Art Studio Practice

Course Description

Art Studio Practice has been designed to enable learners to develop meaningful conceptual knowledge through research and studio practice.

Learners will actively create, develop, and refine artworks through sustained practical investigation, informed by reflective and critical analysis. The course challenges learners to evaluate and articulate their ideas as they consolidate their artistic practice.

The course integrates knowledge and practice through active art-making, experimentation, and participation in specialised and authentic learning experiences. It provides a framework for learners to establish links and actively engage with local, national, and international art communities.

Learners will negotiate a proposal for self-directed learning, producing and refining a coherent body of original work. Their sustained investigation will culminate in a public exhibition of their own resolved artwork.

Rationale

Art Studio Practice challenges learners to resolve a proposal into a final visual art exhibition through practical studio and discipline-based investigation. The course emphasises both conceptual development and technical skill, requiring learners to make creative decisions, take risks, and demonstrate independence in their studio practice.

Throughout the year, learners actively:

research, plan, and trial ideas through studio-based experimentation informed by contemporary and historical contexts;
develop and refine works-in-progress through cycles of feedback, reflection, and documentation (e.g., visual diaries, process journals, or digital folios);
consolidate and extend skills in one or more studio areas (e.g., painting, printmaking, digital art, sculpture, installation, or cross-disciplinary practice);
produce and exhibit their own coherent body of resolved artworks that communicates a personal or conceptual intention and demonstrates sustained creative practice.

Learners’ sustained investigation culminates in the public exhibition of their own original work for external assessment. This final exhibition represents the consolidation of a year-long process of inquiry, experimentation, refinement, and resolution, giving learners authentic experience of professional studio practice.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:

design, manage and implement a studio exhibition
communicate artistic concepts
critique own art, and the artwork of others
apply artistic judgements to resolve aesthetic and conceptual issues
understand historical and contemporary art issues, their impact on society, artists, and own art works
apply principles of reflective practice and academic integrity
use artistic techniques, media and technologies to create art works
work autonomously, and collaboratively with others.

Access

Learners are required to complete Visual Art Level 3 at a Satisfactory Achievement or above as a prerequisite to study this course.

Pathways

Learners who have successfully completed Visual Art Level 3 are well placed to undertake Art Studio Practice. Learners who complete Art Studio Practice ART3152214 are prepared for the study of visual arts at tertiary level.

Resource Requirements

Learners will require:

access to studio space and materials appropriate to the selected studio/discipline area
studio exhibition space appropriate for the body of work
periodic access to reference materials and resources (e.g. the internet).

Learners are required to work in small groups for critical appraisal and evaluation activities.

Attendance at relevant art exhibitions and events is encouraged.

Course Size And Complexity

This course has a complexity level of 3.

For a full description of courses at a complexity level of 3, please refer to the Levels of Complexity - Tasmanian Senior Secondary Education document on the TASC website.

This course has a size value of 15. Upon successful completion of this course (i.e., a Preliminary Achievement (PA) award or higher), a learner will gain 15 credit points at Level 3 towards the Participation Standard of the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE).

Course Requirements

Work submitted for assessment in Art Studio Practice must be produced over the duration of one calendar school year, be unique to this course and not be work submitted for assessment in any other course.

Course Content

This course consists of two compulsory areas of learning:

Conceptual knowledge
Practice.

Learners are expected to both research and create artworks. They will engage in conceptual and practical investigations that inform the production of a coherent body of work, culminating in a public exhibition.

CONCEPTUAL KNOWLEDGE

Research - Active Investigation

Learners will:

undertake research into ideas, processes, materials, and practices that directly inform and support the development of their own art-making
explore and analyse diverse artistic methods, examining both historical and contemporary approaches
evaluate the relevance of different conceptual frameworks
critically engage with the work of artists, curators, galleries, and arts organisations at local, national, and international levels.

Learner engagement may occur through exhibitions, events, reviews, interviews, and other forms of arts-based inquiry, enabling learners to make informed choices that shape and refine their personal artistic practice.

Learners will:

engage in a minimum of three (3) investigations resulting in the production of a range of evidence
develop their concepts and establish a context for their work.

This evidence of engagement, demonstrating the learner’s interaction with the arts community, should be submitted as a hard copy. Evidence may include items such as:

emails or correspondence with artists
notes from gallery visits or exhibitions
documentation of engagement with professional artists
summaries from Q&A sessions with artists
other relevant forms of evidence that demonstrate interaction or engagement with members of the arts community, appropriate to the learner’s research focus.

N.B. Evidence does not need to be presented in essay format. It may be provided in a range of appropriate formats, including written, visual, digital, or other forms that clearly demonstrate engagement, as negotiated with the teacher.

Critical Analysis

Critical analysis in Art Studio Practice is integrated with studio practice rather than treated as a separate theoretical study. It involves learners researching, evaluating, and reflecting on ideas and practices that inform the development of their own work.

Learners will:

undertake investigation and analysis of conceptual theories and issues in local, historical, and contemporary contexts as they relate to and inform their own proposal and studio practice. This includes engaging with the practices of other artists, using appropriate art terminology, and reflecting on their own developing work.
produce one (1) major research project of approximately 2,500 to 3,000 words, or an equivalent multimodal or digital presentation, which takes the form of a critical analysis. In this task, learners will critically evaluate and synthesise ideas, demonstrating the depth and complexity of their conceptual knowledge, while making clear connections between their research and their own studio practice.

Reflection

Reflection is an ongoing, personal process in which learners critically consider their own art-making. Learners will accumulate information, insights, and evaluative commentary that support a sustained practice aligned with the aim of their research proposal.

A negotiated project will be articulated through:

an artist statement (100–150 words) outlining the learner’s artistic intention and the conceptual basis of their work.

Additionally, reflection will include a formalised critical appraisal and evaluation of the learner’s own work. This process will:

occur at least two (2) times during the course
be conducted in groups of two (2) or more
involve peer feedback, supported by teacher(s) and/or other artists
require learners to analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of their artistic decisions, the development of their ideas, and the extent to which their work communicates their intended meaning.

PRACTICE

Proposal and Content of the Proposal

The proposal acts as a focus statement of intention and models the scope and format of an exhibition proposal suitable for submission to a gallery director. It must include key decisions regarding the layout and design of the final exhibition.

The proposal should outline the following elements:

the conceptual idea underpinning the exhibition
the context of the body of work to be exhibited
the selection of materials and media
the selection and application of artistic techniques
the scale of the exhibition
the design elements of the exhibition space (e.g. lighting, hanging arrangement of works).

The learner will develop three (3) research proposals for their studio practice in negotiation with their facilitator: Studio practice refers to the learner’s personal, self-directed art-making process, including their choice of conceptual focus, materials, techniques, and exhibition design. The proposal documents and supports this practice by outlining decisions and intentions.

Initial proposal: at the start of the year
- learners are expected to give high priority to the development of their initial proposal.
mid-year proposal
Final proposal:
- must culminate in an exhibition of work.
- provides essential context for studio practice
- will undergo a process of refinement over time.

Format and Style

The final research proposal should be clearly structured and purposefully written to support the development and presentation of the final exhibition.

The final proposal:

should take the form of a concise exhibition plan or focus statement, clarifying:
- what is being exhibited
- how it will be realised
- why the artistic choices have been made
should be approximately 300 - 500 words and written in concise, direct language
the proposal is not to be written in essay form.

Assessment Considerations

The success of the final proposal will be reflected in the cohesion and clarity of the final exhibition. The learner’s ability to resolve aesthetic and conceptual issues will be evident in the stylistic, technical, and conceptual resolution of the exhibited work.

Studio Practice

The learner will sustain process documentation through:

reflective commentary that records intentions, decision making and evaluation of outcomes over time
experimentation and exploration of media and techniques that demonstrate risk-taking, testing of ideas, and technical development. Documentation may take the form of visual diaries, process journals, annotated photographs, digital records, or other negotiated formats.

