| Explore your creativity, visual understanding, ideas
and individual expression in a stimulating Art College atmosphere.
We like to think that Art at Castle is a little bit special. The way
we work is far closer to an Art College than a school - studio space instead
of classrooms, tutors instead of teachers, individual exploration and
artistic growth instead of lessons. Our approach is to treat you as an
artist rather than student. Although there is a lot to learn, artistic
development happens rapidly and naturally due to the studio atmosphere.
Here you will be thrown into a creative greenhouse with other students
working towards the same aim of artistic excellence and individual, creative
expression. The work is demanding, rewarding and intense.
We offer two courses at Castle.
Fine Art.
Most students taking Fine Art go on to Foundation Degree Art courses.
Fine Art explores visual thinking in a creative and expressive way. Fine
Art focuses on the visual experiences, ideas and feeling of the artist.
Fine Art explores media and technique. Fine Art deepens the student’s
visual experience and conceptual understanding.
Art often becomes a very deep and intensely rewarding personal journey
for the student.
A typical unit of work will start with a visual exploration of a theme
or an idea. Students will then develop their own individual responses.
The student will then undertake research into their ideas and relate these
to the work of other artists. This produces a rich and deep level of study
in their workbooks. The work is then developed and refined through visual
analysis to an ambitious final piece of work.
We have something of a reputation at Castle. Our students’ work
is often very challenging both in ambition and in the student’s
depth of personal exploration. The end of year exhibition is testament
to how far and how deeply we take students.
Creative Graphics.
Still somewhat in its infancy, Creative Graphics has become a phenomenal
success. The results speal for themselves and the work is far beyond what
you would expect from an A level course.
Students taking Creative Graphics have their eyes set on becoming graphic
designers or are looking for a career in the media.
Creative Graphics is about visual communication. How images and words
are used to convey an idea or to persuade. Although a very practical subject
where students respond to a range of design briefs, the course explores
the psychology of graphic communication and looks deeply at ideas that
the student will need to understand to become a successful visual communicator.
Students work either individually or in design teams. A unit of work will
start with a design brief. The brief is then analyzed and the ideas explored.
Through a process of analysis and refinement, the final outcome is arrived
at, presented and evaluated.
This course focuses on the creative aspects of visual communication. There
is an emphasis on students developing their own individual style and exploring
ideas that interest them.
Structure of the Courses.
Both Fine Art and Creative Graphics have a similar structure, although
the outcome is very different.
The qualification consists of two elements.
1.Coursework. This is where the students gather evidence of their visual
understanding, creative responses, practical skills, independent study
skills and ability to sustain a piece of work to a
successful outcome.
2. Exam. Students are given a starting point to explore over four weeks
with an extended period of time to produce a final piece. In many ways
the exam is similar to a more structured unit of coursework. Students
always find the exam exciting and enjoyable.
Some Questions Answered.
Which course should I choose?
Both courses have their similarities and their differences. Both courses
develop visual thinking and creativity. Both courses give the student
a depth of understanding and plenty of opportunity to design the content
of the course around their own interests. Fine Art is aimed more at the
student who wants to explore their own ideas, feelings and perceptions.
This A level leads to work in the arts and the creative industries. Creative
Graphics is aimed more at the use of images to communicate ideas, working
to a set brief for a client. This course leads to work as a designer or
in the media.
What if I choose the wrong course?
Not possible. Although the courses are very different, work can be transferred
and developed from one course into the other. So changing options is not
a problem. Also, either qualification is good currency in either the expressive
or the design pathways.
Isn’t A level art veiy similar to GCSE (to
tell you truth, I am exhausted after GC5E, I don’t think that /
can do it all over again)?
There are similarities and GCSE art is a very good grounding for A level
studies. Taking GCSE art will mean that you can ‘hit the ground
running’ at A level. The experience is very different. At A level
you will have far more freedom to develop your own ideas and extend what
you have discovered in Year 11i. It will feel far less like you are in
a school and far more like you are engaged in individual exploration in
your own art studio.
What are your results like?
Both Fine Art and Creative Graphics get excellent results. Most students
do far better than expected in both subjects. Most students leave the
A2 course with either a grade A or B. We also manage to get at least one
student in the top 5% in the country each year. Standards are very high.
We also have an ‘open door’ policy, where students are accepted
on the course regardless of previous performance. This does mean that
some students fail, but they rarely regret the experience. You do need
ability to take Art at A level. However, we feel passionately about the
creative development of all students. For this reason we will support
you even if you are uncertain about your ability.
I want to take graphics, but l am no good on the
computer.
There is a perception that Graphics equals working on computer.We actually
do have quite a few students who lack confidence in this area. Although
aptitude in the use of graphics software is essential in this area, it
is not all we study. We do have students who rarely touch a keyboard.
At the same time, understanding of the creative use of ICT is important
and individual tuition is always available to meet your needs.
There are no jobs in art.
Nothing could be further from the truth. An independent study CDestinations
and Reflections’) found that ‘only 20% of art and design graduates
are involved in work that is fbi at all relevant to art and design’.
This figure is far lower than most other subjects. Also employers are
well aware of the creativity and range of independent skills that an art
graduate brings to the work place. This is why; ‘only 4.9% of art
and design graduates are currently unemployed and seeking work’.
If you have any anxieties about Art not leading to a solid career, please
have a look at the key findings of this report (http:// wwwO.bcu.ac.uk/crq/publications/dr/
drexec.html).
There is also a very defined career route from Creative Graphics to a
whole range of exciting rewarding jobs. Art and design is a lifestyle
choice.
I’m not sure
You can always phone up Castle Sixth Form and book a time to see us for
an informal chat, or drop me an email at dunninger@yahoo.co.uk for more
details. I can answer any questions you have individually and send out
some example documents explaining the course in more detail.
Enjoy your individual creative journey.
|
