Visual Arts 

Foundation - Grade 4

Competition Process in Visual Arts Classes

Over the past three weeks, students have been busy creating their entries for the annual STAPS and DOSCEL Christmas Card Competition, responding to this year’s scripture passage, Matthew 2:11.

To tune into the scripture, students watched animated videos showing different interpretations of what this moment may have looked like, as well as a special video featuring STAPS staff unpacking the meaning behind the passage. We explored what Mary’s home may have looked like, what Jesus may have been doing as a young child rather than a baby, who the Magi were and what they may have worn, and what their precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh may have looked like and represented. Students learnt that these gifts helped communicate Jesus’ importance as King, the Magi’s worship and honour of him, and what was to come later in Jesus’ life.

Students then began thinking like artists, deciding which parts of the Scripture they wanted to communicate and how they could show these ideas visually. They planned and practised with greylead before creating their final design and made purposeful choices about their materials, using fineliners and permanent markers for bold outlines, paint sticks and watercolours for larger areas, and coloured markers, paint markers, pencils, crayons and oil pastels for smaller details, colour and texture.

Across the three lessons, students moved through the artistic process of exploring, planning, practising, creating and refining. It has been wonderful to see how differently our young artists have interpreted the same scripture passage, using their own ideas, creativity and choice of materials to communicate its meaning.

Planning our ideas

Adding Colour to our Final Designs

What Happens Next?

Mrs Robertson, Mrs Chappel, Mr G and I are looking forward to seeing all of the wonderful entries and revealing our finalists in Week 1 next term! 🎄🎨 Students in Grades 3–6 and staff will then vote for their favourite entries to determine our STAPS winners. Winning artworks will be made into Christmas cards and stickers to sell as part of our Term 4 fundraiser, and each winner will also receive a framed copy of their artwork. 

Our Top 20 STAPS entries will then be submitted to the DOSCEL Christmas Card Competition. 

We can’t wait to see which artworks are chosen! 🌟

Kind regards,

Helina Walker

Contact Us

specialist@cranbourneeast.catholic.edu.au (all teachers) or