Through this a studio specialisation will be developed through sustained experimentation, reflection, and refinement. This specialisation will demonstrate the learners:

depth and complexity of conceptual understanding, showing how research and reflection inform practice
commitment to sustained practical rigour and ongoing engagement, aligned with the aims of the research proposal
ability to make connections between conceptual ideas, technical experimentation, and resolved practice.

The learner will present a body of their own resolved artwork for exhibition. This body of work must be entirely the learner’s original practice and cannot incorporate work created by others. The scope of this body of work may vary depending on media and approach (e.g., installation, painting, photography, sculpture, digital art), but it must reflect the scale, time commitment, and value of a 150-hour course, demonstrating a sustained, rigorous commitment to practice and inquiry.

Teachers should guide learners to plan and manage their workload so that the exhibition demonstrates both breadth and depth of practice, supported by process documentation. Practical work is the primary focus of the course, with research and process documentation serving to underpin, inform, and extend the practical outcomes. Learners must demonstrate how their research has directly informed their practice, and how their practice has, in turn, guided and shaped their research.

Process documentation such as journals, research notes, visual diaries, or digital records, must be substantial enough to evidence ongoing inquiry and engagement. Documentation must make the time commitment visible and verifying that the scale and learning outcomes of the course have been achieved.

Exhibition

Learners are expected to act autonomously, taking full responsibility for the creative design, organisation, and installation of their own exhibition.

The exhibition will include:

preparation, as outlined in the negotiated research proposal
planning for the allocation of time and resources
design and hanging of the final body of work
presentation of process documentation
display of the learner’s artist statement.

Assessment

Criterion-based assessment is a form of outcomes assessment that identifies the extent of learner achievement at an appropriate end-point of study. Although assessment, as part of the learning program, is continuous, much of it is formative, and is done to help learners identify what they need to do to attain the maximum benefit from their study of the course. Therefore, assessment for summative reporting to TASC will focus on what both teacher and learner understand to reflect end-point achievement.

The standard of achievement each learner attains on each criterion is recorded as a rating ‘A’, ‘B’, or ‘C’, according to the outcomes specified in the standards section of the course.

A ‘t’ notation must be used where a learner demonstrates any achievement against a criterion less than the standard specified for the ‘C’ rating.

A ‘z’ notation is to be used where a learner provides no evidence of achievement at all.

Providers offering this course must participate in quality assurance processes specified by TASC to ensure provider validity and comparability of standards across all awards. To learn more, see TASC's quality assurance processes and assessment information on the TASC website.

Internal assessment of all criteria will be made by the provider. Providers will report the learner’s rating for each criterion to TASC.

TASC will supervise the external assessment of designated criteria which will be indicated by an asterisk (*). The ratings obtained from the external assessments will be used in addition to internal ratings from the provider to determine the final award.

Quality Assurance Process

The following processes will be facilitated by TASC to ensure there is:

a match between the standards of achievement specified in the course and the skills and knowledge demonstrated by learners
community confidence in the integrity and meaning of the qualification.

Process –TASC gives course providers feedback about any systematic differences in the relationship of their internal and external assessments and, where appropriate, seeks further evidence through audit and requires corrective action in the future.

Additionally, TASC may select to undertake scheduled audits of this course and its work requirements (Provider standards 1, 2, 3 and 4).

External Assessment Requirements

The external assessment requirements for this course assess criteria 1, 2, 6 & 7.

Further information regarding external assessment processes and requirements is articulated in the TASC issued Assessment Guidelines which can be found in the Supporting Documents below.

Criteria

The assessment for Art Studio Practice Level 3 will be based on the degree to which the learner can:

1. design, manage and implement a studio exhibition*
2. communicate artistic concepts*
3. critique art works
4. resolve aesthetic and conceptual issues
5. understands historical and contemporary art issues
6. apply the principles of reflective practice*
7. use artistic techniques, media and technologies*
8. work autonomously, and collaboratively

* = denotes criteria that are both internally and externally assessed

Standards

Criterion 1: design, manage and implement a studio exhibition

This criterion is both internally and externally assessed.

