Visual Art

National Diploma: Visual Art
Programme code: 702-1

Download a PDF Brochure about this programme
Download the 2012 Application form

The Fine Art programmes offered in the Department of Visual Art are aimed at the student who has a natural ability to work creatively in two and three dimensional visual media. The programmes prepare students for the professional world of the contemporary visual arts industries.

Careers

Benefits of studying this course at UJ

Modules

Duration

Entrance requirements

Selection criteria: portfolio submission and/or entrance assessment

Career Opportunities

Graduates could work in many areas of visual art industries, including:

Professional artist
Art education and training
Art gallery and museum curating and management
Art consulting
Art criticism, research and journalism
Print making and print studio management
Paper making and paper product design
Community and arts project management
Visual events management
General and graphic novel illustration
Aspects of video production and editing
Diverse digital and multimedia environments (including digital photography)

Benefits of studying this course at UJ

Expert lecturers
Small classes
The reputation and accreditation offered by the UJ
The department is situated within the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture Building with a total of 1200 creative students. This allows for a multidisciplinary approach to design education and exposes the students to other design disciplines
Support services and extra-curricula activities offered by UJ including:
- writing centre,
- career and psychological services,
- arts centre,
- sports bureau.

Modules

First Year

Drawing: Fine Arts I
Conceptual Studies 1
Space and Volume Studies 1
Visual Studies 1
Graphic Interpretation 1
Form and Colour Studies 1

Second Year

Drawing: Fine Arts 2
Visual Studies 2
Sculpture 2
Printmaking 2
Painting 2
Conceptual Studies 2

Third Year

Drawing: Fine Arts 3
Visual Studies 3
Art Theory 3
Studio Practice 3

Click here for full Module details

Duration

Three years full-time

Entrance requirements

Entrance Requirements: Applicants currently in Grade 12 or completed high school in 2008

A minimum APS of 19 with Mathematics or 20 with Mathematical Literacy is required to apply for the programme. The Life Orientation score is divided by 2 when calculating the total APS. Click here for full details on calculating the APS score, the relevant minimum score required per subject.

Entrance Requirements: Completed high school before 2008

This scoring system is used if the applicant completed school prior to 2008 or A/O levels. A minimum M-score of 8 is required is to apply for the programme. Click here for full details on calculating the M-score.

Selection Criteria

Applicants meeting the minimum requirements (APS or M Score) for NDip: Fine Art will be invited to an entrance assessment consisting of the following:

a) a portfolio submission including the two compulsory works as described overleaf
b) a practical assessment
c) an interview
d) a written component

Portfolio requirements

Your portfolio of artworks should consist of between 6 and 10 pieces of your best work.
These may be drawings, paintings, photographs, prints, sculptures or good quality reproductions (photographs, or digital images on CD ROM).
These must be your original work.
A note from your parent, guardian or teacher, verifying the authenticity of all your work, must accompany the portfolio.
All portfolios, as well as individual pieces of work, should be clearly labelled with your name and contact details.
You must also complete TWO compulsory projects that have been designed to assess drawing ability, imagination, sensitivity to colour, proportion, design skills and a general ability to communicate visually.
These two compulsory projects MUST be completed at home and form part of your portfolio at the entrance assessment.
The projects will help the department assess your overall potential as a Visual Art student.

Project 1: Drawing (approx 1½ - 3hrs to be completed at home)

Subject: Produce an accurate drawing of a wooden kitchen or dining room chair against a plain background. The whole chair must be represented.
Medium: Pencil on white cartridge paper.
Size: A2 (420mm x 594mm) in vertical format.

Consider the following:

- Do a number of sketches to explore the best composition before attempting the final drawing.
- Carefully consider the placement of the chair within the defined drawing area.
- Keep line work fresh and spontaneous.
- Ensure that the pencil is always sharp and use the eraser sparingly.
- Do not make use of mechanical drawing equipment such as rulers, compass sets, etc.
- Avoid large and illegible signatures — print the name in the lower right hand corner.
- Be aware of the factors that will aid in rendering the form of the chair, such as light, shadow, background/foreground contrasts, texture and context.
- Remember that irrelevant detail and decorative pencil smudging will not improve a poorly constructed drawing.

Project 2: Self-portrait (approx. 9 hrs to be completed at home)

Subject:
- Produce a self-portrait with favourite objects using colour.
- The portrait must be naturalistically rendered but may also include expression.
- The objects should help to provide insight into your personality.
- The portrait should be the most important and largest visual element in the picture.
Medium: Any water-based paint e.g. watercolour, poster paint or acrylics. Good quality cartridge paper or board may be used.
Size: A2 (420 mm x 594 mm).
The project will be assessed on drawing and painting skills, composition, sensitivity in the use of colour and imaginative interpretation of the theme.