Art and the Botanical (FINA20044)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Southbank) and Online
About this subject
Contact information
Summer Term
February
Semester 1
Winter Term
July
Semester 2
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | Summer Term - On Campus February - On Campus Semester 1 - Online Winter Term - On Campus July - On Campus Semester 2 - Online |
|---|---|
| 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 classes, and engage with content including demonstrations, discussions, 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: 21 January 2025
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: 21 January 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
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 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: 21 January 2025
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Summer Term - On Campus
Coordinator Colleen Ahern Mode of delivery On Campus (Southbank) Contact hours 36 hours, comprising 6 hours of lectures, demonstrations, workshop classes and tours per day for 6 days. Total time commitment 136 hours Teaching period 22 January 2024 to 30 January 2024 Last self-enrol date 23 January 2024 Census date 2 February 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 February 2024 Assessment period ends 23 February 2024 Summer Term contact information
- February - On Campus
Coordinator Colleen Ahern Mode of delivery On Campus (Southbank) Contact hours 36 hours, comprising 6 hours of lectures, demonstrations, workshop classes and tours per day for 6 days. Total time commitment 136 hours Teaching period 1 February 2024 to 8 February 2024 Last self-enrol date 2 February 2024 Census date 9 February 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 February 2024 Assessment period ends 1 March 2024 February contact information
- 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 26 February 2024 to 26 May 2024 Last self-enrol date 8 March 2024 Census date 3 April 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 3 May 2024 Assessment period ends 21 June 2024 Semester 1 contact information
- Winter Term - On Campus
Coordinator Colleen Ahern Mode of delivery On Campus (Southbank) Contact hours 36 hours, comprising 6 hours of lectures, demonstrations, workshop classes and tours per day for 6 days. Total time commitment 136 hours Teaching period 24 June 2024 to 1 July 2024 Last self-enrol date 25 June 2024 Census date 5 July 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 12 July 2024 Assessment period ends 26 July 2024 Winter Term contact information
- July - On Campus
Coordinator Colleen Ahern Mode of delivery On Campus (Southbank) Contact hours 36 hours, comprising 6 hours of lectures, demonstrations, workshop classes and tours per day for 6 days. Total time commitment 136 hours Teaching period 3 July 2024 to 10 July 2024 Last self-enrol date 4 July 2024 Census date 12 July 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 19 July 2024 Assessment period ends 2 August 2024 July contact information
- 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 22 July 2024 to 20 October 2024 Last self-enrol date 2 August 2024 Census date 2 September 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 20 September 2024 Assessment period ends 15 November 2024 Semester 2 contact information
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
Quota
This subject has an enrolment quota for each availability, and places are limited. Places will be allocated until the quota is reached. Enrolment in this subject is not guaranteed.
Quota sizes are listed below:
SEMESTER 1 and SEMESTER 2:
Enrolment quota of 115 students.
SUMMER TERM, FEBRUARY, WINTER TERM and JULY:
Enrolment quota of 92 students.
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: 21 January 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Incidental costs
- Related Handbook entries
- 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
Last updated: 21 January 2025