Visual Arts is one of those subjects that is hard-but-not-hard. For me, I viewed Visual Arts as a space for exploration and creativity, while I still procrastinated until the last minute—I was either overloaded, or my mind was blank.
If you take IGCSE Visual Arts (like I did), IB is the upgraded version. In short, IB Visual Arts is a thought-provoking subject that contains 3 main components: Process Portfolio, Comparative Study, and Exhibition. The following are some tips to make the most out of your learning of these components:
1. Choose Visual Arts for the right reason
Please make sure you choose Visual Arts because you are interested in the Arts. While you will not have a final exam, your exhibition can be time-consuming. Additionally, this subject requires a lot of creativity and patience to complete all the 3 components. If you are now realizing you were interested in IB Arts for the wrong reasons, check out this guide on how to select IB subjects!
2. Keep learning and learning
The first few weeks of school can sometimes be overwhelming, as you haven’t fully understood how the course works. Observing exhibitions is a great option to kick off the course while enhancing your art knowledge, so don’t be afraid to visit galleries and speak to the curator about your interest in art! You may learn something new, ranging from useful academic vocabulary for your comparative study to artwork analysis techniques that the curator used to organize an exhibition.
If you can’t find any exhibition in the current moment, you can also discuss your problems with senior art students or the IBlieve Community. Having the chance to talk and discuss your chosen object and ideas for your exhibition will help you a lot in developing creativity and critical thinking throughout your IB journey.
3. Trial and error
Just like any other subject, Visual Arts requires students to step out of their comfort zone and be ready to fail. Process portfolio is where you exhibit all your trial and errors, explaining where your initial idea came from and its development over time. It is really important that you display all your failure, including learning points, as it presents strong evidence of your development towards the final piece. In addition, your creativity contributes to every single decision you make towards your final piece, from medium to techniques. Therefore, if you feel a bit overwhelmed, leave some space for your mind to relax and recover before continuing.
It is absolutely normal to feel blank during your process of exploration. But as more blanks appear, you might create something unexpectedly amazing. Remember that the IB trains progressive learners and out-of-the-box thinkers, so enjoy your IB life to fullest with Art!