Visual Arts Term 2 Overviews

Prep	The Unit of work for Prep students in Term 2 is Painting. Students will explore the colour categories, including primary and secondary colours and begin to understand warm and cool colours. They will focus on the specific art elements and explore and understand the correct use of brushes and watercolours. Inspired by the artists Wassily Kandinsky and Van Gogh and using a colour palette of their choice, students will create a watercolour artwork as an outcome of their learning.
Year 1	Grade 1 students will explore collage in Term 2, drawing inspiration from Australian and international artists such as Becci Orpin and Henri Matisse. Students will develop their understanding of abstract art through the creation of a final self-portrait using collage. Through the exploration of Visual Arts elements and principles—particularly shape and space—students will build spatial awareness and strengthen their problem-solving and planning skills. They will experiment with manipulating paper and other materials, learning how artists make purposeful choices to create specific visual effects.
Year 2	Grade 2 students will explore painting in Term 2. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Mary Blair and Cezanne, students will engage in individual and collaborative artworks, including the creation of a large-scale castle composition and a still-life painting. Using Visual Arts elements and principles, students will develop intentional artistic choices. They will apply these understandings in collaborative art square tiles for the Mary Blair-inspired castle midterm, while their final task will be to create a still life painting that demonstrates their understanding of texture and spatial composition.
Year 3	In Term 2, Grade 3 students will explore printmaking and collage. From weeks 1 to 5, students will create printed papers using techniques such as Gelli plate printing, stamping, and foam carving. Using guided experimentation, these lessons focus on developing skills in pattern, colour, and texture. The printed papers will be used in the second half of the term (weeks 6-10) to create the final artwork inspired by Australian native insects. Students will learn collage techniques including cutting, layering, and composition, and apply their understanding of shape, texture, and contrast to communicate ideas clearly.
Year 4	The unit of work for Grade 4 students is Painting. The focus will be on exploring colour categories-primary, secondary, tertiary, and complementary and understanding how art elements and principles contribute to an artwork. They will investigate the notable watercolour artists and their style of work. Building on this understanding, students will plan and create their own watercolour compositions that will reflect the intentional choices and the creative process.
Year 5	Grade 5 students will work on the Painting unit. Students will revisit and expand their knowledge of colour categories-primary, secondary, tertiary, warm and cool, and understand how art elements and principles contribute to an artwork. They will investigate tints, tones and shades and the effect lighting has on their subject. They will explore line and shape as fundamental components of composition, experimenting with cubism to simplify or distort forms for expressive effect. They will investigate the notable animal artists and their style of work. Throughout the term, students will be introduced to the proper and safe use of painting resources. As a culmination of their learning, students will create a painting composition that demonstrates their grasp of colour theory, balance, line, and shape.
Year 6	Students in Year 6 will develop their knowledge of colour theory and acrylic painting techniques. They will explore Colour Theory including colour mixing, tints and shades and the psychology behind colour. Students will undertake an investigation into Mixed Media, becoming familiar with influential artists in this field. They will develop their knowledge and skills when working with a variety of materials and composition and apply this to several small pieces of artwork. They will create a mixed media portrait as a final piece.