The 16 most important steps you can take to ace high school Art
Last Updated on Feb eight, 2017
People often remember that high-achieving Art or Design students are blest with a gift: bestowed with a artistic talent since nativity. You might be surprised to acquire that those who excel in high school Art often excel in a wide range of other subjects also – that it is not so much a creative gift that they possess, but rather a applied understanding of how to succeed. Every day thousands of skilful Art students underachieve, while others slowly and steadily inch their accomplishment levels higher and college.
Those who succeed in Fine art – as in other areas of life – do so considering they agree beliefs that pb them to deed in certain ways and appoint in daily rituals and routines that take a tremendous positive cumulative effect over time. The good news is that these things can be practised and applied, regardless of your electric current skill level or expertise. The xvi steps beneath – if acted upon consistently – may better your performance in all high school subjects and trigger an upcycle of positive modify that spills over into the rest of your life.
1. Dream of success
Most people spend their days fretting about the past or worrying about the future. They carry effectually an inner critic that belittles their skill, intellect, advent, decisions, actions and worth as a person. The human capacity for anticipating the future based on the events of the past has resulted in us dominating the planet; information technology is also the leading of cause of misery.If yous are depressed, worried or anxious, read The Power of Now past Eckhart Tolle (Amazon affiliate link). He will remind you that what has already happened has gone and volition only e'er be as a memory experienced in your listen now. Similarly, the futurity is an imaginary concept that can just be considered in this moment: at present.
Worry shackles yous. It leaves y'all paralysed with fright. Instead of contemplating negative outcomes – transform your inner critic into an advocate. Treat yourself with the wisdom and kindness that you would show a child, sibling or friend. Imagine an outcome then awesome that your parents, teachers and friends are filled with pride. When you realise that achieving something bang-up is entirely possible, every facet of your brain begins to work together and your anxiety begin to move towards this goal.
Whether you think you tin or you think you tin't, yous're right. – Henry Ford
The mind is everything. What you lot think you lot become. – Buddha
It is never too belatedly to be what you might have been. – George Eliot
Whatever the mind of man tin can conceive and believe, it can achieve. – Napoleon Hill
two. Get plenty sleep
fourscore% of the teenage population is estimated to exist suffering from a lack of slumber co-ordinate to a 2006 poll past the American National Sleep Foundation. Fifty-fifty worse, we don't know it. As slumber deprivation increases, the body adjusts in club to cope and we don't annals the feeling of tiredness – peculiarly if nosotros endeavor to stimulate alertness with caffeine, junk food, artificial lights or digital screens. Average slumber hours are estimated to accept decreased past two hours per night over the last 50 years; primarily the directly outcome of electronic devices disrupting our cyclic rhythm – the natural cycles that prompt u.s. to wake and sleep.
Chronic sleep deprivation causes a dramatic reduction in operation in just most all areas of life. An article published by The Indiana University School of Medicine titled Neurocognitive Consequences of Sleep Deprivation, by authors Jeffrey S. Durmer and David F. Dinges states that:
…profound neurocognitive deficits accumulate over time in the face of subjective adaptation to the awareness of sleepiness.
In other words, the longer we endure from sleep deprivation, the worse our encephalon becomes, but nosotros don't realise this.
…the mean functional level of any sleep-deprived individual is estimated to be comparable to the 9th percentile of non–slumber-deprived subjects.
In the Beginner Guide to Overcoming Sleep Deprivation James Clear explains that:
…if you go 6 hours of sleep per night for two weeks directly, your mental and physical functioning declines to the same level every bit if yous had stayed awake for 48 hours straight.
Slumber impecuniousness – even mild sleep deprivation – reduces your functioning, alertness, retentiveness, ability to retain and process information and affects motivation and mood. It makes you slower, less efficient – and worse at making decisions. If you remember that you lot can even remotely perform to your potential in a high schoolhouse Art discipline (permit alone anything else) while gaining bereft sleep, you are mistaken. End texting, Facebooking, chatting online and surfing the internet at dark. Get a free blue-light blocker app on your cell phone and use it after darkness falls. At bedtime, turn off all lights and electronic devices (don't sleep with these near you) and sleep in total darkness.
