Visual Arts

As we near the end of term, both students and teachers find themselves in need of a well-earned break. Pleasingly, there has already been so much growth demonstrated and taking place.

Year 9 Art students have been working on artworks that are expressive in style, studying the work of expressionistic artists for inspiration. They could use any painting or drawing media, manipulating characteristics such as distortion, exaggeration, colour, simplification, scale and/or any other device for impact. First, students completed painting exercises designed to improve skill in controlling paint to achieve realism in their artwork, better able to understand tone and value. Below are examples of one exercise and students with or working on their finals.

Unit 1 Studio Art: Studio inspiration and techniques, focuses on sources of inspiration, both personal and artistic influences. Students study the impact materials and techniques have on their own art and that of others and how to effectively communicate themes. Culture was set as a broad theme, students choosing to explore beyond the obvious. Some looked at alternate representations such as school, teen, music, sci-fi, gaming and feminist culture for example, along with more classical and overt references to either country or place. Students explored a minimum of two cultural references while also manipulating mediums and techniques to communicate five descriptive words before choosing one to develop.

Of the final images below, I wonder if you can connect the cultural aim (teen culture, Parisian café culture, gaming culture, mythical culture, electro music culture and classical culture) to a chosen materials/techniques word? These are: futuristic, gentle, glowing, watery and glitching, with one of these words represented twice.

While teachers develop new units each year, trusted favourites remain staples, particularly those which afford students an opportunity to respond to self and develop an awareness for their uniqueness. The Prep Self-portraits, always completed at the start of the year remain one of my all-time favourites. It offers great insight into their understanding of visual language, ability to represent features and current level of fine motor skill. They are gorgeous, as are the students producing them. Enjoy!

Without access to a primary speciality room this term, material availability and function limits applied to those easily manipulated in homeroom environments. This Year Five fine liner task a response to pattern, repetition, contrast, emphasis, symmetry and asymmetry. Some examples are below.

I sign off, wishing you and your family a safe and wonderful term break. May you be able to enjoy all that Easter and its celebration offers. Keep an eye out for notices regarding our Artist in Residence Picture Storybook launch, planned for Term 2.

Mrs Linda Camilleri

Head of Faculty - Visual Arts