Our approach

The Art Academy was founded with the purpose of benefiting society through art and art education.

Our fundamental principles can be summed up as follows:

CREATIVITY arises from a deep and insightful connection with the world. The artist’s intention determines the means of expression. This intention is what is picked up when the viewer connects with the work. MASTERY is not just within a subject, but is a state of being. Mastery of skills is essential, and mastery of one's self allows creative expression to flow freely. INSPIRATION is vital to society. Great art touches the heart and is therefore a potent force in shaping the foundation of belief, which forms society and determines its wellbeing.

Our aims can be summed up as follows:

To encourage the production of powerful works of art that uplift, unite and inspire the minds and hearts of both artist and audience. •To train individual artists to reach the highest standards of which they are capable. •To provide access to fine art experience for all the community. We believe that creativity and the means to express it are fundamental to the quality of life for everyone, whatever their stage of life or chosen profession. •To foster co-operation between artists, architects, developers and planners to enhance the environments in which our communities live and work.

The assessment criteria set out below are the ones we use in the course of the Diploma programme and they reflect much of our overall ethos.

STUDIO PRACTICE ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The Art Academy uses 6 assessment criteria in 3rd year Studio Practice and the Graduate Show, with equal weighting on each criterion. They are:

Concept

Emotional depth

Creative awareness

Form & function

Craftsmanship/Aesthetic design

Curation/presentation

The criteria are considered in the order shown above. This order follows the natural creative process, which starts inwardly and then finds its expression through form or language. The final artwork is entirely dependent on each step of the creative process. The Concept is the seed idea; it is given substance and depth by its Emotional content; it is allowed to formulate and develop through the Creative awareness of the artist. This then manifests itself through Form and function. The quality and physical attributes of the artwork are developed through Craftsmanship, design and presentation, always with reference back to the artist’s Concept and Emotional Depth.

All aspects are considered crucial to the final effectiveness of any piece of work.

Exploration and honesty are the cornerstones.

Concept

The concept is the seed or starting point. An honest concept is full of potential and holds the essence of its own manifestation.

The concept is the seed idea, the inspiration or starting point. The seed holds within it all the knowledge and quality of the final form. Sometimes this is fully formed; sometimes the artist needs to examine, develop and enquire in order for it to mature. This seed inspiration can be in the form of an idea, a feeling, a revelation, or an understanding. Each seed idea, which is understood or seen in experience by the artist is original, and if portrayed with absolute honesty and skill the final work will also by original, fresh and full of vitality and life. Work made honestly from experience is also far more accessible and contains more depth of meaning than a “clever” concept as it connects with fundamental human experience.

Assessment.

•Honesty

•Clarity

•Independence, imagination and endeavouring to deal with and contribute to core/ fundamental issues, either personal or social.

•Relevance and accessibility to its intended audience.

•Enquiry into the area of interest. This can take many forms from internal reflection to visual exploration to scholarly research; whichever is suitable to the project at each stage of development.

Emotional Depth

As with the analogy of the tree, “the deeper the roots the greater the tree”. The emotional depth works hand in hand with the concept; an idea is just an idea until it means something to us. We all immediately recognise and relate to honesty, real experience and depth of feeling. It makes everything worthwhile.

Assessment

•Enthusiasm, individual application, motivation, passion for the student’s subject matter.

•Depth of personal examination and maturation of the artist’s motives.

•Honesty of expression and examination

•Personal artistic vision.

Creative awareness

The artist’s vision grows within the fertile ground of internal, social, cultural and

environmental conditions. It is helpful for the artist to be aware of and inspired by the context in which they are working. The artist matures and develops internally in three fundamental aspects: energy and vitality fired with continuous enquiry and exploration; strength and support provided by responsiveness, internal discipline and flexibility; development through awareness and mature critique.

Assessment

•Management of and response to social, cultural and environmental conditions

•Self development – through learning their full potential, helping them to help themselves, to be free and unlimited by any internal constraints

•Awareness

•Critique

•Enquiry and exploration

•Consideration of the artist responsibility to themselves, the art world and to society

•Studentship (attendance, helping others, contributing to the community)

Form & Function

The form & function is the point at which the work manifests itself. The style, material, media technique scale etc. chosen are dependent on the artist’s intention for that artwork.

As every artist is different, every concept honestly formed and manifested will be unique. The artist does not need to “try to be different” they just need to be themselves.

The final artwork is not just as an isolated work but portrays the artist’s intention, their state of mind and their skill.

The viewer only sees the process reflected in the exhibited piece, not the process itself, so if the artists intends the viewer to connect with their inspiration, it must be made apparent in the final work.

Assessment:

•Wide and enthusiastic exploration of different forms of expression.

•Evaluation of the use of materials, forms and techniques, and their relationship to the initial intent, even when these elements have been used intuitively

•A naturalness and originality of expression, free from restrictive ideas or limiting habits.

Aesthetic Design and Craftsmanship 

A deep Understanding of Aesthetic design, its application and impact are the essential tools an artist has to communicate their message. Harmony, discord, measure, balance, volume, contrast, line, colour, composition etc. are the artists language, through them they express their meaning. In the area of craftsmanship, what is important is the knowledge, application and execution of techniques, processes & materials, and the formal relationships of these elements in the artwork. Many a great idea has never been expressed, or has lost much of its meaning, through poor craftsmanship and design. Craftsmanship does not only mean traditional, representational forms, it means skill in whatever media, style or technique is chosen. It gives the artist flexibility to create unique, varied and original forms.

Assessment

•Understanding the use of harmony, discord, measure, balance, volume, contrast, line, colour, composition etc.

•Pursuit of elegant technical and aesthetic solutions.

•Sensitive and intelligent use of the senses and quality of sensory experience.

•Knowledge of a range of appropriate techniques, skills, processes & materials.

•Evidence of research into techniques, skills, processes & materials.

Curation / Presentation

The presentation of artwork in an exhibition/public context is integral to the effectiveness of the piece and the whole exhibition. The presentation includes the space, the lighting, the structural support system, the layout of the work and the movement of people through the space, the statement and the label system. All need to be carefully considered to create the desired effect. Presentation here also refers to verbal presentation from the artist about the work; how concise, considered and knowledgeable they are about the context in which they are working. Also, how well their presentation reflects the intention of the artist and adds to the intended experience of the viewer.

Assessment

•Knowledge of the skills appropriate to enable the artist to present their work in a manner that manages to convey the meaning that they wish.

•Varying methods of presenting and curating, demonstrating that the final choice was made out of reflection rather than through lack of time.

•Care and consideration given to the visual presentation & appropriate supporting material if needed (including documentary evidence of site specific work where applicable).

•The artist’s ability to verbally and visually present their work effectively.