The Arts

Junior School Art News

Our Junior School art room is full of student artworks. While little Preps are learning about the fundamentals of ‘Colours’, our Year 1 students are applying their knowledge of ‘Colours’ in a collage artwork with the inspiration of Russian artist, Kandinsky. Year 2 student are working on a Unit on ‘Healthy Living,’ while Year 3 made still life drawings in oil pastels on the Unit, ‘Kiwi’s.’ Year 4 has commenced on itsfinal canvas with inspiration from the famous aboriginal artist, Judy Watson. They have also created puppets on the theme “Diversity”. Year 5 students, are learning about a contemporary artist, Yayoi Kusama and her distinctive art style.

In particular, the highlight was ‘Collaborative Learning’. Researchers have claimed that collaboration builds comradeship and a sense of community as young artists move toward a common goal. They found that students working together on an art project, participated more in thoughtful discussion than those who were working solo. Our little Preps, were learning about the colour wheel, in particular, regarding primary and secondary colours. They first created colour wheel flowers, then worked on a collaborative art activity where they created a big colour wheel collectively, with resources from the art room. There was a spike in excitement, especially within our kinaesthetic learners, as they participated in activities which were hands-on. Their reflection at the end of the lesson showed development in higher-level thinking skills, as they spoke of the choices they made. This boosted their confidence and self-esteem respectively. Here are some examples of the students’ work below.

Senior School Art News

The Year 12 Art: Creative Practice and the Year 10 Art elective students went to the Top Arts exhibition at the NGV: Ian Potter Centre and The Lume: Monet and Friends on Friday 31 March 2023. Students were shown the top scoring folios and artworks from the 2022 Year 12 cohort from around the state and were inspired by the work that was produced in such a short amount of time. Students were also taken to level 2, where they saw the Melbourne Now exhibition and participated in a discussion about the different interpretative lenses and art elements and principles within each art gallery space. 

After our lunch break, we walked to the Melbourne Convention Centre where we saw The Monet and Friends exhibition at The Lume. Students were taken back to the French impressionist times and saw how this art movement was developed during this era. There was a drawing workshop which students participated in of Monet’s waterlilies art piece and a waterlilies room with other installation art. Students also took a break at sat at the French café whilst taking in the beautiful artworks of Monet and other inspiring artist from the impressionist art movement. Overall, students enjoyed the excursion and were inspired for their SAT for year 12 and their acrylic nature landscape paintings for the year 10 art students. 

The Year 12 Visual Communication and Design students for their Outcome 1C: Communication Design SAC, were to design a logo for a Balinese architecture or lightening company. Students had to create their logo digitally following the design process. Here are some examples of the student’s folio work below. 

The Year 7, 8 and 9 Visual Communication and Design Elective classes have been drawing an isometric milk carton and changing it into a product of their choice. Students had to be creative and use the design elements and principles to create their design and write up a brief based on which product they had chosen to create. Here some examples of the student’s work below. 

Nick Karakottas 

VCE Arts Academic Leader