Prioritise sleep, for your own sake. Make information technology a challenge, and measure the effect it has on your Art projects and your life.
iii. Eat well (and stop dieting)
Like the rest of the world, teenagers are image and health conscious. This often leads to restrictive dieting, excessive hunger and other ongoing eating bug such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder (conditions estimated to be rampant in modern society).
Recent Canadian data demonstrate that nearly one-half of Ontario teenagers attending public school feel unhappy about their weight…[]… Information technology is not surprising, therefore, that strategies aimed at changing ane's weight and shape are also extremely prevalent. Canadian cross-exclusive data advise that more than one in five teenage girls are 'on a diet' at whatsoever given fourth dimension. American, Australian and British data likewise suggest similar high rates of attempted weight loss amongst adolescents. – from a report published by the Canadian Paediatric Society
Dieting has – at best – a 98% failure rate. Restricting calories mutes your brainpower, makes yous tired, erodes willpower, ruins your mood and is the leading cause of eating disorders. Consume like a normal person: satisfy your ambition with a combination of nourishing food and easily absorbed energy. Never, ever starve yourself. (If in incertitude – or if you demand saving from some part of the dieting/bingeing cycle – watch this YouTube video by Bree and read Brain over Rampage – a genius book past a adult female who cured herself of Bulimia and binge eating instantly, afterwards years of struggle – Amazon affiliate link).
To perform your all-time in any loftier school subject, your body and brain need to exist well fed (you might non believe it, just this is also the way to achieve an optimal physique). Please. Practice it now.
4. Stop poisoning yourself with addictive substances
You might be surprised how many teenagers compromise their high schoolhouse performance as a direct result of taking drugs or engaging in other harmful behaviours. Many countries have a crazy youth culture that involves experimenting with alcohol and other addictive substances (those which – by their very definition – offering the fleeting illusion of pleasure in exchange for long term pain). These cause the deterioration of physical wellness and a depression of your mental country. Very often this is compounded by foggy memories, social embarrassment, regret and a lack of slumber.
If y'all can't convince yourself of the detrimental nature of such substances, remind yourself that accept the residue of your life to destroy your brain and cripple your productivity. Don't destroy your hazard of getting into a skillful university and throw your life plan off-class right now. At the very to the lowest degree, save partying for end-of-twelvemonth vacations, when the damage is less likely to directly impact an assessment of your academic power that you lot will accept to live with forever.
If you retrieve you are incapable of resisting peer pressure, remind yourself of this quote by Alice Walker, author of The Color Imperial:
v. Get some sunshine
Sunshine exposure triggers the development of vitamin D in your peel; helps with bone strength and resistance against diseases. It has been linked to higher levels of serotonin – a neurotransmitter that promotes a good mood and regulates appetite, sleep and retentiveness.
Humans are non designed to exist trapped inside, under artificial lights, for hours on end. Kick a ball outside. Lie in the sunshine for 10 minutes and see how this changes your mood, your outlook and your approach.
6. Brand your workspace beautiful
Fine art students ofttimes become allured by the notion of beautiful chaos, merely, in the context of your workspace, mess usually begets more mess.
Nine in ten (90%) Americans admit that unorganized clutter at dwelling or at work has a negative bear on on their life. Their productivity (77%), state of mind (65%), motivation (53%) and happiness (40%) are affected when there is disorder. – from a study by OfficeMax
Organising your room and desk makes you feel accomplished, confident, motivated, relaxed and in command. Studies prove that, in most people, tidy work spaces increment work capacity and strengthen willpower. When likewise many things are nowadays in an environment, we are less able to focus.
