This intermediate course offers the opportunity for students to continue developing their contemporary art practice and research.  Students are encouraged to expand their knowledge of technical, conceptual, practical and observational skills related to their selected 2D and 3D studio practice areas.  This intermediate level course aims to inform students about concepts, techniques and skills needed to critically operate as a practicing visual artist.  Through independent and/or collaborative learning, this course will identify the professional issues associated with art and research practices, including interdisciplinary and/or hybrid works alongside self-reflective practices.

This course builds on the knowledge and skills gained in VIS 1001 and VIS 1002, and is integral and complementary to the understanding of VIS 2002.

Storytelling and narrative based works of art offer artists an alternative to theory driven, aesthetic or historical approaches to practice. As such, the aim of this course is to show students how ‘storytelling’ has become a vital strategy for many artists in making a connection with the societies and cultures they live in.   This course will explore acts of storytelling across a broad range of media and cultural practices, from dominant culture to sub-cultures and Indigenous practices.  This will demonstrate how personal and cultural narratives provide opportunities to engage ideas that offer audiences an unfolding engagement with the artist’s intended story. Students in this class will be researching and viewing different forms of storytelling that are within traditional and non-traditional studio activities such as painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography and ceramics, as well as their expansion into areas such as film and social media.  Students undertaking this course should ultimately develop an understanding of how visual narratives are formed, and how the artist’s intention intersects with audience reception and expectation

This course will examine multifaceted approaches to art practice and aesthetics, positioned within the focus of 20^th and 21^st century cultural and artistic theories.  Students will view and research key artists and the ways in which they articulate conceptual intentions to reach creative outcomes.  The knowledge obtained from this course will form the basis for subsequent courses about art and ideas, and provides key information for students engaged in studio-based courses or activity, who will need to become critically reflective of their own work, as practicing artists.  This course will also introduce students to discussions about the public reception of artworks, and how works can become a conversation between artist and viewer.

Storytelling and narrative based works of art offer artists an alternative to theory driven, aesthetic or historical approaches to practice. As such, the aim of this course is to show students how ‘storytelling’ has become a vital strategy for many artists in making a connection with the societies and cultures they live in.   This course will explore acts of storytelling across a broad range of media and cultural practices, from dominant culture to sub-cultures and Indigenous practices.  This will demonstrate how personal and cultural narratives provide opportunities to engage ideas that offer audiences an unfolding engagement with the artist’s intended story. Students in this class will be researching and viewing different forms of storytelling that are within traditional and non-traditional studio activities such as painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography and ceramics, as well as their expansion into areas such as film and social media.  Students undertaking this course should ultimately develop an understanding of how visual narratives are formed, and how the artist’s intention intersects with audience reception and expectation

Professional artists need a broad knowledge of museums, commercial galleries, artist-run initiatives and arts business models.  The aim of this course is to develop students’ awareness of a variety of arts industry professions and practices that are an extension of artistic practice.  This course is an industry development course that will expand the student’s knowledge and skills and personal development in the arts industry through traditional and non-traditional professions, with a focus on managerial skills and entrepreneurship.  This is integral to working towards a career in a varied range of art professions.

In this course, students will undertake studies in a minimum of one studio area.  This course builds on the intermediate studio courses by addressing studio practice and research within a contemporary art context at an advanced level.  Students will focus on expanding research methods, and demonstrating articulate written, spoken and visual language through their studio and self-reflective practices.  Across this course, students will further develop independent and/or collaborative projects under the guidance of staff.  The work produced will be of a high professional standard, and will prepare students for further study at Honours and/or postgraduate level, or to work within creative industries.  Students will be introduced to the various career pathways within professional arts industries.  These include: practicing artist, curator, gallery administrator, art education officer, art teacher, art writer and more.  This enables the student to cater their learning to individual career aspirations. 

This course offers the full suite of Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Ceramics, Photography and Drawing workshops for ON CAMPUS Toowoomba students only.  Students must select a minimum of one studio area.

ONLINE and ON CAMPUS Springfield students will be offered Painting, Drawing and Sculpture during semester time.  Students who wish to pursue Printmaking, Ceramics or Photography may consider doing approved intensive workshops during the non-teaching periods, such as the McGregor Summer or Winter schools.  Students may also wish to engage in approved intensives in Painting, Drawing or Sculpture if studying ONLINE.  Due to the range of possible intensives or workshops, to gain credit for these activities, students must seek and obtain pre-approval from the discipline co-ordinator of visual arts.

This course is one of two studio capstone courses aimed at industry preparedness.  The aim of these capstone courses is to facilitate the integration of advanced learned knowledge and the industry standard for employability and project outcomes.  Students require experience in a range of professional concepts, techniques and skills in order to critically apply and professionally engage with their art practice.  The expectation is that at completion, students should have a clear idea of the high level of competency, project management and other professional issues required to produce successful outcomes. This process includes the use of dynamic concept and project development, of evaluation, re-evaluation and adjustment. This course aims to equip students as self-reflective and independent practitioners/researchers, which are necessary skills for entry into further Honours and/or postgraduate study, or employment in the creative industries.

This course expands upon VIS 3001 by critically investigating studio practice, contemporary context and individual methods.  Students will apply a high level of research skills and analytical thinking in forming their studio ideas, which will then be carried out with advanced technical ability.  During this course, students will focus on key areas of interest and work both independently or collaboratively in response to critique.  Upon completion of this course, students will be well equipped to engage in professional art practice and industry, or to enter into further study at Honours and/or level.   Students will learn to appropriately contextualise, justify and reflect on their approach to practice within a professional industry and research context. Students will be introduced to the various career pathways within professional arts industries.  These include: practicing artist, curator, gallery administrator, art education officer, art teacher, art writer and more.  This enables the student to cater their learning to individual career aspirations.  

This course offers the full suite of Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Ceramics, Photography and Drawing workshops for ON CAMPUS Toowoomba students only.  Students must select a minimum of one studio area.

ONLINE and ON CAMPUS Springfield students will be offered Painting, Drawing and Sculpture during semester time.  Students who wish to pursue Printmaking, Ceramics or Photography may consider doing approved intensive workshops during the non-teaching periods, such as the McGregor Summer or Winter schools.  Students may also wish to engage in approved intensives in Painting, Drawing and Sculpture if studying ONLINE.  Due to the range of possible intensives or workshops, to gain credit for these activities, students must seek and obtain pre-approval from the discipline co-ordinator of visual arts.

Students undertaking photography (minor) need to have completed FIL1003 Editing and FIL1001 Location Production 1 in first year.  NOTE: To undertake photography online students must have access to post-production software, a digital camera and lenses.

This course is one of two studio capstone courses aimed at industry preparedness.  The aim of these capstone courses is to facilitate the integration of advanced learned knowledge and the industry standard for employability and project outcomes.  Students require experience in a range of professional concepts, techniques and skills in order to critically apply and professionally engage with their art practice.  The expectation is that at completion, students should have a clear idea of the high level of competency, project management and other professional issues required to produce successful outcomes. This process includes the use of dynamic concept and project development, of evaluation, re-evaluation and adjustment. This course aims to equip students as self-reflective and independent practitioners/researchers, which are necessary skills for entry into further Honours and/or postgraduate study, or employment in the creative industries.