Which of the Following Is Characteristic of Any Successful Work of Art
Last Updated on February 8, 2017
Looking for fine art project ideas? A theme for high school fine art boards? Whether specialising in Painting, Graphic Design, Photography, textiles or Sculpture, most senior high school Art students brainstorm by selecting a topic for their portfolio, coursework or examination project. It is a decision that many find difficult, whether due to a lack of inspiration, an disability to discern between two or more possible ideas or a full general misunderstanding about the type of topic that is appropriate. Below is a step-by-step guide that IGCSE, GCSE, A Level Art students (and those from many other loftier school Art qualifications) may use to assistance brainstorm, evaluate and select an outstanding subject, topic or theme for their high school Art project.
Step one: Begin Ideas
- Write down all subjects, themes, places, things, activities or issues that are personally relevant and that matter to you(even random, unexpected things, such every bit a the art room sink, or heirloom knives and forks in your kitchen drawer). The purpose of whatsoever artwork is to communicate a message: to comment or scream or sing about the globe in which we detect ourselves in. If there is no emotion behind the work, there is no driving force – zilch to direct and shape your decision making. Write down the things that you care about; that move you.
- Include topics that are unusual, challenging, controversial, gritty or inspiring: those that make full you with passion. Students who select substantial, heartfelt problems that they really believe in are more than likely to achieve great results than those who choose aesthetically pleasing but superficial subjects. A tried and truthful subject can still be approached in an individual and innovative style, but choosing a topic that is novel and fresh has certain advantages. Stiff, contentious bug are those which the assessors themselves have a reaction to; they provoke an emotive response. Such topics make the markers and moderators sit upwards and have observe: it gives them aplenty opportunity to see the merit within your work. (Example shown below:Photography Coursework page boards by Louise Hutt).
Painting Coursework folio boards by Lauren 24-hour interval from Green Bay Loftier School:
Painting Coursework final piece by Hera Lorandos from St. Lawrence Higher:
Painting Coursework folio boards by Michaela Coney of Waiuku Higher:
Notation: For inspiration about how to present your brainstorming, you may like to view How to make a Listen Map: creative examples for loftier school Art students.
Stride 2: Evaluate your ideas
Think advisedly about the topics that you have written downwards. Utilise the flowchart at the end of this article to evaluate your ideas.
- Eliminate those which are 'cheesy' (i.due east involving pinkish hearts and Brad Pitt), insincere (i.e. a theme of 'World Peace', when really this is something yous couldn't care less most) andoverly "pretty" or defective in substance (i.due east. bunches of roses). This doesn't mean that a traditionally 'beautiful' subject cannot be successful, (meet the cupcake case below by a student from Sir William Ramsay School – image sourced from Dan Red china), but retrieve carefully before proceeding with such a topic.
- Eliminate those subjects which you are unable to explore offset-hand. In society to create artworks, you will need access to high quality imagery. For example, if yous are exploring the way in which humans kill animals in guild to swallow their meat, access to the inside of a butchery or butchery/freezing works is probable to exist essential. Reliance on photographs taken by others is rarely a practiced idea. No matter how awesome a theme appears, if yous are unable to explore whatsoever aspect of information technology firsthand, information technology is very unlikely that you volition be able to do the topic justice. Remember that you will probable need to render to your source imagery several times during your high school class, then a submission based upon a item plant that only blooms for a couple of weeks out of the year or a view of your hamlet during a rare winter snowfall storm is very risky. The ideal GCSE, IGCSE or Art A-Level subject area is ane that you can physically return to, whenever you demand – to draw, photo or experience start-hand.
- Remove the topics for which the source material is excessively simple, i.e. containing merely a few forms, textures and patterns. A small pile of cardboard boxes, for example, might inspire a great cartoon, merely if this is the starting point for an unabridged year's As or A2 piece of work, the straight lines, rectangular forms and flat box surfaces are unlikely to provide enough visual variety to explore for months on end. Overly decorated source cloth, on the other mitt, is not an outcome – it is much easier to simplify course and item than it is to add back in.