A kid'south art studio designed by Tineke Triggs of Artistic Designs for Living:
This doesn't mean that you need to create a sterile surround, or organise things at the expense of working. Art students do good from being surrounded past images, materials, artwork and inspiring field of study matter. You should also remember that, according to the New York Times, a study past Ajilon Professional Staffing has linked messier desks to higher salaries. Y'all don't need to exist extreme or obsessive, but if the mess has got out of control or your environs doesn't stimulate creation, a alter tin can exist highly beneficial.
You lot may even consider setting upwardly an unused shed or sleeping room as a studio, such as Lexington Loftier School educatee Seth Ritter:
If your space feels claustrophobic or you are drowning in clutter, read The Life-Irresolute Magic of Tidying: A simple, effective style to blackball clutter forever by Marie Kondo (Amazon affiliate link).
Note: Recruit someone to help you with this step if necessary. Whatever yous practice, don't use this as an excuse to put off actually getting your piece of work done.
7. Every day, do the most important matter first
A surprising number of highly successful individuals practise the addiction of waking early on and doing the most important task of the day offset. The first few hours after you awake are accounted to be the most productive, because y'all are alarm and able to summons high levels of focus and willpower. Hal Elrod, writer of The Phenomenon Morning time (Amazon affiliate link) shares the notion that a great life is made up of a series of bully days…and that the best style to create a great day is to beginning with a groovy forenoon. If yous are in the addiction of staying upward late to work on assignments, try waking up early instead. This volition ameliorate your sleep quality and pb to a productive earlier-school routine (allowing you lot to get work done at a much faster rate than you did while exhausted at night – even for self diagnosed 'night owls'). This sets your solar day up as you intend to keep and primes you lot for success.
…both success and failure are largely the results of habit! – Napoleon Hill
Either yous run the day, or the day runs you lot. – Jim Rohn
8. Don't wait for motivation. Get your homework washed
In one case you have established a regular routine for working on your art, and learned how to paint and draw quickly, yous volition find that it is possible to steadily consummate homework tasks and never go behind. If y'all have lost command of your Fine art homework – read how to stop procrastinating and get your Art homework done.
9. Make art about something that matters to you
Interpreting a topic in a manner that has relevance and meaning for you lot – and allows yous to tell your own story – can exist the deviation betwixt muddling along with boredom and disinterest and racing through a project with excitement and joy.
Use first-hand resource. Aim for powerful, emotive artwork, fifty-fifty if the subject matter itself is set by your teacher and describes the nigh mundane objects you can imagine. Focus on the bulletin and the ideas: express a tiny (or huge) part of your world.
First where you are. Use what you have. Practise what you can. – Arthur Ashe
If yous demand aid coming upwardly with a great topic, read Fine art Projection Ideas: a guide to subject matter selection.
x: Understand every give-and-take of the marking criteria
If you don't sympathise how your work is assessed, yous are fighting bullheaded. Don't be so naïve every bit to assume that not bad work deserves smashing marks. You might write the most amazing essay in an English language class, merely if this doesn't respond the question, you lot volition neglect. To achieve full marks in Art, you must meet the marker criteria completely. In about cases, this involves a combination of technical skill; competent treatment of media; a range of creative processes and techniques; development of ideas towards well-balanced, resolved compositions (read more than about development here); and the expression of personal ideas.
If you don't understand the terminology that is used within your assessment criteria, ask your Art instructor to explain and keep request until the meaning is clear.
xi. Inquire for assistance
With open up ears and willing effort, you become the kind of educatee that an Fine art teacher will exercise annihilation for. No matter how much of a prickly thorn you take been in the by, your teacher will transform and begin to work with yous, when you lot offer kindness, appreciation and respect.
If you want to elevator yourself up, lift up someone else. – Booker T. Washington
Ask your teacher to explain what you lot have been doing wrong in past assessments. Tell them to focus on the i thing that you can do that will pb to the nigh gains. When you accept mastered this affair, seek further advice and move onto the side by side thing.
