Resolved Works

Resolved Works

What is this all about?

This task is all about showing that you can create a coherent body of work, a group of finished artworks that clearly express your artistic ideas and intentions.

You’ll submit five resolved (finished) artworks that represent your best work. These artworks should clearly communicate your artistic intentions and show that you’ve made thoughtful choices in how concept (your ideas) and form (how it looks) come together.

What You Need to Show

In this task, you need to show that:

• Your artworks connect to a clear concept or idea.

• You know how to use materials, techniques, and visual elements to express those ideas effectively.

• You can resolve artworks thoughtfully, meaning you’ve taken them to a strong, finished point.

• You understand your own process and can explain the decisions you made while making your body of work.
  
  

You’ll also write a short piece (called a rationale) where you explain:

• What your artistic intentions were

• How your choices in making the artwork helped communicate your ideas

• How the five artworks come together as a coherent collection

What You Need to Submit (6 Files Total)

1. Five Artworks (5 files)

• Submit five separate files, one for each artwork. These can be images or videos (videos can be up to 3 minutes long).

• For each artwork, include:

  • A title

  • The medium (materials you used)

  • The size/dimensions

You can also add up to two extra images per artwork (optional) if you want to show details or other views.

2. One Rationale (1 PDF file)

• A PDF file with up to two screens

• Your rationale must be 700 words or less

• This is where you explain your ideas, choices, and how your artworks connect as a group

How Your Work Will Be Assessed

For this task, your submitted visuals and written rationale will be assessed based on three main areas: Resolve, Synthesize, and Curate. Everything you submit, your five artworks and your rationale, needs to clearly show how you’ve met these goals at the highest level possible.

1. Resolve

You need to show that your five artworks are fully resolved, meaning they are complete, intentional, and ready to be shown to an audience. Each one should clearly express your artistic ideas and intentions, and together, they should form a coherent body of work with a shared meaning or message.

2. Synthesize

This means you’ve brought together your ideas (concepts) and materials (form) to create artworks that communicate clearly and intentionally. To show synthesis, your work should reflect:

• Your creative thinking

• What you’ve learned from other artists or sources

• The contexts, influences, and experiences that shaped your ideas

Synthesis should be visible not only in each individual piece but also in the whole group of artworks working together.

3. Curate

Curation is how you select, organize, and present your artworks and ideas. You're expected to:

• Show how your five artworks work together to communicate an overall meaning

• Explain your artistic intentions and choices through your written rationale

• Make thoughtful decisions about technique, style, concept, and presentation

Your rationale helps the examiner understand why you made certain decisions and how the five artworks connect as a single, meaningful collection.

Using Your Visual Arts Journal

Your Visual Arts Journal is a vital tool during this process. It’s where you:

• Record reflections and feedback

• Note ideas, inspirations, artist research, and museum/gallery visits

• Track how your thinking, intentions, and concepts developed over time

Looking back through your journal will help you write a stronger rationale, especially when explaining how your ideas evolved and how your artworks are connected.

What to Submit

You must submit six files in total:

• 5 artworks: One file for each, either image or video (videos can be up to 3 minutes long).

  • Include the title, medium, and size for each piece.

  • You can also submit up to two extra images per artwork if you want to show more details or different angles.

• 1 rationale: A PDF with no more than two screens and a 700-word maximum. This explains your ideas, intentions, and decisions.

Writing Your Rationale

Your rationale is your chance to explain your thinking behind your artworks. It should:

• Describe your overall artistic intentions

• Explain the choices you made, technique, style, materials, and concept

• Highlight any themes or connections between your artworks

• Reflect on how your ideas developed as you created the work

• Offer a short analysis of key parts of individual pieces

The rationale should use clear and accurate art vocabulary to help communicate your ideas effectively.

Important Reminders:

• Use 12-point font

• Stay under 700 words, only text within the word limit will be assessed

• Make sure your rationale and your artworks support each other in showing your artistic intentions

• When you cite or use sources, you must include a list of sources at the end of the text. The list of sources or any referencing details are not included in the word count