GCSE Art, or to give it the full title, Art and Design, is an excellent course that can give the budding artist a fantastic grounding in their chosen subject. Made up of a coursework element and an examination element, the course will focus on all aspects of art and design. For your coursework you can choose to create a portfolio of original work based on Fine Art, Textiles, Photography, Graphic Design or Three Dimensional design. So there is plenty of scope to be unique and find an area that suits you best.
You will look at how to use different mediums, whether you are drawing or painting, creating a collage, or sculpting, and many schools have workshops where they bring in a local artist, which can be an excellent experience and a chance to learn from an expert. You need to gain an understanding of composition and case study many examples of other artists work, seeing whether you understand their composition, whether you enjoy the art or whether you feel it s missing something.
There is an examination at the end of the course which determines 40% of your overall mark. However, it is not a paper based exam; it is made up of a ten hour slot where you must create work in examination conditions, normally done in 2 hour slots. You will be prepared in advance so don’t panic, but remember that this is your chance to shine in an area of your choice.