VCE Studio Art

Diverse creativity on display in more fabulous folios

The range of creative expression from our students in VCE Studio Art this year has been really incredible. We are excited to bring you another installment of the fabulous folios, comprising finished works, student reflections and progress pictures from this passionate and hard working group.  

Flora Bellemo

In my garment I explored the themes of fantasy and reality and the combination of them needed to create the magical thinking which will help us solve the climate crisis. This piece is made from upcycled scraps and rubbish, so it not only talks about sustainability but is sustainably made.  

Juliet Day

In 3/4 studio art this year, one of my final pieces centred around the relationships that we as humans form with environments, specifically natural, organic landscapes. With this, I wanted to display the specific benefits we reap from frequenting these environments, such as an improved sense of wellbeing. Growing up camping alongside the Murray River every Easter, I found the Murray-Kulkyne Park a major source of inspiration, as my rug tapestry piece depicts a stretch of the river, and its surrounding bushland. The rug was created with naturally dyed wool, coloured with onion skins, rosemary and tea leaves. Then, each skein of wool was ‘punched into’ hessian with a manual tufting tool. This process took at least 50 hours to dye all the wool, and an additional 75+ hours to ‘tuft’ my rug! Finally, I created my own eucalyptus oil which is sprayed over the rug to emulate the immersive nature of being in organic landscapes, that envelops your senses. I invite all viewers to feel the differing textures of the rug, and immerse themselves with my piece, as they would a natural environment! If you see it hanging in C block, please interact with it!

I would highly recommend a folio subject, especially Studio Art to any future VCE students- it is extremely time consuming, but I found it such a great break from my other more academic type subjects. It’s a labour of love- so you have to be completely invested in the process, but I promise it’s totally worth it, looking back at the enormous amount of work everyone completed this year- even in lockdown! Some of my top tips would be to keep your mind open! Nothing will turn out how you envisioned, so trust the process. Also, studio art is so versatile- I can barely draw to save myself, but you have so much freedom in what you want to create. Don’t be discouraged if you think you are ‘bad’ at art- you just haven’t found your niche yet! 

Tess Argyros

My overarching theme was that of Rock ‘n Roll. I specifically explored the wild culture which surrounds the genre, its reckless and free-spirited energy, the different movements of fashion it pioneered, the profound impact it originally had on the once conservative youth of the ‘50s and most significantly, its promotion of self-expression and individuality. Primary and secondary sources such as photographs, lyrics, album covers, documentaries and autobiographies were included, and I centred both my final artworks around the concept of debauchery in both its present and future phases. 

Final Artwork 1 is a graphic landscape portrayal of rock ‘n roll debauchery, utilising the drawing technique of stippling. The artwork itself is large in size (A2) and draws on principles of the Pop Art movement through the likes of Andy Warhol such as vibrancy, bold outlines and high tonal contrast. The meaning behind the piece refers to the concepts of infidelity, temptation and alcohol that rock musicians face when touring, as well as in their personal lives, and the aftermath of engaging in these activities. Final Artwork 2 is a subliminal extension, in its physical portrayal of rock icons who tragically succumbed to debauchery, in the form of an art installation made of cardboard boxes. I intentionally used cardboard as the material of the piece, as it represents roughness and strength, which resembles a weather beaten and torn at the edge’s aesthetic that is not well kept or manicured, much like the rock ‘n roll lifestyle.

Mia Montgomery

My main focus is change and how change within our surroundings shapes us internally. My first piece embodies how I view growth and anxieties within myself. It is a self portrait but kind of flipped so that instead of focusing on my psychical attributes I capture internal struggles. My second piece is a head being pulled apart revealing raw emotions underneath, representing how people often mask emotions. Folio subjects can be a bit intense so I would recommend pacing yourself throughout the process. Taking a folio subject is great for acquiring the skills to put together a folio and expressing yourself creatively.