12. Be creative
For goodness sake, do something dissimilar. Experiment a little. Use something other than evidently white paper. Trial drawing or painting on grounds. Use new techniques: mix, combine and apply mediums in fun and crazy means. We have written a whole series on utilise of media for Painting students. Photography students may like to read 100+ creative photography ideas.
You lot tin can't use upwards creativity. The more yous use, the more you take. – Maya Angelou
thirteen. Play to your strengths
Most Fine art students take areas where they excel and others where they are less confident. In the Meridian 10 Mistakes Made by Art Students we provide these tips:
If you are messy and struggle to command paint, choose an artist model that allows you to apply gestural, expressive brush strokes, so it appears that your lack of control is intentional (this will allow yous to continue practising with moisture mediums, rather than avoiding them completely).
If you struggle to draw realistically, read 11 Tips for Creating Excellent Observational Drawings and consider embracing gestural drawing, distortion, manipulation or semi-abstraction.
Showcase your strengths and use these as a distractive mechanism, while confronting your weaknesses head-on.
14. Present your work well
Presentation is the fashion you lot 'sell' your work to the examiner; it has a straight impact upon the manner the work is perceived.
The way artwork is mounted, arranged and put together speaks volumes to the examiner about your attitude as a candidate: your enthusiasm, your commitment and work ethic. Scrunched, canis familiaris-eared, smudged works tin can (if you lot are lucky) communicate the idea that y'all are a insane, creative genius, only they are more likely to communicate the thought that you are a disorganised, slovenly pupil who couldn't care less about the field of study. When someone has a few minutes to assess or moderate your entire year's work, first impressions count. – from the Top 10 Mistakes Made past Fine art Students.
We have an in-depth article near presentation coming before long.
15. Learn from the success of others
In Art, 'excellence' sometimes isn't clear until you see it. Oft a marking criteria tin be understood in theory, but the difference between mediocre and outstanding is non evident until y'all have piece of work in front of you. If your Qualification Board publishes standards booklets showing examples of piece of work at different grade boundaries, report these closely.
Nosotros have many Featured Art Projects on this website, showcasing excellent work from a high school Art departments around the world. These can exist a cracking way to understand what evolution means and gain inspiration and motivation for your own project.
16. Have complete responsibility for your success: arraign no i else
It is easy to blame parents, siblings, teachers and friends for distracting, disappointing, annoying or disadvantaging you in some mode. Any your situation is, only yous can make the alter that is needed to reach success. If you think you accept information technology tough, think of Heather Purdham of Westcliff High School for Girls:
I can't call back a time when I didn't savor drawing so I knew I just had to learn to adapt. – Heather Purdham quoted in the Daily Post
What matters is not what happens to yous, only how you lot respond to it. If you change your own attitudes and behaviours, others modify the way that they respond to you. If you turn up with positive action, effort and willingness, the world transforms. Don't believe me? Examination this theory.
Everything has beauty, only not everyone can run across. – Confucius
If the wind volition non serve, take to the oars. – Latin Proverb
Remember that non getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. – Dalai Lama
I am not a production of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions. – Stephen Covey
Everything you've e'er wanted is on the other side of fear. –George Addair
When everything seems to be going confronting you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. – Henry Ford
This article might seem to contain strange advice for an Art education website; only if you lot were in my class, I would share this with you: these are the lessons that I wish had known. In Art grade, we are lucky: students and teachers get to talk about the stuff of life while we make art with our hands. If yous believe the things above, you lot can create anything that y'all dream.
Amiria has been an Fine art & Design teacher and a Curriculum Co-ordinator for seven years, responsible for the form design and assessment of student work in two loftier-achieving Auckland schools. She has a Available of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Architecture (Beginning Class Honours) and a Graduate Diploma of Didactics. Amiria is a CIE Accredited Fine art & Design Coursework Assessor.
Source: https://www.studentartguide.com/articles/important-steps-to-ace-high-school-art
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