Visual Arts Focus
The Wonder of Lines, Shapes & Patterns
After spending term one loving colour we are now transforming into graphic artists, discovering the wonder of lines, shapes and patterns.
Yayoi Kusama, however, is still making us go dotty, even though her exhibition at the NGV has closed and is heading off to Switzerland.
All our work in colour is now being developed and adapted into artworks symbolising that iconic Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama. Only we are adding a graphic design feature… Wow!
So how is that happening?
In Foundation
- The primary colours have become large dots, joined by lots of lines.
- The secondary colours will be backgrounds for beautiful flowers, a recurring motif in Kusama’s art.
- Patterns will be explored and used for decoration.
Primary coloured circles
Secondary colours
Primary & secondary colours
Primary coloured circles
Secondary colours
Primary & secondary colours
In Years 1&2
- The hot and cold colours became Mt Fuji, inspired by Yayoi’s ‘Mt Fuji at a Sunset 1989’, complete with dotted clouds.
- Mushrooms, a frequent theme in Kusama’s artwork, with their bold colours, repetition, and patterns, will be examined and given a personal interpretation.
Mt Fuji
Dotted clouds & Mt Fuji
Mt Fuji
Dotted clouds & Mt Fuji
In Years 3&4
- The complementary colours have become a representation of a pumpkin artwork, in homage to Kusama. She was fascinated with them and included them in her work repeatedly.
- Eyes are everywhere in Yayoi’s art and so the intrigue will continue. They will be reproduced in an individual manner.
Pumpkins
Inspired by Kusama's pumpkins
Pumpkins
Pumpkins
Inspired by Kusama's pumpkins
Pumpkins
In Years 5&6
- Large circles are the focus of an Kusama inspired artwork, highlighting complex patterning and a colourful dyed background.
- The shapes and patterns in Yayoi Kusama’s work are investigated, motivating a work from a subjective view.
- ArtforAll 2025 T-shirt!
Year 5 drawing & patterning circles
Year 5 drawing & patterning circles
Year 5 drawing & patterning circles
Year 5 drawing & patterning circles
Year 6 Designers
Our Year 6 students were invited this year to be part of the design team for the ArtforAll 2025 t-shirt. They worked with graphic designer, Claire McNamee, who shared her experiences and introduced the design principles and brief for this year’s t-shirt. They considered colours, layout and images related to Yayoi Kusama.
Learning about design principles
Claire working with students
Designing t-shirts
Learning about design principles
Claire working with students
Designing t-shirts
Claire will develop the students’ suggestions and designs to create a few sketch examples for the ArtforAll Committee to consider.
Pre-orders are now open for our 2025 ArtforAll t-shirts.
I know so many of you visited the NGV, allowing your children and you, to be immersed in the amazing art of Yayoi Kusama. We are still mesmerized by her!
~ Marjie Tkatchenko, Visual Arts Teacher