GCSE Sketchbook Examples

GCSE students- Over the last few months you have produced some fantastic sketchbook work. I have collected some of the best examples below. 

All the work is beautifully presented. However, for each piece, I've also tried to explain which assessment objective it scores marks for. This is useful information to think about as you are putting together your sketchbook for the current project.

Remember, these are the assessment objectives:

AO1: Develop ideas by looking at the work of other artists. Show understanding of different artists and artistic cultures.


AO2: Improve your ideas by experimenting. Be able to select the best media, materials and techniques for the work you are making..


AO3: Record your ideas, your opinions, and information about your topic, and about artwork you have looked at.You can record these things visually, in words, or by any other appropriate means.


AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response to what you have studied. This should show your understanding and make connections with the project work in your sketchbook.

Sketchbook Titlepages- Matthew, Tamazyn and Kimisha

Titlepages are not hugely important, but you might score a few marks for AO3 by showing that you can record simple ideas about the topic. Mainly, a titlepage makes a great first impression- which is always a good thing.

Brainstorm- Jade

Interpretations of Colours- Jade

Mood board- Jade

In the three pages above, Jade will score marks for AO3 by recording her ideas about the topic in a variety of ways. She will also score some marks for AO2, because she has thought carefully about the method and materials she is using to present her thoughts.

Brainstorms- Tamazyn and Kimisha 

Like Jade's work, above, these brainstorming pages score marks for AO3. Notice, however, the different approaches to brainstorming from each student. Tamazyn's is based on key words, while Kimisha's is more visual. Both these approaches are equally good.

First-hand drawing from plants and flowers- Pooja

Preparatory drawing from photographs- Jessica

Both these drawings score marks for AO2, because by drawing you are experimenting and learning about media and materials. They also score marks for AO3, because the students are recording information from the world around them. However, Pooja's drawings will gain more marks for AO3, because they are first-hand drawings- drawings done directly from life.

Photography- Kimisha and Matthew

Another way to get marks for AO3 is photography. This kind of work scores lots of marks because it is first-hand information. Like drawing from life, it is information that the students have gathered personally, rather than researched from books or the internet.

First and second hand research on foliage- Pooja

The pages above are a really good example of a student thoroughly researching a topic. Pooja gathered leaves and made rubbings of them- this is first-hand research. She then added to this with some second-hand research- images found from the internet. She gains plenty of marks for AO3 by combining these two types of research.

Research into the painter Peter Doig- Ceren

Research into the tradition of linocut printmaking- Ceren

These two pieces of research score marks for AO1, because the student is gathering ideas based on other artists' work. Just researching the artist only scores a small number of marks, however. You gain more marks for AO1 when you begin to make your own work inspired by the artists you research.

Ideas development- Pooja

This work by Pooja gains marks for AO2, because she is trying out her visual ideas in different media, and improving them as she goes along. If Pooja can show that her ideas here have been inspired by an artist she has looked at, she will also get marks for AO1.