Posted CGGS Newsletter 30 - 17 October 2008
Term 4 always seems to go so quickly, as there are so many activities in the School and before you know it, we are into the Christmas holidays. It seems to go even quicker in the Art Room, because for some reason, when people are being creative and involved in making things, they just don`t seem to notice the time at all. With this term’s theme of Art into Craft we are exploring the fusion of the trained artist moving away from Fine Art and working more in the area of the skilled Craftsman. Yet they still retain all the aesthetic qualities of an artistic mind. The girls get to be artistic and make something they can use.
The students are discovering weaving, jewellery, beading, fabric and fibre craft, felting, collage and embossing in a variety of projects. This is where it gets hard to tell you any more, as the students are already making decisions of who is getting their treasured objects. So as you can see, I would be giving away too many secrets if I told you exactly what they are making. I`m sure there will be many secret craft projects involving glue, wool, sticks, beads and baubles before Christmas.
This term is about making beautiful things as a reward for the students. They have worked extremely hard all year and have produced some amazing art. Well done to all.
Peta-Jayne Smith
Junior School Art Teacher
Posted CGGS Newsletter 23 - 15 August 2008
The Art Room is one of those places that always seems to have something going on. The students get to try their hands at lots of different topics and techniques and there is always great interest shown in what each Year level is doing. It is a fantastic environment for them to grow as there is inspiration found everywhere in the room.
This term is full of action. Each Year level will try their hands at printmaking, sculpture and clay work. It allows for a greater use of design and many different practical skills.
At the moment, many classes have been helping out with the visual decoration of the Library for Book Week. Art and literature are such a great mix. The short listed picture books have given the students loads of inspiration and it has been fun to try their hand at illustration. The books are so varied that it is always easy to find something for every age. The wonderful book The Night Garden by Elise Hurst has inspired the students to make blue chalk pastel monster bushes and they have been put against the windows in the Library. They look terrific!
Art Club is also bustling along, and the students are now painting a small canvas each to take home and adorn their walls. It is interesting to see what the students choose as subject matter. Sometimes they are doing something for their bedroom, others have a spot selected at home and a few are thinking of a gift for someone special.
Whatever the reason someone chooses to make a piece of art, whether it is for a class project or for pleasure, it is always something very special because it is that person`s own creation and they are sharing something of themselves with us.
Peta-Jayne Smith
Junior School Art teacher
Please click here to return to CGGS Newsletter 23 - 15 August 2008
Posted CGGS Newsletter No. 15 - 30 May 2008
A burst of colour started Term 2 with a new creative surge. Colour theories, colour collage, colour expressionism and lots of colour ideas have seen loads of art materials used in many different ways.
Year 3 students continue their investigation into Australian Art. This term they are looking at Australian Contemporary Art from many different viewpoints. A beautiful ink and crayon still-life was produced reminiscent of Margaret Preston. Colour theories of colour mixing and complementary colours along with Aboriginal dot painting and symbols from the Western Desert are being combined in a wonderful painting called The Journey, influenced by the work of Lin Onus.
Year 4 students are working on a colourful still-life based on the work of Margaret Olley. It is a collage piece using tissue paper, wallpaper, rubbings and tonal studies to create a vibrant textural artwork.Then we move on to intergrating their topic of Convicts and the First Fleet with an Art program that looks at Colonial and Impressionist Australian Art, the art of storytelling and the study of the human body and face.
Year 5 students started with the expressive use of coloured art materials and the impact of colour on our feelings and emotions. Looking at a variety of genres and the expressive qualities of paint application, the Year 5 students have been creating work that is saying something about the subject and style.
Year 6 students are still on the path of ‘thinking outside the square’. They started the term with a piece called Metamorphosis based on the work of MC Escher who created many wonderful optical illusions and brilliant works of design. They are now working on a piece that will take them through to the end of term. It is an ‘alternative portrait’ titled Who am I, which delves into how all aspects of your life make you who you are. This piece will incorporate many mixed media and should be quite a keepsake for years to come.
The one common thing that all the classes shared was Mother’s Day. Over 300 cards were produced in the Art room and the amazing thing was that every card was completely individual. They were made with paper, tissue, cardboard, stamps, paint, glue, sequins, ribbons, glitter, pens, pencils and………………LOVE.
The JSHAA Travelling Art Show 2008 will be displayed in the School from 26 May until 6 June. There are many pieces in the show from schools all over NSW and CGGS Junior School.
Peta-Jayne Smith
Art teacher - Junior School
Please click here to return to CGGS Newsletter No. 15 - 30 May 2008
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