VISUAL ARTS
Head Teacher : Ms T. Toledo
The Visual Arts faculty at Fairvale High School promotes a positive learning environment and curriculum that encourages and nurtures creativity and critical thinking skills, and individual and artistic expression. Our vision is to provide a structured and creative environment that enables students to develop a life-long commitment and appreciation to the visual arts through both practical and theoretical studies, giving students the opportunity to develop as artists, designers, photographers, film makers, ceramicists and citizens of the world.
The Visual Arts department at Fairvale High School is well resourced with five large specialist art rooms, one of which has an attached ceramic studio area. We also have a large fully equipped darkroom for black and white wet photography as well as a highly equipped digital lab with state of the art printing facilities for students who wish to work in digital media and film.
The Visual Arts faculty offers a wide range of courses across Year 7-12. These include Visual Arts, Film and Video, Visual Design, and Photography.
STAGE 4 - MANDATORY COURSE
In Year 7, students attend Visual Arts once a week for a double period where they focus on exploring and investigating a variety of different art making experiences such as drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, clay work, sculpture. Students also learn how to interpret and gain information from artworks that they study in class.
Students are assessed throughout the year. These assessments are based on practical and theoretical tasks which are explicitly linked to the course outline.
In Year 8, students attend Visual Arts once a week for a double period where they further develop and explore the role of an art designer. They explore different design qualities in creating and painting a skateboard deck. Students also investigate their world in creating a ceramic vessel towards the end of the year.
Students are assessed throughout the year. These assessments are based on practical and theoretical tasks which are explicitly linked to the course outline.
STAGE 5 – ELECTIVE COURSES
Year 9 and 10 Visual Arts Elective
Students attend two double periods in year 9 and two double periods and a single period in year 10 a week. This course is for the creative, visually interested in the fun and exciting world of Visual Arts. Visual Arts develops positive self-concept through individuality in the creation and study of works of art. Students experience the making of art as well as the study of art, both historically and critically. In the Visual Arts Elective course, emphasis is on making art in the expressive areas such as painting, sculpture, drawing, design, ceramics, printmaking, wearable, mixed media, computer graphics, photography and film etc. Students will study contemporary and past artworks through the exploration and learning of different cultures, individual artists, and art movements.
Students are assessed throughout the year. These assessments are based on practical and theoretical tasks which are explicitly linked to the course outline.
Year 9 and 10 Visual Design Elective
Students attend two double periods in year 9 and two double periods and a single period in year 10 a week. Visual Design plays a significant role in the contemporary artworld. Within the Visual Design course students investigate visual design artworks; they explore the role of the artist as a designer, the value and meaning of visual design artworks in society and the role of the audience as consumer in these contexts. In this elective course students may experience the making of t-shirt designing, cartooning/caricature, fashion designer, graphic designer, architect, commercial and industrial designer, graphic designer, accessories/jewelry, advertising and publishing: designing packaging, logos, posters, banners, board games, murals and billboards.
Students are assessed throughout the year. These assessments are based on practical and theoretical tasks which are explicitly linked to the course outline.
Year 9 and 10 Photographic and Digital Media Elective
Students attend two double periods in year 9 and two double periods and a single period in year 10 a week. Photographic and Digital Media (Photography) is a course for students who wish to explore a wide range of skills and knowledge with cameras, concentrating on black and white film and darkroom development procedures in year 9 and then moving onto digital photography and digital media in year 10. This course takes you from the technical world to the artistic creative special effects exploration. The study of Photography past and present with critical analysis will be practiced.
Students are assessed throughout the year. These assessments are based on practical and theoretical tasks which are explicitly linked to the course outline.
STAGE 6 – ELECTIVE COURSES
Year 11 and 12 Visual Arts Elective
Students attend three double periods a week.
The course structure is made up of 50% practical and 50% historical and critical studies. This course is for the creative, visually interested in the fun and exciting world of Visual Arts. Visual Arts develops positive self-concept through individuality in the creation and study of works of art.
In Year 11, students work through different units of works experiencing a variety of different artmaking procedures and develop their knowledge and understanding of historical and critical aspects of Visual Arts.
In Year 12, students are required to develop and create a Body of Work in their chosen media for the HSC. They also develop their writing skills and knowledge of the world of art through different case studies being taught.
Students are assessed throughout the year. These assessments are based on practical and theoretical tasks which are explicitly linked to the course outline.
Year 11 and 12 Photography, Video and Digital Imaging Elective
Students attend three double periods a week. The course structure is made up of 70% practical and 30% historical and critical studies. The Photography, Video and Digital Imaging course in year 11 and 12 is a Content Endorsed Course that may be offered as a 1 unit and/or 2 unit course. The Photography, Video and Digital Imaging course is designed to build upon the gained knowledge of the student allowing them to further access a more in-depth study of photography as an artform.
Students work through modules whilst developing skills and knowledge in practice and understanding of historical and critical aspects of Photography. Modules include: Introduction to Practice in Photography and/or Video, Developing a Point of View, Traditions, Conventions, Styles and Genres, Manipulated Images, The Arranged Image and Temporal Accounts, Individual/collaborative project and Mandatory Module: Occupational Health and Safety.
Students are assessed throughout the year. These assessments are based on practical and theoretical tasks which are explicitly linked to the course outline.
Year 11 and 12 Visual Design Elective
Students attend three double periods a week. The course structure is made up of 70% practical and 30% historical and critical studies. The Visual Design course in year 11 and 12 is a Content Endorsed Course that may be offered as a 1 unit and/or 2 unit course. The Visual Design course is designed to build upon the gained knowledge of the student allowing them to further access a more in-depth study of visual design as an artform.
Students work through modules whilst developing skills and knowledge in practice and understanding of historical and critical aspects of Visual Design. Modules include: Publications and Information, Illustration and Cartooning, Interactive and Multimedia, Clothing and Image, Jewellery and Accessories, Textiles, Packaging, Furniture, Industrial, Structures and Environments, Stage Sets and Props, Interiors, Individual/Collaborative Design Project, and mandatory module: Occupational Health and Safety.
Students are assessed throughout the year. These assessments are based on practical and theoretical tasks which are explicitly linked to the course outline.
STAGE 4, 5, AND 6 LIFE SKILLS
The Visual Arts Life Skills Course is especially designed to cater students with Diverse Learning Needs. Visual Arts Life Skills is mandatory to year 7 and 8 students and is offered as an elective to year 9, 10, 11 and 12 to students with Diverse Learning educational needs.
This course provides a relevant and meaningful program of study within the Visual Arts that reflects the needs, interests and abilities of each student where outcomes may be demonstrated independently or with support. Students experiences a variety of art-making activities through the exploration and use of a variety of different materials, techniques and processes. Students will also study a variety of different artist and art movements.
