Art Department

Introduction to Art

 

The Art department is an environment that is constantly humming with activity. In free periods and at lunchtimes, pupils are welcome at all times to participate in a range of clubs and work on their own projects. A culture of positivity is generated by the highly skilled, multi-disciplined staff.

Pupils are taught a wide variety of media based skills throughout their Art education. The ‘can do’ attitude that we engender is possible because of this wide opportunity with different media and the staff within the department. The ability to paint or draw well does not exclude pupils who are not as able, they usually find an undiscovered talent with photography, ceramics, jewellery, print making, textiles or sculpture.

Pupils very quickly cease to use the words "I can’t do art!"

 

Curriculum

Four main areas make up any art project from Years 7 – 13:

Observation: this means collecting relevant images, photographs and drawings relating to a given or chosen theme. A good photograph taken by a pupil is as valuable as a good drawing. Images from the internet can be used but are regarded as secondary sources. However, it is of much more value to use observations created by the pupil themselves.

Critical study: each project is underpinned by a critical reference or study. This means researching an artist or style of art that would relate to the project. Pupils are encouraged to make their own opinions on the work they are researching and elements of this research will blend into their own work as the project progresses. Often in senior classes pupils will use multiple studies to underpin and inform a project.

Development: pupils combine elements of their observed work and critical studies to create a series of studies or models towards the creation of a final idea which they will then realise as a Final Piece. Also within this stage pupils will investigate a range of media and techniques especially as they progress into the senior years.

Final piece: the last part of the project that is either hung on the wall or placed in a cabinet. The final piece is arrived at after working through all of the first three elements. In some cases at GCSE and A-Level, pupils will produce multiple final pieces, selecting one as the actual crowning product and making the others pieces development work.

 

Key Stage 3

All pupils gain a wide skill base with a wide range of media and methods. This allows them to enter GCSE with confidence in both project process and their skills. In the Upper 4 pupils are taken through a project that mirrors an approach similar to GCSE and develops independent learning skills. Work is differentiated and pupils in pairs or small groups develop projects which they direct in media of their choice. Lunchtime clubs allow pupils to use the pottery wheels and more specialist textiles equipment and processes.

Key Stage 4

We currently follow the edexcel syllabus for Art and Design. Pupils start their GCSE years with a summer project that leads them into their first piece of coursework. This project although themed, allows each pupil to begin developing their own individual approach to the given topic. Each pupil will be provided with critical studies relevant to them through individual discussion with their teacher. Deadlines are agreed and students are encouraged to work independently at home on the supporting studies. At school, pupils develop their abilities with various media and produce the final pieces for their coursework projects. In addition to our very well resourced department, a cutting edge Imac computer with Creative Suite 4 was kindly funded by our parents association and our students are now using it to create very professional photography and graphics related projects.

 

Key Stage 5

At Key Stage 5 pupils are encouraged to enhance their adventurous and enquiring approach that they would have developed during GCSE. Successful students will be self motivated, disciplined, unafraid of trying out new methods and ideas. Each pupil will have up to three different Art staff teaching them throughout the week and there is an expectation that pupils will spend some of their study periods working on their art. Life drawing courses are encouraged and specialist materials are bought in for specific project needs.

If pupils undertake A2 level study they are given their own area in the Upper 6 studio. They are able to leave their work out and pin up work in progress. Pupils who continue onto foundation are helped to produce a portfolio and pupils are usually successful each year with acceptance onto their choice of foundation course.

 

Art Galleries

A2 Gallery

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AS Gallery

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GCSE Gallery

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Extra Curricular Activities

Clubs

The art department offers a wide range of clubs that are designed to cater for a range of interests. Ceramics, textiles and photography clubs are all on offer and in addition, the department is always open at lunchtimes for pupils to work on their various projects.

 

Trips

Each year our Lower 5 Art group spend the day at Kew Gardens taking part in an art workshop and also producing artwork in their sketchbooks.

Kew Gardens is the perfect venue to start the second half of the GCSE course and all of the pupils involved are able to see the multitude of flora from around the world and work directly from it. In addition to drawing, each pupil uses their digital cameras to record the day and as you can see from the fantastic photography, they have a great eye for composition.

The trip is always very successful and every moment is focussed on generating new ideas and solid book work that contributes towards the pupils’ GCSE work.

This year, in addition to independent work, we were fortunate to work with Kew’s resident artist, Stuart Simlar who tailored his time with the pupils to fit in exactly with the project set at school. The pupils undertook a variety of tasks that included quick sketches, continuous line drawings and investigations into negative space. The quality of the pupils work and their approach prompted Mr Simlar to ask if their work could be included on the Kew website and we have been happy to oblige. 

 

Events

Arts Festival

This year for the first time all of the Arts departments at Freemen’s came together for two days in June to hold ‘Arts Festival’. The purpose of which was to bring together the Lower and Upper 4, encouraging them to interact and create work based on a theme that would culminate in a performance at the end of the second day.

The theme was Pepys Diary and the groups focussed on The Great Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of 1666. The pupils chose either Art, Drama or Music. The working environment that was created by the pupils was very positive and everyone was on task.

We were fortunate to have the Artist Sam Jeffereys working with the Art based pupils for both days. He had a great expressive influence on all of the work that was produced and at the end of the first day an enthused Lizzie Johnson in Upper 4 commented “It’s been brilliant, I want to do this every day”. Two large canvases were completed in half the expected time and it was decided that a contemporary London scene that was on fire would have much more visual impact. In addition to the canvases, other art groups produced sculptures relating to the Artist Naum Gabo and the Great Plague. A large chaotically decorated Plague Doctor was created and loomed over a grotesquely coloured victim. Another group produced a doorway covered in red crosses and portrayed a trapped man inside who was unable to leave. A flotilla of ships was produced to illustrate the fleet that sailed on the Netherlands and parts of Pepys’ office were also constructed.

