Summary:
The first project you complete as part of your GCSE will be on the theme of Natural Form. It will give you the opportunity to try new media, materials, processes and techniques, while also allowing you to refine your existing skills. The project can be split into the following sections:
• Initial ideas and intentions
• A look at the work of John Ruskin
• Studies with a range of media: Photography, pencil, charcoal, biro, fine-liner, mono-printing, etching, lino-printing, colouring pencil, sepia/sanguine pencils, watercolour, acrylics, oils and Photoshop.
• Ideas development
• Research an additional artist
• Studies in the style of this artist that also explore ideas
• A series of larger out-of-sketchbook pieces
• Refinement of skills
• Final Piece
• A look at the work of John Ruskin
• Studies with a range of media: Photography, pencil, charcoal, biro, fine-liner, mono-printing, etching, lino-printing, colouring pencil, sepia/sanguine pencils, watercolour, acrylics, oils and Photoshop.
• Ideas development
• Research an additional artist
• Studies in the style of this artist that also explore ideas
• A series of larger out-of-sketchbook pieces
• Refinement of skills
• Final Piece
Exemplar Sketchbook:
Below are photos of my sketchbook for you to use to help structure your own book and inspire ideas for how you might develop the theme in your own way. It is still a work in progress, so there are many empty pages with notes on to remind me what I intend to put there.
![Mind map](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/94d7bb20-6c72-401c-88fd-377386bd192b_rw_1920.jpg?h=c696c463a40be306b396dff09d6cdf42)
Mind map
![Intentions](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/1aa60ecd-3cd7-4441-b8d2-909949cdf7fc_rw_1920.jpg?h=db193cbfa4d2b3a5cc3d14029e195488)
Intentions
![Pencil studies of leaves](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/0d198d42-7bb1-4e82-8f92-0c48ca0d138c_rw_1920.jpg?h=56dc5c63fe4d49bf6ae30562be873cba)
Pencil studies of leaves
![Pencil studies of leaves](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/6bcc16de-1333-4e8e-b759-5aa25796d926_rw_1920.jpg?h=69407f7b9ecade55be8dbb0f08a5d5d2)
Pencil studies of leaves
![B&W natural form photos](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/c16cc4c8-905d-4d6f-918c-135d4d9f3bed_rw_1920.jpg?h=ef0b79e8abbb88be6a821f0b2a7e3194)
B&W natural form photos
![B&W natural form photos](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/06ab929a-541f-4ffd-b0c8-f9c3a3bc7bbb_rw_1920.jpg?h=40989287f85c012814a84a8533bea270)
B&W natural form photos
![John Ruskin research & study](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/60b48943-8d58-4cfc-9dd9-64acf89c1e45_rw_1920.jpg?h=dc871dca4f473ff02949590146b30f97)
John Ruskin research & study
![Inspired by Ruskin](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/d060909d-1bec-416a-974c-ba702f9c66d9_rw_1920.jpg?h=93abc8e0e38e383339fb99c8c1eeecdb)
Inspired by Ruskin
![Pencil study inspired by Ruskin](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/21e2d6ec-a683-4b5d-97a6-7fab8ec1680a_rw_1920.jpg?h=e5fd650379ef4fa81cad6d56c6873465)
Pencil study inspired by Ruskin
![Charcoal & carbon pencil studies](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/68577c78-5bc8-49af-b366-b76a15c360b0_rw_1920.jpg?h=d97c40f7aaf179af79d509d35888387a)
Charcoal & carbon pencil studies
![Charcoal study](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/f7c5ac72-7a37-41db-a00b-38f384688eee_rw_1920.jpg?h=169624c5355e6ac1efcd5982958887b8)
Charcoal study
![Fine-liner studies](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/98bb6ba4-c806-4caf-9076-d08ffee1f8dc_rw_1920.jpg?h=2410dea6a8ca02eab6e4548372c9436c)
Fine-liner studies
![Fine-liner studies](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/cc4ea4df-5b37-454f-8fd1-3c2d7b2e7a8c_rw_1920.jpg?h=40333c85bc6e234079597f5a58dad863)
