Visual Arts 

By Ms Cherrie Pocock, Head Teacher CAPA & Wellbeing 

Visual Arts & Photography Rural Prac Student

This term we have had a prac student Cameron Kripps-Kennedy working with us at Wee Waa High School teaching Visual Arts and Photography. Students have been learning about a variety of techniques as well as the historical and critical content related to these courses. Cameron has also used some innovative teaching methods including games based activities to get students thinking about different art concepts. 

Stage 4 - students have been working on a Pop Art unit, focusing on the key elements of this style “Big, Bold and Bright” They have used a variety of materials such as paint, inks and copic pens to develop their artworks that reflect popular culture. Artworks completed so far are; a title page, graffiti style name using computer generated avatars of themselves, contemporary cartoons and cars in this style. Cameron has been teaching drawing skills which has involved teamwork and technology to draw a combined creature.

Stage 5

Students have been completing a drawing unit of work, aimed at developing this important skill in Visual Arts. They started the term learning how to draw basic three-dimensional shapes using lead pencil and tonal variations. Once they mastered the basics, they then moved on to more complex compositions. More recently, they have been exploring using colour and have drawn real fruit.

Stage 6 - Year 11

Students have learnt about digital camera operations including; focus, aperture, depth of field and ISO. They will soon be starting their first assessment task taking photos based on texture and different vantage points.

Preliminary Visual Arts have looked at the key components of their course including; the Frames, the conceptual framework and have had complex discussions around what is art and why we make art. 

Students have now started drawing facial features and have just completed a lead pencil drawing of a face. Portraiture in art is now the focus of their studies and they will critically analysis a variety of portrait artists throughout history. In the practical component, they will build their skills to submit a body of work on this theme early next term.

Stage 6 - Year 12 

Visual Arts have just completed their second case study on Postmodernism, with the submission of a essay focused on the idea of appropriation in art. Kirrily has been busy making her artworks for her Body of Work which will be due late August.

Photography. Yr 12 student Lataya Gordon has been utilising Photoshop to develop a range of images based on the work of Bea Nettle and Maggie Taylor. Cameron has been able to teach her a variety of techniques utilising their expertise in digital photography.