Art Journal Development (IB)
The Visual Art Journal Basics
Your workbook should be a comprehensive document that illustrates your artistic development and research. The purpose of the workbook is to encourage and record personally driven research and discovery that function interactively with independent art work. It should include a combination of writing and drawing.
**Students should create a minimum of 3-5 pages per week.
***Cite ALL sources properly, including EVERY image
Every page should include:
Remember, everything should be connected! Research, planning, studio work, media investigations, reflections are all part of a connected journey.
YOUR FINISHED ART JOURNAL CHECKLIST
Check out this great slide show explaining what your IWB should/could look like ……..
If you don’t know what to do, consider these choices…
Research a new artist.
Pick a work of art that speaks to your heart, that you will use to influence your own studio work. Closely observe and analyze the artwork. Use the DAIJ technique to critique what you see (Describe, Analyze, Interpret, Judge).
Research new media techniques/skills.
What do you want to learn how to do? For example:
Observation Drawing
The most important way to improve in drawing and painting is to draw what you see.
Reflection
Plan for a New Studio Work
Brainstorm
Elements of Art (EOA) & Principles of Design (POD)... See items in Resource Tab.
These should be part of every IWB entry you create – they are the foundation of the “underpinnings of artistic expression.” Understanding and using these in both your planning and your writing are ESSENTIAL to writing about art, and making successful studio work.
Elements – line, shape, form, texture, value, color, space.
Principles – contrast, emphasis, unity, pattern, movement/rhythm, balance
For more information, check out EOA and POD pages in resources tab.
The Visual Art Journal Basics
Your workbook should be a comprehensive document that illustrates your artistic development and research. The purpose of the workbook is to encourage and record personally driven research and discovery that function interactively with independent art work. It should include a combination of writing and drawing.
**Students should create a minimum of 3-5 pages per week.
***Cite ALL sources properly, including EVERY image
Every page should include:
- The date, title and page number
- Writing in black ink
- both images AND writing
- a deep analysis of what you’re learning about (think critically. Do you agree? Disagree? How can you connect this to other things you’ve learned in the past?)
- your personal ideas about the topic
Remember, everything should be connected! Research, planning, studio work, media investigations, reflections are all part of a connected journey.
YOUR FINISHED ART JOURNAL CHECKLIST
- Artwork analysis and vocabulary Respond to and analyze critically and contextually the function, meaning and artistic qualities of past, present and emerging art, using the specialist vocabulary of visual arts (limited biographical information)
- Cultural Analysis Analyze and compare art from different cultures and times, and consider it thoughtfully for its function and significance.
- Depth and breadth of research Develop and present independent ideas. Demonstrate coherent, focused and individual investigative strategies into visual qualities, ideas and their contexts. Develop different approaches towards their study, and fresh connections between them.
- Creative art making process Explore and develop ideas and techniques for studio work through integrated contextual study and first-hand observations. Produce personally relevant works of art that reveal evidence of exploration of ideas that reflect cultural and historical awareness. Present the work effectively and creatively and demonstrates critical observation, reflection and discrimination.
- Integration between studio and investigations. Develop and maintain a close relationship between investigation and a purposeful, creative process in studio work.
- Technique Demonstrate the development of an appropriate range of skills, techniques and processes when making and analyzing images and artifacts. Develop and demonstrate technical competence and artistic qualities that challenge and extend personal boundaries and technical competence and self-direction.
- Source Citation Used appropriate sources which cited properly and thoroughly throughout the IWB
Check out this great slide show explaining what your IWB should/could look like ……..
If you don’t know what to do, consider these choices…
Research a new artist.
Pick a work of art that speaks to your heart, that you will use to influence your own studio work. Closely observe and analyze the artwork. Use the DAIJ technique to critique what you see (Describe, Analyze, Interpret, Judge).
- How are the elements and principles used? (see list below)
- How is this artist’s style different or similar to another artist you’ve studied? Compare and contrast.
- What are the social/cultural contexts for this piece of art? (What is the artist trying to communicate about her culture, or another culture? Is she reacting to an event, a social practice, history, or something else?)
- What is your personal connection to this piece?
- How will it connect to your theme, or how will use use what you’ve learned from this artist to create something new?
Research new media techniques/skills.
What do you want to learn how to do? For example:
- Sculpt with clay or found objects?
- Learn to draw human faces?
- Find better techniques for watercolor?
- Crosshatch with pen and ink?
- Draw realistic hair?
Observation Drawing
The most important way to improve in drawing and painting is to draw what you see.
- What observation drawings would be relevant to your study? A few examples: people, faces, hands, feet, trees, cars, buildings, chairs, plants…
Reflection
- Reflect on a piece you’ve just finished, or a work in-progress.
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of your piece? (How are you using the elements and principles?)
- What techniques did you use?
- How will you revise it to make it stronger?
- How is this piece connected to your theme?
- What does it reveal about your personal ideas?
- What artists/other ideas influenced this piece?
Plan for a New Studio Work
- Draw at least two sketches that show your plan for a new piece (it’s said that Leonardo DaVinci himself always started with at least three sketches for any new work of art.)
- How will it show your theme?
- What is your personal connection to this piece? How does it show your own ideas, experiences, emotions, history?
- How will you show what you learned from other artists?
- What media will you use?
Brainstorm
- Doodle. Daydream! Write down questions or ideas you have. Make idea clouds. Share the beautiful or messy processes in your head that lead you to create!
Elements of Art (EOA) & Principles of Design (POD)... See items in Resource Tab.
These should be part of every IWB entry you create – they are the foundation of the “underpinnings of artistic expression.” Understanding and using these in both your planning and your writing are ESSENTIAL to writing about art, and making successful studio work.
Elements – line, shape, form, texture, value, color, space.
Principles – contrast, emphasis, unity, pattern, movement/rhythm, balance
For more information, check out EOA and POD pages in resources tab.