to explore and develop ideas, and experiment with materials, techniques and processes.
Area of Study 1: Investigation and presentation
On completion of this unit the student should be able to develop personal ideas using research that examines one artwork and the practice of an artist, and produce at least one finished artwork using the Creative Practice.
Area of Study 2: Personal investigation using the Creative Practice
On completion of this unit the student should be able to apply and explore ideas and an area of personal interest using the Creative Practice.
In Unit 4 students continue to develop their art practice through Project-based and Inquiry learning as their research and exploration continues to support the development of their Body of Work. Throughout their research students study the practices of selected historical and contemporary artists to inform their own art practice. They use the Interpretive Lenses to analyse, compare and interpret the meanings and messages of artworks produced by the artists they study. Students also apply the Interpretive Lenses throughout the Creative Practice to resolve and refine their Body of Work.
Students continue to build upon the ideas begun in Unit 3 and present a critique of their use of the Creative Practice. They reflect on the feedback from their critique to further refine and resolve a Body of Work that demonstrates their use of the Creative Practice and the realisation of their personal ideas. The students present their Body of Work to an audience accompanied by documentation of their use of the Creative Practice.
In Unit 4, Areas of Study 1 and 2 are taught concurrently. The critique in Area of Study 1 takes place before the resolution and presentation of the Body of Work. Documentation of the Creative Practice is carried throughout Areas of Study 1 and 2 in the refinement, resolution and presentation of the student’s Body of Work.
The students’ use of the Creative Practice involves both Making and Responding and is underpinned by the Interpretive Lenses. Students use the Interpretive Lenses to analyse and interpret the meanings and messages of artworks created by the artists they study and to investigate the practices used to create them. Applied together, these Interpretive Lenses enable students to appreciate how an artwork may contain different aspects and layers of meaning and to acknowledge the validity of diverse interpretations. Students view a range of artworks in different contexts and interpret the ideas and meanings communicated in the artworks.
Area of Study 1: Documentation and critique of the Creative Practice
On completion of this unit the student should be able to document their use of Creative Practice and present a critique to inform the refinement and resolution of a Body of Work.
Area of Study 2: Resolution and presentation of a Body of Work
On completion of this unit the student should be able to use the Creative Practice to resolve and present a Body of Work
Area of Study 3: Comparison of artists, their practice and their artworks
On completion of this unit the student should be able to compare the practices of historical and contemporary artists, and use the Interpretive Lenses to analyse and interpret the meanings and messages of selected artworks.
The student’s level of achievement in Units 3 and 4 will be determined by School-assessed Coursework (SACs) and a School-assessed Task (SAT) as specified in the VCE study design, and external assessment.
Units 3 and 4 School-assessed Task SAT: 60 per cent
Unit 4 School-assessed Coursework: 10 per cent
End-of-year examination: 30 per cent.
For more detailed information, please click on the link/s below:
Material Charges: Students may incur additional costs based on the choice of materials to be used in their individual projects.
Stationery: Select the stationery appropriate to the specialist method you intend to focus on.
Painting
2 x Binder A3 4D Ring PVC 38mm Upright Black
Pocket Plastic 11 Hole A3 Box 100 Copysafe
Photography
1 x Binder A3 4D Ring PVC 38mm Upright Black
Pocket Plastic 11 Hole A3 Box 100 Copysafe
or
Visual Art Diary A3 110gsm 60 Sheet/120 Page
USB Pocket Flash Drive 16GB
Glue stick