- Eliminate those topics for which the source textile lacks aesthetic appeal . Do non mistake 'aesthetic appeal' for pretty. In fact, some of the 'ugliest' things can be stunningly rendered in an artwork or design. Art teachers (and artists in general) oftentimes speak of finding the beauty in the ordinary or mundane: seeing the magic in that which others have discarded or forgotten (encounter the electrical plug painting below by Amy Thellusson fromNotting Colina and Ealing Loftier School) . This does not mean, yet, that anything is suitable for your A Level topic. Some scenes are genuinely unattractive and unsuitable visually. Certain object combinations (due to their detail shapes, colours or textures) are extremely difficult to compose in a pleasing way. Similarly, some items – particularly asymmetric drawings or designs by others – are very challenging for a high school educatee to replicate. A drawing, for example, of a doll that is proportioned unusually, may announced to be an inaccurate, badly proportioned drawing of an ordinary doll. In other words, the examiner may not realise that the doll is proportioned badly – they may think you simply cannot draw. (If you find ascertaining the aesthetic potential of your ideas difficult, discuss this further with your art teacher. Alternatively, you are welcome to join the discussion in our forum).
- Eliminate topics which are common or over-done (unless you take an original style of approaching this topic) . It doesn't affair if some others have explored the aforementioned topic as you… With the millions of people in the world, information technology is highly unlikely that you volition be the simply one to explore a item theme (in fact, this is benign, as you can learn from others…and no one will brand art exactly like you), but, if EVERYONE is doing it – if information technology is a topic that the examiners accept seen a hundred times before, yous should recollect carefully about whether you accept something sufficiently new and original to say about information technology.
- Ensure that the topic yous choose is something that you really care about and which can sustain your interest for a yr. If you have more than i topic left on your list, pick the affair that yous care about the about.
A Level Photography piece by Kate Dunn from Cobham Hall School:
Painting Coursework folio boards past Melanie Nieuwoudt from Greenish Bay High School:
A quick guide for evaluating ideas
The information in this article has been summarised in a flowchart, which tin be used as a quick tool to evaluate GCSE, IGCSE and A Level Art ideas. The top department of the diagram contains general areas to trigger brainstorming; the bottom outlines the evaluation process.
Summary
A proficient GCSE, IGCSE, NCEA or A level Art coursework topic keeps you enthusiastic, creative and eager to create more. It eliminates the need for slavish cocky-discipline. It opens the door for you get a 'real' artist – making art about what matters to you.
Comments
When first published, this article received over 8 hundred comments from students looking for direction and assistance with their high schoolhouse art projects. S ome of these comments have been published below. It is hoped that the answers provide valuable insight for others.
Levi:I am struggling with a theme for my fine art A2 Level Unit three. I was wondering if you can advise. I was thinking of 'seasons' but cannot find much information or artists to research and this is of import because I have to write an essay on the artist. I do not think this is a theme with enough information. I did very well in my Equally Level and got an A on both units. They were on Natural Form (Fish) and Waterways. At that place was so much information on both these themes. I did the Day of the Expressionless festival for my GCSE and got an A*. I am trying to find a theme which has lots of data simply am struggling. Thank you for your aid.
Amiria: Firstly, I want to stress that the most important factor should be how personally relevant your theme is: the quantity of information available on this topic is much less crucial. The truth is that these days – with the prevalence of information available on the net – it is very rare to find a topic which you are unable to find sufficient material. If y'all are finding it hard to source data that relates to a 'seasons' theme, this may exist because y'all are existence too general in your investigations. I suggest that you think about what aspect the topic you are nearly interested in… For example, are yous merely drawn to aesthetic aspects, i.e. tawny autumn leaves or a barren wintertime scene…or do you wish to conduct a more theoretical investigation – i.e. exploring ideas of regeneration / cycle of life etc? One time you lot accept narrowed information technology down (hopefully to something that is gritty, meaningful and personal) begin Google searches for artwork that fits this specific subject. Hopefully this volition provide you with more results.
