AS 91452 Annotated exemplars

This annotated exemplar is intended for teacher use only. Annotated exemplars are extracts of student evidence, with commentary, that explain key parts of a standard. These help teachers make assessment judgements at the grade boundaries.

Download all exemplars and commentary [PDF, 2.5 MB]

TKI Visual Arts assessment resources (external link)

For Excellence, the student needs to systematically regenerate ideas using drawing informed by established photography practice.

This involves critically analysing, evaluating and revisiting concepts, subject matter, problems or situations from the student’s previous artwork in order to re-form and extend ideas into new drawings informed by established practice.

This student has extended and regenerated pictorial and technical ideas through multiple iterations.

The man versus nature proposition is clearly established and clarified in terms of pictorial and technical aspects at the very beginning of the investigation (1) (2). The student then explores a significantly different pictorial approach with the spray can and magnifying glass elements (3). Further pictorial and technical extension occurs through photomontage (4) and image sequencing (5) (6).

Regeneration occurs in the final images through the evaluation and more sophisticated revisiting of previous pictorial elements (7) and the adaptation of the elongated landscape format (8) (9) used in the multiple image sequences (5) (6). For example, the tall format montage (7) reuses the camera lens with the added innovation of painting the monarch butterfly entirely red. 

The final outcomes (7) (8) show critical analysis in the refinements of unexpected scale relationships, subtle focal quality and highly saturated primary colours.

For a more secure Excellence, the student could critically edit some of the less successful middle order images. For example, the initial montage (4) could be replaced with a work that matches the crisp focus and compositional clarity of the preceding and subsequent work.

For Merit, the student needs to systematically extend ideas using drawing informed by established photography practice.

This involves critically analysing, evaluating and further developing concepts, subject matter, problems or situations, in drawings informed by established practice.

This student has achieved a very strong clarification of traditional Dutch still life pictorial and compositional approaches (1) (3) (4) and sound extension through the contemporary and technically innovative response to the vanitas genre (5).

At each stage the student includes analytical and evaluative notes (2). These notes articulate an understanding of established photography techniques and painting pictorial ideas. The critical analysis is also demonstrated in the advancement of visual ideas between the traditional approaches (1) (3) (4) and contemporary extensions (5).

The investigation addresses the progression of technical aspects such as lighting, focal length and colour (3), and pictorial ideas such as object juxtaposition and narrative symbolism (4).

To reach Excellence, the student could either further advance the technical innovations explored in the final sequence (5) or introduce a more contemporary dimension to the investigation through the use of modern objects.

Regeneration could be demonstrated through the integration of a new artist model that explores the vanitas theme in a significantly different way, for example the Sam Taylor-Wood short film Still Life.

For Merit, the student needs to systematically extend ideas using drawing informed by established photography practice.

This involves critically analysing, evaluating and further developing concepts, subject matter, problems or situations, in drawings informed by established practice.

This student has explored issues of identity and media presentations of women by combining Barbie and portrait images (1). Photoshop filters are used to further investigate issues of distorted identity (2), followed by a series of images exploring costume variations (3). These images show sound understanding of the characteristics and constraints of photography appropriate to the studio portrait practice such as pose, expression and lighting.

The different approaches are succinctly integrated into a clarified outcome (4) that uses grid and pixilation strategies to communicate ideas about clichéd archetypes and distorted online personalities.

Critical analysis and evaluation is evident in the advancement of visual and thematic ideas. For example, the potential of pixilation to represent a virtual identity is extended in the photo montage (5) and digital distortions (6). 

For a more secure Merit, the student could further extend the ideas emerging at the end of the investigation. For example, the flying pixels (5) could be refined to more clearly communicate the idea of a real person turning into a virtual avatar.

The student should support the final outcomes (5) (6) with visual or written material that explains the origin and intention of the work. For example, the student could provide a series of concept drawings with critical analysis, and evaluative notes may ensure that alternative developmental options are not overlooked.

For Achieved, the student needs to systematically clarify ideas using drawing informed by established photography practice.

This involves analysing, reflecting on and further developing concepts, subject matter, problems or situations in drawings informed by established practice.

This student has clearly identified a specific set of technical, pictorial and subject parameters and explores visual responses to these in a thoughtful and systematic way.

The student uses a variety of artist models such as Uta Barth, Silvio Wolf and the painter Mark Rothko to develop technical and pictorial ideas (1) (2) (3) (4) (5).  The final outcomes (6) move away from the book content (and associated symbolisms) to present a pure abstract clarification.

At each stage the student shows understanding of the characteristics and constraints appropriate to the visual intention. For example, the crisp focus and strong contrast support the formal grid based images (2) (3) (4), while the Bath- and Rothko-inspired works (5) (6) use a very different framing and focal approach.

To reach Merit, the student could extend ideas in either a technical or pictorial direction. For example, the formal abstraction of the later images (6) could be further developed technically in terms of complexity or simplicity. 

A pictorial extension could involve a reconsideration of the narrative potential of the theme by returning to the original library context. The introduction of a human element (a librarian interacting with books) may provide opportunity to extend the ideas in an entirely new and unexpected direction.

For Achieved, the student needs to systematically clarify ideas using drawing informed by established photography practice.

This involves analysing, reflecting on and further developing concepts, subject matter, problems or situations in drawings informed by established practice.

This student has used a still life proposition to explore lighting, viewpoint and compositional aspects of picture making. Outside (1) (2) and studio (4) (6) photo shoots are completed with the results of each being further developed through digital manipulation (5) (7).

The final outcomes for each sequence (3) (5) (7) show consideration of framing, sequencing, colour saturation and tonal values. Throughout the investigation the student maintains a focus on the transparent reflective quality of the bottles and tightly cropped objects within a limited picture space. This enables them to clarify the pictorial and technical aspects of the proposition.

For a more secure Achieved, the student could explore and clarify conceptual ideas rather than focus entirely on formal outcomes. For example, the Uta Barth-like spatial and focus ambiguities (3) provide an opportunity for further development. 

A more sustained investigation would trial a wider range of approaches to the identified proposition. For example, a glass tank of coloured liquid, sheets of textured glass or mirrored surfaces could add new dimensions to the investigation. The use of light and shadow emerging in the second photo-shoot (6) could also be further refined and accentuated.

For Achieved, the student needs to systematically clarify ideas using drawing informed by established photography practice.

This involves analysing, reflecting on and further developing concepts, subject matter, problems or situations in drawings informed by established practice.

This student has used a selection of frames (1), old photographs (2), wall paper patterns and a face (3) (4) to build meaning through visual association. The decision to obscure the identity of the individual (3) (4) adds to a sense of mystery that provides the viewer with the potential to interpret the images in multiple ways.

The final sequence of images (5) show the student has reflected upon the preceding photo-shoots and identified the most successful outcomes. Images have been grouped (5a) (5b) to create an implied narrative.

To reach Achieved, the student could define a particular thematic proposition rather than producing three different photo-shoots with limited pictorial or thematic connection. Identifying a clear proposition from the outset may also lead to a more systematic investigation. A statement of intent and even small concept drawings, may provide the focus and direction needed to clarify visual outcomes.

The student could focus on either the personal nostalgia (5a) or formal photographic (5b) aspects of the investigation. This would mean a more sustained analysis and reflection about the strengths and weaknesses of the identified approach to advance pictorial, technical and thematic properties.