From Mrs Tabone in the Art Room:

VISITING ARTISTS

There has been a buzz of excitement around the school this week, as we have begun our very special lessons in Visual Arts!

We are very lucky to have 6 amazing local artists volunteering their time and skills to work closely with each of our classes. Students have begun creating an artwork on canvas that will be available for families to purchase next term in the lead up to the Art Show.

This week Antoniette Preston has been captivating the Year 3 and 4 students with her layered ‘Cupcake’ paintings, while Jennifer Welsford has been inspiring Year 1 students use their creativity and imagination as they make ‘Ink Splat Sea Creatures’.

Next week Bree Morrison will be showing Year 2 students how to paint landscapes using her vivid and earthy colour pallets, visible brush strokes, mark making textures and abstraction.

Marina Zakryszka will be guiding the Year 6 students to recreate the beautiful ‘Tree of Life’ painting by Gustav Klimt where she will demonstrate how to add a touch of individual magic to their masterpieces.

Towards the end of the term, Simon Martin and Karen Ralph will be welcomed into the art room by the Year 5s and Prep students. Simon will draw alongside the Year 5s, as they create imaginative monsters that will sit right beside them in a surreal photograph.

Karen will be spreading her love of mixed media art as the Prep students create gorgeous artworks of fruit inspired by the works of Anna Blatman. They will be using paint and collaged patterned papers to make unique works of art you will totally be astonished by!

Enjoy finding out more about our talented visitors here…

Antoniette Preston:

Antoniette Preston is an Australian Artist and illustrator. Self-taught Antoniette prides herself on her ability to capture a likeness of her subject with close attention to detail.

She began illustrating at the age of 13, selling professionally by age 20, and has been perfecting her work in oil paint and pencil evert since. She is in constant demand for commission and illustration work.

Beyond her own artistic pursuits, Antoniette is dedicated to nurturing young talent. By offering tailored art classes for children, she not only imparts technical skills but also shares invaluable insights gained from her own artist journey.

Antoniette hopes her contributions to her community serve as an inspiration to aspiring artists and enthusiasts alike. Her pursuit of excellence, combined with sharing her knowledge, ensures that her legacy as both an artist and a mentor will endure for generations to come.

Antoniette has been featured in many publications, including CP Treasures, Pencil Master works from around the globe volumes 6, 7, 8, & 9, and Ann Kullberg’s color magazine USA.

Bree Morrison Artistic Inspiration:

Spending my childhood growing up in a remote town exploring river banks and observing the ebb and flow of the changing seasons, my works are influenced by ecosystems and the shifting changes in light, landscapes and the life within them.

My process sees me spending a lot of time observing and photographing the world around me, then painting intuitively, quickly and with little prior planning. In this way I aim to capture the mood or feeling of the piece, using vivid and earthy colour pallets, visible brush stokes, mark making textures and abstraction.

My subject matter is drawn from nature, but is also a snippet into an introspective world, a linking of my intuition and nostalgic feelings and emotions reminiscent of time spent soaking in all the wonder that nature has to offer in the landscape. I want my work to bring forth the juxtaposition of the outer and inner world, communicating both whimsical beauty and meaningful connections to both nature and the ones we love.

A message from Marina Zakryszka:

Hi Kismet Community,

I am an ex-teacher who taught at Kismet for many happy years. Unfortunately, my health failed me, and I had to stop doing the job I loved. It was a huge void and I discovered art as an effort to fill that void.

I have had no formal training in art and am totally self-taught through experimentation and discovery. Art gives me great joy and I even take my art projects with me when I must spend time in hospital. I am now a member of the Sunbury Art Society where I have the opportunity to create with like-minded people and enter my work in Art Shows. I also do commission work for people who have seen my work on Instagram.

My favourite medium is soft pastel, but I also paint in acrylic and watercolours. I love painting pictures of my grandchildren, flowers, and Australian animals. Art is my new passion and occupation, but I still miss my days of educating young minds to their fullest potential. I’m looking forward to working in the Art Room with Mrs. Tabone.

A Message from Jennifer Welsford

Hi, my name is Jennifer Welsford. Many of you will know me from school as l am a teacher at Kismet Park. Something you may not know about me is that l am also a coloured pencil artist!

I draw pet and wildlife portraits. I have always wanted to learn to draw, so in 2020 I took some drawing lessons and since then I have continued to build my skills to create realistic animal portraits.

Karen Ralph

As an artist, I am creatively curious and love nothing more than to smear thick colourful paint across a canvas.

My art is a place I can express myself without expectation or fear of judgment. I have worked as an art therapist for over 15 years. In the early years I worked in a primary school providing a safe space for children with behavioural or social needs to explore their feelings and emotions.

For the past 10 years I have worked from my home studio offering art classes for students who are artistically curious. I aspire to create a friendly, social atmosphere that encourages students’ imagination and offers them the freedom to express themselves through their art. I also facilitate Woman’s journaling groups and get excited about conversations that open us up to think and explore self.

Moving into next year, I look forward to spending more time exploring and producing my own art. My focus will be on combining paint and beautiful papers to create interesting collages. I am inspired by textures and colours.

Simon Martin

Simon, digital and broadcast media professional by day and funky artist by night (and most weekends too 😜).

Aspiring author / illustrator who tends to keep too low a profile. Owner / Artist at Pretty Funk’d Up - an upcycling and art centric market stall that serves as an outlet for my creative madness. Always learning new things and excited to share how fun art can be when you embrace your own style.

Work has appeared in a few shows across Melbourne over the years and Pretty Funk’d Up will be trading its wares at this year’s Queen Vic Winter Night Market from June

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