If you would like to abandon the seasons theme altogether, and wish to start with something new, it is difficult for me to make suggestions as I don't know your interests and the possibilities are endless! If you are really stuck, have something ordinary – and do something unusual to it. For case, one of my most recent students took fruit, waited until it rotted and decayed…and and so strung them upwardly on the classroom wall using nails and string. She and then took savage and beautiful photographs of these, and began the most intricate and detailed drawings and paintings. There were many painters of fruit whose work was helpful to her. There was also an countless supply of crazy, contemporary modern artists whose exploratory use of media was of relevance.
Forget about quantity of information. If you care enough about something, you will be able to write an outstanding essay with ease.
What moves you? What matters to yous most in the world?
SOPHIA:I'm about to begin my Every bit Fine art and nosotros have been asked to produce work over the summer on the topic they have given us. Although I won the art prize concluding year I am struggling with ideas for our theme which is Manmade. I similar fine fine art and my previous works take been detailed forms of nature including horses, plants etc. To get-go with I accept been looking at Leonardo da Vinci and accept been inspired by his sketches of homo anatomy, but I don't know how to develop this into my own ideas keeping within the Manmade topic. Also afterwards reading your tips I realise information technology has to convey emotion. Help!
AMIRIA:Hi Sophia, thank you for your question. Your enjoyment of drawing natural forms, horses, plants and human anatomy drawings suggests you peculiarly like curving, organic forms – peradventure with a preference (at this stage) for realistic depiction. There are plenty of 'Manmade' items that also fit into this category, i.east. curving architectural forms; ornate utensils / kitchenware (old kettles etc); woven baskets; intricate jewellery pieces… If yous practise a Google paradigm search on 'curving organic form' you get a good idea of the huge range of beautiful man made forms that fit into the aesthetic you lot seem to like… which could thus form the basis of an Every bit portfolio. The possibilities, however, are countless, and then it is better to ask yourself what things actually matter to you – what do y'all want to communicate to the world? Your work is oftentimes best driven not just past an emotion, but by a bulletin (which will then provoke an emotional response in you and viewers). What bothers you lot? What enrages you? Once you have an idea, you tin so offset to recall well-nigh ways of exploring this aesthetically…
ABIGAIL: Howdy! I am really struggling to find ideas for my theme of landscape this year. Last yr I received an Excellence for my NCEA Art board which was to do with humans and birds. My art oftentimes surrounds humans and animals simply I cannot do that with the theme this yr so I am really stuck! I was thinking of doing Rural vs Urban simply equally I am in beloved with Venice and other historical buildings that I feel the need to paint them for my art lath!! I don't know how I could incorporate these ideas (rural, urban, historical buildings) or if you accept any other ideas for the theme of Mural it would be MUCH appreciated! Cheers!
AMIRIA: What detail attribute of a Rural vs Urban theme would you focus on? The encroachment of urban sprawl on the rural environment? Conflict at the purlieus where the ii encounter? Information technology is possible that historical buildings could play a role in an urban/rural theme if you looked at, for example, vines/creepers crawling over bedraggled buildings / nature taking back a manmade structure etc. However, such interpretations are reasonably common and don't seem to be that personal – i.e. historical buildings seem to exist something a teenager might like aesthetically, but don't announced to take much personal relevance (correct me if I am wrong).
When thinking about a 'landscape' theme, recollect that the word landscape can be interpreted quite widely…i.e. it doesn't necessarily limit you to 'pretty' outdoor scenes, but could involve digital/virtual landscapes and how these collaborate with the concrete world…or perhaps human despair / disenchantment manifested in dirty, graffiti-filled urban alleyways. Any the case, as suggested in my responses to the above two questions, you need to begin past identifying problems that really matter to you and using these as the starting point for exploring landscape. For example (this is simply a random idea, to illustrate the indicate), you might be disenchanted with the rigidity of school life and how the education organization has been reduced to spoon feeding students with small capsules of information. Yous could then brainstorm to explore this idea through the depiction of schoolyard landscapes – focusing perhaps on grid-like patterns (repetition of rectangular classroom windows etc) in dreary asunder architecture. As your piece of work progress, you might end upward abstracting the architectural forms in an effort to better correspond/communicate/limited your ideas.
