Topic title: Experimental Drawing
Year group: 9
When taught: January – March
What are we learning?
We learn about observational drawing and how expressive, experimental mark-making can communicate more than just appearance in drawings. We use images of animals to explore gestural mark-making as we depict elements of movement and other metaphysical qualities like energy, personality and emotion. We refine observational drawing skills, looking for accuracy in shape and form as well as how to experiment with materials and refine work as it develops. We look at a range of animal related artists, including but not limited to Nicola Hicks, Paula Swisher and Abbie Diamond.
Why is this important to know?
Expanding the pupils’ artistic vocabulary to include expressive mark-making gives them a greater ability to articulate meaning in their own work. Confidence in experimenting and taking creative risks also gives the pupils the freedom to accept things not working and the ability to recognise what is. This increases the speed at which they can refine work and propel their own ideas forward visually.
Where does this link into our past and future learning?
Experimental Drawing takes the prior knowledge of observational drawing and expands it beyond simply the accurate recreation of appearance. It introduces gestural mark-making as a key component of expressing certain qualities, concepts and ideas to the viewer. The idea that how something is drawn is just as important as what is drawn. This can then be applied directly in the following project Street Art and in further artistic study at GCSE and beyond. The expressive qualities of mark making are essential for pupils who then have the autonomy over what they want to express in their work that features in these subsequent projects.
How will we be assessed on this topic?
Students will be assessed practically at the end of the project focusing on the skills and creativity shown in their Experimental Drawing. They will also be specifically assessed in their observational drawing exam.
What makes a strong piece of work in this topic? What are teachers hoping to see?
Strong work in Experimental Drawing should include the following;
- Accurate observations of shape, form and proportion
- Skilfully applied tone
- A range of mark making and materials used experimentally
- creative risks taken with materials
What key words are there in this topic?
- Gestural
- Expressive
- Evocative
- Communicate
- Experiment
- Refine
- Continuous Line
- Broken Line
- Minimal
- Structured
- Energetic
- Controlled
- Layered
- Accuracy
- Proportion
- Tonal Range
What can I try if I want to stretch and challenge myself on this topic?
- Try timed drawing from life, possibly to capture things that move.
- Experiment with multiple combinations of drawing materials.
- Look at the work of GCSE or A Level students who use line in their work
What wider reading can be done on this topic?
- You can find books from some of our featured artist either in the art department or in a library.