Fine-liner studies
![Monoprint](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/fe64e958-fac4-4a68-a544-dfbe9ace0876_rw_1920.jpg?h=35bdfb2db45df30b1944a9bee4fd0482)
Monoprint
![Lino print (the process)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/71b42671-7b1c-4110-a598-a86b92e3aca1_rw_1920.jpg?h=e79603007bedf1f00235ccb6b6ec3d5d)
Lino print (the process)
![Lino prints](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/95f88a58-8532-45b7-bac0-55c3ed711ccc_rw_1920.jpg?h=25a618a8c47980236d87d79f6caafc80)
Lino prints
![Colouring pencil studies](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/aece9015-5d8c-4ce4-bb7d-3a2a9692591a_rw_1920.jpg?h=dfa27b197b38802f9f5c98623832d823)
Colouring pencil studies
![Colouring pencil study](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/a246658d-34c8-4f4d-a453-8969ed5a1884_rw_1920.jpg?h=273dc396e541e46b8c59421fd3e9ca65)
Colouring pencil study
![Acrylic paint experiments](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/bab50c4d-2cc8-4394-a2bd-85166baacb8b_rw_1920.jpg?h=e0db048b805124d0625cdbf6a3007d95)
Acrylic paint experiments
![Acrylic paint experiments](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/301d92a9-bb81-4425-b17f-c809e8525130_rw_1920.jpg?h=5e8dfe2c10f1850346621b282a5a4cb2)
Acrylic paint experiments
![Faith Te research & study](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/ac33b204-4955-44c9-9c2d-c7f72c05386c_rw_1920.jpg?h=b9e8f598b7078f19a4f50853cc2698cc)
Faith Te research & study
![Oil paint studies in the style of Faith Te](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/8345c7e9-c1d2-4e71-903d-ae2720541ae5_rw_1920.jpg?h=483be17600a2a9cdc96b75d482d5f25f)
Oil paint studies in the style of Faith Te
![Oil paint studies in the style of Faith Te](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/b3b5c717-44f1-44a4-8f0d-15b1633e420e_rw_1920.jpg?h=eef82a4402cf7777b7a6a53d5e22dcf2)
Oil paint studies in the style of Faith Te
![Colour studies](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/ac559d0c-abed-4bcf-bcd8-a4564157ed46_rw_1920.jpg?h=8d2f3b92dc94f3e4f0b5537575a7fd4c)
Colour studies
![Oil painting](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/3fa243eb-0ae3-4646-b36f-3729bdfb2a58_rw_1920.jpg?h=59d094506761300f62763d8c8f12bbdb)
Oil painting
![Development of ideas page](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/a4fe547a-c826-404e-a648-f93b770ddaa2_rw_1920.jpg?h=56183fa061ca97ab992de3a142d3b6a7)
Development of ideas page
![Development of ideas page](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/80130d35-12e9-4b16-a4f6-cfa491cab732_rw_1920.jpg?h=cd4441bac6afd9b26646b95b2d3d4b7b)
Development of ideas page
![Colour photos](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/36198f20-2c7e-4906-ab30-31fd35c8e44e_rw_1920.jpg?h=a1f85db42fe114bdff7d492414730a25)
Colour photos
![Colour photos](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/dd0878da-fc89-4e51-a709-7b78b7d44300_rw_1920.jpg?h=cbaf3bf81fa8f9be70d30bfecdf65f99)
Colour photos
![Oil painting](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/f283b9f6-a0c3-45a9-8c99-1df87d37e972_rw_1920.jpg?h=93c41111540e2e81ed96a33bcdfe17e0)
Oil painting
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/c2d401bf-432f-4412-8828-9f0dfc87a812_rw_1920.jpg?h=02585a31edd831fcbda23e3ded2104d4)
![Photoshop compositions](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/73ac960c-98af-4802-8676-5b8257766adf_rw_1920.jpg?h=81e737fe09de0286be144aaaaebce0a5)
Photoshop compositions
![Oil painting inspired by Marianne North](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/a46a6cd8-86c3-4e5e-ad4a-66d2e304871e_rw_1920.jpg?h=18be9a844a1152afab1be585880c3e6e)
Oil painting inspired by Marianne North
![Marianne North research page](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/06e988b1-e339-4149-a6a7-79bbcc97981e_rw_1920.jpg?h=84f9cd1e345cd93b30376f059c44e7bd)
