Year 11 - Updated Checklist

Developmental GCSE sketchbook page

This list is a guide to the MINIMUM you should have complete when we return from half term:

• Your book should open with a title page - nothing fancy (there are no marks for title page decoration - invest your time where it counts), but a clear indication of what your project is all about - so “A sense of place” or “Self-image” or whichever mock exam title you have chosen to pursue.
• Next should be your summer photos - but please don't see this as the end of the image gathering process for this project, adding to your imagery is encouraged at any time and can often re-energise your visual work. Include contact sheet thumbnails of all your shots and a decent selection (5+) printed at a larger scale (A5/A4).
• A rich Mind map should follow your summer photos. Think literally, think laterally and really expand your ideas on your chosen theme, indicate in bold text the ideas that you are most excited by.
• Pinterest boards are a quick way of grouping together lots of bits of inspiration - use this brilliant tool to explore your theme further, it is important that you remember to make note of those who have created the images you like so that you can return to it later. Compile two A3 pages of inspirational imagery which is accompanied by brief written annotation explaining why you have been inspired by these things.
• A sustained piece of tonal pencil drawing (based on your photos) - this should feature a full range of tone and represent at least 3 hours worth of work.
• The set of expressive timed drawings we completed in class (3 x 8 minute sketches), simply mounted into your book and briefly annotated.
• Gold card plate and the prints taken from it effectively mounted in your sketchbook.
• Analysis of the Gold Card printing process (see blog for details).
• Carbon print.
• Analytical research into 2 Artists appropriate to the direction of your project (refer to the additional guidance when doing this). Talk to staff to identify appropriate sources.
• Developments from your gold card and carbon prints - working into with coloured inks, plus potentially digital or mixed media collage images.

Over Half Term:

• Finish anything required in the list above including the second set of research.
• Take any additional photographs that you require to inspire the independent phase and outcome of your mock exam project.
• Make some decisions about the direction you intend to take with this set of work - when we get back from half term you should know what imagery is going to inspire your final piece and what media/scale you are heading towards.

You will then have 3 weeks to develop your plan by producing studies from your selected imagery in appropriate media. Last 2 weeks before Christmas are set aside for your Mock Exam (producing your outcome).