Any art teachers about?

[VivaLeBeaver]

I'm just after some opinions about whether or not my Yr 9 dd has any talent. Her art teacher says she's very good and would get a B at gcse. I see stuff she draws and paints and I'm not so convinced. I've looked online at gcse portfolio stuff and it seems so much better.....but guess that might be 18 months further on.

I'll attach a painting she's done here....I know it's only one painting but Id welcome any opinions. Her art teacher has a reputation for gushing about how brilliant kids are even when they're perhaps not so good according to other parents.


Dd also reckons the art teacher doesn't give them any actual teaching on technique. Are there any good text books which might be beneficial?

[WankerDeAsalWipe]

I am not an art teacher and not in England, so can't comment on GCSE standards, but I do have a reasonably talented DS (14) and that looks like something he may have produced 3 or 4 years ago. DS2 is 13 and definitely has very little artistic skill - i'd expect him to produce something broadly in line with that or maybe not quite so good. Is year 9 about age 13?

Unless she was going for a particular artistic effect, i'd say it lacks perspective and scale if it is meant to be a realistic representation. Is it a tree stump with hills in the background and a river in the foreground? A creature on a log across the river and some flowers to the right? i like her use of colours though and toning.

Sorry OP probably not what you were hoping for but if she is keen i'd maybe see if there are any proper classes locally or even look on youtube to see if there are any videos etc she could follow.

[lljkk]

I ruddy well hope they teach about technique.
Would it be so bad if she took Art, loved it, but only got a D?

[VivaLeBeaver]

She's actually copied the picture from something she saw, so the perspective, etc is straight from the other picture. It's i dunno, the lack of brush technique. I'm not artistic at all so don't know if I'm using the right terminology but she just seems to slap the paint down where she wants it without thought to mixing, shade, detail.

She wants to be an architect or graphic designer so needs a good art portfolio to get into those kind of degrees.

I'm worried she isn't good enough and is going to have a major disappointment. She wants to do art, graphics and photography for a levels.

She's 14yo.

[LIZS]

Sorry but it looks pretty rudimentary compared to what dd's arty friends in y9 produce.

[lljkk]

Need to compare to original to see how much it matches.

DD is in y8 & plans to do art GCSE (was asked by teacher to do it). Her comments are along the lines of "It doesn't show talent. I mean, I dunno if I have talent, I just know that I'm observant. I can produce things that are faithful to the original."

[VivaLeBeaver]

She saw the original online, not sure of the website.

I'm annoyed that dds art teacher has spent the last three years raving at every parents evening about how good dd is at art. There's no point fibbing to kids and their parents.

[lljkk]

How are her photography skills?

[VivaLeBeaver]

I would say average.

Her graphics teacher reckons she's producing degree level work. But I have no idea if her graphics teacher is also full of shit.

[Ingles2]

Hey viva .. I'm not an art teacher either , but work in an art based career and have a ds who is yr 10 and is G&T art...
I don't think this is a vey clear picture, but this is the first piece of work he did in yr 9 under a texture/surface project (fur /mirror/shiny) etc..
Going on his work, I would say she is average.. That said.. If she loves it, then she should do it for GCSE. If she's not fussed, then give it a wide berth, it is LOADS of work..
I wish ds wasn't doing it, he is very good at drawing but has no interest in it really and getting him to do the homework is a complete struggle.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Thanks Ingles, I don't think dds standard is as good as your DS's picture.

Dd isn't doing art for gcse as it clashes with graphics on the timetable. She and her art teacher think she will be able to do it for a-level no problem. I think if her talent is ropey now then there is no way she will be able to do it for a-level.

[Bunbaker]

Wow! That's really good Ingles2. I doubt that even most of DD's GCSE art group could do something as good as that. I would say that DD (14, but end of year 10) could make a half decent job of the teddy, but not as good as your son.

If the art teacher isn't teaching technique they shouldn't be taking a GSCE art class.

Art, graphics and photography are extremely coursework heavy. You would need to talk to the teachers and your daughter to make sure that taking all three subjects for A level are viable.

