Brief description

Module Title: PORTFOLIO 4: PAINT-DIRECTED PRACTICE

Academic Year: 2002/3

Co-ordinator: John Harvey

Other Staff: None

Semester:   1

Course Delivery: Lectures: 0 hr
Seminars: 0 hr
Tutorials: 5 x 1/2 hrs
Workshops: 0 hrs
   Practicals: 11 x 17.5 hrs

Assessment   Portfolio: 100%

Brief Description
The module stands in relation to AR30130 Exhibition 1 and AR30620 Research in Practice. AR30130 emphasises the production of a body of related and resolved works for public display and AR30620 focuses on the ideational aspects of art making – the processes, systems, frameworks, and precedents governing practical activity. This module concentrates on developing an experimental approach to production through paint. In contrast to AR30130, the works do not necessarily have to be resolved or brought into a condition suitable for exhibition. More importantly, you should seek to manifest inquiry, the application and testing of an hypothesis (be that conceptual and/or technical), demonstrate the your knowledge of cognate practice and their ability to adopt or adapt such to your work, an improvement of acquired skills, and evidence of a willingness to risk failure. In the context of the module:

· Portfolio is understood as a) a body of related course work that is not primarily intended for exhibition but, nevertheless, accessible for external audit. The quantity of work is not stipulated. Of greater importance is the quality of conception and execution. However, the portfolio should reflect an intensity and commitment to work identifiable with the hours assigned for practicals and reading. The work should personal, individual, systematic, experimental, boundary-challenging response to subject matter; and b) accompanied by evidence of a self-directed reading program (bibliography). The reading programme must genuinely inform your understanding of the historical and contemporary contexts for your work, and how your work relates to such.
· Painting is understood as either the exclusive, or predominant, or co-extensive medium of articulation (for example, either in a pure form or in combination with photographic processes). The activity may be addressed to either a flat-plane or a structured configuration by way of either conventional or innovative methods, materials, and supports. In short, you must define what painting is in the context of your work.
· Experimentation is understood as the act of testing hypotheses and making trial of conjecture. It may involve following hunches, making mistakes, being audacious, imitating an existing technique or style with the view of learning from it, and discovering the limits of medium, supports, tools, and methods. Most important is that you develop an experimental attitude, and learn from the outcomes of your experiment (in order to avoid or repeat such outcomes).

These approaches are not peculiar to this module but underline all critical artistic activity. The module simply makes you very self-conscious of these approaches, so that you may improve them. Ultimately, quality is the paramount consideration. No amount of self-awareness, conceptualisation, and good working methodology will make up for deficiencies in the artwork.

Syllabus
The syllabus represents a suggested programme of work. It is given as a general guide for student and tutor. It need not be maintained rigidly; indeed, it may be superseded by a very different programme agreed between the two parties. What is important is that some form of schedule is developed so that a body of work that fulfils the aims and Outcomes of the module is produced within the allotted time.

Tutorial 1 (Weeks 1-2)
Stage 1: Defining the area of study in terms of subject matter, materials, skills, approach (stylistic and/or theoretical), and relevant sources.

Tutorial 2 (Weeks 3-4)
Stage 2: Testing and development of the above and, if appropriate, devising alternative subject matter and operational strategies.

Tutorial 3 (Weeks 5-7)
Stage 3: Development of the successful subject matter and operational strategies.

Tutorial 4 (Weeks 8-10)
Stage 4: Consolidation of the successful subject matter and operational strategies.

Tutorial 5 (Week 11)
Stage 5: Consolidation of the successful subject matter and operational strategies, and reflection on achievement.

VACATION
Stage 6: Implementation of outcome of reflection and preparation of portfolio for presentation.

Assessment (Weeks 12-15)
Assessment Tutorial: Presentation of portfolio and discussion.

Pre-Requisites
AR10120, AR10220, AR21310, and AR20220 or AR20230

Co-Requisites
AR30620

Incompatibilities
AR31220, AR30920, AR30720. Not available in Single Hons Art History, and Single Hons Art History with Fine Art.

Skill Development
The module will assist the development of the following transferable skills:
· Self-directed study -- through the production and submission of a completed portfolio of work (including preparatory)
· IT and information handling –- N/A
· Writing in an academic context –- N/A
· Oral skills -- in the context of individual and assessment tutorials
· Careers Awareness –- N/A
· Self-management -- through a series of one-to-one tutorials in which the principles of matching a program of work to a fixed period of time are imparted. The student’s success in this respect is measured by the extent to which the program of work was completed within the prescribed time.
· Group activity –- in the context of studio seminars

Assessment
Component
A portfolio of work and preparatory studies (100%).

Conditions
You must be resubmit the failed component in the form of a portfolio of additional, new work.

Brief Bibliography
You are expected to read books and journals relevant to their field of study.

Aims
The module should enable you to:
A. develop a productive, individual, and imaginative interpretation of subject matter within a defined framework
B. develop methodological and diagnostic approach to image making
C. acquire the requisite conceptual, technical, and methodological coherence, and stylistic sophistication
D. acquire the requisite cognisance and research of practical, theoretical, and historical debates relevant to the work
E. take risks, push boundaries, and experiment
F. work within self-imposed deadlines

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module you are expected to be able to:
1. conceive and systematically explore a self-directed program of inquiry leading to a body of work demonstrating personal and individual inquiry (Aims: A, B)
2. appropriately posit your work in the context of historical and contemporary art practice and ideas and develop a scheme of reading appropriate (Aims: B, C, D)
3. execute work of a professional standard (Aims: A, D, E, F)
4. test hypotheses, and confidently explore a range of possible strategies and outcomes of action (Aims: C, E)
5. produce a body of work that is able to be developed and refined further in the context of AR30130 Exhibition 1 (Aims: A, B, C, F)

Relation to Assessment
Outcomes 1-5 are assessed through the Portfolio.