Visual Arts Update
Visual Arts Term 2 ~ A Celebration of Textiles from Prep to Year 6
Dear St Joseph's Community,
It is with great excitement that I share what’s been happening in the Art Room this term! Our young artists from Prep to Year 6 have been immersed in the wonderful world of textiles, and the creativity, care, and colour they’ve brought to their work has been truly inspiring.
Each week as students step into the art room, there’s a sense of excitement and eagerness to stitch, weave, and felt their projects, often leaving a cheerful trail of wool and felt behind!!!
All students from P-6 have explored different textile materials and techniques, with a strong focus on weaving, stitching, cutting, and designing using fabric and wool. The results are bright, beautiful, and bursting with personality.
In Prep, students created their own underwater scenes using felt, fabric, and collage inspired by Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle and the landscapes of textile artist Carinne Meyerink. They learned how to layer materials and use scissors with care, essential skills for our young artists.
Year 1 have been weaving sunflower circles and charming woollen owls. Using both circular and rectangular looms, students showed great perseverance as they wove, tied, and embellished their creatures with felt features like eyes, beaks, and feathers.
Year 2 students had a fabulous time weaving “Cool Cats” and “Hot Dogs,” exploring warm and cool colours while creating cozy blankets on looms. They also experimented with layout and design, building on their knowledge of colour theory and pattern.
Our Year 3 artists created beautiful woven houses with felt and yarn details. They also stitched Indigenous animal designs on burlap, learning basic embroidery techniques while building their appreciation for Aboriginal symbolism and design.
Year 4 took on the challenge of designing and hand sewing their very own soft toys, inspired by the joyful work of Australian artist Pete Cromer. Students carefully stitched together felt pieces using running stitch, creating colourful Australian animals full of personality. They are so proud of their work, and rightly so!
In Year 5, students explored the fascinating world of parabolic string art. This project brought maths into the art room in a big way, as students plotted points and threaded coloured embroidery cotton to form stunning geometric designs. They’ve loved seeing how creativity and numeracy can come together in such a satisfying way.
And finally, Year 6 students explored the abstract world of spanish artist Joan Miró. They used bright coloured roving wool and felting needles to create fun and unique felt pieces, before designing a final landscape artwork inspired by an Australian landmark. These artworks show careful colour blending using wool.
Every student should feel proud of what they’ve achieved this term. It’s been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they tried new techniques, solved creative problems, and shared their work with pride!
I would like to warmly invite all families to visit the Art Room during our Open Learning Session on Friday 27th June from 8:30 am. Come along to see our students' textile masterpieces on display!
Lastly, a heartfelt thank you to the families who have so generously donated wool, fabric, and other materials. Your kindness and support have made a real difference and have been used in every project this term and are greatly appreciated.
Warm regards,
Alice Krause
Visual Arts Teacher
akrause@sjelst.catholic.edu.au