Visual Arts and Design Department Update
The Visual Arts and Design Department has been bursting with creativity this term as students across all year levels dive into exciting projects that showcase their artistic talents and growing skills.
Year 7: Painting Like the Masters
Year 7 students have been exploring the styles of Paul Cézanne and Frida Kahlo, creating stunning still life paintings. They have been learning to mix colors, paint tonal values, and develop brushwork techniques inspired by these legendary artists. Their masterpieces are taking shape beautifully, and we can’t wait to display them soon.
Year 8: Sculpting & Digital Design
In the ceramics room, Year 8 students have been crafting food-inspired sculptures, transforming clay into creative and realistic works of art. Alongside their hands-on sculpting, they have also been responding to a design brief and creating packaging design using Adobe Illustrator. This has allowed them to develop their digital skills while exploring the connection between art and product presentation.
Year 9: Exploring Artistic Pathways
Year 9 students have been embracing their creativity through a range of exciting electives, including:
- Drawing & Painting – Students have recently completed a portrait inspired by the Archibald Prize, focusing on capturing character, emotion, and technical skill. They experimented with a variety of mediums, including watercolor, gouache, ink, pencils, and markers, to create depth and unique artistic effects in their portraits. The results showcase an impressive range of styles and interpretations.
- Photography – Students have been capturing stunning images while learning digital editing skills. They have been exploring compositional techniques and experimenting with capturing movement and depth of field, refining their ability to create visually striking and dynamic photographs.
- Ceramics – Students have been using slab, coiling, and pinch pot construction techniques to create a series of objects, including a fish-themed wall art piece. Now, they are designing and constructing a lidded container, focusing on form, texture, and decorative techniques.
Year 10: Expanding Artistic and Design Skills
Year 10 students have been further developing their creativity through a diverse selection of electives, including:
- Architecture and Product Design – Students worked on developing a design object inspired by the Memphis design era. They created digital files for laser cutting and constructed their own furniture pieces, incorporating bold colors, geometric shapes, and dynamic patterns reminiscent of the iconic Memphis movement.
- Photography – Students have been exploring portraiture through digital photography, digital editing, and photo montage, developing their technical and creative skills to produce visually compelling images.
- All About Art – Students have been exploring various traditional and contemporary artistic techniques, including ceramic vessels, paper resist, sgraffito, and mishima. These processes have allowed them to experiment with texture, layering, and surface design to create unique and expressive works of art.
These electives provide students with the opportunity to refine their technical skills, explore career pathways in the arts and design fields, and push their creative boundaries.
VCE Excursions: Inspiration from the Best
VCE Visual Arts and Design students had the opportunity to venture out on inspiring excursions to see Top Arts and Top Designs, where they explored outstanding student work from across the state. These exhibitions provided valuable insights into high-level creative processes, giving our students inspiration for their own projects.
Students also visited the Yayoi Kusama exhibition at the NGV, immersing themselves in the mesmerizing world of Kusama’s iconic polka dots, infinity rooms, and avant-garde installations. The experience was both thought-provoking and visually captivating, reinforcing the importance of contemporary art in creative exploration.
Get Creative Beyond the Classroom
For students who want to take their creativity even further, the Visual Arts and Design Department offers two fantastic extracurricular clubs:
- Ceramics Club – Every Tuesday at lunchtime in the ceramics room. A great place to experiment with clay and work on exciting new projects.
- Textiles Club – Meets Monday after school and Wednesday at lunchtime in the textiles room. Whether you're interested in sewing, embroidery, or fabric art, this club is perfect for developing new skills in a fun and supportive environment.
With so much talent on display, we’re looking forward to celebrating the incredible work of our students in upcoming exhibitions. Stay tuned for more exciting updates from the Visual Arts and Design Department.
