U6 - Fine Art Specialist Brief. First Tasks.

ART & DESIGN DEPARTMENT – 

BTEC ASSIGNMENT BRIEF                                                                                                                                       

Qualification	BTEC National Extended Diploma Art and Design
Unit Coverage	40 – Contemporary Fine Art Practice 41 – Painting
Assignment title	Insect Part 2 – Fine Art
Teachers/Assessors	Mr. I. Bicknell/Ms. V. Mason/Mrs. G. Bicknell/Miss. R. Rendell
Hand out date	25th February 2019
Hand in deadline	25th March 2019
Imogen Andrews – BTEC Student
Vocational Scenario or context	This project requires you to utilise your work from your Unit 4 Insect assignment as a starting point. The project is subdivided: in Part A you need to produce a series of painted studies inspired by the theme of “Insect” leading to a final triptych of paintings. These need to be complemented by research into painters appropriate to the approach you have taken and thoughtful reflection on your own work. Part B requires you to develop an understanding of how Fine Artists promote themselves and make a living from their work. You will need to develop ways of promoting your own work, research galleries, competitions, exhibiting opportunities. You will need to create online promotional material for your work (e.g. Instagram page, personal website, blog or Facebook page) as well as drafting a contact letter for galleries. Alongside this you need to create an additional Fine Art piece based on the Insect theme, this can be either an additional painting or explore an alternative Fine Art format. You will need to evaluate all you have learned throughout the project. Context: Select an insect to inspire your project. Consider all aspects of this insect: physical appearance, behaviour, habitat, social interaction, colour, sound, movement. Produce work that responds to this theme, this can be either figurative or abstract, but needs to capture the character of your chosen insect. In addition to this brief please refer to https://btecartanddesignblog.blogspot.com/ for additional guidance throughout the project.
This project will require a focussed and productive approach to successfully complete the attached units. Ensure that you concentrate on the tasks set and do not waste effort and time on other work, move promptly from one task to the next and ensure you meet the intermediate deadlines.
Part A
Task 1	Initial Research and Mind Mapping: This should build on work you carried out in Part 1 of the project, but needs to be specifically based on your chosen insect. ·         Consider the idea of your chosen insect.  Write down words associated with this creatures - their character/behaviour as well as their physical appearance.  Words such as predator, sting, poison, danger, energy, warrior, industrious, worker, queen, drone, community, hive, nest.   Produce an extensive brainstorm. ·         Collect information and visuals on your insect, use Pinterest.  https://www.pinterest.co.uk/ Consider habitat, lifespan, diet, social interaction etc. ·         Research two painters one who produces Triptych series of works (Francis Bacon, Otto Dix, Joan Miro, Mark Rothko) and one whose work inspires you and may influence the visual work you intend to produce in this unit. Present this work thoughtfully with good reproductions of the Artist’s work. Give brief biographical background, but focus on analysing specific works, comment particularly on how they use paint – colour, markmaking, technique, scale, composition, mood etc.
Timescale for completion of this task:	Alongside practical work during first week of project, finished by Friday 1st March.
Checklist of evidence required:	·         A page of thorough and imaginative mind-mapping specific to your chosen insect. ·         At least 2 pages of visuals and information regarding your insect, this should be collaged into your sketchbook and presented in a mood-board style. ·         4 pages research into two painters (triptych artist + personal choice).
Assessment:	Class crits, peer and teacher verbal feedback. Summative Unit marking.
Task 2:	Visual development of ideas and technique. ·         You need to explore the approach you intend to take in your outcome through a series of at least 6 painted studies. These could take place within the sketchbook or as seperate pieces. Photograph any larger pieces for inclusion in your sketchbook. There should be a clear visual relationship between these pieces as you try to develop a distinct personal visual language within your paintings. ·         Annotate all your developmental paintings. Talk about the ideas you are expressing and how they relate to the insect theme. Discuss technical aspects too – composition, use of colour, mark-making, scale, mood. Comment on strengths and weaknesses of the work, what you have learned, and how these studies have helped you formulate ideas for your final outcome.
Timescale for completion of this task:	By Monday 3rd March.
Checklist of evidence required:	·         A series of at least 6 painted studies. ·         Annotation and explanation of these studies in your sketchbook.

Work for weeks 2 - 4 of this project and unit criteria coverage is detailed in the brief you have been issued with and will follow on the blog.