Specialist News

Hi there!

I can't believe that 8 weeks of Term 2 have already passed and we are once again nearing the end of the term. I am happy to say that our students have been busy and productive during Visual Arts, producing amazing pieces of work that clearly showcase their creative sides. Let's check out what each year level has done this term.

Preps 

In Preps, we read the book 'My First Book of Patterns' by Bobby George and June George and learnt how shapes and lines used repeatedly would create patterns. We looked at various artists who used patterns in their artwork, such as Paul Klee, Wasily Kladinsky and Piet Mondrian, and created our own version of Mondrian's Composition II with blue, red and yellow. 

Then, we learnt more about patterns found in nature and enjoyed the book 'Wings, Waves and Webs' by Robin Mitchell Cranfield. We learnt about mark making and created different types of marks using corks, bubble wrap, pieces of cardboard and small boxes. We used our marked papers to create dragonflies inspired by British artist, Clare Youngs. In the next couple of weeks, we will continue to explore mark making by beads painting, dabbing with cut sponges and scrape painting using jagged edges.

1/2s

In 1/2s, we learnt about 'background', 'middle ground' and 'foreground' when creating a balanced and visually interesting landscape pictures. We were introduced to the artist Etel Adnan and her use of colour blocking with vibrant colours in her landscape paintings. We took inspirations from Adnan as we learnt to draw landscape pictures using only 3 lines and as we created collage of landscapes using torn pieces of paper. 

We learnt about the artist Georgia O'Keefe who is famous for her close-up paintings of flowers but, in actual fact, is also known for her landscape paintings. Taking inspirations from O'Keefe's Lake George Reflection, we learnt how to fold and print lake reflections. 

We also gained better understanding about masks worn in different countries, their purposes and how they are made. We thought of a character we wanted to portray in a mask and designed our magical masks based on our ideas. Check out how unique each mask is, so colourful and fun to create!

3/4s

In 3/4s, we learnt about the artist Alma Woodsey Thomas who is known for her use of colourful dashes in her painting, making them look like mosaics rather than paintings. We were fascinated with Thomas' use of light and dark colours and learnt how to paint her circles showing colour gradation using 2 colours (primary or secondary colours or a combination of any of these) as long as they are next to each other in the colour wheel. This was not an easy task as we had to be extra careful with how much paint of the chosen colour to mix to show the colour gradation. 

Then, we explored how dragons are represented in artworks and learnt how their appearance and characteristics have evolved over time. Next, we learnt to draw dragon eyes before getting to the fun part, which was actually creating dragon eyes using modelling clay and modelling dough. After that, we drew and decorated dragon eggs with dragon eyes peeking through. What fun times!

5/6s

In 5/6s, we explored the rise of the Pop Art movement in the 50s, 60s and 70s. We were introduced to a number of well-known Pop Art artists and explored further the works of Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Sol LeWitt and Jean Michel Basquiat. We learnt that although Basquiat's artstyle is considered Neo-Expressionism but his friendship with Warhol made him an interesting artist to study. Below are a range of works we completed that were inspired by these amazing artists! For the remainder of the term, we will complete our modular sculptures using icypole sticks inspired by Sol LeWitt's minimalism and give modelling with air dry clay a go before the end of the term.

Andy Warhol's prints

Roy Lichtenstein's foam prints

Jean Michel Basquait's self-portraits

There are so much more we have accomplished in Visual Arts that I wish I can share with everyone! I encourage all families to come and have a look at the works our students have created that are on currently on display along the corridor outside the Visual Arts room. Better still, come and visit us during our Discovery Learning Open Afternoon in Week 11.

Thank you,

Denise Diamantopoulos

Visual Arts Specialist