Year 10 Mock Exams

This week our year 10 GCSE students completed their 1 day mock exam.  They were asked to produce a final piece based on the theme 'Broken'.  Here are their wonderful work...

Lucy Thompson, Lino Print

Jessica Anderton, Acrylic, chalk pastels and ink on canvas 

Gemma Haefele, Acrylic, collage and ink on canvas 

Numan Yahya, Acrylic on paper 

Joseph Sturt, acrylic and chalk pastel on paper 

Owen Rees, Acrylic, oil pastel and tinfoil on paper 

Sophie Smart, acrylic, chalk pastel and collage on paper 

Clare Barwell, acrylic &watercolour pencils on paper 

Andrew Ho, Watercolour paints, charocal and pencil on paper 

Adam Mather, clay (Adam's work is waiting to be fired in the kiln and will be painted very soon, fingers crossed it doesn't explode in the kiln!) 

Rebecca Reynolds, paper collage & PVA glue 

Hollie Whitehouse, acrylic, oil pastel and silver marker on paper



Amina Taki

‘Memories/The Past’

My final piece is about my own grandfather remembering his past and childhood.  I recall him saying with a teary eye, “I’m proud of my past and I’m not ashamed of any little bit of it.  But what I am ashamed of is this insignificant being I have become.”  This was my inspiration!  It made me realize it’s everything that you achieve now that counts, because when you get to that age when you need someone to help you walk or you need someone to help you get out of bed, it’s too late, there’s nothing that can be done anymore. 

Memories are a way of holding onto our past and not letting it go, giving us a little glimmer of hope that someday we may become that young and valuable man or lady we once were.  Therefore, I advise any person in this world who has seen my piece of work to make the best of their life now.  So when they are at that age and holding nothing but their memories and achievements, they will be proud.  They will be respected and the youthful person they once were.  Although this time they will be stronger and even greater, maybe not physically, but without, doubt mentally.

Alya Al Suwaidi

'A Shadow of Possibility'

My idea initially began on that of birds and the sea.  This is appropriate because I live by the sea. I wanted this to be a surreal view, so I chose the artist Rene Magritte who had created the silhouette of a bird in clouds, and the background of a sky, which I thought would go perfectly with my initial ideas. Most of my artist studies helped me to develop many different techniques, which helped me improve my final piece. I would say the technique I used most, was that of colour, throughout my preparatory work,I learned how to use many different colours blending them, with water colour and soft pastels, to create subtle variations.  I was particularly interested in creating the effect of a wave splashing which came from my initial drawings. In addition, I was able to develop my drawing skills, by the pencil drawings of birds.

My image, although it came to me suddenly, had a meaning behind it. The wave is representing a change, the doves, which most would see as a symbol of peace are rising from the wave as if they are made from the foam and the shadow of the crow which symbolises negativity, is fading into the water. So the meaning behind my final piece would be a peaceful change emerging, with the shadow of negativity left behind.

Yasmeen Luqman

‘Contemplation’

Wrinkles are one of the world’s most dreaded steps to wisdom.  To me, the elegant bends and curves that form delicate shadows and shade are beautiful.  Flowers require ‘TLC’ in order to grow, sharing the beauty of aging.  My inspiration for this piece was my father and his love for his father.  In addition to this, I was inspired by Lucian Freud, Monet, Caravaggio and Tina Kerikson.

Victoria Anderton

‘Shadow of Life’

With my piece, it shows a chest with a section torn out, exposing the ribs and the heart which is leaning blood over the skin, in acrylic with deeply contrasting tones which gives a dramatic exposure of how the dying are a shadow of life.

Stephanie Lepouras

Shannon Botham

‘Imploding Exploding’

When interpreting the shadow/shade theme, the effects of water came to mind.  Despite my passion for swimming, I also have an appreciation for the hidden power and strength of water.  I also find the way that light reflects and bounces off the surface aesthetically pleasing.

My ideas were fuelled by my hobby – swimming.  I linked the use of butterflies with the butterfly stroke.  I wanted to create a sense of elegance and power.  The butterfly stroke when being swam, is seen as elegant and graceful, whereas for the swimmer it requires explosive energy.

My final piece brings this all together creating an imploding box, contrasting with exploding elegance of the butterflies.

Nicole Crighton

‘Appassionata’

In my final piece, I have tried to interpret my passion for music.  It links with the title ‘Shadow and Shade’ by using a treble clef to overshadow the instruments.  I used many colours in my art work to show passion, and that music is colourful with its melodies and beautiful instruments.  I also used elongated shapes and detail to show the intricacy of individual pieces of music.  My artwork is a piece of music.