The learner:

Standard Element	Rating A	Rating B	Rating C
E01 - Proposal development	identifies an area of artistic interest and develops a comprehensive, clearly articulated proposal	identifies an area of artistic interest and develops a detailed proposal	identifies an area of artistic interest and develops a basic proposal
E02 - Collaborative refinement	negotiates with a facilitator to refine the proposal	negotiates with a facilitator to refine the proposal	negotiates with a facilitator to refine the proposal
E03 - Proposal documentation	documents refinements to the proposal using appropriate methodology and including analysis of changes	documents refinements to the proposal using appropriate methodology	documents refinements to the proposal using methodology as directed
E04 - Proposal modification	modifies the proposal to successfully address issues as they arise, and to take account of likely future issues	modifies the proposal to address issues as they arise	modifies the proposal as directed
E05 - Exhibition planning and implementation	plans for the exhibition of a body of work, and implements all aspects of the final proposal	plans for the exhibition of a body of work, and implements most aspects of the final proposal	plans for the exhibition of a body of work, and implements some aspects of the final proposal
E06 - Exhibition realisation	exhibits a body of art work, reflecting all stylistic, technical and conceptual elements of the final proposal.	exhibits a body of art work, reflecting most stylistic, technical and conceptual elements of the final proposal.	exhibits a body of art work, reflecting major elements of the final proposal.

Criterion 2: communicate artistic concepts

This criterion is both internally and externally assessed.

The learner:

Standard Element	Rating A	Rating B	Rating C
E01 - Conceptual investigation	investigates an extensive range of artistic concepts using a wide variety of relevant sources	investigates a wide range of artistic concepts using a variety of relevant sources	investigates some artistic concepts using a range of sources
E02 - Selected artistic concepts	evaluates selected artistic concepts and the significance of these concepts to self and others	analyses selected artistic concepts and the significance of these concepts to self	explains selected artistic concepts and the significance of these concepts to self
E03 - Expressive techniques	experiments with, selects and uses appropriate artistic techniques and conventions to effectively communicate ideas and/or emotions through the making of art works	selects and uses appropriate artistic techniques and conventions to communicate ideas and/or emotions through the making of art works	uses artistic techniques and conventions to communicate ideas and/or emotions through the making of art works
E04 - Conceptual realisation	exhibits a body of resolved art works that effectively conveys intended expressive and conceptual meaning.	exhibits a body of art works that conveys intended expressive and conceptual meaning.	exhibits a body of art works that conveys elements of intended expressive meaning.

Criterion 3: critique art works

Rating ‘A’:
Using the aesthetic and critical language of the visual arts the learner:

Rating ‘B’:
Using some elements of the aesthetic and critical language of the visual arts the learner:

Rating ‘C’:
Using some elements of the aesthetic and critical language of the visual arts the learner:

Standard Element	Rating A	Rating B	Rating C
E01 - Critical self and peer evaluation	observes, interprets and critically evaluates the art works of self and others	observes, discusses, interprets and evaluates the art works of self and others	observes, discusses and evaluates the art works of self and others
E02 - Comparative art analysis	accurately compares and contrasts, and critically appraises a broad range of art works	compares, contrasts and appraises a broad range of art works	compares and contrasts a range of art works
E03 - Contextual analysis	analyses relationships between socio-historical and cultural factors, artists and their works	explains relationships between socio-historical and cultural factors, artists and their works	discusses relationships between socio-historical and cultural factors, artists and their works
E04 - Conceptual-cultural connection	analyses relationships between artistic concepts and culture.	explains relationships between artistic concepts and culture.	discusses relationships between artistic concepts and culture.

Criterion 4: resolve aesthetic and conceptual issues

The learner:

Standard Element	Rating A	Rating B	Rating C
E01 - Artistic techniques and strategies	evaluates the effectiveness of technical methods and aesthetic strategies used by others to resolve a range of artistic and conceptual issues	analyses technical methods and aesthetic strategies used by others to resolve a range of artistic and conceptual issues	explains technical methods and aesthetic strategies used by others to resolve specific artistic and conceptual issues
E02 - Exploration and manipulation of creative techniques	creatively explores and manipulates appropriate techniques and ideas in the creation of own artworks	explores the use of appropriate techniques and ideas in the creation of own artworks	explores the use of techniques and ideas in the creation of own artworks
E03 - Artistic and conceptual issues	selects and applies a range of appropriate technical methods and aesthetic strategies to effectively and creatively solve artistic and conceptual issues.	selects and applies a range of appropriate technical methods and aesthetic strategies to solve artistic and conceptual issues.	selects and applies a limited range of technical methods and aesthetic strategies to solve artistic and conceptual issues.

