Art and Design

Learning to draw is a process that starts when you are at nursery, you learn to express yourself with coloured pencils, crayons, felt tips, etc. This is when you start to learn the basics of art through shapes, colour mixing, and the necessary motor skills to manipulate pens and pencils on paper.

This learning continues throughout your time at Outwood Academy Freeston and you will be introduced to famous artists in your lessons, learn more about the different media, and be given the opportunity to practise drawing through projects that embrace other artists, cultures and traditions.

What we expect you to be once you arrive and are ready to learn at Outwood Academy art department:

  • Organised

  • A responsible citizen

  • Resilient

  • Self Sufficient

  • Being a ‘ready’ learner

What skills will the study of Art teach you?

Studying Art will primarily teach you the skills of creativity, as you develop your ability to utilise skills and techniques to communicate visual ideas. You will learn to approach this challenge through a wide range of mediums which may include drawing, painting, printing, photography or sculpture. You will develop your confidence in applying these skills to projects that develop your self-expression. Participating in Art you will learn by your mistakes, It won’t always progress as you hope and this requires you to develop your dedication and resilience.

Observational skills will also be developed, not only through drawing, but also as you scrutinise the works of key artists, and draw inspiration from their work. You will develop your analytical skills as you review the work of professional artists and analyse the key features and characteristics of their work.

Art will teach you to…

  • Develop creative ideas using research and experimentation to influence your approach

  • Apply art skills such as drawing, painting and sculpting to communicate an idea

  • Use your knowledge of key artists to inspire your work.

  • Analyse the effectiveness of your artwork and develop your techniques over time

  • Express your ideas within a group during collaborative creative tasks

What will you study?

During your first year of Art & Design you will study the following projects:

  • Baseline assessment (Cubism) Introduction to the formal elements of line, tone, form, colour, shape and composition

  • Still life/observational drawing (Pop Art) Students develop a personal investigation from a given series of famous artwork.

  • Around the World (Artist and cultural influence) Exploring the application of the formal elements through western and non-western culture

How does your study of Art support your study in other subjects?

Art develops a number of skills that will support your study of other subjects, as so many of the skills you will acquire in Art are transferable. Art will develop your focus, resilience, self-expression, problem solving and communication skills, which will help you in all of your other subjects. Art will give you an opportunity for creative expression, which can lead to improved well-being, and support your study experience throughout school. Some students may take this even further and discover a subject that provides them with a life-long hobby or career that enhances their life for years to come. The study of other cultures through Art has strong links with Religious Education, Geography, and Citizenship and the self-expression aspects of Art will support learning in Performing Arts and Music. The ability to think creatively and problem solve are crucial in Engineering, Mathematics and Scienc