Basic 9 · Creative Arts and Design · Term Preparation
Preparing for the Term in Creative Arts and Design
In this topic you will prepare for the term by recalling what you know about design, visual arts and the performing arts, and by setting up a portfolio for designing, making, displaying and appraising your work.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Recall key ideas from earlier work in design and the arts
- Explain how the arts prepare you for the B.E.C.E. and beyond
- Set up a portfolio and a personal plan for the term
What you already know
- Design process and creative arts skills (Basic 8)
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- Design
- Sub-strand
- Term Preparation
Introduction
This is your final year in junior high school. The creative skills you sharpen this year can serve you in any career you choose.
1. What You Already Know
| Area | What you have learned |
|---|---|
| design | identifying problems, sketching ideas, testing solutions |
| visual arts | drawing, painting, modelling and printing |
| music | rhythm, scales, singing and playing instruments |
| dance and drama | movement, acting and storytelling |
| appraisal | describing, analysing, interpreting and judging artworks |
2. Why the Creative Arts Matter
Creative Arts and Design is not only about making pretty things. It teaches you to look closely, to imagine alternatives and to solve problems with limited resources. These are the qualities that employers want. Ghana's creative industries also provide jobs in fashion, film, music, advertising, printing, architecture, furniture and tourism. An artist can work for a company or run a personal business. Even a doctor or an engineer benefits from an ability to draw, plan and think creatively.
3. Elements and Principles
Elements are the building blocks of any artwork, such as line, shape, colour, texture and form. Principles are the ways of arranging these, such as balance, contrast, rhythm, harmony and emphasis. In music, the elements include rhythm, melody and dynamics. In dance and drama, the elements include space, movement and character. When you appraise work, use these terms. They will make your judgement clear and fair.
4. Your Term Plan
This term covers creativity and innovation, the design process, casting, assemblage and folding, and singing triads. You will also create a play or dance drama, and study African artists and composers. Set a clear goal for each area. Plan time for practice, since skills improve only through regular work. Ask your teacher what the school-based assessment requires, and keep up with the deadlines.
5. Working Towards the B.E.C.E.
Your work this year counts towards your final results. Keep your practical pieces safe, record your progress and ask for help early. Regular effort is much easier than rushing at the end of term.
New words
- element
- A basic part of an artwork.
- principle
- A way of organising elements.
- appraise
- To judge the value of work.
- creative industry
- Businesses built on art and ideas.
Summary
- You have skills in design, visual arts and the performing arts.
- Creativity supports many careers and businesses.
- Elements and principles help you to make and appraise work.
Class activity: Skills Audit
- List your strongest and weakest creative skills.
- Set one goal for each area.
- Share a goal with a partner.
You need: Pencils, Drawing paper, Printed photographs of Ghanaian stools, Baskets
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which is an element of art?
- A. line
- B. contrast
- C. balance
- D. rhythm only
Show answer
Answer: lineBuilding block.2. Which is a principle of design?
- A. balance
- B. colour
- C. shape
- D. texture
Show answer
Answer: balanceArrangement.3. The creative industries provide jobs.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueEconomy.4. To judge the value of work is to ______.
Show answer
Answer: appraiseAppraisal.5. Name three careers in the creative industries.
Show answer
Answer: Fashion design, filmmaking and advertising.Any three.6. Explain how creative skills help a person who is not an artist.
Show answer
Answer: They help with planning, imagining alternatives and solving problems.Transferable skills.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Visual Arts
- Sub-strand
- Term Preparation
Introduction
Artists and designers show what they can do through a portfolio. Yours will record your growth throughout this term.
1. What Is a Portfolio?
Portfolio: An organised collection of work showing a person's skills and progress.
A portfolio includes finished work, sketches, photographs of large pieces, recordings of performances and written reflections. It shows the journey as well as the end result. A sketch that failed can be as useful as a finished piece, if you explain what you learned from it. Your portfolio can also support your application to a senior high school programme or to a technical institute, particularly if you plan to study visual arts.
2. What to Include
| Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
| title page and contents | organises your work |
| sketches and plans | shows your thinking |
| photographs | records 3D or large artworks |
| recordings | records music, dance and drama |
| written reflections | explains choices and lessons |
| feedback from others | shows how you improved |
3. Materials and Tools
Keep basic tools ready: pencils, erasers, a ruler, scissors, glue and a notebook. Many materials can be recycled, including cardboard, bottle tops, wire and fabric offcuts. Using local and waste materials saves money and helps the environment. Store your work carefully in a labelled folder or box to keep it from being damaged.
4. Safety in the Studio
Safety: Use sharp tools carefully and cut away from your body. Work in a well-ventilated space when using glue or paint, and wash your hands afterwards. Keep materials away from your eyes and mouth.
A safe workspace is a clean one. Put tools back after use, and clean brushes before the paint dries. Treat others' work with care too, and ask before you touch it.
5. Learning to Reflect
At the end of each project, ask what went well, what you would change and what you have learned. Write the date on your reflections. By the end of term, you will be able to see how much you have improved. Reflection turns practice into real progress, and it shows that you can explain your choices to an examiner or a client.
New words
- portfolio
- An organised collection of a person's work.
- sketch
- A quick rough drawing.
- reflection
- Thinking about what you have done.
- recycled
- Used again for a new purpose.
Summary
- A portfolio shows skills and growth.
- Include plans, finished work, recordings and reflections.
- Work safely, keep tools ready and reflect often.
Class activity: Start Your Portfolio
- Decorate a folder or box.
- Add a contents page.
- Write your goals for the term.
You need: Pencils, Drawing paper, Printed photographs of Ghanaian stools, Baskets
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. A collection of work showing skills is a…
- A. portfolio
- B. palette
- C. canvas
- D. stage
Show answer
Answer: portfolioRecord.2. Why include sketches in a portfolio?
- A. They show your thinking
- B. They look untidy
- C. They replace all finished work
- D. They are required by law
Show answer
Answer: They show your thinkingProcess.3. Waste materials can be used in artworks.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueRecycling.4. A quick rough drawing is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: sketchPlanning.5. State three items for a portfolio.
Show answer
Answer: Sketches, photographs and reflections.Any three.6. How can failed work be useful in a portfolio?
Show answer
Answer: It shows what you learned and how you improved.Reflection.
Homework
- Collect three recycled materials that you could use in an artwork this term.