Visual Arts Focus

ART FOR ALL is Nearly Here!

Term 3 for Visual Arts here at Fairfield Primary School is one of high anticipation and excitement… ART FOR ALLis nearly here! Yes. August 28th, 29th & 30th are the dates of our annual Arts Festival.

We are energised and preparing ourselves for this incredible event. This year we have the privilege of exhibiting an original artwork of Vincent Namatjira, one of our 2026 focussed artists. 

It is 'Self Portrait on Friday' (2017). A family from our school community has access to it for our show. It will take pride of place in the gallery space in the Performing Arts Room, where every student will have their artwork on display as well. 

The theme for the students’ work is My Hero, a personal interpretation of Vincent Namatjira’s'Australia in Colour', where he painted a series of portraits of people of significance who have had an influence on him, one way or another.

Our Student Artists

Each grade has spent the term creating their hero piece, recognizing what is a hero, how they impact their life, and what they mean to them. 

Each year level used a range of techniques, skills and materials to design the representation of their hero. Whilst appreciating Vincent Namatjira’s style, they cultivated their own unique approach to portraiture.

Foundation Artists engaged with oil pastels, discovering the effects of painting dye over top. Beads, sequins and little treasures were pasted on the background.

Grade 1&2 Artists painted with watercolour blocks, activating with water. Black fine line markers outlined the portrait. Wool, buttons and fabric were collaged to enhance the appearance.

Grade 3&4 Artists used watercolour pencils to colour, brushing water onto it to alter the colouring into paint. The portrait was outlined with black fine line markers. Sewing slip stitch detailed the work.

Grade 5&6 Artists printed by etching into a polystyrene plate to create a print of their hero. They embellished the work with sewing different stitches.

Each work is an exceptional homage to their hero, and I am so proud of the consideration and capability the students have demonstrated in producing this artwork. 

I hope you can experience the Heros’ Gallery at ART FOR ALL and be as impressed!

Grade 6 Gallery

Of course, the Grade 6 framed work will be exhibited again in the TeamKids gallery space and corridor. This year the artwork has been influenced by Albert Namatjira’s landscapes of ghost gums and The MacDonnell Ranges, or Vincent Namatjira’s Self Portrait 2022. 

Watercolours were used like Albert Namatjira, however each student approached their work with their own style and interpretation. Again, an exhibition not to be missed! 

So maybe I will see you being amazed by our student artist at ART FOR ALL! 

Marjie Tkatchenko

Visual Arts Teacher