Difference between visual art and fine art?

What is the difference of study course between A levels in Fine Art and A levels in Textiles?

• The teacher wants me to do Art and design (Textile) instead of the course that I want which is Art and Design (Fine Art) because my portfolio shows skills with textiles more than ...show more

• Answer:

  youre quite right. if youve an interest in art, then thats what you should study. if you decide to go onto art college later, it will make no difference at all which you do; in fact, even if you study fashion or textiles, it still wont make any difference, as so few 6th forms offer textiles. between 6th form and art college/university people need to do a one year foundation course in art and design; that will give you a chance to try everything from costume design to advertising. you then you decide which subject area to specialise in til the end of the course, and build that into a portfolio for applying for art college. no work from A level will be included, as you will develop so much through foundation. its nice you have a skill in one area which is being recognised, and you certainly shouldnt disregard that, but dont do somethng youre not interested in. another point is that if you decide to do an academic degree, or go into non textiles work after school, that a textiles A level is seen as less good than an art one. as for the courses themselves, art A level will include life drawing, to teach, and develop your drawing skills. you need to show some talent in basic drawing, but theyre there to teach you skills, styles and possibilities. youll also get general instruction in art history, and spend most of the time doing some nciely weird art projects. textiles will be just weaving, dying etc. there's an emphasis on clothes, and design, not art. its MUCH more limited. anyway, in the end, youll do better in a class youre happy and interested in. one reason for this MIGHT be because they have a low number of applicants for textiles, and want more students for it. i could be wrong, but theyd certainly see it as a shame to let someone who's skilled at textiles go into art instead.. but i could be wrong, ha ha. but im probably right ;D i think you sound really intesersting- ive done design and art stuf with more 'craft' media before, its a great way to work. but its USING that material- ceramics, glass, weaving, not it BEING the whole project. are you at a private school, or state school? if so, is there a 6th form or other school you can go to?? its unusual for teachers to be so bossy about A levels. you need to diplomatically say that youre really excited by art. bring in books of artists youre interested in (run to teh library if youve none at home), and print outs/ photocopies of things you like. so long as your drawings are fairly competent, i think you should be accepted into art. if not, go elsewhere for your A levels. right now, lay off doing/saying anything which would look too textiles-ey, as it will only give them more reason to push you into that way. read up as much as you can on art and design, find stuff which grabs your interest, so youll be able to speak fluently about it. *noone* should decide how you spend 2 years of your life. if youre old enough to have sex, marry and join the army, youre certainly old enough to decide where you go next with your education! there are some guides online, and it sounds ok, but if youre not oh! WOW!!! by textiles- ignore them, do what you want. its your life. textiles curse~http://www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/uppersec/alevel/subject?assdef_id=740 art course~ http://www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/uppersec/alevel/subject?assdef_id=733 good luck. sock it to em!