Visual Arts
Welcome to the start of Term Four! I trust you had a fantastic holiday filled with cherished moments with your loved ones. As we begin this term, we’re gearing up for another thrilling adventure in the world of art. We will continue delving into creative exploration and refining our technical skills through a range of materials and processes. Throughout this term, the art club will continue to give students an opportunity to engage in social artmaking.
Prep
In Term Four, Prep students will be celebrating their Prep journey by creating Prep Prom T-Shirts. They will be using acrylic fabric paint and experimenting with a range of different painting techniques. During the second half of term, students will be delving into landscape watercolour paintings. They will be exploring watercolour techniques, including flat wash, graded wash, wet-on-wet, and lifting techniques. They will be specifically focusing on how to incorporate these techniques to add detail to features such as trees and grass through layering and using a variety of different brushstrokes.
Curriculum Links:
Explore ideas, experiences, observations and imagination to create visual artworks (VCAVAE017)
Experiment with different materials and techniques to make artworks (VCAVAV018)
Respond to visual artworks and consider where and why people make visual artworks (VCAVAR020)
Create and display artworks (VCAVAP019)
Key Vocabulary:
Landscape, techniques, flat wash, graded wash, dabbing, brushstrokes
Year 1
This term, Year 1 students will start by completing their collaborative class mural. They will use their understanding of line, shape, colour, and size to create intricate patterns. Additionally, they will explore the history and purpose of murals, examining who creates them and why. Through this project, students will gain insights into the cultural and social significance of mural art. In the second half of the term, students will enhance their painting and drawing skills by working on stained glass art. They will focus on the elements of shape and line to give their drawings a stained-glass appearance. This activity will help them improve their precision and attention to detail while also learning how light and colour work together in art.
Curriculum Links:
Explore ideas, experiences, observations and imagination and express them through subject matter in visual artworks they create (VCAVAE021)
Experiment with different materials, techniques and processes to make artworks in a range of art forms (VCAVAV022)
Create and display artworks to express ideas to an audience (VCAVAP023)
Key Vocabulary:
Mural, pattern, line, shape, stained glass
Year 2
In Term Four, students will advance their skills by creating self-portraits with various patterns. They will experiment with different mediums and techniques, including watercolour resist, oil pastels, watercolour layering, sgraffito, and acrylic paint layering. They will also explore patterns using optical illusions. For their final self-portrait, students will select their favourite background and apply colour to their facial features, clothing, and hair. They will consider different colour groups, such as complementary colours, warm and cool colours, and analogous colours, to enhance their artwork.
Curriculum Links:
Explore ideas, experiences, observations and imagination and express them through subject matter in visual artworks they create (VCAVAE021)
Experiment with different materials, techniques and processes to make artworks in a range of art forms (VCAVAV022)
Create and display artworks to express ideas to an audience (VCAVAP023)
Key Vocabulary:
Watercolour resist, water colour, acrylic, self-portrait, warm and cool colours
Year 3
In Term Four, Year 3 students will use their knowledge of four art elements (line, shape, colour, and texture) to create their own clay pinch pots. They will learn various techniques, including how to make a pinch pot, use the slip-and-score method to attach pieces of clay, and apply smoothing techniques. As they work on their pinch pots, students will highlight their chosen textures to showcase their skills. Next, students will concentrate on the art element of colour by painting their pinch pots with different materials, such as watercolour and acrylic paints. This will help them explore colour application and enhance their creative expression.
Curriculum Links:
Explore ideas and artworks from different cultures and times as inspiration to create visual artworks (VCAVAE025)
Explore visual conventions and use materials, techniques, technologies and processes specific to particular art forms, and to make artworks (VCAVAV026)
Identify and discuss how ideas are expressed in artworks from a range of places, times and cultures, including artworks by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (VCAVAR028)
Key Vocabulary:
Pinch pot, slip-and-score, smooth, texture, colour, line, shape
Year 4
This term, students will be continuing with their Mola Art. Building upon their acquired knowledge of various Mola Art characteristics, they will harness these insights to craft their very own designs. Their focus will centre on the art of storytelling through nature inspired themes, vibrant colour palettes, intricate detailing, the skilful use of patterns (comprising lines and shapes). During the second half of Term Four, students will look at artworks from the impressionist art movement, specifically looking at Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet’s unique art styles. They will then be exploring and experimenting with these thin and small brushstroke techniques using acrylic painting. Their goal will be to transfer these skills into their own impressionist painting.
Curriculum Links:
Explore ideas and artworks from different cultures and times as inspiration to create visual artworks (VCAVAE025)
Explore visual conventions and use materials, techniques, technologies and processes specific to particular art forms, and to make artworks (VCAVAV026)
Identify and discuss how ideas are expressed in artworks from a range of places, times and cultures, including artworks by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (VCAVAR028)
Key Vocabulary:
Mola Art, Impressionist, Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet
Year 5
In Term Four, Year 5 students will embark on a journey to refine their painting skills, focusing on their clay sculptures. Building upon the foundation of painting skills they developed in the first semester, they will now explore a new medium, expanding their artistic horizons even further. They will be using a combination of watercolour and acrylic paint and comparing the two mediums and their impact on their designs. Students will also be comparing their experiences in painting on canvas versus on clay. Throughout the second half of term four, students will be exploring optical illusions. They will be experimenting with perspective, depth, light and contrast, size and patterns to create an optical illusion.
Curriculum Links:
Explore visual arts practices as inspiration to create artworks that express different ideas and beliefs (VCAVAE029)
Select and apply visual conventions, materials, techniques, technologies and processes specific to different art forms when making artworks (VCAVAV030)
Create and display artwork considering how ideas can be expressed to an audience (VCAVAP031)
Key Vocabulary:
Medium, mixed-media, art elements, juxtapose,
Year 6
This term, students will be reflecting upon their studio process projects completed in Term Three. They will be looking at the importance of reflection in the arts, contemplating the techniques and processes they may approach differently in the future and how they now describe themselves as artists. Throughout the remainder of the term, students will be creating artwork of their choice on the theme of graduation. Students will have an opportunity to produce a technical drawing (focusing on shading) of a graduation object, an artwork showcasing their journey from Prep to Year Six, a self-portrait or a graduation hat infused with artistic symbolism that reflects their emotions and personal journey toward graduation.
Curriculum Links:
Explore visual arts practices as inspiration to create artworks that express different ideas and beliefs (VCAVAE029)
Select and apply visual conventions, materials, techniques, technologies and processes specific to different art forms when making artworks (VCAVAV030)
Create and display artwork considering how ideas can be expressed to an audience (VCAVAP031)
Key Vocabulary:
Self-identity, artistic symbolism, technical drawing, art elements
How can you support your child’s art learning at home?
- Explore different themes: Introduce your child to a wide range of art styles, artists, and cultural art forms from around the world. This broadens their artistic horizons and fosters cultural appreciation.
- Experiment with a range of materials to develop different techniques from different mediums. Providing them with diverse materials will help foster their creativity and expand their artistic skill set.
- Ask Open-Ended Questions: Engage your child in discussions about their artwork. Ask open-ended questions like, "What inspired this piece?" or "Tell me about your creative process." This helps them articulate their thoughts and ideas.
