Edexcel A level Art exam 2019, Art exam, Variation and Similarity, starting a project

2. LET’S GET
STARTED

3. A Level Fine Art Exam Theme 2019:
Variation and Similarity
Exam Dates:
13th, 14th & 15th May 40%

4. Here is your exam paper…
what now?
1. Read it cover to cover- even other endorsements
2. Look up ALL references, words and practitioners
that you do not know.
3. Highlight what interests you.
4. Make notes, drawings, suggestions for further
research

5. What do you love about Art, Craft, Design,
Photography….Life?
What ideas, media, styles, hopes, ambitions,
injustices have the capacity to motivate you to
action?
Now, forget the exam theme for a moment….

6. Which starting point might facilitate this?
Which one inspires you to make, produce, create,
act….?
What would be the most predictable, stereotypical
responses?
What are the most obvious pinterest, google
images searches?

7. Do you, should you avoid these?
How might you expose or play with
these expectations?

8. List the words connected to the theme- definitions,
synonyms or contrasting terms.
Write 5 big questions / challenging ideas / original
thoughts that respond to, interrogate the theme,
take it by surprise, reveal something deeper…
DISRUPT
EXPECTATION

9. Make connections to your daily routines, weekend
plans, forthcoming opportunities.
How might you provoke a daily response or
purposeful act?
THIS IS THE REAL QUESTION.
(THAT’S WHY IT’S LOUD)
Do you want to be a student
doing an exam or an artist
playing, experimenting,
thinking on your own terms?

10. You being an
artist in this
space
Variation
Your interesting
thinking goes in
this bit
Similarity

11. Variations and Similarities
Task 4: Go to exhibitions. You don’t have to necessarily go to something you think closely ties with the theme- go and find work you enjoy. Check
https://newexhibitions.com/exhibitions/region: Go to exhibitions. You don’t have to necessarily go to something you think closely ties with the theme- go
and find work you enjoy. Check https://newexhibitions.com/exhibitions/region=0: Go to exhibitions. You don’t have to necessarily go to something you
think closely ties with the theme- go and find work you enjoy. Check https://newexhibitions.com/exhibitions/region=0 and
https://www.culturewhisper.com/r/visual_arts/best_art_exhibitions_london_2019/12742
Task 1:
Use the exam paper, dictionaries and a thesaurus to help you create a visual brainstorm for the exam title, ‘Variations and Similarities’. The emphasis is on
the visual so text should be kept to a minimum. We expect drawings, artwork by known artists and found imagery.
Task 2: Variations
Document interior and exterior spaces. Use photography, observational drawing and the written word to, record details, describe light, space, function and
purpose, changes over time and your association with the space. You should look at least three spaces.
Task 3: Similarities
Play yourself at a visual game of word association. Start your game with an object of your choice’ and continue over a least six stages. Each drawing must
be from direct observation and preferably in a different media each time. Fill the page.
Dawn ClementsRachel Whiteread
Pierre BonnardHenri Matisse
John Virtue
Make sure that you complete all set tasks by the first lesson
after half term as these are designed to meet the criteria of the
separate Assessment Objectives:
AO1: ...investigations informed by contextual and other sources,
demonstrating analytical and critical thinking.
AO2: Explore...appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and
processes….
AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions...

12. Variations and Similarities
For example, links may be through pun, theme or visual qualities ( the shoes are red!) etc….
Task 4: Go to exhibitions. You don’t have to necessarily go to something you think closely ties with the theme- go and find work you
enjoy. Check https://newexhibitions.com/exhibitions/region: Go to exhibitions. You don’t have to necessarily go to something you think
closely ties with the theme- go and find work you enjoy. Check https://newexhibitions.com/exhibitions/region=0: Go to exhibitions. You
don’t have to necessarily go to something you think closely ties with the theme- go and find work you enjoy. Check
https://newexhibitions.com/exhibitions/region=0 and https://www.culturewhisper.com/r/visual_arts/best_art_exhibitions_london_2019/12742
Task 1:
Use the exam paper, dictionaries and a thesaurus to help you create a visual brainstorm for the exam title, ‘Variations and Similarities’. The
emphasis is on the visual so text should be kept to a minimum. We expect drawings, artwork by known artists and found imagery.
Task 2: Variations
Document interior and exterior spaces. Use photography, observational drawing and the written word to, record details, describe light, space,
function and purpose, changes over time and your association with the space. You should look at least three spaces.
Task 3: Similarities
Play yourself at a visual game of word association. Start your game with an object of your choice’ and continue over a least six stages. Each
drawing must be from direct observation and preferably in a different media each time. Fill the page.
Dawn ClementsRachel Whiteread
Pierre BonnardHenri Matisse
John Virtue