Art at Ashton Sixth Form College

ART at ASHTON SIXTH FORM COLLEGE

Watch our latest video here : 

https://youtu.be/E0sJ2u26iic

40 years of design culture...

2020 has undoubtedly been the most memorable year in a long while ...and as a design student its crucial to know about design history , culture & society - but where to start ? 

Creative Review have pulled together the most important (in its view..) of the last 40 years including MTV, the "like a girl" campaign and Fleabag. See what you would have added in or left out . Twin Peaks would be out for me - several hours of my life I won't get back. And if you haven't seen Fleabag, do. 

https://www.creativereview.co.uk/40-creative-moments-that-changed-culture/

WORK EXPERIENCE at the BBC !

https://www.bbc.co.uk/careers/work-experience

CELEBRATE ...!

What if.....

Results are almost here again . But what if ...

• I get the grades !! - Whooppee, celebrate !!  or.......
• I just miss out on the Grades for my Art Uni choice ? 

Firstly, check your UCAS account & its status. Many Unis won't update their offers until the friday (which is an awful wait I know...but breathe..) . If the offer has been withdrawn as you didn't meet the grade, ring the admissions team to check & talk to them. They may offer you a place on a parallel course, or they may ask you back for a further interview. 

IF you really can't get to your first choice, check your insurance choice. It could turn out to be the best thing..after all you liked the course enough to choose it as the insurance.  

Check clearing (check even before the results are out as lists are published already). Be open minded and ring the Unis to speak to them about the course content. Email your course tutors for advice. 

Please remember that there are no Art "re-marks" for A'level . 

• What if......I get the grades but change my mind ...? 

Ask why you've changed your mind ...

Are you just nervous (that's normal ). Breathe and talk to your parents / friends / other people who have been through the same journey. 

Have you been working and earning money over summer & you feel this is the way to go ? If you are serious about this, maybe you can "defer" your course for a year to give you breathing space ? Ring the Uni & ask their advice.

• What if I didn't apply to Uni & I really now want to go ? 

Firstly, move fast ! Check the Uni course & decide which ones will be suitable . Ring them & find out what their admissions policy is . You will need to go through clearing but you could always apply as a late admission to a Foundation course and then go to Uni next year. 

Prep a portfolio (if its an Art course) & check your Personal Statement. Ask the Uni if you can come & show them your work...be cheeky !

Have a look at this link to a website by Jack Beech (ASFC Art foundation) which shows the fantastic wearable structures project , students took part in recently. 

https://asfcartf1718.wixsite.com/wearablestructures

Colour Thesaurus

By popular demand , here is a colour thesaurus - please see the original version on the link below - thanks to Ingrid Sundberg for this. 

http://ingridsundberg.com/2014/02/04/the-color-thesaurus/

FREE Workshop for Art students

Yes,I know we've only just finished for summer but here is a date for Autumn - the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield (That's Yorkshire..) are offering FREE masterclass workshops for students run by the gallery artists and helped by Leeds College of Art students.
This would be hugely valuable to any art student - book a place now for the Oct or Feb half term event. Please bear in mind that if you book and then cancel, you will be charged.
The link is below :

Masterclasses for A2 students Portfolios FREE !!

 "Are you a student interested in developing your art and design skills outside of school? Sign up and take part in a practical workshop delivered by The Hepworth Wakefield aritsts in partnership with Leeds College of Art."

Create your own typeface !

A quick & creative way to create your own design of font - from digital or hand rendered method - register free at the website below & download the template - digitally or print a hard copy.

Add your own character in your font to each box & upload - then "build" your font & upload for use on photoshop, Word etc.


https://www.calligraphr.com/

Library opening times during easter holidays

Take a look at @asfclibrary's Tweet: https://twitter.com/asfclibrary/status/846644821783724032?s=09

The Art Department staff in their splendour for World Book Day

(The Mad Hatter, Lewis Carol, THe Cheshire Cat#1, The Cheshire Cat #2, The Red Queen & The White Rabbit.

The Sketched world

"Even in this highly digitized world, the stereotype of an artist always carrying a sketchbook around is still very much alive. And then there are creatives who take the doodles in their journal to the next level, making their sketchbooks into handheld art exhibitions.

