GCSE Art Equipment – What are Your Options?
Art sounds like an easy option when deciding what GCSE options to take, but now is the time to remove those rose-tinted spectacles.
The contributors of mumsnet.com lament over the realisation that taking Art as a GCSE IS a serious option! They talk of sleepless nights . . . sons & daughters disappearing under copious amounts of course work . . . endless deadlines to meet.
DON’T PANIC!
The two main points for both parents and students are:
- Be Organised – get going on your projects as soon as you get them. Get your parents on board – no, really, they can help with remembering your deadlines and providing your kit . . .
- Have a good quality kit – check the contents every half term
Oh, and a couple of unofficial ones . . . art is subjective, not everyone will like what you produce – Don’t worry about it, but take constructive criticism on board.
Don’t be a perfectionist! If you are, you’ll struggle; art encompasses lots of ideas, but especially in developing your unique interpretation and expression along with recognised techniques.
For additional advice and samples of student work at GCSE level, visit:
http://test.lightboxresource.co.uk/assess/gcse-gce-examples/ You’ll find some inspiring ideas here.
The first place to go to when working out what your son or daughter needs is the school or academy itself. They should be able to provide a list for you to follow.
Before you race down to a discount/99p store – please remember that you really do get what you pay for! As a parent myself (whose son is just about to take GCSE Art) I have made this mistake once, but never again.
For example: There is nothing more frustrating than using a flimsy plastic sharpener that takes chunks out of a cheap pencil with an eternally breaking ‘lead’. What an utter waste of time!
At DesignDirect we can supply and deliver much of what your child needs, from recognised brands that you can rely on.
Here’s a suggested list for you:
As the coursework progresses additional items will need to be purchased along the way, but these items provide a really good base kit to work from.
Best wishes to all of you taking your options and commiserations to all affected parents!