Visual Arts MasterClass IEB

The Visual Art MasterClass Series of videos was produced to highlight, clarify and refine the most important concepts as described in the Subject Assessment Guidelines (SAGs) for Visual Art. The concepts learnt prior to Grade 12 are not explicitly covered as individual topics but are reinforced to the extent that they apply to Grade 12.

These classes focus primarily on idea formation, experimentation, documentation and basic structure. They DO NOT cover the Contextual Research component, which is to be completed in conjunction with these processes mentioned in order to obtain the most favourable outcome. The Visual Journal (Visual Diary) creative process accounts for 20% of the overall PAT and Practical Examination (P2) components respectively. The creative process is very important as it sets up the scaffold upon which the final artwork, and final examination drawing are created from. A successful Visual Journal allows a student to authentically engage with a theme or given topic, and through careful documentation, research and perseverance reach a desirable outcome that arguably lessens the stress of creating the final artworks.

These videos serve to explore the creative process with a focus on the “golden thread”. A student who watches this MasterClass Series attentively and who reinforces the explanations given by actively working with their teacher will be able to create authentic and thoughtful ideas, processes, experimentation and documentation for the Creative Process component of their PAT and Paper 2 examination.

Lucy Mylchreest life has always revolved around Art, a lifelong passion that became evident at a relatively young age. Fresh out of school, and keen on a career in the advertising industry, Lucy started her journey at Vega, in 2004. Later, Lucy opted to complete a Fine Arts Degree, up to Honours level, at the University of the Witwatersrand. There she gained exposure to a vast array of art-making methods, and was tutored by some of the most well-known names in the South African art scene – among them, Clive van den Berg, Penny Siopis, Walter Oltmann, Jo Ractliffe and Hentie van der Merwe. Wanting to diversify, Lucy also focused on digital photography and added an extra major – English Literature – to her qualifications.

From there, she enrolled in the post-graduate programme and went on to complete a Master’s Degree in Digital Art. Her special focus was South African animation, and her research report revolved around the first feature-length animated film ‘Jock of the Bushveld’, created exclusively in South Africa – an experience that saw her collaborating with the director of the original live action film. It was around that time that the urge to teach struck like a lightning bolt, and Lucy was appointed to teach Visual Arts at De La Salle Holy Cross College, in Linden. Soon thereafter, she completed her PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) in Secondary and FET teaching. Lucy stayed with De La Salle for nine years, growing the Department of Visual Arts from its beginnings. She also managed the school’s Pipe Band and started the Art Club. Seeking new adventures, Lucy was enthusiastic to apply for her dream job at Redhill High School – where she currently heads the Department of Visual Arts and teaches both the IEB and the IB Visual Arts curriculums.