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Dreaming of an Aussie Christmas
As Term 4 comes to an end and the excitement of Christmas is building, we are creating our own Aussie Christmas works of art, sand and surf and all the fun of summer! Of course they all have one thing in common - our guided drawing of Santa in the foreground as he dreams of another wonderful Aussie Christmas!
Secret Hundertwasser Gardens
Austrian artist and architect Hundertwasser was born Fritz Stowasser, but changed his name to Freidensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser, meaning 'Kingdom of Peace, Rainy Day, Dark-Bright, Hundred Water'. His chosen names express his love of nature, 'dark-bright' colours and curved lines.
This week we've used paper patterned with paint and oil pastel to create beautiful Hundertwasser inspired collage secret gardens. Aren't they amazing?
This week we've used paper patterned with paint and oil pastel to create beautiful Hundertwasser inspired collage secret gardens. Aren't they amazing?
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Castles
I love castles! They are so mysterious and romantic - you can imagine them in their glory days with knights and fair maidens (and dungeons and dragons!)
I have quite a collection of castle photos, snapped during visits to Portugal, Spain and Austria. Some are in ruins, some have been beautifully preserved and restored, but all are fascinating with their variety of towers and turrets, battlements and moats ....
We've used these as inspiration for our Castles this week ....
I have quite a collection of castle photos, snapped during visits to Portugal, Spain and Austria. Some are in ruins, some have been beautifully preserved and restored, but all are fascinating with their variety of towers and turrets, battlements and moats ....
We've used these as inspiration for our Castles this week ....
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Blue Dog Sculptures
Our sculptures are influenced by Cajun Pop artist George Rodrigue's Blue Dog series.
But are all Blue Dogs blue? Of course not! Rodrigue himself explains that his Blue Dog's colour depends on what he is doing: when Rodrigue goes fishing, he might paint the dog a salmon pink colour; when Rodrigue wants a hot dog, he paints the dog mustard yellow! because "artists don't have to paint things the way they really are." ('Why is Blue Dog Blue?: A Tale of Colors' a children's book by George Rodrigue)
As artists, we have chosen our colours carefully, and we hope you love our Colourful 'Blue' Dogs as much as we do!
But are all Blue Dogs blue? Of course not! Rodrigue himself explains that his Blue Dog's colour depends on what he is doing: when Rodrigue goes fishing, he might paint the dog a salmon pink colour; when Rodrigue wants a hot dog, he paints the dog mustard yellow! because "artists don't have to paint things the way they really are." ('Why is Blue Dog Blue?: A Tale of Colors' a children's book by George Rodrigue)
As artists, we have chosen our colours carefully, and we hope you love our Colourful 'Blue' Dogs as much as we do!
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Itsy Bitsy
Creating a composition of large, overlapping flowers and leaves finished with bright watercolours, many students have hidden an itsy bitsy spider within their paintings. Can you spot him?
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| Killarney |
Cats Up A Tree
A great drawing project with special appeal to our students who love to draw with pattern and detail!
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| Estelle |
Mexican Amate
Mexican Amate is a form of paper created from pulped bark. It has been used extensively for a variety of purposes throughout Mexico from the Aztec era through to the modern day. The indiginous Nahua people use amate to create highly decorative and colourful paintings (also known as Amate) - a fantastic inspiration for our art this week!
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Selfies
This week we've learned about facial proportions to create our 'Selfies'.
We began with a guided lesson using grid lines to draw a basic half face. Students then worked independently with mirrors, altering facial expressions, hair styles and accessories to personalise their self-portraits before adding colour with crayon.
Our drawings were then cut out and glued to a simple water-colour resist background we created in a previous lesson. Our final step was to print our names using pieces of cardboard dipped in paint.
We began with a guided lesson using grid lines to draw a basic half face. Students then worked independently with mirrors, altering facial expressions, hair styles and accessories to personalise their self-portraits before adding colour with crayon.
Our drawings were then cut out and glued to a simple water-colour resist background we created in a previous lesson. Our final step was to print our names using pieces of cardboard dipped in paint.
