IB Arts Independent Study

IB Arts Independent Study

Congrats! You’ve completed the first part of the IB Arts Program where Miss Raquel assigned you with a project theme! Think of the first 6 months of the IB Arts program as “training wheels” for the introduction and development of art projects, workbooks and expectations.

Before this trimester is over, we will work together to get you ready for Independent Study!

What is Independent Study in IB ARTS?

·  Independent study allows the student to work independently to a create body of work related to their interests.

·  Typically a student and professor or teacher agrees upon a topic for the student to research with guidance from the instructor.

·  Independent studies provide a way for well-motivated students to pursue a topic of interest that does not necessarily fit into a traditional academic curriculum.

·  They are a great way for students to learn specialized material or gain research experience.

·  Independent studies provide students opportunities to explore their interests deeper and make important decisions about how and where they will direct their talents in the future.

1.  In your own words, write a short description of what Independent Study is….

Project Reflection

Reflect back on your previous work for the past 6 months. If you look closely you will see a common element in all of your projects, it’s doesn’t matter what the project theme was: Food & Culture, Nature Art or Line.

You have a way of creating and expressing your work. This could be a certain material you prefer working with or style (for example, Nils and spattering paint).

2.  Write a short reflection (2-3 paragraphs) of the work you have produced since the start of the program. Describe any common element that appears in your body of work. If you need help, ask me!

Theme

What does this mean?

To create meaningful art an artist needs to find a theme or topic with which they have a strong personal link. At this point in your IB course your theme can be broad and cover a wide range of subject matter (NATURE, MAN MADE, FASHION, BEAUTY etc.) but it needs to be personally linked toYOUthe artist.

Think about what interests you. What fascinates you? What are you passionate about?

Some examples themes/motifs that you could choose from (but you are strongly encouraged to develop your own):

Metamorphosis– life cycles, change, alteration, transfiguration, mutation

Music– sound, making tone visible, music culture, what do music and art have in common?

Dance– movement, rhythm, repetition, physicality, meaning in gesture

Legend/mythology– ancient, primitive, modern, stories, archetypes, moral lessons, religion, ritual, social obligations

Nature vs. Science– current issues (bioethics) technology, how do we understand the world?Our place in the universe, limits of scientific knowledge, art and science, Cubism, Futurism, Orphism, etc.

Myself- diary, memories, esteem, place in the world, pride, shame, family, heritage, ethnicity, self-portrait, friends, loves, enemies.

Gender issues– male & female, role in society, in family, in evolution.Advantages/disadvantages of being one or the other.Stereotypes, cultural roles, sexuality, gender in politics, gender reversal.

Scale– close-up/magnified, objects blown out of proportion, large vs. miniscule, other worlds of scale, space, positive/negative, color and texture.

Other worlds– underwater, space, extraterrestrial, microscopic, imagination, computer/virtual world.

Animals– other life, instinctual, life cycles of, physical/spiritual power in, ecology, animals as symbols, cultural associations with animals.

Art and the senses– ways of knowing, art that smells, tastes, feels, etc.

Cryptography– art as code, codes in life, symbols, signs, text, sense in nonsense, order, mathematics, key to understanding.

God/religion– creation, destruction, judgment, what is holy? Role of religion in society, metaphysics, personal sense of god, mercy, forgiveness, justification, sin, sacrifice.

Graphics– use of line, color and composition to create a graphic identity, advertising, mass media, manipulation of imagery, the (blurred) line between what reality and the graphic representation.

Human anatomy– body, muscle, bone, skin, weight distribution, issues of beauty and human body, use/abuse of the body, skin (color?), aging, disease.

Dreams– meaning, analysis, associations, truth in, the bizarre, wish-fulfillment, imagery, Surrealism, the subconscious, Sigmund Freud.

Chance– allowing chance to dictate art, automatic drawing, theExquisite Corpse, Surrealism, Dadaism, kinetic art, image association.

Emotion– human feelings, expression, knowledge through emotion, emotional situations, culture and emotions, controlled/uncontrolled emotions, conveying emotion, color, line and shape and emotions, Expressionism, Fauvism, Abstraction.

Collection/series– repetition, repeated objects, objects in a series, objects that share something in common, distant vs. close relationships between objects, association.

Beauty/ugliness– what defines these?What constitutes the appealing or the repulsive?Manipulating materials so that they take on appealing/repulsive qualities.

Architectural renderings-showing (exploring) the interior and exterior space with a strong focus on light, perspective and structure

3.  List your top THREE topics that you’re interested in. Provide a short 3-5 sentences explaining what aspect of you’re interested in.

For example: Dreams – I’m interested in the meaning behind dreams, what do they represent? Do they start with the conscience or unconscious? I often dream that I’m missing a tooth, which seems to be common to many people. It is said that a missing tooth is a sign of anxiety, transition or uncertainly. I remember dreaming about this before I moved from Chicago to Costa Rica in 2011. I was nervous about the unknown. No job, no apartment, no friends, new country. It was waaaaay out of my comfort zone!

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4.  Email this worksheet to Miss Raquel

After you have read and completed the 3 questions on this worksheet, please email me the sheet at

5.  Brainstorm on your sketchbook!

I want you to dedicate some thought and time into your sketchbook. Put on your headphones and swing on the hammock outside – write down any ideas and themes you may have for your Independent Project! I want to see at least 2 pages of what it could be.

6.  Teacher-Student 1 on 1 (WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4th)

We’re meeting 1 on 1 first thing after our 3-day weekend. You should have all the required steps completed by this time. We have to work together to meet the IB ARTS project deadline. You don’t have to have an exact project in mind for the 1 on 1, we can develop it together but you should have some ideas to present.

Independent Study REMINDERS

It’s time to step up and demonstrate to the IB Arts committee that you’re artistically growing and putting more time and thought into your work and sketchbook. Remember…

·  Sketchbooks must have date and page number on each page

·  Use black or blue ink pen when writing

·  Sketchbooks must have text, works cited, images, and sketches

·  Sketchbook must contain the following:

-  Introduction page (1 page)

-  Brainstorming page (2 pages)

-  At least 2 Artist Reference Pages (1 page each)

-  Process Page (2-pages)

-  Final Project/Reflection Page (include pictures)

Rock on, Student!