Art & Design
Pupils of the Month (December)
Year 8
Hi, my name is Katie Burns, I am in 8/27, my Form Teacher is Mrs McShane, and my Art Teacher is Mrs O’Hare.
Mrs O’ Hare has nominated me to be December pupil of the month.
Here is a piece of my art work. I put together a quilt patch of Derrymore House with some help from Mrs O’Hare and my mum. I had already made a quilt patch, then Mrs O’Hare asked me to do another one. I wasn’t quite sure what to do, so Mrs O’Hare suggested that I could do Derrymore House or the eighteen arches know as the Craigmore Viaduct. I thought Derrymore House would be a good idea as it is quite close to St Paul’s. I researched Derrymore house on the internet and printed out a picture to work from. Mrs O’ Hare says when the weather is better; she will take our class down to see it.
Year 9
My name is Dearbhail McCullough and I am in class 9/03. I have been nominated for Art, pupil of the month by my form teacher Mr Mc Ardle.
I really like Art and I recently won a competition for the Newry and Mourne and my poster will be appearing on the 2013 calendar.
I am going to take on art for GCSE and A Level, mainly because I really enjoy it and I put a lot of time and effort into it.
Year 10
My Art teacher Ms O’Reilly has chosen me for pupil of the month because the presentation and standard of my sketch book work and my November monthly assessment. We have been studying figure drawing and experimenting with different styles and techniques in class – as well as creating our own Giacometti style sculptures. My November monthly assessment was a magazine collage of a person – in my case I chose Ashley Olsen. The process of this assessment was to cut and stick different cuttings from magazines to create the right colours and tones as the original picture. I enjoyed using this method and consider my piece to be quite good. Although I think I could improve on the shaping and size of cut outs to make a better finish of my piece.
Year 11
My name is Grace Dowdall and I am currently in Year 11 at St Paul’s. When I started my GCSE artwork I was very inspired by the work of Michael Shapcott. I have taken my own photographs and tried to create a piece of work that has been influenced by him. I have drawn my own cousin standing beside a tree and used a variety of textures and techniques in it.
Year 12
My name is Serena Mc Verry, and I’m a Year 12 pupil studying GCSE art. I have chose flowers and butterflies as my theme and I am currently working towards a final piece of fine art (where my flowers and butterflies will be incorporated on a large canvas using different textile pieces of fabric and material.
I enjoy studying art as a GCSE subject and I may pursue a career in the future involving art.
Year 13
I have always had a keen interest in fashion. My project is all about cats and I want to incorporate my artwork into a finished garment. I am planning to design a dress and use different textures and types of media. I have been particularly inspired by the work of Dean Russo.
Year 14
My name is Orlagh Feehan and I am a 7th Year pupil at St Paul’s High School. I am studying A-Level Art and my theme is farmyard animals. I decided to do farm animals as my theme because it was relevant to the place where I live. This meant that it was easy for me to get first hand photographs, which is extremely important when undertaking A-Level Art. I wanted to do my own interpretation of everyday farm animals by using vivid colours and an array of textures and medias. I was greatly influenced by the artist Marion Rose as her Art work was similar to mine, and so I decided to use her as my artistic reference. I used different animals such as chickens, roosters, cows, lambs, pigs and sheep. I took photos of them in their natural environment and I took inspiration from different artists to create my own version of their style of work. I use a range of medias such as watercolour, paint, oil, pastel, prints and materials such as wool and wire.
Departmental Staff
- Mrs S O’Hare - Textiles/Fashion
- Mrs O McArdle – Fine and Applied Art
- Mr B McArdle – Design
- Ms Leanne O’Reilly
- Technician: Mrs M McMahon
Information
The study of Art and Design provides students with opportunities to enrich their sensory experiences and develop aesthetic sensitivity and awareness by making personal, visual and tactile responses to feelings, ideas and environments.
Students develop intellectual and practical abilities, appreciate the relationship between their work and that of artists, designers and craft workers in their own and other cultures and become aware of the history and social aspects of the European Community. In their use and exploration of materials, processes and technologies in both two- and three-dimensions students learn to be selective and discriminating.
At present we enter all Key Stage 4 students who have selected our subject for GCSE Art and Design. Year 13 and 14 students are entered for GCE AS and A2 Level.
We offer a versatile programme, covering a wide range of experiences and activities to all pupils from Key Stage 3 to A Level.
Pottery and Ceramic Design
From Key Stage 3 pupils are involved in exploration and experimentation in the development of skills and techniques in the use of clay and glazes, progressing to realistic, functional and creative ceramic design at GCSE and A Level.
3 Dimensional Design
Investigation and research into media (wire / wood / plaster / fabrics / clay) with emphasis on skills and techniques in the designing of artefacts in 3 dimensions such as pots, figure sculptures, clocks, chairs etc. takes place from Key Stage 3 onwards.
Textile Design
Students explore and experiment with media and processes used in dyed and printed fabrics, batik, and hand and machine embroidery at GCSE and A Level. From Key Stage 3 onwards pupils are involved in the development of skills and techniques in designing and creating for fashion and fabrics such as wall hangings, cushions, dresses, hats etc.
Graphic Design / ICT
All pupils are involved in the development of skills and techniques in the use of graphic tools and equipment including Photoshop. Year 8 students use Photoshop to distort a face as part of their Portraits and Colour theme, Year 9 use iStop Motion animation in an undersea theme and Year 10 produce a short film on the life of a chosen artist. Progression to well planned layout ideas and final presentations for packaging, poster design, book cover, CD design, and illustration etc. are part of Year 8 to Year 14 units of work. All students are encouraged to use the Internet for theme research.
Printmaking
From KS3 skills and techniques in printmaking as a means of developing pattern and design ideas or for Fine Art is developed using lino, polystyrene and screen printing.
Fine Art and Sculpture
All students explore and experiment with media and processes including drawing, painting, collage work, mixed media, sculpture, modelling and printing. Further development of these skills and techniques using materials and equipment including ICT, Photoshop and photography takes place at GCSE and A Level.
Discussion and emphasis on research into the historical aspects of the various areas of practice, critical self-appraisal of work at various stages, and the use of visual language and key words inherent in all tasks is an important aspect of our course.
Curriculum
Key Stage 3 (Years 8, 9 & 10)
Year 8: Schemes of work include:
Lettering, Layout, Colour, Portraiture, Photo Booth, Photoshop.
Year 9: Schemes of work include:
Stain glass design theme, undersea theme/mixed media theme, group project on package design where they design and make a package container finishing with each group giving a PowerPoint presentation on their final product and Comic Life.
Year 10: Year 10 schemes of work include:
The human figure, life drawing, sculpture, 3 dimensional design, nature, textile design, still life and film making.
GCSE (Years 11 & 12)
This is a 2 year course encompassing all aspects of both 2 and 3 dimensional design through Fine Art and Design. It comprises a folder of work done over the 2 years in a range of disciplines while experimenting with a range of techniques and processes.
The folder of work must include one specific task from initial concepts through to final completion of an outcome. The examination paper is released in January of the 2nd year and a period of 6-8 weeks is set aside to complete a response to a given theme. The exam carries a weighting of 40% of the total marks awarded for the examination.
A Level (Years 13 & 14)
This course is very similar in content to the GCSE with the same weighting between the coursework and the examination. A body of work is produced with more focus on written evaluations and a higher level of personal research and involvement, into the work of others and the connections with the work of other artists, craftsmen and designers.
At A2 level students are required to submit an extended essay relating to their work.