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Minion Armies
After careful drying and kiln firing, our minions have returned for painting and decorating.
As functional paperweights they will sit on our desks and look up at us with loads of personality!
As functional paperweights they will sit on our desks and look up at us with loads of personality!
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Hot Air Balloons
As every hot air ballooning enthusiast knows, sunrise and sunset are the best times to fly!
We were so entranced by this video we just had to join in!
We created our gorgeous skies with acrylic and wet paper towel, blending quickly and thoughtfully to capture that most wonderful single moment of colour our sunsets have to offer.
We spoke about Impressionist painters like Monet whose aim was to do the same!
We then designed and created our stunning balloons and baskets, with the land in darkness below us.
Rainforest Floors
If you take a moment to look closely at even a small patch of the forest floor you can find any number of insects, spiders, ants, moths, butterflies, snails and slugs, not to mention snakes, frogs, leeches and all the other birds and animals that call the rainforest home!
I love the layered depth and texture of our art this week!
Pet Cartoons
We are having loads of fun this week as we cartoon our own pets.
We began by looking at some famous cartoon characters, the way cartoon artists exaggerate features, manipulate facial and body expressions to show emotion and personality, and often add 'props' to tell a story!
Clay Minions
This week has been busy, creative, tactile and fun! We have made clay minions!
They not only sit on our desks and look up at us with loads of personality. They will also act as a functional paperweight!
After careful drying and kiln firing, each will be returned to our class later in the term for painting and decorating! Watch this space!
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| Our Minions, drying and waiting their turn in the kiln! |
Zooming 'Inside Out'
Over the holiday break many students saw Inside Out, from Pixar. Have you seen it?
Inside Out is a cleverly animated movie that does more than just entertain... it provides children (and adults!) with an opportunity to think about the way they think and to recognise the powerful impact of our self-talk (the little 'voices in our heads').
Having A Whale (Shark) Of A Time
Whale sharks are such amazing creatures! The largest known fish in the sea, they can grow to 14 meters or more! Whale sharks live in warm tropical waters in the open ocean and (luckily for us!) prefer a diet of plankton and small krill. They have 3,000 teeth that are only 6mm long. The beautiful patterns of spots on the whale shark's back are unique to each fish, and can be used by scientists to identify and track individuals, like a fingerprint.
Because they are very docile creatures, diving with whale sharks is a very popular activity. They have even been known to allow divers to 'hitch a ride!'
Clay Hanging Decorations
Creating with clay is one of the favourite sessions of our Holiday Art Program.
'Our Pets' Inspired by Heather Galler
We have just completed two full days of Holiday Art Fun! With 3 sessions each day it was back to back creative fun, and we produced some pretty amazing art!!
Our first session each day was canvas painting. We began by looking at examples of the highly decorative animal art by Heather Galler, before working with photos of our own pets (and other favourite animals) to create our own colourful, semi-abstract, layered pet paintings using acrylic paint, oil pastel and stamped pattern.
Just fabulous!!
Our first session each day was canvas painting. We began by looking at examples of the highly decorative animal art by Heather Galler, before working with photos of our own pets (and other favourite animals) to create our own colourful, semi-abstract, layered pet paintings using acrylic paint, oil pastel and stamped pattern.
Just fabulous!!
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| Savannah |
Art with Recycled Drink Cans Inspired by Didier Triglia
More Holiday Art Fun!!!
Taking inspiration from French artist Didier Triglia we created our 3D mixed media collages using empty drink cans, spray paint, 3D paint, glitter paint, corrugated cardboard, feathers, pipecleaners and various other materials. Endless opportunities here to express our creativity!!
Taking inspiration from French artist Didier Triglia we created our 3D mixed media collages using empty drink cans, spray paint, 3D paint, glitter paint, corrugated cardboard, feathers, pipecleaners and various other materials. Endless opportunities here to express our creativity!!
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| Olivia |
Tooled Metal Aztec Sun Stones
The stone is thought to depict the Mayan calendar, with the figure in the middle representing Tonatiuh the Sun God.
