My name is Ava, and I am currently in Year 10. I have been at Blackheath High School since Reception, and throughout my journey moving up the school, I have been offered an incredible amount of support and many opportunities, including the Art scholarship that I applied for in Year 7. I am really pleased to be at a school which recognises the importance of fostering a vibrant artistic community and provides me with so many creative opportunities. 

I have always been interested in Art, and the encouragement I have received throughout my time at Blackheath High really shows the school’s commitment to providing a diverse curriculum. Through in-depth lessons, I have delved into the works of a large range of artists, learning about new styles and techniques in art. We are also lucky enough to be given the opportunity to go on trips to museums and art events, local and overseas. As well as this, there are loads of different art clubs including Fashion Society, which I joined in Year 9. That is where I learnt to sew, fabric print, pattern draw and put together a garment for the school Fashion Show. I really enjoyed this, as I got to develop a greater understanding of textiles and fashion design.  

In our recent Art Scholars project (2022-23) entitled ‘Book Art Book’ we were challenged to create a piece of exciting artwork that incorporates the use of an old/existing book.  It was an open project where we could use any process, approach, materials and/or techniques to communicate our ideas. I loved the free reign of the brief, where I could explore text, lettering, stories, poems, myths and legends, literary characters or simply use the pages or book as a surface on which to work. Here are the ideas behind my piece and you can see a photo of my project in the gallery below. 

‘Book art book’: The idea behind my piece, is that a lot can be thought and not seen. I drew a mono-coloured self-portrait to show the simplicity of how someone may seem, versus the contrasting vibrant and chaotic colours of the mind, forcefully kept separate. Yet, the embroidery creeping onto the drawing signifies the barrier collapsing and the struggle with keeping all thoughts inside and hidden.  

There are high contrasts, not only in colours, but also materials. On the drawing, we see only pencil, pen and watercolour, all black and white. However, in the “mind” we see, embroidery, paints, pictures and coloured pencils, as well as layers to show the depth of complicity of the mind.  

The childhood photo, stood simply and untouched at the centre, represents how it started, how I started, simple. Yet, as time progresses, we see the layers and cut-outs become more and more distorted and uncontrolled, essentially representing life. How simplicity disappears with childhood and all the memories we so desperately try to hold onto, become distorted and uncontrolled as well.   

My GCSE art coursework theme for this year is ‘Hidden Beauty’. So far, I have looked into different branches of this theme on my opening page, and I am looking forward to exploring them in more detail. I have most recently completed an observational pencil drawing, looking at tree fungus and the hidden beauty of the patterns that can be found when it is studied. My preferred medium is pencil drawing because it allows me to control the overall outcome of my piece and engage in detail. In future, I aim to expand my knowledge in art and challenge my boundaries in creating artworks. I know Blackheath High will help me achieve my goals and I look forward to embracing new opportunities in the future. 

Written by Ava, Art Scholar, Year 10