Grade 5/6 ~ Chinese Willow Pattern Plates

The Grade 5/6 Asia focus this year is China and we shared the story of the Willow Pattern together in Art. So many students recognised  this distinct blue and white plate! After we shared the story, many students went home and checked theirs a bit more closely to see if it actually was the willow pattern. After reading the story, they knew the exact details to look for (the doves, apple trees, pagoda, boat, bridge etc)..

To create our own willow pattern plates, students sketched their designs in their art journals and then onto white paper plates. We used tints and shades of blue acrylic to then paint our monochromatic designs. Great work Grades 5 and 6!

Grade 5/6 ~ Hokusai's Great Wave

To complement the Grade 5/6 topic of Natural Disasters, we shared the book 'The Great Wave' and talked about the Japanese artist, Hokusai and his famous wood block print 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa'.

We had a guided drawing session together where we learned how to draw the crest and white caps of the waves. We discussed the element of space, adding a horizon line and making the distinction between the foreground and background. Students drew directly onto their white paper with black oil pastel, encouraging them to draw 'big' and not worry about mistakes and having to rub out pencil lines. Some students chose to add Mt Fuji in the background as an active volcano or as a snow capped mountain. Some students also chose to include a boat to add to the sense of movement in their painting.

Tempera paint blocks were used to with plenty of water on our brushes and as a final touch, students splattered white acrylic paint to create a sense of the splashing white foam of the waves. Final artworks are on display in the office and they look fantastic!

Grade 3/4 ~ The Cat in the Hat

"I know it is wet

And the sun is not sunny.

But we can have 

Lots of good fun that is funny!"

Grade 3/4s were really engaged in their guided drawing sessions where they learned how to draw the Cat in the Hat in the style of Dr Seuss. We focused on the way he used cross-hatching to add contrast and shading in his illustrations.

Students enjoyed using the black fine liners for this activity as well as making a glittery background with coloured glitter glue. When other classes walked in and saw them on display, they thought the Cats were photocopies, not drawings! Well done Grade 3 and 4 - outstanding work!

P-2 ~ Primary and Secondary colour icy-poles

The Prep-2 students had a great time mixing colours in recent lessons. We watched this fun video below and also shared the book 'Mix It Up' by Herve Tullet.

Students really enjoyed mixing the primary colours on their palettes to make secondary colours. They painted the primary colours on the tops and bottoms of their icy-poles and painted the middle with the corresponding secondary colour.

Once dry, they cut out the icy-poles and stuck them down onto their decorated background - complete with real icy-pole sticks!! They look so bright and colourful (and delicious on these hot days!!) And yes, the primary colours song has been stuck in our head for days :)

Art Room News

Just some information from the latest newsletter article....

We’ve started the year off with a real burst of creativity and our new Foundation students have settled so well into our Visual Arts Program. 

Recycled plastic containers with lids (like margarine, Light and Easy tubs, takeaway containers etc) are a well-used resource in the Art Room. If anyone is able to send some in, it would be greatly appreciated (a quick run through the dishwasher always works a treat). Thank you. 

Just a reminder about Art Smocks—some are getting a little tight and may need to be replaced. We do have a supply of spare smocks that students may borrow until they can source one of their own. An old shirt is perfect.

 Thank you and see you in the Art Room.