Visual Arts Faculty

From the Co-ordinator of Visual Arts

Year 11 Visual Arts

The National Art School (NAS) HSC studio Intensive practice program is an excellent opportunity for passionate Year 11  Visual Arts students to extend their skills in preparation for the HSC and beyond. This program is endorsed by the NSW education Standards Authority and has been offered to students since the year 2000 in both government and non-government high schools. The NAS is taught by professional artists and students also get to work in professional art studios, build up their portfolio, further develop their skills and meet like-minded students from across the state. A wonderful experience and opportunity for all involved.

We are incredibly proud of Mack and Kayla (CG11), for their achievements and dedication to Visual Arts.

If you're a passionate Visual Arts or Photography student considering studying Visual Arts in Years 11 and 12, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Below, Mack and Kayla share their inspiring experiences from their time at the National Art School:

During the recent holidays, Mack and I went to the National Art School to participate in the HSC intensive course. I was in the printmaking course, and Mack was in the painting course. The printmaking course featured a kind of printmaking that I hadn't done before, where we would go through a process involving etching and dipping our print plates into acid baths to create our prints. Where the printmaking course was more about learning new and different approaches to printmaking, the painting course featured different kinds of painting where we would focus on refining our existing skills while experimenting with new ones. We did quite a lot of painting exercises such as painting the Pope over and over from different orientations, with different restricted colour palettes, etc., with the aim of developing fundamental skills.

My favourite part of the course was watching my work develop over the week and being able to experiment with different techniques and materials. Mack’s favourite part was arguably the freedom granted to him—being able to leave campus to get lunch, etc.

My finished work ended up being a mini body of work, exploring my fascination for clowns, and the exploration of emotions and how seeing through different lenses affects what you see.

Mack’s was 'A painting depicting elements and such from Kristoffer Zetterstand’s hit painting 'Bust'. I’m a big fan of this painting. I was inspired to do this painting perhaps because of its heavy pop-culture impact and inclusion within digital media, etc.'

Overall, I found the course to be extremely valuable in exploring new media and techniques of artmaking, giving me new potential ideas for my major work.

Mack found the course to be “beneficial in sorts, to my understanding of the experience of a specialised art school, and the challenges that come with it, and the freedom as well.

Year 10 Photography

The Year 10 Photography team has proven to be an essential part of our school community, working tirelessly behind the scenes to document the energy, colour, and joy of our most memorable events. From the splash and excitement of the Swimming and Athletics Carnivals to the dazzling performances of Mamma Mia! and the rhythm of our regular school assemblies, these students have been there camera in hand ready to capture it all. Their dedication has not only preserved precious memories but also highlighted the incredible talent and enthusiasm of our student body. Always willing to lend a hand, the Year 10 photographers have shown consistency, creativity, and commitment in every frame they’ve taken. In recognition of their outstanding contributions, the following students were awarded their ‘Production Crew’ badges at Friday’s assembly:  Will, Lucas, Lukas, Morgan, Ashley, Aly, Ellaline and Sienna.

We also extend a heartfelt thank you to the many others who have volunteered their time and skills throughout the year. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed, and more Production Crew badges will be awarded soon. Keep up the fantastic work and continue stepping forward. You are helping shape the story of our school, one snapshot at a time.

Visual Arts Co-Curricular Clubs – Term 4 Lunchtimes 

Join us in the Visual Arts Department for a creative lunchtime escape! Bring your lunch, fuel your imagination, and sign up via Parent Orbit absolutely no cost involved.

This term, we’re offering three exciting clubs designed to spark your creativity and build your skills:

• Monday – Art Club (Years 7 to 8) with Ms Stubley: Room M120 

  Unleash your inner artist by painting your very own calico bag. A relaxed, hands-on session perfect for expressing your style and learning new techniques.

• Thursday – Competitions Club (Years 7 to 11) with Ms Wenman: Room M124 

  Get competition-ready! This club focuses on creating artwork for major art competitions. First up: The Young Archies, held in conjunction with the prestigious Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW. You’ll create an A4 or A3 portrait of someone significant to you while exploring what makes a portrait truly compelling.

• Friday – UX App Studio (Years 7 to 11) with Ms Sainsbury: Room M124 

  Design digital experiences that users love! Dive into the world of User Experience (UX) Design — the art of crafting intuitive, enjoyable apps that solve real problems. In a collaborative studio setting, you’ll use Design Thinking to understand user needs and develop your own app concept from scratch. Create user personas, map user flows, sketch interfaces, and bring your ideas to life through thoughtful screen design. No experience needed just curiosity and creativity. See you there!