Visual Arts

Communicating with the Specialist Team

We look forward to partnering with you in 2024, and welcome your input:

Danielle Haines (Visual Arts)  danielle.haines@education.vic.gov.au 

Parent Helpers Needed

Production

I am looking for some parent helpers in term 2 as we start to bring the details for production together. If you have a creative pinky finger then you are needed to help create props for our incredible production of 'Cinderella Rockerfella'.

Classroom Helpers

If you are interested to see what goes on in art class and don't mind getting your hands dirty, I would love to invite you to join me. If you can help for a session or 2 on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday please email me for more information. All parent helpers must have a working with children card and have conducted our school volunteer training. 

Upwey High School Streeton Art Show

This Saturday is the Upwey High School open day. 

Part of this day includes the Streeton Art Show. An opportunity for the local schools to showcase artworks by the students this year.  There are 3 age groups we will be entering work for, each of which have an opportunity for a cash prize. This is always an exciting opportunity for students to share their work with the local community. I have been busy selecting works for the show and look forward to sharing the results in the next newsletter. 

If you are considering Upwey High for your child in the future, this is a great opportunity to do a school tour and see what the school has to offer while you pop over to Upwey Primary School right next door to see the art on display.

Foundation students have been undertaking a top secret project to start off the term that will make it's way home next week. They have been working hard with paint and using a masking technique to leave a shape free from messy fingerprints along with a handmade frame. Lots of interesting drawings emerged to make some special wrapping paper to add the finishing touches for someone special. 

We are starting to explore texture in art. FA came up with different words we use to describe the way something feels and made texture rubbings using oil pastels to create their work. In the coming weeks, all foundation students will explore texture further and different ways we can represent them in our art.

Year One and Two students have completed their Autumn landscape paintings. After finishing the top half with wet on dry watercolour painting, students were tasked with painting a reflection using a wet on wet watercolour technique. This method created a reflection, with students matching the tree colours from the top half and adding the finishing touches to create ripples and details. 

This week students explored the colour wheel a bit deeper, specifically, warm and cool colours. They learned that by splitting the colour wheel in half they could figure out what colours were warm and which ones were cool. Students experimented with oil pastels and watercolour paint, practicing drawing boldly in preparation for their next project in the coming weeks. 

Year Three and Four students have been examining the work of American graphic designer Jen Aranyi. Her landscapes explore the contrast of clean black and white line drawings with an exploration of watercolour paints. Students were able to plan and design their own landscape, learning how to mimic her drawing technic and experimented with blending watercolour and metallic paints. Each little landscape is unique, with a different story to tell. 

Year Five and Six students have completed their Melanie Hava inspired artworks with incredible results. Each student has chosen an Australian animal to represent with their painted papers, using collaging techniques to highlight the animal in its environment. 

Some students have created a work to practice their composition skills, drawing lines and choosing an area to frame up to add colour. This simple project allows students to make design choices for materials and techniques to colour in to create a unique work.