Visual Arts

Foundation/1

This fortnight, students in Foundation/1 have been exploring the medium of collage through the artwork of Matisse. Together we have discussed how Matisse changed his art practices due to illness and how he created large-scale mural collages with the aid of an assistant. Students learned how to cut out organic shapes with curved edges and how to apply glue (pegamento) properly onto the paper. They also had fun learning how to do the wiggle test once they had completed their collage to ensure that all the pieces of their collage were stuck on correctly. 

This week, students continued to build on their knowledge of collage by creating newspaper animals. For this lesson, students unpacked the main shapes that they would use to create an animal. They were then to cut out these shapes using either coloured paper or newspaper. Students were also heavily encouraged to only use paper to outline and 'draw' major features of their animals. 

Grade 2/3

The students in Grade 2/3 finished off their clay cupcakes last week, they revised how to create a coil and reinforced their knowledge of using the score, slip and smooth technique when attaching pieces of clay together.

This week students, were introduced to Renëe Magritte's painting 'The Son of Man'. We discussed his use of iconic images such as an apple, the sky and a bowler hat. We also made links to his artwork to the surrealist movement drawing comparisons to Salvador Dali's artwork. 

Parodies of 'The Son of Man'

As part of this unit, students are to create their own parody of 'The Son of Man' using popular culture references.

Student inspired examples of 'The Son of Man.'

Grade 4/5

The Grade 4/5 students have continued to participate in their unit of art based on Andy Warhol.  This week they have been inspired by Warhol's continuous use of famous people to make portraits. For this lesson, students were to make a background using collage and then they would carefully add an acetate photocopy of their chosen sitter/subject. Students could select any famous figure or a character which is part of popular culture.

Grade 6

The Grade 6 students have been working hard to complete their self-portraits and their calico bears in preparation for their upcoming Graduation. 

Most, students have begun making their bears, during this unit students have learnt about the importance of leaving a seam allowance when cutting out their fabric. They have also learnt how to pin together the pattern and fabric together as well as create a series of basic running stitches. Throughout this unit, students will constantly be reminded of the importance of making small uniform stitches for their bears to ensure that they can be stuffed with hobby fill properly; thereby, avoiding any disastrous mishaps.