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Art and the Botanical (FINA20044)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5Online
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | January - Online Summer Term - Online Semester 1 - Online Winter Term - Online July - Online Semester 2 - Online |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This practice-based drawing subject focuses on developing skills and techniques in botanical drawing, using drawing and watercolour media. Students will be introduced to specialist botanical drawing techniques, working from live plants and botanical specimens and engaging with the University Cultural Collections (including the University of Melbourne Herbarium (MELU) and the University of Melbourne System Garden).
Lectures and writing tasks that explore the botanical in historic and contemporary visual art will complement the drawing program. By the end of the subject, students should have developed a comprehensive folio of exercises and finished works exploring the botanical in both its living and preserved states, highlighting how artistic practice can be used as a space for exploration and discovery.
Though this subject is designed for students who have little or no drawing experience, it will also suit students who have previously undertaken a visual art Breadth subject or similar.
Students will participate in live online classes, and engage with online content including demonstrations, discussions, virtual tours and lectures. Ongoing feedback will be provided.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- demonstrate drawing skills required to effectively represent the botanical in both living and preserved states from direct observation;
- discuss how plant material has been represented in both historical and contemporary art and in the field of botany;
- use pictorial and technical experimentation to explore visual and conceptual ideas relevant to the representation of plant material;
- show technical development and proficiency in manipulating a range of media through practical experimentation and set tasks;
- demonstrate independent research into historical and contemporary art in relation to botanical subject matter;
- evaluate drawing processes, creative outcomes and their own development.
Generic skills
On completion of the subject students should be able to:
- display an awareness of the graphic possibilities of a variety of concepts, materials and practices;
- exhibit evidence of skill development both pictorially and technically as a means of independent image making;
- indicate evidence of individual research in the relevant area of practice;
- demonstrate practical skills in respect of critical analysis, problem solving;
- demonstrate capacities for artistic imagination, creativity, transformation and interpretation;
- demonstrate an open, independent and inquiring attitude towards contemporary cultural developments and new ideas.
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
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Written Assignment
| During the assessment period | 25% |
Folio, including all projects, finished drawing and paintings, trials, support work, visual diary, research and notes created throughout the subject.
| During the assessment period | 75% |
Hurdle requirement: Students must submit all elements of assessment to be eligible for a pass in this subject. For the purposes of meeting this hurdle requirement, each submitted assessment must be complete and constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task. Submitting only part of an assessment (e.g. only the title page) or an assessment on an irrelevant topic will not meet this hurdle requirement. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 75% of all scheduled classes. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Ongoing feedback is provided to students through the subject's duration via live online classes. Students are required to upload photographs of daily progress for teacher’s feedback and guidance. Additionally, a progress review will take place midway through the subject, taking into account the following criteria: course engagement; work development.
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- January - Online
Coordinator Colleen Ahern Mode of delivery Online Contact hours 36 hours, comprising 6 hours live online lectures, demonstrations, workshop classes and virtual tours per day for 6 days. Total time commitment 136 hours Teaching period 18 January 2022 to 25 January 2022 Last self-enrol date 19 January 2022 Census date 28 January 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 11 February 2022 Assessment period ends 14 February 2022 - Summer Term - Online
Coordinator Colleen Ahern Mode of delivery Online Contact hours 36 hours, comprising 6 hours live online lectures, demonstrations, workshop classes and virtual tours per day for 6 days. Total time commitment 136 hours Teaching period 27 January 2022 to 3 February 2022 Last self-enrol date 28 January 2022 Census date 4 February 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 11 February 2022 Assessment period ends 23 February 2022 - Semester 1 - Online
Coordinator Colleen Ahern Mode of delivery Online Contact hours 36 hours, comprising 3 hours of live online lectures, demonstrations, workshop classes and virtual tours per week for 12 weeks. Total time commitment 136 hours Teaching period 28 February 2022 to 29 May 2022 Last self-enrol date 11 March 2022 Census date 31 March 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 6 May 2022 Assessment period ends 24 June 2022 - Winter Term - Online
Coordinator Colleen Ahern Mode of delivery Online Contact hours 36 hours, comprising 6 hours live online lectures, demonstrations, workshop classes and virtual tours per day for 6 days. Total time commitment 136 hours Teaching period 27 June 2022 to 4 July 2022 Last self-enrol date 28 June 2022 Census date 8 July 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 22 July 2022 Assessment period ends 24 July 2022 - July - Online
Coordinator Colleen Ahern Mode of delivery Online Contact hours 36 hours, comprising 6 hours live online lectures, demonstrations, workshop classes and virtual tours per day for 6 days. Total time commitment 136 hours Teaching period 5 July 2022 to 12 July 2022 Last self-enrol date 6 July 2022 Census date 15 July 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 29 July 2022 Assessment period ends 1 August 2022 - Semester 2 - Online
Coordinator Colleen Ahern Mode of delivery Online Contact hours 36 hours, comprising 3 hours of live online lectures, demonstrations, workshop classes and virtual tours per week for 12 weeks. Total time commitment 136 hours Teaching period 25 July 2022 to 23 October 2022 Last self-enrol date 5 August 2022 Census date 31 August 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 23 September 2022 Assessment period ends 18 November 2022
Additional delivery details
Quota
This subject has an enrolment quota of 92 for each availability, and places are limited. Places will be allocated until the quota is reached. Enrolment in this subject is not guaranteed.
Delivery
As this subject will be undertaken remotely, students will need access to a computer with internet access for online classes, a camera or device to digitally document practical work and will need a suitable workspace such as a desk or table with natural light.
Breadth Studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music
Breadth studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music allow students from a variety of backgrounds to continue their interest in the arts or develop new skills and passions alongside their undergraduate degree at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and the Victorian College of the Arts. Read More >
Enquire about this Breadth subject: vca-breadth@unimelb.edu.au
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Incidental costs
Incidental Costs will apply for the purpose of purchasing materials as relevant. Details will be provided to students approximately 1 month prior to the first class.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Breadth Track Drawing, Painting and Observation - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 15 February 2024