Visual Arts News

Prep

Over the last two weeks our prep students have continued to learn about colours in art, particularly primary colours and rainbow colours. Students were inspired by the picture story book, “The Chameleon’s True Colours” by Yuliya Pankratova. They were given a chameleon template and used paint slicks to show the different colours and patterns the chameleon “borrowed” from the other animals in the story. This week the preps learnt about sculptures. After practicing various paper folding techniques (including zig-zag folds, curls and loops), students were able to create their own 3D paper sculpture using primary coloured paper strips.  

Grade 1&2

Last week the grade one and two students created Picasso-inspired portraits. After using visual thinking strategies to discuss the artist’s portraits, students discussed emotions they might like to portray in their own portraits. The students divided their portraits with a line down the middle, so that they could show two different facial expressions/emotions. They used watercolour paints to make colour choices based on the emotions they wished to convey. This week, the grade ones and twos explored the colourful art movement “Fauvism”. Students completed a guided drawing of a cow, then coloured it with pastel in the colourful style of the Fauvist artists. 

Grade 3&4

Last week, grade threes and fours explored abstract landscape paintings by Australian artist Belynda Henry. Students created their own abstract landscape by drawing organic shapes above a horizon line, using symmetry to create reflections, and using muted colours inspired by the artist. They also used pastel to add effects to their reflections. This week, grade threes and fours learnt about geodes and the amazing layered crystals hidden inside them. Taking inspiration from this natural phenomenon, the students created a mixed media geode artwork. Students experimented with contour lines as they used paper, marker and watercolour paint to create their layers. They also added a textured element to their work by adding a glitter layer. Check out all these beautiful geodes!

Grade 5&6

Over the last two weeks, grade five and six students have been working on an acrylic painting on canvas with elements of form and texture. The theme of their painting was natural disasters. In the first week, students sketched their subject, then used plaster Modroc to build up areas, adding 3D elements and texture to their work. In the following week, they completed the artwork by painting the subject and background, as well as adding paper and glitter to enhance their work. Here are some of the final pieces: