Painting

    OCR
    GCSE

    Candidates must demonstrate a sustained journey from initial engagement with sources (AO1) to the realisation of a final outcome (AO4). Proficiency requires the deliberate manipulation of media properties—viscosity, opacity, and drying times—alongside a sophisticated application of colour theory. Examiners expect evidence of iterative refinement (AO2), where technical experimentation with application methods (glazing, impasto, scumbling) directly informs the resolution of the personal response.

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    Objectives
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    Exam Tips
    4
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Credit evidence of sustained investigation into historical or contemporary painters (AO1), explicitly linking their techniques (e.g., impasto, glazing, sgraffito) to the candidate's own developing practice.
    • Award marks for purposeful experimentation with viscosity, application tools (brushes, palette knives, sponges), and surface preparation, showing clear refinement of technique (AO2).
    • Assess the quality of primary observation; candidates must record form, light, and colour accuracy through preparatory studies before translating to paint (AO3).
    • Evaluate the final painted outcome for technical control and the successful realisation of intentions, ensuring visual language effectively communicates the chosen theme (AO4).

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "Your colour mixing is accurate, but the application is flat. Experiment with layering or impasto to add depth and texture."
    • "You have researched this artist, but your painting style does not reflect their influence. Analyse their brushwork and attempt to apply that specific technique to your subject."
    • "Excellent primary photography. Now, translate these photos into quick painted sketches to test composition before starting the final piece."
    • "The final composition is strong, but the background lacks the same level of finish as the foreground. Refine the negative space to support the focal point."

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Credit evidence of sustained investigation into historical or contemporary painters (AO1), explicitly linking their techniques (e.g., impasto, glazing, sgraffito) to the candidate's own developing practice.
    • Award marks for purposeful experimentation with viscosity, application tools (brushes, palette knives, sponges), and surface preparation, showing clear refinement of technique (AO2).
    • Assess the quality of primary observation; candidates must record form, light, and colour accuracy through preparatory studies before translating to paint (AO3).
    • Evaluate the final painted outcome for technical control and the successful realisation of intentions, ensuring visual language effectively communicates the chosen theme (AO4).

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Annotate sketchbooks to explain *why* specific colour palettes or brushstrokes were selected, linking decisions directly to the artist research.
    • 💡Demonstrate the 'Refine' (AO2) process by keeping evidence of failed experiments; show how a muddy colour mix led to a corrected, cleaner mixture.
    • 💡Ensure the final piece is not just a larger version of a sketch, but a fully resolved painting that demonstrates mastery of the chosen medium.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Reliance on secondary sources (internet printouts) without translating them into personal painted studies or primary observation.
    • Superficial application of paint without exploring its material properties (e.g., treating acrylic solely as a flat colour block rather than exploring texture or layering).
    • Disconnect between the artist research (AO1) and the final outcome (AO4); failing to carry forward the stylistic influence of the studied artist into the practical work.
    • Insufficient recording of the development process; presenting a final piece without the necessary preparatory sketches or colour tests.

    Study Guide Available

    Comprehensive revision notes & examples

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    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Formal Elements: Colour Theory, Tonal Value, and Texture
    Media Manipulation: Viscosity, Binders, and Application Tools
    Compositional Integrity: Balance, Focal Points, and Spatial Depth

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Develop
    Refine
    Record
    Present
    Investigate
    Experiment
    Realise

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