the ways in which artists organise visual elements to create impact

the arrangement of visual elements in an artwork to create a unified and effective whole

The work of artists and designers: principles of art

Art and design

Identifying starting points

Resourcing ideas through personal reflections, narratives and objects

Effective annotation: different ways to present ideas

Analysing the work of artists and designers: materials and techniques

The work of artists and designers: elements of art

Connecting and combining: trials and experiments with materials

First-hand primary resourcing

Photographing for resources: what makes a good photograph

Personal response: appropriate resources and creating artwork

Creating a surface, armature, background: preparing your personal response

Personal response: layers and processes in different endorsements

Personal response: how to judge quality and refining work

Personal response: finishing an artwork

Presenting a portfolio: creating pages of documentation

Curating the artwork: selecting and arranging key pieces

Evaluate the use of materials and techniques

Self assessment techniques: evaluating your own work

This is an independent, pupil-led unit where pupils develop their own creative process. Having learned the key components of shaping an artistic voice, they will now make choices about themes, techniques, and processes, articulating and evaluating their artistic journey.

First sustained project: working from a theme

The way elements are arranged in an artwork

What does composition refer to in visual art?

What colours and lighting has the artist used?

Which question is most helpful when analysing the mood of an artwork?

They make the scene feel peaceful and still

They can create a sense of tension, chaos, or energy

What impact do jagged or zigzag lines often have in an artwork?

That the theme is about identity, memory, or personal history

If an artist uses personal objects (like clothing or letters) in a mixed-media work, what could that communicate?

The materials directly support the message of sustainability and reuse

Why might an artist choose to use recycled materials in a sculpture about the environment?

The objects are preserved or frozen in time

What might an artist suggest by trapping objects in ice in their artwork?

Starter Quiz

What does composition refer to in visual art?