If you notice information technology easier to first with a physical subject and allow the ideas flow from in that location, then select something unusual and interesting. Non a pretty edifice or a valley containing flowers – but perhaps a cattle carcass decaying in long grass or a smashed up motorcar abandoned on a verge. It'south non the macabre is necessarily more appropriate than pleasant imagery, merely that the world is already filled with a million depictions of pretty landscapes. Unless you lot are an absolutely amazing artist,you are doing yourself a disservice past selecting a common, 'pretty' field of study. And even if yous are absolutely amazing, it can be far more heady to pick something unusual and crazy!
HAYA:Hey! I'grand having a trouble choosing a topic with my five page (AS Level) portfolio. I prefer natural over manmade. Any idea as to what I can base of operations my v pages on? So far I've been working on dissimilar postures of the human body wrapped with drapery in an endeavour to symbolise repression – a characteristic well known to myself as I'm a repressive person. Throughout my work, the true identity of the model is hidden. I was wondering if my topic needs to be adult any further? Besides, I was thinking of basing my work on something manmade…merely I don't know what I could possibly practise nether manmade. Your site is absolutely awesome. Thanks for all your assistance!
AMIRIA: I really like your repression theme. Information technology has a lot of potential. Yous could explore such things equally the results of repression and whether this amercement yous / makes you withdraw or put up facades / conceal your truthful personality etc. The theme may lend itself to using acrylic gel mediums etc to achieve transparency and translucent layers…exploring what is seen / what is not seen / what is subconscious etc.
It is difficult to say whether your topic needs to exist developed further without seeing your piece of work – simply the torso of work equally a whole should bear witness development…from a starting signal towards a resolved work. If your project seems to exist simply repeating the same subject from a different angle etc it is fourth dimension for ideas / compositional strategies to exist resolved. Looking to other artists for inspiration is often the all-time manner to motility forrad if you lot are stuck.
Yous might like to select manmade items that are connected to both cloth and ideas of repression …i.east. metal buckles on clothing and stitched ties / cords / zips etc – all of which invoke ideas such every bit tying shut / restraining / confining etc. These objects accept more than structure and rigidity than merely draped cloth and the human class (and would thus provide you with some welcome multifariousness) merely also can exist tied in nicely with your earlier themes. Good luck!
ASHLEIGH:For my AS Art I am doing Urban Decay. Information technology has to have some kind of story developing through to the end simply I cannot think of anything????
Amiria:There are many possibilities… Literal interpretations, such every bit an surface area of town that is physically falling into disrepair and has some sort of history or story fastened to information technology…i.e. perhaps a thriving industrial area that became disused for some reason and then became overtaken by graffiti / vandalism etc. Alternatively you could explore notions of communities being dispersed due to computers …i.e. the desertion (decay) of traditional urban social centres (i.due east. malls / movie theatres) due to people favouring internet-based interactions from the warmth of their own homes…
Perchance you could zoom right and look at things on a near molecular level…extreme close-ups, visually analysing, for example, the rust and erosion that creeps across metallic surfaces – or mites that consume into timber. These could lend themselves to beautiful abstruse works. The 'story' in this instance might exist to do with the circumvolve of life and how physical forms are transient and illusory with no clear boundaries…the ebb and flow of atoms etc…
Another selection might be the dazzler in decay? Discovering something that has rotted away only to expose something cute…
INAPICKLE:Hi! I accept to COMPLETELY rethink my original idea for my page board (NCEA Level 3) and I'm really struggling for conceptual ideas. At the moment my new idea is the loss of innocence/consummate mental destruction and changed perception of the world through the experiences of war, told from a third person betoken of view with a solider equally the main character (like a narrative). Also weaved into that idea is the idea of existence so easily manipulated/brainwashed by the authorities into being merely a playing piece/slaughtered in their 'game' of state of war.
Assistance! I need your advice, am I on the correct track? Or am I completely off?? I fear that the idea is way besides cliche AND I'one thousand also unable to take photos of the subject matter first manus…
AMIRIA: Your ideas are non new, as such, in that others have explored them before, but I don't think they are cliché. There is a slight risk that they could exist presented in an obvious, literal 'this is what I am saying' type way, but this applies to most topics.
In terms of firsthand subject matter, I would exist hesitant virtually simply using third party images – and would be particularly careful if they are only unremarkably bachelor photographs (i.e. those off the internet). Yous should utilize beginning manus discipline matter if at all possible. For example, exercise y'all have relatives who were in a war? Can you get concord of any of their onetime memorabilia? Perhaps y'all could take photographs at a museum or an old bunker? If you were thinking more along the lines of Americans in Republic of iraq etc, and then newspaper clippings / mag articles – perhaps televisions or computer screens with online news stories – could be used as concrete objects in themselves (i.e. with you initially creating a pile of photographs or pinning articles to a wall…and then cartoon them, with all the creases / shadows / three-dimensional elements). You could fifty-fifty take images and digitally superimpose them onto other surfaces (i.e. find a demolished edifice or something that appears to be some state of war scene ruin blazon matter…photograph it beautifully, and then digitally superimpose other war based images over the acme of it…
There are some instances where third party source textile is advisable (commonly when the resulting piece of work is a far difference from the initial images)…just I would exist hesitant. Discuss it carefully with your teacher. They will know your work and whether it volition piece of work for your state of affairs.
KIMIKO:I've recently started my NCEA Level 3 Painting board and I'm very confused and muddled with ideas. I'k worried that my theme may be too superficial or not easy for others to empathise, to the bespeak where I'm thinking of redoing my boards. My theme right at present is Arizona (desert), which was inspired by a dream I had of an open road journey. The paintings that I have already washed take a lot of vast open spaces to evidence freedom, buffalo skulls and dark colours which depict death of the state, a main character (a girl), her tattoos and an old schoolhouse car. I programme on making my second board more than surreal and reintroducing this coyote as a spirit guide (maybe this would create the more dreamlike qualities I'grand trying to show)? I am also worried that I might be trying to cram too many themes or ideas into 1 making information technology complicated. Any ideas or pointers would be such a life saver.
AMIRIA: Hi Kimiko.Your theme sounds cool and crazy (in a good fashion), but it seems to bring together a whole range of elements and ideas, so it doesn't surprise me that you are floundering a little.
Firstly, I just want to bank check whether yous have (or have had) firsthand access to whatever of your subject matter? Have y'all been to the Arizona desert? Have you seen and photographed existent buffalo skulls? Is the motorcar a real one that you have access to? Is the girl you? Even if these things are ultimately depicted in style that is stylised and surrealistic, it helps immensely to have quality source material the get-go. Could y'all substitute cow skulls for buffalo skulls (your schoolhouse science dept should have some)? You lot want the examiners to believe that this is something personal to you – you lot don't want them to suspect you have produced the whole matter from second hand imagery sourced off the internet. In that location have been some good folios based on second paw imagery – i.east. pictures from comic books – but these are rare, and in these cases the students cleverly manipulate the epitome to 'make them their own'.
The second thing that concerns me a little is the large range of objects/scenes within your piece of work. For about students, condign proficient with the representation of only 1 or 2 items inside a year's piece of work is enough of a claiming, let lone trying to become competent at cartoon landscapes, bones, human figures, cars, and (now possibly) animals all at the same fourth dimension. I would probably refrain from introducing a coyote, especially if this is something that has not appeared anywhere elsewhere in your board for this reason…but information technology is difficult to say without seeing your work. If yous are a strong drawer and can cope with a wide range of forms, it might be appropriate, as long equally information technology could be integrated seamlessly inside your board. What does your instructor think?
The existent issue at hand, even so, is whether you accept established what your work is actually about. If information technology is difficult for others to understand, information technology may be because you have non fully divers yourself what you are trying to say. You mention that you are trying to describe a dreamlike country, and also liberty and expiry of the land, but how are these things continued? Your art needs to be more than a simple delineation of a landscape yous dreamed virtually, with hinted emotion. It needs to have a real bulletin and purpose. What was the dream actually most? What is the purpose of the landscape? What is the artwork trying to say?
In one case you have established this, information technology should be easier to know how to proceed with your work. For example, if you are trying to communicate the thrill and fearful liberty that might follow an apocalyptic catastrophe (that is the outcome of humanity's devil-may-care attitude towards protecting our planet, for case), with the earth is 'wiped clean' and the landscape equally nosotros know it gone, leaving humans free of the shackles of modern society and eking out a archaic beingness etc… then petty details in the desert sand could give hints at what happened and what has been lost – perhaps collaged littered remnants of society… The expressions, article of clothing and tattoos on the girl could as well all contain clues almost what has happened…
JADE:I'one thousand having a little difficulty deciding on a project for my A2 Art projection. I begin this project in September but we take been advised to start brainstorming ideas and collecting relevant sources during the summer holidays to contribute to the development and stability of my projection. This projection is basically a personal experimentation project, so I tin literally do annihilation for this project which is why I'thou struggling slightly to observe an idea. I am by and large quite an indecisive person unfortunately! So when I think of an idea, it has to be 1 in which I feel I will not e'er get bored of and a project that essentially can be broadened. In my previous projects, I've always had trouble with keeping with projects consistently flowing. I tend to somewhen run out of different ideas!
I have been thinking virtually doing 'the seven mortiferous sins' equally a project, and I've washed some research on this topic. Personally, I recall this could be an interesting theme to explore. All the same, my business organization is that my own research and gathering of sources (i.e. original images) may exist limited. If yous have any suggestions I would be very grateful. If you also accept whatever other suggestions for me going in a different direction or topic, I would besides much appreciate any ideas. I enjoy painting, sketching, chalk and I dearest mixed media piece of work. I'd like to discover a project in which I tin can comprise all mediums.
Thanks for your time, i'thousand lamentable this postal service is so long! I find this site very helpful and encouraging, then cheers.
AMIRIA:Well washed for beginning your preparation early – your instructor will be very happy! My feeling is that the seven deadly sins is a very wide topic. Even just i of the sins would exist sufficient for an A2 theme. It is much better to have a narrow, well executed body of work, rather than a broad project that is scattered and incoherent. The key to picking a topic is to find one that is really of import to you (on an emotional level, non simply an intellectual level). For instance, yous could pick gluttony if you lot (or someone y'all are shut to) struggles with dieting/eating/weight; or greed if people you are close to piece of work themselves into the ground in chase of coin, whilst sacrificing other aspects of their lives (i.east. a father who is ever at the role and doesn't spend fourth dimension with his family unit); or envy if at that place is something you lot desperately long for…or someone who you come across is being destroyed past green-eyed etc… In other words, be driven by an issue that is really relevant in your life.
In terms of your desire to use many mediums – this is a great idea for all topics. Experimentation and trialling a range of mediums is benign for all topics, so don't let this worry or influence your topic selection.
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Amiria has been an Art & Design teacher and a Curriculum Co-ordinator for seven years, responsible for the course design and assessment of student work in two high-achieving Auckland schools. She has a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Architecture (Offset Class Honours) and a Graduate Diploma of Teaching. Amiria is a CIE Accredited Art & Design Coursework Assessor.
Source: https://www.studentartguide.com/articles/a-level-art-ideas
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