General guidance
Art & Design candidates working from home could consider various approaches. These include setting up a still life arrangement, portraits of family members, views from their home or studies of their home to develop their observational drawing skills. They could also use fabric and collage materials, for example, magazines, newspaper, packaging, textured papers or found objects, to create interesting collages based on their still life. These can then be developed into ideas for their coursework by experimenting with different layouts, choosing a section to make a repeat pattern, adding layers or lettering.
Candidates could photograph their drawings and collages, then scan them into drawing software. They could then experiment with changing the scale or colours, or use them as background ideas for fashion or graphic design. Photographing and documenting their surroundings can also be a good way to develop observational and recording skills.
Candidates can also benefit from sketching and making a visual journal, in which they storyboard and document their daily life visually. Approaches such as making models out of packaging or materials found around the home can be creative and lead ideas into new directions.
Several major art galleries and museums have moved their collections online. This presents a chance for research into the work of artists or designers and to think about what influenced them. Candidates can take inspiration from established artists to adapt techniques into forms that can be used at home. For example, drawing onto cardboard, mono-printing and photographing or painting scenes from daily life. Encourage candidates to use these resources where they are available. Some candidates may want to adapt or change their work depending on the availability of the resources. Candidates can access material online and use this to compare and contrast with their own practical work.
Candidates can work with first-hand sources from home by considering different approaches. For example, a still life arrangement, portraits of family members, views from their home or studies of their home to develop their observational drawing skills.
Candidates can prepare work for their coursework and supporting studies for their externally set assignment outside of the centre. However, they must produce their final outcome for their coursework and their final outcome for their externally set assignment in the centre.
For their Personal Investigation, candidates must complete their practical work alongside their written analysis, so that they form a cohesive and integrated piece of work. Candidates must produce their practical work in the centre.
If candidates cannot complete the component, apply for the following:
If a candidate cannot complete one or more of the components for this syllabus, you should apply for special consideration – ‘Candidate absent from a timetabled component for acceptable reasons’. However, if candidates are not able to complete multiple components for this syllabus, there may not be enough evidence to calculate an assessed mark for the component. For more information, see the Cambridge Handbook, section 5.5.3