ART UNIT 3

How to get started?

What is a concept and how do you develop one?
Coming in to Art in Unit 3 can be difficult, regardless of if you have been able to do Unit 1 and 2 Art
coming into a new year after a break can be tricky and overwhelming. The following task is designed to get you started for Outcome 2, Investigation and interpretation through artmaking.
You will be required to produce at least 1 finished artwork; however before you begin to think
about your final artwork you need to develop a conceptual starting point.
What is a concept?
Some dictionary definitions will tell you that a concept is an abstract idea or notion, a plan or
intention or a directly conceived or intuited object of thought. A concept could be a single word; it
could be a phrase, a song lyric, a question, or an idea.
There is no good or bad concept in the sense that as long as it is something you are prepared
to (and want to!) explore further then you have chosen a suitable concept. Try not to be too broad
as you might be stuck trying to tackle something too big.
Remember, a concept is different from a theme. A theme displays something while a concept
explores it.
How to get started:
Seeing as you will be working with this concept over the course of this unit and into unit 4 it might
be a good idea to figure out where your interests lie to help guide you toward your concept.
TASK 1
Write down a response to the following questions:
My favourite films are about:
My favourite song lyrics are:
If I read the newspaper I am mostly interested in reading about:
Art like I enjoy looking at is about:
An issue that makes me really angry is:
I would like to know more about:
I often wonder...
Have a look at your responses above and see if anything jumps out at you, of if you notice
similarities?

ART UNIT 3
Concept Exploration

TASK 2
This task develops your concepts. Select any text that supports your conceptual interests.
Print or write down a whole song, poem or passage from a novel then make art in response in
your sketchbook.
Complete any 2 of these tasks:
a) Use passages/phrases or words to focus on in a text-based art work.
b) Produce a figurative response.
c) Produce a non-figurative abstract piece having reflected upon the text.
d) Select an unusual medium to create an artwork inspired by the language and ideas.
Examples of artists who use text to inform their work: Rosalie Gascoigne/ William Blake / Gordon
Bennett/ Jenny Watson/ Barbara Kruger/ Jenny Holzer/ Vali Myers
TASK 3
Find 3 artworks that interest or intrigue you. Look at artists you have never looked at before. Head
to a local gallery or look at a gallery catalogue online. It doesnt have to be a major museum, you
may find work that interests you at commercial galleries (and their websites) and Artist Run Initiatives (and their websites).
Write a few paragraphs adderessing why the work intregiued you?
Write 500 words analyzing the artwork using the Formal, Contemporary or Personal Framework.
This will refresh your understanding of using the Analytical Frameworks.
Write these responses into your Visual Diary along with a print out of the image.