Most of the creative types would tell you that their journals are way more personal that the finished result one sees in the exhibitions. See, a sketchbook for an artist is like a visual diary of sorts, where they get to freely express themselves. Or simply document the things that inspire them throughout the day.
If you get to take a look at such a sketchbook, it can be like taking an afternoon trip to an art gallery and soaking in all that the art has to offer – creativity, roughness, inspiration and raw feeling – all within the parameters of a small journal. Take a look at some of the most impressive examples of an artist’s sketchbook in the link below."

https://www.demilked.com/artist-sketchboooks-mini-art-galleries/

Congratulations !

Congratulations to Michelle Lyons & Amy Winson who won a prestigious Graphic Design competition last week.

The competition was to redesign the logo & branding for the International Opticians' Association Michelle  won with her eye / globe design and Amy Winson was runner up with her quatrefoil design.

Both girls won a cash prize as well as a logo design book and are going on to study a Graphic Design degree at University.
Elaine from the organisation presented them with their prizes at college on Friday.

Google-doodles

Jack Beech in A2 Graphics has produced 2 mini-animations as i-dents for Google as part of his A2 work on minimalism & logo design - have a look here , great work ! 

Results news

Congratulations on all the results in art - & in graphics this year . Good Luck to all students who are off to pastures new at University & those who have already begun work or an apprencticeship . If you are still looking , check out clearing at Unis & keep an eye out on out twitter as we always try to post opportunities that are useful.

Special mentions to A2s Callan, Jessica & Josh (amongst other successes) with A*s & As & -
to AS students Simon, Abu-Bakr, Mo, Sam, Amy & Leah for A grades.

The AS results were a little surprising as the Grade Boundaries have been moved by Eduqas & other exam boards . We had been given grade boundaries of :
A 80 B 70 C 60 D 50 E 40
The 2016 grade boundaries have now been set at :
A 87 B 77 C 67 D 57 E 48

Staff will look at marks & grades fully with students in the new term - remember that no marks from AS go towards A'level so its a clean slate if you didn't do as well as you'd hoped.
Finally, please continue to have a good break & look at the work given to you over the holiday (don't leave it til last minute !!).
Please email us if you have queries - see you in September.

Don't panic !!!!

We're almost there ! Only 2 days until Results day - remember that you will need your college account password to log in to get your results. If you are heading into college for results, please take your student Id with you.

If you have a Uni query - please be aware that clearing doesn't usually get started until Friday 19th & most Unis are reviewing results themselves on 18th - so don't expect to be able to get a definitive answer about your Uni place. If you have any queries for an Art qualification ,please contact your subject teacher or Helen on hps@asfc.ac.uk. Staff will get back to you asap.

Good Luck - & don't panic !

The bit with all the drawing .....

AS Students - you should be reaching the end of the research phase now & the design phase is beginning. 

• Revisit your brief & the research , looking at which parts you feel are strongest. 
• You need to begin to sketch out your initial ideas - see the images here to help - & don't forget to allow ideas to develop, 
• Don't be tempted to rub out a sketch as soon as you draw it - let ideas DEVELOP. Sometimes the worst sketch & idea can turn on its head ,given time & work. 
• Click on the link below to see some examples of designers' sketching for Poster design, packaging, logos, book covers etc. The videos give an look at logo design - you can see how a designer refines & develops the idea over & over again ....no rubbing out !! The films also show how the ideas are then taken to photoshop - this is the next stage . 
• REMEMBER that the design process applies to all the graphic outcomes - whether a lable for a beer bottle, a book cover or a character design.
• Start with drawing ! ....in pencil ! 

LINK :
Examples of design sketching

PROUD POST ALERT !

It must be something in the air as the University offers keep rolling in for our A2 Graphics students ! So far all students who have had interviews have gained offers with Congratulations going to Tom & Lewis both being given unconditional offers for 3D design at MMU & Animation at Salford Uni. 

York St John & Huddersfield Uni have offered places on their Graphic Design degree whilst Games Design offers have been given from Salford, Future Works & Sheffield Hallam . 

Many more students are in the process of prepping portfolios for interviews with a staggering 22 interviews in the calendar over the next few week ! 

Many of the students will continue their journey here before moving to Uni & have applied to the Art foundation course at Ashton Sixth Form College .

The AS Art students will get lots of advice in the summer term when we visit the degree shows but it's never too early to think about University choices so please speak to staff if you need advice.

Congratulations to all those who have gained offers so far & good luck to those awaiting interviews. 

Express yourself !



Starts Jan 25th 4-5pm in A1.1 - enjoy producing the Art you like AND gain a qualification for it !