Writing a series of lessons to form a scheme of work is only part of the picture. The teacher may devise an overall theme for the course, which works to hold the art lessons together. The theme, also known as a brief, might be decided by the art institution’s curriculum; the teacher, or (if the course allows), the students individually.
Interesting Topics for Art Classes
The theme serves to give students inspiration or a direction to pursue. The theme should not be too narrow, giving little leeway yet not too broad or vague. The following ideas might give the teacher some idea of what to use as an overall theme for an art course:
- the colour red
- symmetry
- patterns in nature
- manmade objects
- childhood memories
- close-ups
Writing a Brief for Art
Writing an art assignment for students requires careful thought. The brief should be (as the word suggests) brief and to the point, offering the following information:
- the topic itself including the outline
- art resources required
- any written assignments or presentations involved
- the assessment date
Below shows an example of what a brief looks like. The teacher may talk through the brief with the students during the first lesson before providing handouts.
Example of an Art Brief
The following describes a brief on close-ups.
Take a look at an everyday form, such as a tea strainer or a cactus through a magnifying glass and suddenly it takes on a bizarre form and becomes more interesting. The artist Georgia O’Keefe did so with her close-up studies of flowers. Looking closely at things creates a different way of looking at things. I would like you to explore how things look close-up. This can be done by sectioning a part of an image and projecting it onto a large drawing surface, or by scaling it up, or simply by taking photos through a magnifying glass. I would like you to explore the contours, tones colours and patterns of your chosen objects. Take things a stage further by using the contours to create a repeat pattern or by altering the colours to give it a different context. The final image may not resemble the original object.
Ideas for the Assignment
- close-up of dead leaves or other organic matter, such as flowers
- close up of animals or sections of it, so that only an eye or part of the antlers can be seen, for example
- close ups of inanimate objects
- close ups of textures such as wool or sandpaper
- other unusual objects
Creative requirements
- 1 X sketchbook showing evidence log of creative evidence
- 1 X A3 experimental work
- 2 X A3 developmental work
- 1 X A3 visual conclusion
Topics for Art Lessons
The brief provides an overall topic for the art course. Art students may use the brief to explore different art techniques and produce the final painting. Students are free to interpret the brief as they wish, whether the work is abstract, representational or other. However, the criteria should be the same, which might be the requirements of the final portfolio and/or written assignment.
Rachel Shirley - I have written and illustrated several art instruction books entitled Oil Paintings from your Garden and Oil Paintings from the Landscape ...
