Art

Intent

  • create a love of Art as a subject and form aspirational personal interests and hobbies.
  • shape an understanding of the importance and significance of art and design within society.
  • present opportunities for pupils to form an understanding and appreciation of the work of significant artists, designers and architects.
  • place the acquisition of technical drawing skills at the epicentre of most projects.
  • heighten pupils’ awareness of colour and embrace colour theories and knowledge.
  • elevate pupils’ painting skills whilst heightening their awareness of colour and embrace colour theories and knowledge.
  • empower pupils to create representations using a variety of materials, mediums and crafts.
  • ensure that Art is accessible to all.

Implementation

Art is taught as a block of lessons termly:

  • In the first week of school in the Autumn Term all year groups have a self-portrait focus linked to the school’s aspirational values
  • In the Spring Term all year groups have a drawing focus which is progressive in skills throughout the school
  • In the Summer Term each year group has a specific Art application focus which includes the use of different mediums

To develop colour mixing and the acquisition of painting skills we have an annual Painter of the Year competition. To inspire our work each key stage study an historical artist and duplicate a well-known piece of work.

An understanding of how art and design have impacted society and vice versa is interwoven throughout the curriculum to set it in context.

Each of our Art projects includes reflecting upon the work of an artist, designer, architect or photographer that can inspire our own creations.

To support the building on of previously taught skills and knowledge our curriculum is structured around five Key Concepts:

  • Marks we make represent/describe what we see or think
  • Materials have properties which can be manipulated
  • Colours are formed from pigments which can be mixed to from new colours to fulfil a function
  • Art and design can reflect society, opinions and emotions
  • Art and design can shape our history and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation

In the Foundation Stage

In the Foundation Stage, through the development of the Creating With Materials aspect of the EYFS curriculum children begin their journey as artists.

They will:

Gain an understanding of Art as a form of self-expression and a method of communication

Explore colour, line, texture, and form

Develop the fine motor skills to use a variety of tools, processes, and materials

Art skills are  taught through small group adult focused modelled sessions and children consistently have the opportunity for self-expression and exploration within the continuous provision in a variety of two- and three-dimensional mediums.

In Key Stage 1

Being an Artist

Within this phase as artists children will gain an understanding that they have control over the aesthetics of their art. They can have a vast range of options and it is their personal choices that determine the outcome of their work. Children will explore; One tool making a variety of marks, one material being manipulated in several ways and different  combinations of pigments creating new colours. As artists, pupils will be given the opportunity to see the work of other’s and describe them aesthetically whilst beginning to form an understanding of style.

Children will be taught:

  • What a portrait is
  • The basic facial proportions
  • The drawing and painting skills needed to complete a self portrait
  • How to form a variety of lines in pencil and pen
  • What a repetitive pattern is
  • To apply the features of a repetitive pattern in their creations
  • The skill of looking at an image and identify shapes lines, forms, and negative spaces
  • The skill of looking at a simple composition to identify shapes, lines, forms and textures
  • To visually compare length, size, and distance to support their drawing
  • That several lines combined represent forms and shapes that we see
  • The correct way to hold and care for a paintbrush
  • Primary and Secondary colours
  • Tertiary colours and colour mixing using a colour wheel
  • How to manipulate paper in several ways
  • How to manipulate printing tools to create a desired effect
  • The vocabulary needed to discuss; processes, reflect on their own and the work of others’

The work of the artists Britto, Kandinsky , Jacob Lawrence and designer Orla Kiely will be used to reflect upon and inspire.

In Key Stage 2

Being an Artist

Previously learnt skills and knowledge will evolve and be embedded moving into this phase. As artists, children will fine tune their ability to represent; marks, textures, forms, lines and colours. Sketches and guidelines will pay a more pivotal role as tools for drawing and design supporting a greater level of detail and precision. They will gain a greater understanding of material’s limitations whilst becoming more effective in their use of tools. With improved observational skills and knowledge of colour theory the mixing of colour will become more proficient and purposeful. Our young artists will become much more aware of the work of others’ and that it frequently is portraying meaning and messages that are influenced by the artist’s surroundings.

Children will be taught:

  • How to draw and position the main facial features
  • How to draw a self portrait that holds a resemblance
  • The skill of gridding to copy an image
  • The skill of drawing linear perspective in their work
  • The key features of observational drawing
  • How to use several lenses and filter to create photography effects
  • Methods for manipulating clay and Modroc
  • The importance of colour in a design; Complementary and Analogous colours
  • The mixing of tints and shades
  • What hue and saturation are
  • To understand “style” and look for common features of an artist’s work
  • The vocabulary needed to discuss; processes, reflect on their own and the work of others’

Impact

Through the explicit teaching of Art skills and identified knowledge, both the teachers and the pupils can assess their learning throughout the unit of work. Our assessment systems enable teachers to make informed judgements about the depth of their learning and the progress they have made over time.

Aspirations For the Future

Pupils develop an understanding of how subjects and specific skills are linked to future jobs. Here are some of the jobs you could aspire to do in the future as an Artist:

  • Wardrobe master
  • Curator
  • Author and illustrator
  • Furniture designer
  • Fashion designer