Module Descriptors
STUDIO PRACTICE INTRODUCTION
FINA40197
Key Facts
Digital, Technology, Innovation and Business
Level 4
30 credits
Contact
Leader: Jessica Longmore
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 60
Independent Study Hours: 240
Total Learning Hours: 300
Assessment
- COURSEWORK weighted at 70% - Learning outcome(s) assessed: 1,2,3
- COURSEWORK - 1200 OR 5-6 MINUTES weighted at 30% - Learning outcome(s) assessed: 4
Module Details
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Demonstrate foundational knowledge, concepts, and skills within Fine Art contexts. Knowledge & Understanding
2. Apply technical and creative methods to produce an experimental, risk-taking approach to your artistic practice and material inquiry. Application & Problem Solving
3. Use digital tools relevant to Fine Art to support creative production. Digital Literacy
4. Reflect on your technical, creative, and artistic practice to enable your future development. Reflection, Personal Development & Entrepreneurship
2. Apply technical and creative methods to produce an experimental, risk-taking approach to your artistic practice and material inquiry. Application & Problem Solving
3. Use digital tools relevant to Fine Art to support creative production. Digital Literacy
4. Reflect on your technical, creative, and artistic practice to enable your future development. Reflection, Personal Development & Entrepreneurship
ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT DETAILS
Assessment 1: Coursework: Evidence of artistic practice
This will consist of a body of practical artwork, presented in your studio space, along with relevant supporting material. Supporting work might take the form of sketchbooks, notebooks, material tests, or
other forms of practical experimentation, depending on your own artistic practice.
Assessment 2 Coursework: Practice in Context document/presentation
Option 1: This will consist of a digital file (for example, a PowerPoint or PDF) that combines images of your work with reflective writing about your work and connects these with other artists’ work and ideas. This should be between 8 and 10 slides, with a word count of no more than 1200 words.
Option 2: This will consist of a verbal presentation that includes images of your work with reflective commentary about your work and connects these with other artists’ work and ideas. This should be between 8-10 slides and last 5-6 minutes. A reference list will be supplied to accompany presentation.
Formative assessment opportunities are embedded in the curriculum throughout the practical modules as crit groups and group tutorials.
This will consist of a body of practical artwork, presented in your studio space, along with relevant supporting material. Supporting work might take the form of sketchbooks, notebooks, material tests, or
other forms of practical experimentation, depending on your own artistic practice.
Assessment 2 Coursework: Practice in Context document/presentation
Option 1: This will consist of a digital file (for example, a PowerPoint or PDF) that combines images of your work with reflective writing about your work and connects these with other artists’ work and ideas. This should be between 8 and 10 slides, with a word count of no more than 1200 words.
Option 2: This will consist of a verbal presentation that includes images of your work with reflective commentary about your work and connects these with other artists’ work and ideas. This should be between 8-10 slides and last 5-6 minutes. A reference list will be supplied to accompany presentation.
Formative assessment opportunities are embedded in the curriculum throughout the practical modules as crit groups and group tutorials.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
- This module will introduce a speculative and experimental approach to working with materials that will help you establish your own studio practice.
- You will engage in individual and group projects, making use of your studio space and workshop facilities. - You will be introduced to some of the skills fundamental to fine art practice including material experimentation, visual analysis, and visual research.
- The module will allow you to initiate and establish an individual artistic practice and to make a personal response to research interests announced through tutorials and crit groups.
- You will be introduced to the basic resourcing, investigative and documentation skills particular to fine art.
- You will engage in individual and group projects, making use of your studio space and workshop facilities. - You will be introduced to some of the skills fundamental to fine art practice including material experimentation, visual analysis, and visual research.
- The module will allow you to initiate and establish an individual artistic practice and to make a personal response to research interests announced through tutorials and crit groups.
- You will be introduced to the basic resourcing, investigative and documentation skills particular to fine art.
WEB DESCRIPTOR
This module will introduce a speculative and experimental approach to working with materials that will help you establish your own studio practice. You will engage in individual and group projects, making use of your studio space and workshop facilities. You will be introduced to some of the skills fundamental to fine art practice including material experimentation, visual analysis, and visual research. The module will allow you to initiate and establish an individual artistic practice and to make a personal response to research interests announced through tutorials and crit groups.
LEARNING STRATEGIES
Lectures
Seminars
Tutorials
Group critiques
External Visits
Practical classes and workshops
Online resources
Group working
Seminars
Tutorials
Group critiques
External Visits
Practical classes and workshops
Online resources
Group working
TEXTS
Aristizábal, I., Nasar, H., Aberdeen Art Gallery, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Castlefield Gallery and Manchester Art Gallery (eds.) (2021) British art show 9. London: Hayward Gallery Publishing.
Elderton, L. and Morrill, R. (eds.) (2022) Vitamin D3: Today’s best in contemporary drawing. London: Phaidon Press.
Muhammad, Z. and de la Puente, G. (2022) ‘What if people don’t like my art? How can I deal with criticism?’, Elephant. Available at: https://elephant.art/what-if-people-dont-like-my-art-how-can-i-deal-with-criticism-14092022/ (Accessed: 14 January 2026).
Phaidon Editors (2025) Vitamin P4: New perspectives in painting. London: Phaidon Press.
Wilson, K. (2023) Drawing and painting: Materials and techniques for contemporary artists. 3rd edn. London: Thames & Hudson.
Where older texts are included, they are retained as foundational texts within the discipline, remaining relevant where no more recent equivalent texts are available.
Elderton, L. and Morrill, R. (eds.) (2022) Vitamin D3: Today’s best in contemporary drawing. London: Phaidon Press.
Muhammad, Z. and de la Puente, G. (2022) ‘What if people don’t like my art? How can I deal with criticism?’, Elephant. Available at: https://elephant.art/what-if-people-dont-like-my-art-how-can-i-deal-with-criticism-14092022/ (Accessed: 14 January 2026).
Phaidon Editors (2025) Vitamin P4: New perspectives in painting. London: Phaidon Press.
Wilson, K. (2023) Drawing and painting: Materials and techniques for contemporary artists. 3rd edn. London: Thames & Hudson.
Where older texts are included, they are retained as foundational texts within the discipline, remaining relevant where no more recent equivalent texts are available.
RESOURCES
Student Life https://www.youtube.com/@uniofstaffsstudentlife/videos
University Careers https://staffs.careercentre.me/Members
University Library https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/library
Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment will support this module where relevant
Specialist Spaces etc.
Smart Zone
CAD Labs
Print Bureau
Betty Smithers Design collection
University Careers https://staffs.careercentre.me/Members
University Library https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/library
Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment will support this module where relevant
Specialist Spaces etc.
Smart Zone
CAD Labs
Print Bureau
Betty Smithers Design collection