For this project we've created radiating patterns on layered colour paper around our central tooled foil 'Sun Gods' and 'Sun Goddesses'.
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Shadow Dancers
When we cut out our photos for our Kelsey Montague inspired 'Wings' picture, we doubled the paper with a black sheet, creating a 'shadow' of ourselves.
With a focus on negative space, balance and pattern, these are lovely examples of how effective black and white can be.
'Wings' Inspired by Kelsey Montague
Did you see the recent Kelsey Montague 'What Lifts You' mural at the Maroochydore Library?
Exploring links between contemporary art and social media, New York artist Kelsey Montague creates a location inspired large-scale wing mural, then invites people to take their photo in front of it, so that they become a 'living work of art'! They are then encouraged to share their experience through Facebook, Instagram and other social media.
We've given special attention to our wing feathers, framing the things in our lives that make us happy, the things that 'lift' us. We hope you enjoy our versions of Kelsey Montegue's 'What Lifts You'......
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| Having Fun!! |
Exploring links between contemporary art and social media, New York artist Kelsey Montague creates a location inspired large-scale wing mural, then invites people to take their photo in front of it, so that they become a 'living work of art'! They are then encouraged to share their experience through Facebook, Instagram and other social media.
We've given special attention to our wing feathers, framing the things in our lives that make us happy, the things that 'lift' us. We hope you enjoy our versions of Kelsey Montegue's 'What Lifts You'......
Crazy Houses
There are some seriously crazy houses out there! Houses built in jet planes, in the shape of flying saucers, guitars, teapots and even animals!
Our crazy houses are completed in watercolour pencil.
Our crazy houses are completed in watercolour pencil.
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| Niamh |
Mount Coolum Landscapes
In this project we explore colour mixing with acrylic paint, creating our paintings with just blue, yellow and red acrylic paint, with some black and white to create tonal value, and using a variety of brush techniques to apply the paint.
Please enjoy our Mount Coolum landscape paintings!
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| Lana |
Clay Name Plaques
We're having lots of fun painting and decorating our fired name plaques with silver spray paint, thinned acrylic paint and a sprinkle of glitter. The very thin layer of acrylic allows the silver to shine through, creating a beautiful opalescent effect. Finally, we're completing our name plaques with wire and beads.
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| Grace |
Who Is That?? Portraits Like Picasso
Last week we experimented with the challenging concept of continuous line, in which the entire drawing is completed without lifting the pen from the page. This week we're taking that one step further to blind continuous line!
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Picasso 'Light Drawing', 1949
Photo by Gjon Mili 1949 for LIFE Magazine.
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Kaleidoscope Owls
This week we're taking a walk with a continuous line owl drawing, then adding a different colour to each shape created. The concept and the execution is more challenging than we expected, and takes a bit of patience, but the beautiful free-flowing line and jewel kaleidoscope colours that result are well worth the effort!
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| Libby |
Art Adventures In Space
This year Hubble celebrates 25 years of 'Unveiling the Universe'. We thought we'd join in the celebrations by creating our own Space-artscapes with a creative twist....
After looking at pictures of galaxies, nebulas, novas and star clusters from the Hubble website, we imagined what we might see if we ever have the chance to view the far reaches of the universe 'close up'. Planets, rockets, meteors.... Then we thought about what other objects might we see... what 'space junk' might careless space explorers before us have left behind? We let our imaginations run wild....
Please enjoy our Hubble Telescope inspired Space Adventures!
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| Olivia |
Koinobori
This week on May 5, families throughout Japan celebrate Kodomo no hi, Japanese Children's Day.
This special day celebrates children, and honours their mothers. Families hang Koinobori (Koi kites) outside their homes to symbolise their children growing strong and healthy.
They are gorgeous!
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| Thursday |
Beautiful Banyans for Earth Day
The Banyan tree is the national tree of India. It is a variety of fig, similar to our Moreton Bay Fig, starting life a small seed in the canopy of a 'host' tree which it uses for support as it sends out roots towards the ground. Gradually, the host tree dies leaving the Banyan to continue it's growth. As each branch spreads out it sends down more roots to provide nutrients and support.
