Art - KS3
Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3, we follow structured schemes of work that provide the basic building blocks that you need in any art discipline. We aim for all students to have the opportunity to experiment with a range of skills, techniques and processes across projects such as Formal Elements, Landscape, Portraiture and working Three Dimensionally. We set home study projects where students have the opportunity to develop a mini project across a number of tasks.
Year 7
When students join Art in Year 7 we begin with a project based on The Formal Elements. We explore ideas and collect visual information based on the basics in art and design. Students will develop skills in working with basic 2D media depicting tone; colour; line; shape; form and pattern. This will then inform a 3D outcome still exploring those basic themes. The unit will provide students with an excellent introduction to the use of a sketchbook in which they will be encouraged to be creative and experiment.
Our second project in Year 7 is based on Landscapes. Leading on from the formal elements students can build on their skills and experiences working in clay and learning to work in relief and collage through lino printing and collagraph printing. Students will look at art movements and individual artists such as Kurt Jackson and Hundertwasser, and use them to influence their own classwork
Our last project in Year 7 will be based on Cultures. Artist research will allow students to gain an understanding of how social, moral and cultural beliefs and values influence works of art and explore the arts and crafts of various multi-cultural artists. Students will work on designing and communicating their ideas and develop their work through mask and artefact making, using papier mache and sculpting techniques.
Year 7 Gallery containing examples of work
Year 8
When students join Art in Year 8 we begin with a project based on Portrait. During this unit students will explore the theme of the face and their own identity, with the introduction of observational drawing and proportion. Students will develop new skills in painting with acrylics as well as refining skills they have already learned in Year 7. Final outcomes are produced in fine acrylic paint, collage and monoprinting based on artists’ studies ranging from Alexei Jawlensky to Kilmt.
Our second project in Year 8 is a Cultures based project where we look at the Mexican festival and celebration ‘Day of The Dead’. Students will research crafts and artefacts related to the Day of the Dead and develop and improve on their research, drawing and painting skills. Sugar skulls will be a starting point for students’ designs and will result in a decorated clay final outcome.
Our last project in Year 8 will be based on Still Life. Students will apply their prior observational drawing techniques acquired in previous units and will utilize their analytical skills and use their sketchbook to experiment with a broad range of 2D art materials such as watercolour, oil, pastel and paint. Artist inspirations range from Pop Art Lichtenstein and Warhol to Cezanne and Morandi.