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Certificate II in Visual Art students learn still life observation, 3D rendering and more!

This year in the Certificate II in Visual Art, there has been a strong focus on embedding drawing design skills into each project, with students learning a wide range of techniques and media including still life observation, 3D rendering, stylisation, one-point perspective, Adobe Illustrator and more. As a part of our focus on drawing, we have invited two emerging Melbourne-based Illustrators to present to our students and run workshops that showcase their industry skills.

In Term 2, Caleb Azeez, a local teacher/musician/artist showcased his graphic design and illustration work (including 10+ of his mind-blowingly beautiful sketchbooks) to our students and taught a range of techniques to help students explore style and understand how they can develop their own personal style and express emotions effectively in their work. Students loved watching Caleb work real-time and under pressure to figure out how to use shape and line to communicate the ideas they were handballing him. It was fantastic to see students feeling confident and inspired to try new directions in their own work and take a more playful approach to sketching.

In Term 3, we had Ashley Ronning, full-time Illustrator and zine-queen join us for a zine-making workshop to share with students the rich history of the artform and to show them some of the exciting possibilities of this vital avenue for self-publication and distribution of their drawing work. Our students took instantly to the format, finding ways to illustrate their own perspectives and stories with impressive humour, daring and wisdom!

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Creative Enterprise in Visual Arts Immersion VCE VM

Creative Enterprise is a core part of the Visual Arts Immersion VCE VM curriculum, where students learn the business and manufacturing skills needed to turn their creative work into small businesses.

In Year 11, the focus is on becoming familiar with the design thinking process through a series of skills building masterclasses. This year the students have had opportunities to learn from design experts at Banyule Nillumbik Tech School to create digital images for laser cut and 3D print manufacturing.

They also travelled to Troppo Print Studio in Brunswick to learn the art of screen printing with artists Matt Feder and Sarah Murphy. You can see some of the amazing merch they created in the photos, not to mention the smiles! Next up, students will have the opportunity to learn to make silicone moulds with scientist and jeweller, Jamie Mumford.

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Couchfest 2022

Congratulations to all students, staff, volunteers and performers of this year’s NCAT Couchfest. After running smaller versions over the last two years, NCAT Couchfest was back with the biggest one yet. Originating in 2015, Couchfest is a student-led event showing the incredible talents of our VCE Vocational Major (VM) students across Visual and Performing Arts and General VCE VM.

Performance VCE VM students studying  a Certificate II in Dance or Music or a Certificate III in Music Performance or Sound Production, worked as a production company to plan and organise the music and performance event with over 30 bands, solo acts, dance and theatre performances. The performances wowed the 500 strong audience across a number stages.

Visual Arts Immersion VCE VM students worked tirelessly to create artworks and products for sale at over a dozen student-run market stalls and General VCE VM students ran recycled clothing stall and sustainable cafe.

The well-known food truck Taco Truck sold out all its food. Many past students visited, and it was great for visitors to come and see exactly what NCAT students can do. 

 

 

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Visual Arts Immersion VCE VM

The Visual Arts Immersion program is a full-time Year 11 and Year 12 Art and Design focused course for students with a strong interest and/or career ambitions in the Art and Design industry. VCE Vocational Major subjects and the VET Certificate II and III in Visual Arts are integrated to create a flexible, innovative curriculum model. Students learn in a vibrant and creative environment that builds skills and focuses on the individual. Entry is via application including examples of student artwork and interview.

Develop and refine your conceptual skills in drawing, digital imaging and design. Work with a range of materials including painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, jewellery, textiles and fashion. Apply visual arts skills to independent and group projects in the local and broader community. Learn about history, culture and industry. Attend galleries and art industry events. Work with specialists from Melbourne’s creative community.

Visual Arts Immersion VCE VM enables you to:

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Study art and design full-time whilst completing your secondary schooling.

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Develop artistic skills in drawing, painting, design and digital platforms.

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Work one-on-one with teacher-mentors who help you communicate your ideas and achieve your creative potential.

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Develop confidence, identify and use your individual strengths.

We focus on future skills required in the changing job market. We help students become confident, capable, creative individuals who know their strengthsand how to apply them in any situation.Our students have hands-on experienceof the work of an artist or designer

TestimonialsAbbey Baggio (Visual Arts Immersion Student)

“My last year at NCAT was a year full of self discovery. Finding out who I am as an artist has been such a positive journey; I’ve had so much fun learning about my strengths and weaknesses and truly just discovering what I’m passionate about.”

