The Arts

Visual Arts February Newsletter 2025

Welcome back to the Visual Arts at GPPS.

We are excited to welcome all students back to another fantastic year of creativity, learning, and exploration in the Visual Arts program at Gilgai Plains Primary School! This year is going to be filled with lots of exciting projects and opportunities for every student to express themselves and develop their artistic skills.

A special welcome to our Foundation students, who are just beginning their artistic journey with us. We are thrilled to see their imaginations take flight as they dive into the world of colours, shapes, and creativity. It’s going to be amazing to watch them grow and discover new ways to express their ideas.

We are looking forward to a year full of inspiration, collaboration, and hands-on learning. Whether it’s through drawing, painting, sculpture, or other creative projects, we can’t wait to see the wonderful artwork our students will create. Here's to a fabulous year ahead, filled with artistic growth and plenty of fun along the way!

We are looking for donations of cereal boxes for an art project that we will be doing with our Year 2 & 3 students. If you could please donate these boxes, it would be appreciated. 

Let’s make this a year to remember!

Warm regards,

Lisa O’Dowd, Sarah Mizzi & Emily Bullas

Foundation

Our Foundation students are off to an exciting start in the Visual Arts space! This term, they will begin exploring the world of colour, learning about primary and secondary hues while experimenting with different art materials. Alongside this, students will develop their fine motor skills through hands-on activities like drawing, cutting, and shaping, helping to strengthen their hand-eye coordination. It’s wonderful to watch our youngest artists express their creativity and begin their artistic journey with such enthusiasm!

Year 1

This term, our Year 1 students will be diving into the vibrant world of primary and secondary colours! They'll be creating colourful ice-cream cones to practice colour mixing—get ready for lots of fun and creativity! To help protect their clothes from the acrylic paints, please ensure your child has a smock to wear in the Art room. Smocks can be purchased at stores like Kmart, or alternatively, an old long-sleeved shirt will do just fine. We can't wait to see all the beautiful, colourful creations your child will make!

Year 2

This semester, our Year 2 students will be diving into the world of abstract art as they study the works of Piet Mondrian, famous for his use of bold lines and primary colours. Students will explore how primary colours come together to create secondary colours, with plenty of hands-on opportunities to experiment with colour mixing. Throughout the semester, they will create a number of artworks inspired by Mondrian’s iconic style, learning about balance, form, and the power of colour in art. It’s going to be a fun and colourful journey!

Year 3

This term, our Year 3 students will be inspired by the emotive colour fields of artist Mark Rothko. They will explore how different colours can evoke various emotions and learn to express these feelings through their own artworks. Students will create their own masterpieces, experimenting with bold colours and layered compositions, just like Rothko. It’s going to be an exciting journey of self-expression and colour exploration! We can’t wait to see how their emotions come to life on canvas.

Year 4

In the coming weeks, our Year 4 students will be focusing on the essential elements of line, shape, and space through black fine line drawings. They will explore how these elements can be used to create depth, movement, and interesting compositions in their artwork. By experimenting with different techniques and styles, students will develop their understanding of how to use lines and shapes creatively. We’re excited to see the unique and dynamic drawings they will produce as they refine their artistic skills!

Year 5

This term, our Year 5 students will be exploring the concept of analogous colours—colours that sit next to each other on the colour wheel, creating harmonious and visually pleasing combinations. They’ll be applying this knowledge to create vibrant, eye-catching analogous disco balls! Through this project, students will not only practice colour theory but also experiment with creating depth and movement in their artwork. Get ready for some groovy, colourful creations! We can’t wait to see their dazzling disco balls come to life.

Year 6

This term, our Year 6 students will be creating unique self-portraits using analogous colours. Starting with a photograph of themselves, students will explore the use of colour harmony by choosing colours next to each other on the colour wheel to represent different aspects of their portrait. This project will allow them to express their individuality while practicing colour theory and portraiture techniques. We’re excited to see how each student interprets themselves through this creative use of colour!