1. Know Your Process Portfolio Requirements
Your Visual Arts Process Journal is the heart of your Process Portfolio, which counts for ~40% of your IB Visual Arts grade. RevisionDojo’s article Requirements for IB Visual Arts explains that SL students submit 9–18 portfolio screens, while HL students submit 13–25 screens, and both levels must document experimentation, reflections, and media exploration.
2. Start with Daily or Weekly Documentation
RevisionDojo recommends keeping a detailed journal of your creative process, as outlined in How to “Study” IB Visual Arts Effectively. Document every idea, experiment, sketch, failure, or insight—this consistent habit builds the raw material needed for your journal screens. revisiondojo.com+1revisiondojo.com+1
3. Break Down the Journal into Practical Milestones
To avoid last-minute stress, use the time-management structure from Scoring in IB Group 6 Subjects:
- Set weekly goals for experimentation and reflection.
- Alternate between media, techniques, and themes.
- Use peer and teacher feedback loops to refine work and notes. revisiondojo.com+7revisiondojo.com+7revisiondojo.com
This approach ensures you organically collect content over time.
4. Reflect Critically and Thoughtfully
RevisionDojo’s guides stress that strong Process Portfolios combine experimentation and reflection. As noted in Is It Hard to Get a 7 in IB Visual Arts?, top students schedule regular writing of process notes, reasoning behind choices, and personal evaluation of completed work. TutorsPlus+6revisiondojo.com+6revisiondojo.com+6
5. Review Your Artistic Journey Through the Syllabus Lens
As described in Unveiling the Artistic Journey of IB Visual Arts, your portfolio should reflect the IB syllabus’ three strands: Visual Arts in Context, Visual Arts Methods, and Communicating Visual Arts. Use your journal to trace how your practice connects to theory, cultural research, and exhibition planning. thinkib.net+7revisiondojo.com+7revisiondojo.com+7
6. Assemble Screens Strategically for Submission
When structuring your portfolio:
- Mix sketches, experiment shots, notes, and reflections per screen.
- Group screens by creative phases: ideation, experimentation, development, refinement, and final work.
- Label each screen clearly with media, date, and intention for cohesion.
RevisionDojo’s scoring pointers emphasize balanced and varied visual documentation—as highlighted in Scoring in IB Group 6 Subjects. revisiondojo.com+2revisiondojo.com+2revisiondojo.com+
7. Seek Feedback and Iterate Continuously
Don’t work in isolation. Regularly check-in with your teacher and peers for critique. RevisionDojo recommends building revision and refinement into your journal planning process so every new piece benefits from feedback—not just your final submission. revisiondojo.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How often should I make journal entries?
Aim for weekly or daily documentation: even short notes on ideas, media experiments, sketches, or reflections count toward building your Process Portfolio.
Q2: How many screens do I need for SL vs HL?
SL requires 9–18 screens, while HL requires 13–25 screens that showcase experiments, techniques, reflections, and development. TutorsPlusrevisiondojo.com+1TutorsPlus+1
Q3: What should be on each screen?
A mix of visual process documentation—sketches, photos of experiments/work-in-progress, annotations, reflections—organized chronologically or thematically.
Q4: Can I start the journal in the first year?
Yes! RevisionDojo encourages early documentation to build a robust pool of content for your portfolio. Starting early reduces pressure later. revisiondojo.com+5revisiondojo.com+5revisiondojo.com+5
Q5: Should journal entries include feedback and evaluation?
Absolutely. Including feedback from teachers or peers—and your personal reflections—is key to meeting the Critical Investigation criteria. revisiondojo.com+5revisiondojo.com+5TutorsPlus+5
Q6: How can RevisionDojo help with planning?
RevisionDojo provides templates, prompts, and weekly planning tools to help you structure journal entries, track creative choices, and ensure your portfolio stays aligned with IB criteria.
Conclusion
Effectively planning your IB Visual Arts Process Journal means blending daily documentation with strategic reflection, guided by IB criteria. By starting early, staying organized, using visual planning, and incorporating feedback, you’ll build a portfolio that showcases both your creative growth and critical insight.
Build Your Journal with RevisionDojo
Visit RevisionDojo to access curated templates, reflection prompts, time-management tools, and Process Portfolio planning guides—designed to help you compile a compelling and coherent IB Visual Arts Process Journal. Start your free trial now and elevate your artistic practice with strategic structure.