Marianne North research page
![Marianne North research page](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/d56fd0f9-8528-480f-a0b2-6f1cf7cba4aa_rw_1920.jpg?h=e6f45896196f3e972f9dd1edc9fddf4c)
Marianne North research page
![Marianne North study in acrylics](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/b356a4d1-bb85-4bb5-a6f3-c2075b3c7700_rw_1920.jpg?h=8f2365dbd01ba11c7c63080dc8317c98)
Marianne North study in acrylics
![In the style of Marianne North](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/fe49bd29-fb57-4171-9a67-ccc3f853de89_rw_1920.jpg?h=c810903e961d5bdca612883746f6546a)
In the style of Marianne North
![Pencil studies of flowers from around the world](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/3111978d-cfc5-4f30-b369-f000d6986edc_rw_1920.jpg?h=785b9dc603dc0aab0e2895d68a9c7eb6)
Pencil studies of flowers from around the world
![Colouring pencil studies of flowers from around the world](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/30771c67-7cd2-424f-8b40-97cbc146ddcb_rw_1920.jpg?h=8cfee187b2f9051b92752e36d5fa3221)
Colouring pencil studies of flowers from around the world
![Exotic fruit studies](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/47ca3336-f0c9-450f-8917-3ef0c25e436a_rw_1920.jpg?h=c0d1e8041a4bd81f8520c13b78be589d)
Exotic fruit studies
![Photos of exotic fruit from around the world](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/18457a93-c57d-4298-9d88-582f10976690_rw_1920.jpg?h=89fabe10cc975afa9a9b7f05c487d6bc)
Photos of exotic fruit from around the world
![Photos of exotic fruit from around the world](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/062b376d-d294-4bc4-8ca4-79a048c61f30_rw_1920.jpg?h=74e531dde7fb116255d96e8271dcd8d5)
Photos of exotic fruit from around the world
![Birds from around the world](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/63f8bda8-2140-454f-a650-e0625ad65f69_rw_1920.jpg?h=ea6875f3a0ceacd3542e9d7f2f4521fe)
Birds from around the world
![Birds from around the world](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/b1df8253-4f1b-4f69-b2d5-e976a5ba18ed_rw_1920.jpg?h=23964ecc801f48db44e4f3568e838a3b)
Birds from around the world
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/373c814e-1979-4b0f-a0c8-f8a62e0f053d_rw_1920.jpg?h=5cb0ebb529a1d91fb2903b3e9ced5641)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/bb16c903-c0c4-4a44-b450-433547bbbdf5_rw_1920.jpg?h=6e5726d85ebf54fea9e680bea893119c)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/391972d3-09c3-4604-a8b5-878b9f809fc0_rw_1920.jpg?h=9e35dd9b0c5b7f1031ecfc3f9e44b6ee)
![William Morris research](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/41231a89-da36-4e3f-9c3c-cbfef9be1306_rw_1920.jpg?h=ab2ec8a8062013e2c15b8bf6430db10c)
William Morris research
![William Morris study](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/69603939-b32e-4a87-85c1-60efbd5cd221_rw_1920.jpg?h=28befd0c5c573dc25582a04c1b87fa12)
William Morris study
![William Morris research](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/f95ac76b-994b-4409-816e-ffc4b6941ff3_rw_1920.jpg?h=5aecfc589590aa5e6d2583462818235b)
William Morris research
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/556ca90c-9fbd-44d2-8c31-915b9e3b3dca_rw_1920.jpg?h=a48e65d20d0226bbc4da0720aa6bb79f)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/0294d57d-ea4c-4416-8d3b-d46d591b8239_rw_1920.jpg?h=ba692029e0f527ae4dbf094422e53b8b)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/38363fe5-be4e-44aa-9405-bbda02921a38_rw_1920.jpg?h=8a3ed147fd0b4b0347247cad24ac7420)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/a534d93e-4421-466c-b49c-468379385431_rw_1920.jpg?h=fccaa17b962be54653bfc6efbe1cf2c8)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/a841b4ee-bd17-47d0-9755-54f589c3a63c_rw_1920.jpg?h=8b18a3317fc509d239592