The Music department divided into three groups. They either learnt a series of songs illustrating the horrors of the events, created soundscapes digitally from scratch, or provided instrumental accompaniment for the whole performance at the end of day two.

The two drama groups provided a visual spectacular through a combination of contemporary and conventional methods, reproducing the atmosphere and apocalyptic events that took place.

The culmination of the whole festival was a performance that incorporated every pupil’s efforts over the two previous days. To watch the Lower and Upper 4 in action over the two days, steering and developing the event as it progressed was very rewarding.

 

Art Exhibition

The Private View of the Art Exhibition is held in June of work from Upper 5, Lower 6 and Upper 6 Art students. Members of the school community and the public are invited to view the work on display.

 

Latest News

Gifted and Talented? Yes!

On Saturday 6th March, professional artists exhibited for the first time at City of London Freemen’s school. The schools Livery Room became the perfect setting to show the excellent work produced by Sam Jefferys and Rob Sollis (pictured with Mr Time Rees, Head of Art at the school). Both artists have worked with pupils in the school and have bought a great degree of inspiration to many of them, influencing their work and giving them confidence. The show was open to the public and many people came in to view the work on display. Several pieces were sold throughout the day and a proportion of the profits went to the charity Shelterbox.

Mr Tim Rees, Head of Art at the school commented: "The exhibition was the first of its kind at Freemen’s and everyone involved enjoyed the show. We are looking forward to producing another exhibition in a few months and showing off the talents of our Photography students and Geoff Coates, a local professional photographer."

 

Well-Known Artist Working in the School

We are very fortunate to have Robert Sollis working in the Art department throughout the Spring Term. Rob is a very respected contemporary ceramist and has sold work across the world. In the UK, among other venues, he has exhibited at Libertys in London and the Victoria and Albert museum.

 

During Rob’s time at Freemen’s he hopes to create new work and impart some of his expertise to pupils who are practicing ceramics. Rob is also holding a selling exhibition at the school on 6th March with Sam Jefferys, a highly talented London based artist who will be helping to create backdrops for the upcoming production ‘Smike’. To view a wide range of work from both Artists look at www.rob-sollis.co.uk and www.samjefferys.net

 

Our students are some of the best in the country

The Department was delighted to find out in October that some of our students were amongst the highest scoring in the country at both A2 and GCSE levels. Kelly Lim scored 100% at A2 level and was therefore of course one of the top performers of the 5000 entries. At GCSE level, Claire Humphreys, Mark Izatt, Harriet Newhouse, and Jenkin Van Zyl were amongst the highest scoring candidates out of almost 9000 entries in the country. Mr Tim Rees, Head of Art, said: "I am naturally delighted. These accolades are testament to the hard work, dedication and talent shown by these pupils, and I congratulate them all".

 

The Writing's not on the Wall, the Drawings are!

Lower 6 students are in the process of producing a 14 metre long mural in the Junior School playground. This has been developed from drawings done by Form 1 pupils relating to their favourite past times, and has been combined with the art of Friedrich Hundertwasser. The master design was created by Hannah Davies, currently in Upper 6.

 

Snap Shot of Success

In a National photography competition run by The Royal Bank of Scotland in March, Rebecca Vinter from the Upper 6 achieved first place for her response to the competition theme of ‘emotion’. Rebecca received a state-of-the-art camera as her prize and her image will be used by the Bank.

Tim Rees the Head of Art at Freemen’s said: “I am very proud of Rebecca and very pleased that she has managed to accomplish such an accolade. Photography is a developing area within the Art Department at the School and Rebecca’s achievement highlights the quality of the work being produced. I am confident that we will see plenty of success with photography from the younger years as they progress through the school”.

 

Academic Results in 2009

All students created very strong portfolios which showed a diverse range of approaches and techniques.

A Level: 11 pupils were entered. Seven attained a grade A, and four attained grade B.

Two of the Upper 6 students received unconditional offers to study on a one year Art Foundation Course, and one A2 Level student achieved 100% and a certificate of achievement from the exam board.

AS Level: Seven pupils were entered. Six attained grade A, and one attained grade B.

GCSE Level: 17 pupils were entered. Eight attained grade A*, five attained grade A, three attained a grade B, and one attained a grade C.

76% of GCSE candidates gained an A* or an A. Four Upper 5 pupils achieved 100% and a certificate of achievement from the exam board. and 1 pupil at A2 achieved the same accolade.

 

Staff within the Department

Mr Tim Rees joined the school as Head of Department in September 2008. His background is rooted in ceramics and the studio pottery heritage of Britain. Strongly influenced by the ethic of ‘well made and affordable’ he strives to create ceramics to be used everyday. Prior to Freemens, Mr Rees spent three years as teacher of Art and Design at Caterham School. In addition to his teaching he has strong links with various makers and writes on occasion for Ceramic Review.

Mrs Lucy Crouch is currently teaching full-time covering Mrs Houseman’s maternity leave. Previously she was teaching part-time within the department. Her specialism is printmaking and her own most recent work uses silkscreen printing and woodcuts.

Ms Ginny Humphreys, a Theatre Design postgraduate, lived in France for ten years before returning to the UK to join the teaching profession with 18 years experience as a freelance designer and teacher in a variety of professional and educational environments throughout the UK and France. Ms Humphreys has professional experience in theatre, dance, TV and film including work with the Royal Opera House, National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Unicorn Theatre for children and BBC TV. She works part-time at Freemen’s and continuing personal projects include producing hand tufted rugs and various costume design commissions. Ms Humphreys is also an external moderator for Art and Design GCSE for EDEXCEL.

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