IB Visual Arts Description
The visual arts are an integral part of everyday life, permeating all levels of human creativity, expression, communication and understanding. We celebrate the visual arts not only in the way we create images and objects, but also in the way we appreciate, enjoy, respect and respond to the practices of art-making by others from around the world.
The IB Visual Arts course encourages students to challenge their own creative and cultural expectations and boundaries. It is a thought-provoking course in which students develop analytical skills in problem-solving and divergent thinking, while working towards technical proficiency and confidence as art-makers. In addition to exploring and comparing visual arts from different perspectives and in different contexts, students are expected to engage in, experiment with and critically reflect upon a wide range of contemporary practices and media. The course is designed for students who want to go on to study visual arts in higher education as well as for those who are seeking lifelong enrichment through visual arts.
The IB Visual Arts course encourages students to challenge their own creative and cultural expectations and boundaries. It is a thought-provoking course in which students develop analytical skills in problem-solving and divergent thinking, while working towards technical proficiency and confidence as art-makers. In addition to exploring and comparing visual arts from different perspectives and in different contexts, students are expected to engage in, experiment with and critically reflect upon a wide range of contemporary practices and media. The course is designed for students who want to go on to study visual arts in higher education as well as for those who are seeking lifelong enrichment through visual arts.
COURSE DOCUMENTS:
WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS:
RESOURCES:
NOTES FOR INCOMING STUDENTS:
The International Baccalaureate Visual Arts Course is designed for students seeking an in-depth look into the art world and their own personal role as artists. You can concentrate in either fine arts or photography, and that is just dependent on what you choose to create for you final portfolio. There is no distinction in the course. The only pre-requisite is two consecutive years in any art class, though you are not limited to a single media. In fact, the course is meant to push you beyond your boundaries of both making art and thinking critically about why art is made. This experience is meant to bring you closer to understanding your own artistic drive and to make meaningful connections to other artists and ideas from across the world and throughout time.
To begin your experience in the IB Visual Arts Course, you will be assigned summer work in May , which will help you get started on building your portfolio of studio pieces and journal investigations. All Summer Assignments will be due for critique on the day we return to school in September. Everything about how this course is designed and how you will be graded throughout the school year is outlined in the Atlee IB Visual Arts & Photography Student Handbook.
The IB exam information is contained in the IB Visual Arts Guide to the Final Exam. There is a distinction between students assessed at Standard Level or Higher Level based on the number of hours completed in the course. Anyone taking the course over two years that is beginning as a junior will examing as a senior at Higher Level. Seniors taking the course in a single year will follow the requirements for Standard Level. The final exam will be compiled of all the studio work and journal investigations that you create beginning now and ending in March. Everything is submitted as "screens," which refers to a horizontal layout on the computer screen. This is why the course is designed to utilize Google Slides throughout each marking period to build the three components of the final exam including the Final Portfolio, Process Portfolio, and Comparative Study. By March we will be preparing your physical art pieces for a formal IB Art Exhibit, which will take place off-campus with the rest Hanover's IB Visual Arts students. We will then spend the remaining weeks finalizing slides and uploading all required materials for the final exam submission in April.
To begin your experience in the IB Visual Arts Course, you will be assigned summer work in May , which will help you get started on building your portfolio of studio pieces and journal investigations. All Summer Assignments will be due for critique on the day we return to school in September. Everything about how this course is designed and how you will be graded throughout the school year is outlined in the Atlee IB Visual Arts & Photography Student Handbook.
The IB exam information is contained in the IB Visual Arts Guide to the Final Exam. There is a distinction between students assessed at Standard Level or Higher Level based on the number of hours completed in the course. Anyone taking the course over two years that is beginning as a junior will examing as a senior at Higher Level. Seniors taking the course in a single year will follow the requirements for Standard Level. The final exam will be compiled of all the studio work and journal investigations that you create beginning now and ending in March. Everything is submitted as "screens," which refers to a horizontal layout on the computer screen. This is why the course is designed to utilize Google Slides throughout each marking period to build the three components of the final exam including the Final Portfolio, Process Portfolio, and Comparative Study. By March we will be preparing your physical art pieces for a formal IB Art Exhibit, which will take place off-campus with the rest Hanover's IB Visual Arts students. We will then spend the remaining weeks finalizing slides and uploading all required materials for the final exam submission in April.
IB FINAL EXAM REQUIREMENTS @ a glance:
Part 1: Final Exhibition (with a written Curatorial Rationale) Internally Assessed by Teacher - 40% of final grade
Students reflect on changes made during the process of creation and provide a rationale for the decisions regarding both the selection and placement of pieces for the final exhibition.
SL: 4‐7 cohesive artworks, exhibition text & curatorial rationale of max 400 words
HL: 8-11 cohesive artworks, exhibition text & curatorial rationale max 700 words
Part 2: Process Portfolio Externally Assessed by IB Examiner - 40% of final grade
This closely follows the students' journey of art‐making, including their engagement with different media and techniques, their artistic intentions, their outside influences, and their methods of refinement.
SL: 9‐18 pages/screens that represent experimentation in at least two separte art-making forms
HL: 13‐25 pages/screens that represent experimentation in all three art-making forms
Part 1: The Comparative Study Externally Assessed by IB Examiner - 20% of final grade
Compare and contrast the at least 2 works by 2 different artists from 2 separate cultures. Examine their different techniques for making art and theory behind their work (HL students will also include a reflection of how this relates to a specific portfolio piece)
SL: 10-15 screens
HL: 10-15 screens & 3-5 screens comparing own work
Students reflect on changes made during the process of creation and provide a rationale for the decisions regarding both the selection and placement of pieces for the final exhibition.
SL: 4‐7 cohesive artworks, exhibition text & curatorial rationale of max 400 words
HL: 8-11 cohesive artworks, exhibition text & curatorial rationale max 700 words
Part 2: Process Portfolio Externally Assessed by IB Examiner - 40% of final grade
This closely follows the students' journey of art‐making, including their engagement with different media and techniques, their artistic intentions, their outside influences, and their methods of refinement.
SL: 9‐18 pages/screens that represent experimentation in at least two separte art-making forms
HL: 13‐25 pages/screens that represent experimentation in all three art-making forms
Part 1: The Comparative Study Externally Assessed by IB Examiner - 20% of final grade
Compare and contrast the at least 2 works by 2 different artists from 2 separate cultures. Examine their different techniques for making art and theory behind their work (HL students will also include a reflection of how this relates to a specific portfolio piece)
SL: 10-15 screens
HL: 10-15 screens & 3-5 screens comparing own work
QUESTIONS? Email Mrs. Fisher - [email protected]
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 3:30-4:00