Criterion 5: understands historical and contemporary art issues

Rating ‘A’:
The learner investigates and documents a wide range of historical and contemporary art issues that have arisen at the local, national and international levels. The learner:

Rating ‘B’:
The learner investigates and documents a range of historical and contemporary art issues that have arisen at the local, national and international levels.The learner:

Rating ‘C’:
The learner investigates and documents a range of historical and contemporary art issues that have arisen at the local, national and international levels. The learner:

Standard Element	Rating A	Rating B	Rating C
E01 - Art issues in context	critically analyses the nature of art issues and their socio-historical and cultural setting	analyses the nature of art issues and their socio-historical and cultural setting	explains the nature of art issues and their socio-historical and cultural setting
E02 - Nature of impact of art issues	evaluates the nature, scope and significance of the impact of art issues on society and artists	analyses the nature and scope of the impact of art issues on society and artists	discusses the impact of art issues on society and artists
E03 - Art issues and artistic practice	evaluates relationships between art issues and technical, aesthetic and conceptual aspects of own art works.	analyses relationships between art issues and technical, aesthetic and conceptual aspects of own art works.	identifies and describes relationships between art issues and technical and conceptual aspects of own art works.

Criterion 6: apply the principles of reflective practice

This criterion is both internally and externally assessed.

The learner:

Standard Element	Rating A	Rating B	Rating C
E01 - Own art making processes	documents and critically analyses own idea generation, and documents and evaluates own art making processes	documents and analyses own idea generation and art making processes	documents and describes own idea generation and art making processes
E02 - Feedback integration	reflects on feedback from others, evaluates its relevance, and modifies own art practice to effectively address relevant issues	reflects on feedback from others, analyses its relevance, and modifies own art practice to address relevant issues	modifies own art practice in response to feedback from others
E03 - Contextual and influential reflection	critically analyses the context of own art making and art works, and evaluates artistic influences on own work	analyses the context of own art making and art works, and artistic influences on own work	identifies and describes the context of own art making and art works, and artistic influences on own work
E04 - Source acknowledgement	clearly identifies the sources of concepts and techniques used, borrowed or adapted from the works of others using appropriate methodologies. The degree to which the concepts and techniques of others have been borrowed or adapted is clearly articulated.	clearly identifies the sources of concepts and techniques used, borrowed or adapted from the works of others using appropriate methodologies.	identifies the sources of concepts and techniques used, borrowed or adapted from the works of others using appropriate methodologies.

Criterion 7: use artistic techniques, media and technologies

This criterion is both internally and externally assessed.

The learner:

Standard Element	Rating A	Rating B	Rating C
E01 - Techniques and media application	selects, uses and experiments with techniques, media and technologies to resolve articulated technical, aesthetic and conceptual aims	selects, uses and modifies techniques, media and technologies appropriate to articulated technical, aesthetic and conceptual aims	selects and uses techniques, media and technologies appropriate to articulated technical and conceptual aims
E02 - Technical problem-solving	experiments with techniques to effectively resolve technical issues when making art works	modifies techniques to resolve technical issues when making art works	adjusts techniques in response to technical issues when making art works
E03 - Concept and techniques realisation	creates art works that demonstrate resolution of documented concepts and applied technique(s)	creates art works that demonstrate a clear relationship between documented concepts and applied technique(s)	creates art works that demonstrate some relationship between documented concepts and applied technique(s)
E04 - Safe work practice	always follows safe work practice guidelines.	always follows safe work practice guidelines.	always follows safe work practice guidelines.