TestimonialsAbbey Baggio (Visual Arts Immersion Student)

“My art is a positive outlet for me and it has allowed me to discover such life-changing confidence within myself. This whole journey has changed me in the most lovely way and I’m so grateful and ready to create and trust myself with everything I create in the future.
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TestimonialsLeon Alasso (Visual Arts Immersion Student)

“I truly appreciate the opportunity I had to experience a more progressive environment. During my time in the Visual Arts Immersion program I got lots of support and great encouragement to try new things and it really pushed me to discover how I could make a career though art.”

TestimonialsSarah Moss (Visual Arts Immersion Student)

“My time at NCAT is something I will never forget. Through encouragement from my teachers, I progressed faster than I could have imagined. The Visual Arts Immersion program taught me a positive work ethic, to embrace my creativity and to explore all the different mediums and pathways available.”

TestimonialsSarah Moss (Visual Arts Immersion Student)

“Since leaving NCAT, I have gone on to start my own business in the film and television industry; freelancing as a makeup artist for advertisements, feature films and television shows. I am currently working full-time in the Hair and Makeup Department of long-running Australian television show, Neighbours.”

TestimonialsSarah Moss (Visual Arts Immersion Student)

“NCAT will always feel like home for me, and I will always be thankful for the uplifting advice I constantly received from my teachers - pushing me in the right direction while giving me the space to improve myself self-sufficiently.
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TestimonialsSam Larsen (Visual Arts Immersion Student)

“I’m currently studying a Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration at RMIT and I wouldn’t be here without the incredible knowledge and support from all of the teachers that had a hand in my education. I can never speak highly enough about the opportunities I’ve been given and I recommend it to any creative inspired person who wants to excel in their area.
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TestimonialsNatasha Stamos (Media Teacher)

“Within the Visual Arts umbrella we also have the Arts Immersion program which is a vocational learning program where students are in a studio environment for four days a week. They also get all their literacy and numeracy through that.
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Course
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Course Structure

NCAT's Art Immersion program is two certificates over two years. The CUA20720 Certificate II in Visual Arts in Year 11 and the CUA31120 Certificate III in Visual Arts in Year 12. We have structured the course to maximise creative thinking space and support artwork development. The days are not divided into separate sessions, so students can concentrate fully on their creative research and art making.

Studio Practice

Students develop their individual arts practice through a series of targeted design processes. Classes are run in a studio environment, with provision of high-quality resources and personal mentoring to ensure each student can achieve their artistic potential. Students strive to develop a high level of technical proficiency, creative and critical thinking skills and personal ideas and imagery. Students attend gallery spaces around Melbourne and exhibit their own work in professional group exhibitions.

Workshops

Each week students attend a full-day workshop; structured, technical classes, exploring materials and techniques in photography, painting, drawing and design fundamentals. Each workshop begins by exploring relevant information from art history and theory and trialling new techniques. Students then apply the information and techniques learned in an individual artwork in response to a brief. Relevant health and safety procedures are taught and observed. In year twelve, students collaborate to design and create a wearable art piece for our legendary ‘Fashion Fortnight’.

Creative Enterprise

Students learn to apply their creative skills to product design and development, learning from professional designers and makers in a range of settings. Students learn to apply technology to product development to make professional-grade work, including laser cutting, 3D printing and the application of the Adobe suite. They learn essential business skills such as branding and marketing, costing materials and making a profit and sell their products at the college Arts festival “Couchfest.”

Professional Practice

Students investigate study and career opportunities through speakers, research and experience. They learn about opportunities, regulations and practices in the creative industries. They develop skills for job applications, interviews and personal promotion as well as developing tools such as resumes, websites and professional-quality portfolios.

Literacy

Students create and respond to a range of written and graphic texts. They discuss artworks and art-making practices verbally and in writing, and learn to describe, analyze, review, research and debate about art and artists. They learn about texts specific to the creative industries including grant and exhibition applications, manifestos and self-promotional texts such as artist statements. They use the planning, drafting and editing process to improve skills in personal expression, spelling and punctuation

Numeracy

Numeracy skills are explicitly taught during application to creative projects across the curriculum. Students use the problem-solving cycle to identify the mathematics and then apply the required approach to existing tasks such as technical drawing, exhibition design, risk assessments, cartography, market research and business processes.

Pathways

Upon successful completion of the qualifications, students may choose to pursue further study or work in the arts.

Many Visual Arts Immersion students progress to the NCAT Folio Preparation or NCAT Photography programs. These are one-year programs aimed at building industry-related skills including training in the Adobe Suite, access to specialist elective subjects, drawing and course and careers counseling, enabling students to find out where their abilities can best be directed into a career. Over the past 25 years NCAT Folio Preparation and NCAT Photography have established relationships with all of the major TAFEs and universities.

NCAT Visual Arts Immersion graduates are guaranteed a position in these highly-respected programs, subject to interview.

Direct entry to Swinburne University of Technology