baa0594d9a3)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/93daccd7-d653-4ce9-90b0-9f3f96b3e9d6_rw_1920.jpg?h=fb16d15b97e3d130066eab7665201e62)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/88972a3b-1a28-4dc1-904d-3adb3ac985f6_rw_1920.jpg?h=b37a68776ddb05524a1fc243d56b29f2)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/2bb0e50d-fa89-4480-8def-2973f61f65df_rw_1920.jpg?h=9cfa9015dd29ad20f25e715a384f654e)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/739375f8-1942-40d9-84f0-f5d77fc83164_rw_1920.jpg?h=ee07e2b7c49fb08a3065ff43f2e21af7)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/8aabafe1-d4b4-4ae7-8342-35115b8c9849_rw_1920.jpg?h=6bad7f7bf41fcdd2cc4514a028e1b4b2)
Canvas pieces (out-of-sketchbook):
![Marianne North study](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/f32ca16a-15fb-40cd-96c4-84612834b061_rw_1920.jpg?h=8a10f3d5c8b43ea23d0262e14c9b9615)
Marianne North study
![Oil Study](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/2e1c32e9-838d-437b-b50a-85c2a6872ef2_rw_1920.jpg?h=f4ad3c2015048e9ab14111a8bd482373)
Oil Study
![In the style of Marianne North](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/d4f91b30dd97ada2e3f54fdb5fe07fda/16b9aae0-c4aa-4d79-8722-48e4acbac696_rw_1920.jpg?h=795e426a71785599a8d4f7441e5fb924)
In the style of Marianne North
Final Piece:
Under construction!
Personalisation
What direction will your project take you? Although you begin with the set starting point of 'Natural Forms', it can evolve in whatever direction you like.
Checklist:
1. Title page
2. Mind-map
3. Initial ideas / intentions
4. Observational drawings of leaves in pencil
5. Black and white photographs of natural forms
6. John Ruskin research pages
7. Watercolour study of one of Ruskin's leaves
8. Black/white/sepia/sanguine study of a leaf in the style of Ruskin
9. Pencil study of a leaf with the same dramatic lighting as Ruskin
10. Charcoal studies
11. Fine-liner studies
12. Monoprints
13. Linoprints
14. Etchings
15. Colouring pencil studies
16. Acrylic studies
17. Oil studies
18. Development of ideas pages
19. Photographs to support ideas
20. Photoshop compositions to support new ideas
21. Research new artist relevant to ideas
22. Studies in the style of new artist
23. Larger, more refined pieces that evidence ideas while also clearly informed by new artist
24. Studies to further develop ideas in greater depth
25. Additional photographs
26. Studies to develop ideas even further
27. Research another artist relevant to extended ideas development
28. Refinement of skills and ideas
29. Larger, more refined pieces that evidence ideas while also clearly informed by new artist
30. Final piece planning
31. Final Piece
32. Evaluation
2. Mind-map
3. Initial ideas / intentions
4. Observational drawings of leaves in pencil
5. Black and white photographs of natural forms
6. John Ruskin research pages
7. Watercolour study of one of Ruskin's leaves
8. Black/white/sepia/sanguine study of a leaf in the style of Ruskin
9. Pencil study of a leaf with the same dramatic lighting as Ruskin
10. Charcoal studies
11. Fine-liner studies
12. Monoprints
13. Linoprints
14. Etchings
15. Colouring pencil studies
16. Acrylic studies
17. Oil studies
18. Development of ideas pages
19. Photographs to support ideas
20. Photoshop compositions to support new ideas
21. Research new artist relevant to ideas
22. Studies in the style of new artist
23. Larger, more refined pieces that evidence ideas while also clearly informed by new artist
24. Studies to further develop ideas in greater depth
25. Additional photographs
26. Studies to develop ideas even further
27. Research another artist relevant to extended ideas development
28. Refinement of skills and ideas
29. Larger, more refined pieces that evidence ideas while also clearly informed by new artist
30. Final piece planning
31. Final Piece
32. Evaluation