Visual Arts  

Artist in Schools program - Farimah Eshraghi

We welcome artist Farimah to this year's 'Artist in Schools' program. 

The 'Artist in Schools' program is funded by Whitehorse City Council. Farimah has been working with Chris Henson’s Year 10 2D art class on portrait work.

Students have been given a theme of ‘Self’ whereby they will work through self-portraiture to create imagery and symbolism to reflect their work. Our project is titled 'Koonung Archibald'.

Farimah has been guiding and skilling up the students with drawing, colour mixing and applying paint to create the their own work.

Please see the plan Mr Henson has created to inspire the students.

Assessment Task 3 – Self Portrait 

Task Overview

In this task you will create a self portrait painting, using acrylic paints, which incorporates symbolism and imagery which helps to define who you are. The work can be objective or abstracted in some way. In addition to a final self portrait painting, you will investigate historic examples of self-portraiture and document, and annotate, development of your work in a visual diary (sketches, experiments etc.)

Aim: To explore and express visual language in the development of a Self Portrait

Art element/Principle focus : Form, Texture, Tone, Colour, Balance, Unity

Terminology: 

Materials: Visual Diary, Laptop, 2B/HB pencils, Acrylic paints, canvas

Assessment: You will be assessed on your ability to:

- investigate and analyse self-portraiture through art history

- develop ideas for artworks

- document development of imagery, materials, techniques and symbolism

- create accurate proportion and forms

- manipulate acrylic painting techniques

- express themes of ‘Self’ through choice of imagery and symbolism

- evaluate effect of artwork on audiences 

Farimah is working with the Year 10 2D art class to complete a ‘collaboration’ piece. 

Students were introduced to a poem where they brainstormed in groups to complete some visualisation drawings for this art work.

Read excerpts from the poem by Baha’u’llah and see what the students, with Farimah’s guidance, have come up with.

 “This is the day when the gems of constancy that lie in the mine of men’s inner selves, should be made manifest....… Be as brilliant as the light, and as splendid as the fire!”

(meaning the fire of love!)

Helen Briffa 

Visual Arts / Technology Teacher

Arts Domain Leader 

VCE Creative Practice Excursion – Top Arts 2023 and Melbourne Now

During week 2 of term, the VCE students ventured to the NGV to view the exhibitions Top Arts 2023 and Melbourne Now.

Students were treated to an engaging keynote presentation about this year’s Top Arts entries, and learnt how they can create visual journals and works of art which are of the same calibre as those on show. The group was also given time to view the folios of those artists, who completed year 12 last year, and explore ways they can create comprehensive journals which meet the criteria of the Creative Practice Study Design. 

The students then had time to explore the breadth of works currently on show in the blockbuster Melbourne Now exhibition. The year 11s were blown away by the scale of Troy Emery’s Mountain Climber while the year 12s had some fun interacting with Meagan Streader’s Sky Whispers before chilling out on Black River Running, a crocheted rug made from second hand shirts, by Jan Nelson. The highlight of the day was James Lemon’s Swarming, the perfect place for the students to snap a selfie with their friends. 

Amy McLellan and Christopher Henson

Visual Arts Teachers

Year 10 Visual Communication Design class - Toaster design

Year 10 have been understanding and applying technical drawing to design their own toaster in the Memphis style. Take a look at these amazing works in the attached pdf from Ms McLellan's Year 10 Visual Communication Design class.

Amy McLellan

Learning Specialist High-ability Practice Leader 

Visual Arts/Technology Teacher

 Free portfolio sessions for students

  LCI Melbourne are offering a free session to assist students on how to best capture, pitch and present their portfolios. The session will be held on Wednesday 28 June.  Find out more by clicking on the 'Quick Labs' photo below: