Year 7 Art starts by teaching and learning the foundation drawing skills. Students produce a Still life drawing based on simple shaped objects utilising the elements line, tone, proportion, scale and composition. Colour theory is then introduced and students learn how to mix paint/colours to create a colour wheel. The skill of mixing colours and then applying paint is used to produce a cool/warm colours tree composition. Key Artists related to the understanding of colour theory are introduced and investigated.

This unit builds on students’ realistic drawing skills but introduces concept of Abstraction inspired by the Artist Chuck Close. Students are able to achieve an accurate likeness of a Self Portrait by using the grid method and they explore other drawing/rendering techniques modelled in the work of famous Artists’ Portraiture. Students can take inspiration for the background of their portrait from Artists Kehinde Wiley, Chuck Close or a particular cultural patterned background that is pertinent to their heritage.

Plants are the subject matter for students to explore the formal elements of line and shape to create a pattern based on a simple poly board design using the reduction method printing process.  Students are informed by the work of Henri Rousseau’s Jungle paintings, Matisse’s Abstract leaf ’Cut Outs’, William Morris’s print designs and other contemporary print designers. 

Students will use Pop Art as the inspiration for pieces of Artwork in this project.
They will explore Lichtenstein’s drawing techniques, Warhol’s mass-produced iconic products and create a collage in the style of Richard Hamilton. The students’ final outcome will be an acrylic painting informed and inspired by the work of 2 contemporary Artists whose artwork features bold, bright products and packaging of ‘Life Today’.

‘What is a Landscape?’ is the starting point for this project. Students are introduced to the history of the Landscape and explore the way that the Impressionists, post-Impressionists and Expressionists have tackled this genre with tasks employing different mark making techniques. Students are then given the task of creating a clay tile based on a landscape and including the mark making skills they have acquired.

Students explore the patterns and symbols used in the Artwork of different cultures from around the world. The working methods and practices of artists related to specific cultures; Islamic, African and Japanese, are investigated and responded to using a range of media and techniques. The outcome for this project is a decorative Islamic style tile design.

Students carry out a small scale project in the same format as those at GCSE working independently to record, experiment and develop work to a personal outcome. The current theme is ‘Identity’ and the students will produce artwork that investigates; related Artists’ work, drawing/painting styles and planning for a final piece. For this project the final outcome will take the form of an ‘Identity Quilt’.

Students are introduced to and investigate the pioneers of the Modern Art movement. They learn about the Artists’ styles and techniques and acquire the practical skills to apply the various techniques. Each student presents their research in the form of a Modern Art Movement Timeline booklet.

Students carry out an in depth personal written study on a Modern or Contemporary Artist, acquiring art historical knowledge and visual culture skills. Their chosen Artist is then used as inspiration to create a final outcome/cover to their book.

1 Exam project completed in Year 11 from January-Easter worth 96 marks – 40%