Liam Troup

‘Colourful Exposure’

This piece, I hope, will inspire people to not worry about their appearance and be happy about the kind of person they are.  I hope it will inspire people to follow their own path in life, not follow paths of others.  I was inspired to create this piece by my artist study of Francoise Neilly to create an explosive piece full of vibrant colours and shapes. 

Gerin Louis

‘Nature Morphing Culture’

The culture and nature in Abu Dhabi inspired myself a lot, in the creating of this piece.  The idea of a light soothing flower and a shadowed structure of Islamic design gives the viewer the impression of a master like piece.  The Islamic design was designed by using elements in nature and even the palm leaves were looped in the style of Gustav Klimt.

Jessica Vickery

'Cultural Context'

Emily Prest

‘Used in the Shadows’

My piece is inspired by Toulouse Lautrec and old Hollywood movie posters.  I chose Twiggy because she is one of my idols and she tied into ‘Shadow and Shade’ in a way that doesn’t always come to mind at first.  She was a young girl being used for her talents and beauty to benefit other people – something that would be just like the Moulin Rouge dancers that Toulouse Lautrec drew.  I placed her somewhere she’d be regularly, the runway/catwalk, also like the Moulin Rouge dancers.

Harrison Bright

Hass Al Mashani

Chelsea Lawson

‘Water lilies with Attitudes’

I was inspired by the title ‘Shadow and Shade’ to explore the darker side of flowers.  My final piece shows the contrast of flowers and dark, unexplored waters.  In my piece I have shown bright, vibrant flowers floating on the water as I was trying to show that water lilies are mysterious.  I was showing how the flowers reflect on the water and cast a shadow.  I experimented with different scales and colours to create a dramatic effect and show the life of a water lily.  From this piece I have given the flowers a character and a deep emotion. 



Andrea Inglis

Cormac Smeeton

For the theme Shade/Shadow I created a fictitious book called ‘Urban Rose: A Life in the Shadows’.  I started by writing   the book description which then led me to drawing the fish, church and rose on my A01 sheet.  I wanted to make a book design that had an urban-street look about it, and this related to the story.

During the exam I produced a drawing based on work from my development ideas.  I created the drawing using many different layers of materials. I started off with a layer of watercolor paint; I then built up on the foundation by adding a new element - I used spray paint to give my piece life and tone (blue, green and silver colour). I then outlined the patterns and shapes with a black fine liner to give the patterns definition.  Once that task was completed I then moved onto shading bright bold colors inside the fishes and intricate shading for the door.  I then did the same for the patterns and the roses.  My piece contains vibrant colours in contrast to the bleak intricate shading of the door.

William Korff

For the theme shadow/shade I wanted to explore the idea of ‘the shadow of war’ and the effect it has on people and animals.

I chose to have my face looking out of the painting so that the eyes could connect and deliver the message.  In the background there are lots of confusing shapes and clashing colours.  I wanted to have the skull hidden in the background so that it represented a feeling and the looming of death and destruction.  It was there to show to the audience the effects of war but also to fit into the theme of shade and shadow. I think it gives a very powerful and raw emotion to the way it was positioned behind the face and applied in black making it stand out more against the colours.

Wilbur Tan

My interpretation of the theme Shadow/Shade is based on the oppressive shadow that an addiction can have on someone’s life.  My final piece represents a range of emotions experience by a single person who is struggling with an alcohol and or drug problem.  In my work I have shown the different cracked shards of the mirror, which signifies a broken life of the person.  Within each of the shards I have painted, there is a slightly different reflection which symbolizes the series of hardships that have made this ‘broken man’.  The different emotions in each shard suggest a story and a time lapse.  I tried to suggest a development of emotions and a gradual change, this triggers that audience’s imagination as to why be the person in pain and anger.    Despite developing other ideas in my project, I have tried to base my final piece on pure anger and frustration – like the man has finally realized that his life is in ruins because of his addiction.

Zoe Moorton

I related my final piece to the theme of shadow and shade by representing shadowed sides of personalities, and how people may seem like they are calm but really there is a completely different side to how they’re feeling and their personality.  I wanted to portray this person at twilight as I liked the idea of having an atmospheric painting with almost a magical feel.  The idea is that at twilight the person’s personality changes and we see the real them.



Our First Post!

Hello,

We are the Art Department at Al Yasmina School, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.