Art and Design / Practical Subjects
What the paper tests
Art and Design assesses the elements and principles of art, drawing and composition, colour theory, and knowledge of practical crafts such as pottery, weaving, and palm-frond work. Practical papers ask you to plan, make, and evaluate a piece safely.
Core rules
- The elements of art are line, shape, form, value, colour, texture, and space.
- Principles include balance, contrast, rhythm, emphasis, and proportion.
- Primary colours are red, blue, and yellow; secondary colours are mixed from two primaries.
- Complementary colours sit opposite each other on the colour wheel and create strong contrast.
- Craft work must respect material limits, drying or firing time, and safety rules.
Worked example
A student mixes blue and yellow paint, then adds a little red. Explain the result. Reasoning: blue + yellow makes green. Adding red, the complement of green, dulls the green and moves it toward brown or grey. The mixture is no longer a pure secondary colour because all three primaries are present. This is why the amount added must be controlled: a little red neutralises, while too much overwhelms the green.
Traps
- Confusing hue with value: pink and dark red can share a hue but differ in value.
- Ignoring proportion when drawing a figure or still life.
- Mixing too many colours and producing mud.
- Skipping safety and drying-time instructions in practical work.