Visual Arts News

Prep

Over the last two weeks, the prep students have continued to explore the elements of line, shape and colour. In the first week, students drew overlapping shapes to create an artwork inspired by a famous artist named Wassily Kandinsky. They then used primary coloured watercolour paints to paint these shapes, mixing colours in the overlapping areas. The preps loved learning how to make new colours by blending the primary-coloured paints. In the following week, the students were introduced to the rainbow colours and “ROYGBIV” (a way to remember the correct order of the rainbow). They created an eye-catching background for a future artwork using their new knowledge of rainbow colours and line. 

Grade 1 & 2

Over the last two weeks, the grade ones and twos have been focusing on the art form of collaging. In the first week they created a small abstract collage, taking inspiration from collages by the artist Henri Matisse. Students collaged shapes onto black paper and used metallic markers to add patterns to their work. Last week, students looked at the animal collage work of an Australian artist named Pete Cromer. They used different brush strokes to create texture as they painted template shapes. The ones and twos will continue working on this project to create their own Pete Cromer-inspired collage.

Grade 3 & 4

Our grade three and four students have been learning about the element of space, particularly positive and negative space. Recently, they created a background using watercolour paints. They practiced using different brush strokes and blending colours to create effects in the sky. This background formed the negative space in a city-scape artwork. In the second part of this project, students drew a line of buildings, taking inspiration from buildings and skylines from around the world. They then used metallic markers to add details and collaged the two pieces together.

Grade 5 & 6

Over the past two weeks, the grade fives and sixes focused on creating art with a message.  They were introduced to an Australian art exhibition called “Day of the Species”. This exhibition comprised of 2003 tiny drawings of all the plants and animals on Australia’s national threatened species list. Taking inspiration from this exhibition, the students each chose an endangered Australian animal to draw using watercolour pencils and pastels. In the following week, the students looked at dot pattern artworks by both Aboriginal and Indian artists. They used these works as inspiration for creating their own patterned background. Some students researched their animals and added words to show the threats facing their species.