BTEC Art & Design Practice students at Solihull Sixth Form College have been producing artwork for a project based around flora and fauna exhibits seen at the National History Museum.
All learners on the College’s A level and BTEC Visual Arts courses complete projects involving timed briefs, which is where they must complete a piece of work to an agreed timescale with a named client in mind. Students on our BTEC Extended Diploma Art & Design Practice course visited the Natural History Museum in London in November and were set this Flora & Fauna brief then.
Learners were tasked with creating A3 posters aimed at KS2 (Key Stage 2) pupils aged 7-11 year old, exploring insects or wildflowers through the mediums of drawing, painting or print techniques. The brief stated that posters had to be educational in nature, based on observational drawings and scientifically accurate. Students were also instructed to mirror their work to existing historical collections and archives and thus learners have been focussing on ‘vintage’ botanical and insect drawings for their inspiration.
Pam Basra, Assistant Curriculum Leader for Creative Arts and the lead for the BTEC Art & Design course, commented:
“These briefs are an essential part of the learning that students do, as it gives them the opportunity to develop invaluable real-world skills that they will need when working in the visual arts sector. Our students love their creative freedom, but sometimes it is necessary to work to the requirements that a client gives you and to meet a deadline, so this project has given them that experience. The work our young people have produced after their visit to the Natural History Museum to get inspiration has been remarkable.”
Some of the best work produced by students for this brief has been selected to be exhibited in College.
3 February 2023