Visual Arts

Foundation

This term, the Foundation students have been learning all about portraits—also called retratos in Spanish. To begin with, they explored a variety of self-portraits by famous artists such as Rembrandt, Kahlo, and Van Gogh. They discussed what they observed in these images and identified common features. Through this investigation, students discovered that portraits are pictures of people.

Throughout the unit, we’ve built on this knowledge by giving students the opportunity to create a variety of portraits—both of themselves and of people they care about dearly.

As part of this unit, students have also developed their skills in using watercolours (acuarelas) and practiced basic techniques associated with this medium.

Here are some wonderful images of our Foundation students drawing and painting portraits!

Grade 1/2

This term, the Grade 1/2 students have been expanding their clay skills by creating hand-built sculptures of birds inspired by the vibrant species that inhabit the Amazon Rainforest. They also learned how to make a basic pinch pot; starting with a clay sphere, inserting their thumb into the centre, and carefully pinching the sides to form a pot.

This week, students have been painting their pots. As part of this activity, they considered their colour choices and used lines and patterns to add extra detail.

Over the next few weeks, students will explore Dreamtime Stories in Art, connecting to their Inquiry unit on Indigenous Perspectives. As part of this mini unit, we will uncover native animals important to Indigenous culture. Students will respond by drawing and constructing a 3D clay model of their chosen animal or creature.

Grade 3/4

In preparation for Claire Mosley’s incursion this week as part of the Inquiry unit, students took part in a short series of lessons focused on developing their drawing skills. As a class, we explored different ways to hold a pencil for sketching and learned how to use shading techniques; applying heavy pressure for darker tones and light pressure for softer shading.

In the first lesson, students created a shading scale, which they then used to help them draw and shade an orange. This activity encouraged them to think about light sources and how light creates shadows and mid-tones on an object.

In the next lesson, students completed a warm-up by creating a gradient row using light to dark pressure. Then, they drew five different 3D shapes using grey lead pencils, applying their observation skills to add shading and mid-tones, helping their objects appear three-dimensional.

This week, students began their new unit on Textiles. They have been practicing a simple running stitch using yarn and ribbon to create a striking woven piece.

Grade 5/6

This term, the Grade 5/6 students have continued working on their wire art sculptures, which they began last term. Last week, they visited the Melbourne Museum to spark inspiration for their next unit, which centres around the themes of identity, belonging, and community.

Currently, students are exploring the theme of "home" through art. We've been discussing what home means to them: whether it’s a place, an object, or the people they’re with and how to represent these ideas creatively.

For this unit, students are encouraged to choose their own medium and independently explore how they will communicate their ideas about home to an audience.