Diploma in Fine Arts

Purpose

To provide the qualifying learner with the opportunity to develop and refine the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a successful career in fine art, with specialisation in printmaking, painting or drawing. The learner will be able to use this qualification as a basis for professional or commercial fine art in a diverse range of creative, industry and media contexts, including the creation and contribution of works of art to our country's multi-cultural art heritage.

The learner will obtain a foundational knowledge of business, marketing and project management skills to facilitate self -employment and freelancing opportunities within an arts context.

Rationale

In order to create opportunities for individuals with an artistic and creative flair, wishing to apply their creative skills in entering the job market in the field of arts and design, the diploma in fine art provides a suitable background and knowledge base to enhance employability, and provide a means for creative personal expression.

• Proficiency in the language of instruction.
• Grade 12 or equivalent.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Learners who have completed their first year at an accredited institution may apply for RPL based on the body of work completed in that first year, to determine whether they have sufficient and relevant experience in fine art to be successful in the Ruth Prowse program.

They will be evaluated through the use of interviews and a portfolio consisting of the learner's own, recent work.

When evaluating prior learning, the following is taken into consideration

Potential for media applicability and compositional skill. Potential for concept and idea building. Potential for creative and artistic expression. Communication through the medium.

Admission is based on submission of at least five own works and an interview.

The learner will be able to

1. Critically analyse art and art history, and evaluate the evolution of artistic expression and applied art.

• Range: sequential analysis of western history of art from pre-historic to modern, evaluation of evolution of artistic expression, visual literacy, art terminology, evaluation of well-known artists and their work.

1. Explore and describe the fundamentals of visual principles which underlie visual communication in any form.

• Range: size, space, dimensions, composition, proportion, texture, tone, technique, observation, contour, mood, styling, grid-form, colour theory and interpretation.

1. Demonstrate the ability to develop a creative process from concept to final execution of a piece of art.
2. Demonstrate the ability to use a diversity of media, materials, principles and integrate various methods, styles and materials to create a complete visual concept.

• Range: basics of graphic design, photography, jewellery design.

1. Explore & develop own preferences in media and method, and thereby conceptualise and produce an individual and cohesive body of work.
2. Create a personal body of work or portfolio, and use this for exhibition purposes.

• Range: project management of exhibition, including intention, time restraint, execution, location, invitations, selection of work, invitation of media, pricing of work, framing and refreshments.

1. Demonstrate the ability to master technical and creative challenges in the creation of artworks.
2. Develop a visual vocabulary and visual literacy, based on an understanding of art history and art principles, methodologies and theories, and apply this in a critique of own and others' artworks.
3. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in figure drawing.

• Range: translation and interpretation of subject, range of media and drawing applications, rendition and interpretation of the human body, the accurate translation of a 3-dimensional form to a 2-dimensional surface.

1. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in object drawing.

• Range: variety of materials, media, a wide range of natural and man-made objects, the accurate translation of a 3-dimensional form to a 2-dimensional surface.

1. Demonstrate the ability to use two-dimensional media in creation of artworks.

• Range: acrylic paints, oils, collages, paste, glue, natural materials.

1. Demonstrate the ability to use print-making methods in the creation of art works.

• Range: photomechanical, relief (woodcuts, wood engraving), intaglio (engraving, etching, aquatint, drypoint, mezzotint), planographic (lithography), monotype, stencil, printmaking terms, printmaking history.

1. Describe and discuss a knowledge of the history of cultural studies to provide a structure and historical framework within which to place developments in art and the applied arts and use this as a basis to advance critiqueing skills.

• Range: western history (Europe, America, South Africa) of art from pre-historic to modern - evaluation of patterns of development in response to culture (social, political, religious, gender, philosophical elements, music, literature comparisons, art movements.

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of business and professional practice within a business-related fine art and design context.

• Range: planning and prioritising, project management, marketing self and work, marketing of ideas, combining text and image to be saleable, researching target market, the South African market, creating saleable art, exhibitions.

1. Demonstrate the ability to apply research methodology within the framework of fine art theory and technique.

• Range: data retrieval, referencing work, demonstrate the ability to perform thematic and market research for a specified target, respond to a brief to produce specified art piece.

Critical cross-field outcomes

Developing entrepreneurial abilities

• Demonstrate foundational knowledge of business, marketing and project management skills to facilitate self -employment and freelancing opportunities within the industry.
• Project manage exhibition of own work, including selecting and marketing saleable pieces of work.

The use of Science and Technology

• Demonstrate understanding and safe use of chemicals, tools and processes within a jewellery design, photographic or printmaking framework.

Working with others

• In addition to individual input learners are also expected to develop group interaction skills through the completion of assignments in group context. The practical exposure to group dynamics will be utilised effectively in the promotion of a culture of teamwork often expected in employment situations.

Communication

• Skills to communicate visually, orally and in a written context.

Problem solving

• Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made.

Organising and managing oneself

• Organisational and planning skills are developed in the management and execution of progamme related activities.
• Sound time-management skills and creative production on an individual basis as well as having the ability to work within a team.

Critical thinking skills

• The creative identification and solution of problems by the use of research, organisation and the evaluation of relevant information.
• Learners are required to apply knowledge gained in practical scenarios linked to programme content in order to promote initiative and problem-solving skills in the workplace.

Understanding the world as a set of related systems

• The foundation in visual art, art history and exposure to a wide variety of media and methodologies which are used as a base to promote critical and creative thinking processes, also contribute to the ability to integrate widely varied visual media in a fine art context.
• The integration and consolidation of a diversity of subjects into a comprehensive body of knowledge.

Assessment of all theory and practical work is integrated and occurs formatively and summatively in the following manner:

• Integrated assessment will occur throughout the year - based on evaluation of learner projects. These include theoretical and practical work.
• Practical work is judged on specific assessment criteria (skill, concept, realisation of concept, professional practice and presentation).
• Theoretical assessments are ongoing through written projects, and there is one major theory essay allocated per quarter.
• A mid-year assessment and moderation process occurs in June. The body of work from January to June is assessed by the entire teaching staff and evaluated using the agreed criteria. Marks are allocated and averaged.
• Summative assessments occur in November, and involve the final evaluation the body of work created during the training year. An exam is written and the body of work evaluated.