Check out the PDF Readers on each page where I upload pages from my sketchbook
FAD Course Review
Well I've made it this far... as I take some time out over half-term I'm reflecting on learning and progress during Stages 1 & 2 of this Foundation in Art & Design. It's been quite a journey from starting my Summer Sketchbook Project in September 2023, through the Stage 1 diagnostic investigation of my creative practice during winter term 2024. I realised that despite my 'imposter syndrome' concern about a lack of prior formal education in art & design, I do not struggle having lots of ideas or learning new methods.
Spring term this year 2025 saw me developing creative practice during Stage 2 of the FAD course and honing my chosen specialisation of Fine Art, with a particular emphasis on printmaking and mixed-media methods. All this contemplative and creative activity takes place in two special places over the last year, my art space at home (LHS) and personal studio space in Reigate School of Arts (RHS) as seen above.
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I'm pulling together my reflections and self-evaluation in a project workbook. I am recording the review of my learning and progress in preparation for Stage 3 so that I can start consolidating my creative practice and planning for my Final Major Project (FMP) ideas. The FMP is due to start when we return to college after half-term in two weeks so my thinking is currently focused on a title and premise about how most people don't engage with nature and how we're losing the wild world around us.
I want to find a way of using my creative practice to compliment my biological knowledge so that I can help communities and people reconnect with nature and conserve wildlife. I also want to take into account my self-evaluation and feedback that I've received from tutors & peers so that I remain focused on my narrative during Stage 3 and not get distracted. This could be a big challenge for me!
Sunday 09/02/2025
FAD Practice Exploration Essay 2024
This is the essay I wrote after Stage 1 as part of my preparation for Stage 2 projects and later my Final Major Project (FMP) that was assessed by the FAD Contextual Studies Tutor Lloyd Jenkins for UAL Unit 1.
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It is a good summary of where I was as an artist at start of my FAD journey when I was suffering a tad from a dose of 'imposter syndrome' but beginning to discover my abilities and interests in art & design.
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I used this early essay to help frame my artist's statement during Stage 3 of the FAD course and it was useful during my FMP to look back at my early views and reflect. I do feel that I've progressed in my learning, as well as developed and consolidated my creative practice during course.
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10 December 2024
FAD Stage 2 Assessment
Hooray... I've received the written assessment of Stage 2 of my FAD course and have been awarded Excellent Pass across all 7 criteria of the Unit 3: Developing Specialist Practice. I'm really pleased and motivated by this result, which sets to rest any doubts I had about my validity being on this course. With this assessment comes a written feedback report and guidance about Stage 3 FMP planning to discuss with my tutor.
Wednesday 19/02/2025