Art
The Art Department is a lively, popular creative hub of Charterhouse. ‘Studio’ consists of spacious purpose-built art facilities which include:
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a gallery space
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ceramics
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textiles
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3D room
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dark room
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IT facilities for digital photography, film and animation
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painting studios
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print-making facilities.
A Gallery of pupils' artwork and the latest Art and Culture News items are available using the links below:
The Art staff are all respected artists in their own right and contribute to a friendly and dynamic teaching environment. Charterhouse Art Director, Peter Monkman is a distinguished artist and winner of the prestigious BP Portrait Award 2009.
In the Fourths the pupils work within seven-week intensive blocks and experience a wide range of media. At GCSE and Cambridge Pre-U pupils build on their personal experience and develop their ideas in a wide variety of media, creating impressive works, from installations to oil paintings. A firm foundation in drawing is encouraged, with life-drawing forming a major part of Art at sixth form. We encourage the study of contemporary Art and Art History, with visits to challenging exhibitions forming an important part of the courses. Visits abroad enrich experiences: with New York and Florence being recent destinations. Full information on the GCSE and Cambridge Pre-U courses is set out below.
Removes and Fifths - GCSE
AQA: 3202
The course requires between 2 and 4 units of coursework and a ten hour, externally set, terminal test. The Department aims to provide a variety of experiences in different media, which can include drawing, painting, print-making, digital photography and three-dimensional work. The assessment criteria require pupils to use a sketchbook or work journal and to look at the work of artists both now and in the past; visits to exhibitions and art galleries are thus an integral part of the course. The Department is committed to working from observation and drawing skills are therefore very important. It is a Departmental requirement that pupils attend Studio for a minimum of 1" hours per week, in addition to normal classes. Some work will be set for each holiday.
Specialists - Cambridge Pre-U
GCSE Requirements
Pupils are expected to have taken Art at GCSE level.
Outline of the Course
The Pre-U course in Fine Art aims at higher levels than traditional A levels and equips candidates with the skills to make a success of their subsequent studies at university and art college. The syllabus encourages candidates to develop:
- Abilities imaginatively, creatively, intellectually and innovatively;
- Analytical, investigative, experimental, technical and expressive skills;
- Confidence, initiative and aesthetic awareness and the ability to make critical judgments;
- An understanding of the role of Art and Design over time and in a cultural context; to apply that understanding to a contemporary context and to utilise that knowledge and understanding to inform their own visual experience.
The course encompasses varied and diverse approaches including: painting and drawing, printmaking, sculpture including ceramics, fine art textiles, mixed-media, installation, photography, site specific work, digital film and video.
First Year
The first year acts as a foundation year where the candidate builds up a portfolio that demonstrates an in-depth personal series of explorations within the chosen areas of study. There will be perceptive recording, analysis and collation of observations and insights and extensive experimentation with ideas, concepts, materials and processes.
There will also be investigations into the practice of other related artists within a broader cultural/political and personal context. Drawing from life will help develop skills and ways of looking. The portfolio consists of sheets of selected work or equivalent and will be marked internally. Sketchbooks will be used throughout. During the summer vacation the pupils can develop a first draft for the evaluative study.
Second Year
The candidate will produce 2 main projects:
- An Evaluative Study based on visits to art galleries and museums will be written, exploring a relevant area of interest. It will be at least 3,500 words with visual analysis and links to practical research.
- The Project is based on an externally set brief which will form a focused, informed and personal investigation using techniques and ideas to create a successful artwork which is assessed externally.
All pupils will have the opportunity to visit museums and galleries including a trip to New York.
University Courses
The Department has a reputation for high standards and pupils have regularly obtained places on Higher Education courses in Art & Design, Architecture and History of Art. Art is also acceptable for entrance to other university courses but may not be accepted as one of three academic subjects for some of the more competitive degree courses. An Art Foundation course is recommended for most pupils who want to continue with Art and Design beyond school.
ART – SHORT COURSE
AQA AS level
Pupils will produce practical and contextual work in one or more areas including: painting, drawing, mixed-media, sculpture, land art, installation, printmaking, film, animation, television, video and photography.
Each pupil will produce a collection of materials which exemplifies work carried out at AS level. This will be carefully presented as a portfolio which will demonstrate a development of personal ideas and the exploration of materials and techniques. The work will also be linked to artists’ works. Exhibitions will be visited and pupils will be expected to write critical reviews and relate the ideas and contexts to their practical work. There is no restriction on the size of the work produced. The work is marked as a whole by the Department.
All pupils will have the opportunity to visit museums and galleries including a trip to New York.
P. Monkman