What do I need to know or be able to do before taking this course? If you have an aptitude for the subject, if you are creative or ‘good at drawing’, you may have the basic skills to succeed. However, A Level Art encompasses a range of art techniques and skills and you should be prepared to work hard at developing your abilities and moving out of your comfort zone. You should have an understanding of the basic elements of art - colour, tone, form etc, and also some understanding of the place of art, craft and design in the world -its history and its purpose. Above all, you should have an interest in creating and understanding art and the determination to develop that interest. You should also be keen to develop your interest in the subject through visiting galleries and exhibitions which will help you develop ideas for your own artwork. What will I learn on this course? The main purpose of any course in art, craft and design is to develop your ability to appreciate the visual world, respond in a personal and creative way and perhaps even contribute for the benefit of everyone. You will develop the skills to interpret and convey your ideas and feelings using art, craft and design. You will also learn traditional drawing and painting skills as well as new media techniques and theoretical terms. During the course you will be encouraged to look at a broad range of artists and to review your own work in relation to the artists you have studied. Aside from this you will also develop a technical terminology to develop your knowledge and understanding of the place of art, craft and design in history and in contemporary society. What kind of student is this course suitable for? • Students who wish to undertake further studies in art, craft and design, usually at art college or further education • Students who are looking to take up careers for which an art background is relevant These might include advertising, publishing, architecture, museums, theatre or art gallery work • Students who have an interest in and aptitude for the subject, but who do not intend to take the subject beyond A level How can I develop my full range of skills by doing this course? As well as covering the A level study of art, this course will enable you to develop some Key Skills which will be essential to you whatever you go on to do afterwards. The Key Skills you can develop during this course are: Communication The key skill of communication is integral to the study of ALevel Art and will be assessed as specified in the mark scheme. This involves, amongst other skills, the ability to • summarise the information found in many different types of sources - eg books, paintings, museums, galleries, the Internet • use accurate and relevant information in the best format for the piece of work you are doing • make sure that written work is legible and that its meaning is clear • choose suitable images to illustrate your ideas clearly • being able to express your ideas and intentions for particular pieces of artwork Other key skills appropriate to the study of Art are • information Technology • improving own learning and performance • working with others • problem solving What could I go on to do at the end of my course? There are many opportunities in our design-conscious world for careers using the skills you will develop on an A level Art course. Most of these require further study at an art school, further education college or university. If you are unsure about whether to make a career of the subject, the best thing to do is to speak to your art teacher who will know about the courses on offer in your area or elsewhere. At present most students wishing to take art, craft or design further will go on to do a one year ‘Foundation’ course at an art college or college of further education before applying to degree courses in more specialist areas of art and design. You may wish to do Art ALevel for its own sake, perhaps to form the basis of a future interest or as part of a range of other subjects. You might wish to go into a job where it is useful to have had experience of art, craft and design, or where you will need to use some of the skills developed during this course. These might include careers in such fields as advertising, marketing, design, architecture, publishing and the media. The study of art can also help you develop transferable skills you can take into any career or job. Success in A Level Art requires determination and dedication. However, whichever future path you choose, it can be a very rewarding beginning.