[Ingles2]

No problem..From what I see Viva.. She would need to be seriously passionate about it, drawing and sketching constantly.. Thankfully ds is doing science and maths at A, so I can stop stressing about it

[Ingles2]

Thanks bunbaker his drawing is really great now, but ugh, the coursework! ????

[pinkyredrose]

OP your daughter has no talent whatsoever.

[annandale]

I would seriously consider challenging her to do gcse art via distance learning/evening class as I would share your doubts about the teacher. What's the point about raving about a person's talent, as opposed to critiquing their work in detail and developing their skills?

[VivaLeBeaver]

I think a general art class would be a good idea after school but probably not a gcse art course as she will have enough on with graphics and photography.

[Ingles2]

That sounds like a good plan.... She'll have way too much on with photography and graphics
(Photography is my thing... Tons of coursework there as well)

[whyayepetal]

Hi OP - my DD has just finished GCSE art. Shedload of coursework, and very stressful (and she is organised, works hard and loves it). I would say that more technical drawing skills plus being great at maths would fit the bill for a DC wanting to be an architect. How is your DD with those subjects? I know that those in my DD's class who didn't really love it (regardless of their skill level) struggled so I think you're doing the right thing to consider carefully at this stage.

Ingles - cool teddy!

[Lancelottie]

I'm torn here. A child who wants to learn and has a career in mind that needs her to learn to do something should be encouraged and taught to do so if possible. DS2 did dance GCSE with zero experience or apparent ability, loved it, and got a B.

On the other hand, this (if it shows up not tried pictures before!) is a similar-ish scene by DS1 at that age part of a stage set for a school show, hence the arms and vertical lines! The brushwork is a bit blobby and crude, but I think it shows perspective. He got an A* at GCSE and says his teacher really taught them about technique.

[Lancelottie]

DS occasionally teaches art for holiday courses btw, and he said about your DD's picture: 'Good depth of colour, not at all wishy-washy, especially the night sky. And the composition is strong as a sort of abstract, but I'm not sure what all of it is.'

[pinkyredrose]

good depth of colour and strong composition ?! You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear you know. Look OP she's totally talentless and has a completely inept teacher. What's the point of saying she's good when she isn't? Her painting looks like something a blind baboon might do. Encourage her by all means if she enjoys it but please be realistic, she'll only end up disappointed otherwise. Encourage her strengths in other areas, I'm sure she has many. Painting however isn't one of them.

[Lancelottie]

Oy, pinky, I thought that was pretty sound, tactful phrasing, coming from another teenager!

I doubt if she's talentless we've seen one picture but I agree with the poster who said that you can't see talent in that picture.

She really would need to sort out some of the basics. How is her straight drawing? There are masses of books on perspective, drawing techniques, shading, colour theory, pen and ink work; or she could find some online tutorials, if she's interested (youtube is full of these).

[starfish4]

I'm not an art teacher so can't comment.

How does your DD feels she does compared to others in her year? Does she think she'll be capable of producing anything like the GCSE work you've seen early in Year 10, as it'll take a while to put a portfolio together.

My DD is in Year 9, loves fine art and can produce some good pieces, but acknowledges she hasn't got a natural talent and it takes her a lot longer to get the end result. Her school allow them to choose from three art subjects, so she's gone for art textiles as she's quite creative. Her school has told her she'll need a grade B GCSE to be able to do any art subject at A level, ie they can swap their art. Are there any other art subjects they can take?

[Lancelottie]

Actually, Viva, have you looked at some GCSE work online? I found this site, for instance, which has example sketchbooks and pieces for each grade. The B-grade books show lots of ideas, but not the greatest drawing skills, so your DD's teacher may be right that she'd get around a B grade.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Ive not seen much of her other work for ages. Will have a look in a bit and see if I can find anything in her art book.

She has an art exhibition on Wednesday evening at school so will be interesting to see what her work is like compared to others.

Lottie, thanks for that website. Id just googled for images before but didn't have any idea of the grades. Guess it could all have been a* work I looked at. Looking at that website I could see maybe in two years time she'd be capable of a b.