Practical Artwork and Portfolio Assessment
The practical and portfolio component is judged on the work you produce under exam conditions plus what you bring with you. Marks go to sound construction and honest observation, not to decoration.
What is typically required
A timed studio test - usually a still life or object drawing in pencil, a composition from memory or imagination in colour, and a design or lettering item - followed by a viva on your portfolio and sketchbook.
The marking criteria
Proportion and scale, structure and perspective, light and shade with cast shadow, surface texture, composition within the format, colour handling, finish, and originality.
Working method for a still life
- Place the group so the objects overlap; never line them up like bottles on a shelf.
- Mark the extremes of the whole group lightly, and its centre.
- Sight-measure each object against the largest one.
- Fix the eye level; keep every ellipse and angle faithful to it.
- Shade darkest first, then half-tones, then lift the highlights.
Worked example
Three objects, two hours. Reasoning: 15 minutes for block-in and proportion, 15 minutes for correction, 60 minutes for modelling, 20 minutes for cast shadows and background, 10 minutes to stand back and clean the edges. The block-in gets the most care per minute because every later mark depends on it.
Portfolio
Include dated work across media - pencil, charcoal, watercolour, poster colour - a sketchbook, one sustained study, and a short note on each piece. Expect to explain why you chose a particular viewpoint or colour.
Traps
- Drawing the objects too small or too high in the format.
- Rubbing out repeatedly until the paper surface is damaged.
- Over-darkening early; you cannot go back.
- Leaving out cast shadows, so nothing sits on the table.