Criterion 8: work autonomously, and collaboratively

The learner:

Standard Element	Rating A	Rating B	Rating C
E01 - Planning and time management	evaluates, selects and uses planning tools and strategies to achieve objectives and manage activities within proposed times	selects and uses planning tools and strategies to achieve objectives and manage activities within proposed times	uses planning tools to achieve objectives within proposed times
E02 - Goal monitoring	reflects on progress towards meeting goals and timelines, critically evaluates progress and plans future actions	reflects on progress towards meeting goals and timelines, analyses progress and plans future actions	reflects on progress towards meeting goals and timelines, and articulates some ways in which goals can be met in the future
E03 - Task completion	meets specified/negotiated timelines and addresses all required/proposed task characteristics with a high degree of accuracy	meets specified/ negotiated timelines and addresses most required/proposed task characteristics	meets specified/negotiated timelines and addresses some aspects of required/proposed task characteristics
E04 - Collaborative engagement	effectively employs a range of collaborative strategies when working in partnership with others	effectively employs a range of collaborative strategies when working in partnership with others	employs collaborative strategies to work in partnership with others
E05 - Constructive peer feedback	– in collaborative critiquing situations – gives constructive, insightful relevant feedback and suggestions to others in an appropriate manner.	– in collaborative critiquing situations – gives constructive, detailed and relevant feedback to others in an appropriate manner.	– in collaborative critiquing situations – gives some relevant feedback to others in an appropriate manner.

Qualifications Available

Art Studio Practice Level 3 (with the award of):

EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT

HIGH ACHIEVEMENT

COMMENDABLE ACHIEVEMENT

SATISFACTORY ACHIEVEMENT

PRELIMINARY ACHIEVEMENT

Award Requirements

The final award will be determined by Tasmanian Assessment and Certification from the 12 ratings (8 ratings from the internal assessment and 4 ratings from the external assessment).

The minimum requirements for an award in Art Studio Practice Level 3 are as follows:

EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT (EA)
10 ‘A’, 2 ‘B’ ratings (3 ‘A’ and 1 ‘B’ rating from external assessment)

HIGH ACHIEVEMENT (HA)
4 ‘A’, 5 ‘B’, 3 ‘C’ ratings (1 ‘A’, 2 ‘B’ and 1 ‘C’ rating from external assessment)

COMMENDABLE ACHIEVEMENT (CA)
6 ‘B’, 5 ‘C’ ratings (2 ‘B’ and 2 ‘C’ ratings from external assessment)

SATISFACTORY ACHIEVEMENT (SA)
10 ‘C’ ratings (3 ‘C’ ratings from external assessment)

PRELIMINARY ACHIEVEMENT (PA)
6 ‘C’ ratings

A learner who otherwise achieves the ratings for a CA (Commendable Achievement) or SA (Satisfactory Achievement) award but who fails to show any evidence of achievement in one or more criteria (‘z’ notation) will be issued with a PA (Preliminary Achievement) award.

Course Evaluation

The Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) will develop and regularly review and revise the curriculum. Course evaluation is informed by the experience of the course’s implementation, delivery and assessment. More information about course evaluation can be found on the TASC website.

Course Developer

The Department for Education, Children and Young People acknowledges the significant leadership of Ms. Jane Giblin, Ms. Peta Collins, Dr. Ian Bonde and Ms. Rosemary Summers in the development of this course.

Expectations Defined By National Standards

There are no statements of national standards relevant to this course.

Accreditation

The accreditation for this course has been renewed from 1 January 2026.

Version History

Version 1: Accredited on 2 December 2013. This course replaces Art Studio Practice (ART315209).

Version 2: Accreditation renewed with amendment on 22 November 2018 for the period 1 January 2019 until 31 December 2021. Addition to Pathways information.

Version 2a: Accreditation renewed without amendment on 14 July 2021 for the period 31 December 2021 until 31 December 2024.

Version 2b: Accreditation renewed without amendment on 22 June 2023 for the period 1 January 2025 until 31 December 202.

Version 3: Accreditation renewed with amendments from 1 January 2026. Clarification of content and work requirements. Addition of Element Titles in Standards.