Whatever. (You need to know.)

Deciding what your focus will be for a long term project is a hard thing to do – but getting ideas and inspiration early in the planning period is a worthwhile thing – even though your project will evolve as you work on it over time.

For HSC and IB art students it is sometimes hard to force inspiration, so often visiting art galleries and viewing the work of other artists is a great idea. The Art Gallery of NSW has made it a little easier for students by providing online access to lots of information related to its exhibitions, guides to Visual Arts Study and links to ArtExpress 2009.

You can view last year’s ArtExpress award winners online, including some detail and comment from students themselves about their ‘Body of Work’. Some include video interviews, and process diaries. An added component of this site is a selection of ‘Works in focus: collection connections’, which compares student works with some in the gallery’s main collection – a further investigation into the creative process of the artist.

There is a lot more which can be found at the Inside ARTEXPRESS web site – including artist’s quotes, which aim to ‘provide insights into art-making practice and key content in the Stage 6 Visual Arts Syllabus’. Many would agree with Tracey Moffatt, who declares:

‘I am not concerned with capturing reality, I am concerned with creating it myself.’

Why not investigate the whole site to what you may uncover to aid your creative process? (add a comment here to share your discoveries.)

N.B. To select a student’s work simply click on one of the diagonals on the home page: http://www.insideartexpress.com.au/home or select from the Artists menu

At this time of year, there are lots of web sites suggesting related texts and ideas for the HSC topic of ‘Belonging’ and other Areas of Study.

One I learnt about recently (which could also be worth visiting as your course develops) is that provided by Warringah, Manly and Pittwater Council Libraries: Inside Break It also has lots of other links to investigate and a blog with important dates, activities and ideas for senior school students. (e.g. Primary sources for HSC students)

Another site to check out, for info is: Belonging, a blog about supplementary texts and other resources which may be useful (or inspiring).

Keep checking back for more ideas and links like these… or suggest your own.

Want more reliable information?

Want access to more databases?

Want access from home?

Want it for free?

Then apply for a reader’s card (or library card) from either the NSW State Library, or the National Library of Australia. Both will give you access to databases which are too expensive for individual subscriptions, but an important key to eResources online.

Simply follow the links at: the NSW State Library or  National Library and your card, granting access, will soon be mailed to you, ready for use.

The aim of this blog is to provide both new information and serendiptous discoveries which may be useful for seniors. These could be resources avaialble from school or online, reviews and recommendations, and ideas to throw around and asking for your input or comment.

You may find things here (Web 2.0 tools) which you have tried and used yourself – if so, then say what you have used them for, and why or why not you like to use them. Or perhaps let us know what else you use instead?

If you come across something new here, then look into it, and try it out – both at home and school. (Some things may have restricted use at school.)

There should be lots of links to follow up, as well occasional bits of humour or things to make you think.