The study of Visual Art at Townsville Grammar School enables students to give visual form to thoughts, feelings, ideas and beliefs. It develops their ability to interpret, respond to sensory stimuli and communicate their experiences. Consequently, through Art, students learn to be visually literate. This enhances their capacity to be creative and provides skills to interpret and express ideas in an ever-increasing world of visual communication.

Art develops social and personal skills and encourages personal fulfillment through art experiences as a preparation for life (work and leisure). Art is a vocational preparation as it teaches students how to research, develop and resolve their ideas in preparation for many vocations including engineering, advertising, marketing, design industries, film and television, teaching and architecture.

Years 7, 8 & 9
The curriculum available in the middle school years involves a combination of research, development and resolution of ideas, subjects and images. The content areas are thematically based, and students experience a range of two and three-dimensional making task including drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, wearable art and graphic design. At least one appraising task (written assignment or test) is set during the semester that students study Art.

Years 10, 11 & 12
Year 10 Art, a full year subject, provides students with valuable preparation for the study of Visual Art in years 11 and 12, as the structure and assessment of the course is similar to that of the Visual Art course. Senior Visual Art is a two-year course based on units of work that comprise concepts, focuses and media areas.

Concepts are presented to the student to engage them in learning experiences that allow them to develop their own focuses for artworks. Throughout the course, students have the opportunity to make and appraise images and objects from a range of media areas including ceramics, drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture.

In making artworks, students define and solve visual problems by using visual language and contexts. Making processes involve selecting, exploring, manipulating and exploiting materials, techniques and processes in particular media areas to communicate meaning.

In appraising artworks, students constantly describe, analyse and interpret images and objects through synthesising information, evaluating meaning and justifying positions. This enhances students’ understanding of the purpose and intent of visual artworks in various cultures and societies. One appraising task (written response, oral presentation, critique or test) is set each term.

Students are also required to use an art journal to document the research and development of their making and appraising tasks. This journal forms an important part of the validation process for assessment.