The Banyan can live for hundreds of years, and reach an amazing size as it continues to spread.
The canopies of some of the largest Banyan trees in India cover areas of 4 and 5 acres!
Earth Day is celebrated worldwide each year on April 22. On this day people around the world hold events to show their support for environmental protection. To celebrate we've taken the Indian Banyan tree as inspiration for our art this week.
Our Banyans are completed in ink and oil pastel. Children are encouraged to select analogous (side by side) colours to blend into the negative spaces between the branches and roots of our trees.
Our Earth Day Banyan Trees are truly beautiful!
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| Talia |
Positively Speaking
Self-talk - all those 'conversations' we have with ourselves throughout our day - is a very powerful thing!
Whether positive or negative, self-talk influences how we see ourselves, how we present ourselves to others, how we think, feel and behave. If our self-talk is predominantly negative, it can sabotage our best efforts to succeed, but when our positive self-talk outweighs the negative we can achieve almost anything!
This week we've made conscious efforts to tell each other, and ourselves, how great we really are!
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| Grace |
Switched On Surrealism
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| Annika |
Blown Ink & Printmaking
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This week we've combined the unpredictability of randomly blown ink and the very predictable quality of printmaking to create beautiful mixed media pictures.
Yasmin & Isabella's Layered Landscape
I am always delighted (but never surprised) by the enthusiasm and creativity of my students!
Two of my Year 6 girls, Yasmin and Isabella, asked if they could present a lesson. Of course I was only too happy to agree - what a fantastic experience for them, and for the rest of the class!
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| The girls in action.... |
3D Feathered Friends
Our bird sculptures have been bisque fired and are ready to paint and finish with feathers and twine.
This is the most anticipated lesson of the term, and well worth the wait!
This is the most anticipated lesson of the term, and well worth the wait!
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'I Am' Paintings...
We started with a brief discussion about animal symbols in art, remembering our Chinese Symbols Cherry Blossoms Project last year, when we explored animal symbolism in Chinese art. We discussed the traits we commonly associate with animals. For example we decided that social butterflies probably like to spend time with friends and go to parties, while cats can be very loving but also like to spend time alone. Dogs are loyal and clever, lions are brave and fierce, and dolphins are known to be very clever! We chose an animal we think symbolises us best, or has traits that we admire.
We created our pictures with oil pastel and acrylic paint before adding our photographs to the composition. In deciding where to locate the photos we thought carefully about the direction our images were looking towards, so that the implied line of our vision draws the viewer's focus into our paintings.
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| Ruby |
2D Feathered Friends
In a previous lesson we created clay bird sculptures, using a basic pinch pot for the body before carefully adding wings, beaks and other detail with score and slip.
It will be a few weeks before our clay birds are bisque fired and ready to add finishing touches with paint, feathers and twine.
This week we considered our art in 2 and 3 dimensions as we worked with manipulated photos of our clay birds. We started with black marker to pick out detail and to add interesting backgrounds, trying to imagine what our finished birds will be like with feathered topknots and tails. The next step is using 4B pencil to add areas of light and shadow, creating the impression of 3 dimensions in our drawing.
Finally we added colour with soft pastel, paying particular attention to layering and blending the pastels for interesting textures and depth of colour.
Finally we added colour with soft pastel, paying particular attention to layering and blending the pastels for interesting textures and depth of colour.
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| Hannah |
Raining Cats & Dogs .....
Although Cyclone Marcia was well away from us when it crossed the coast near Yepoon last Friday, we certainly felt her presence with a whole lot of rain! Most of us battened down the hatches, roads flooded and some schools were closed. I even had to cancel Friday's art class!
However every cloud has a silver lining, and the weather event gave us some great inspiration for our art project this week. Students came up with all sorts of unusual things it could be raining, and completed their pictures with crayon and sponge-applied turquoise, blue and black watercolour. Enjoy!
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| Eadie |
What's In A Name?
Last week students wrote their names onto watercolour paper, in preparation for today's project.
I traced all the names with PVA glue (it needed to dry overnight!), and then this week we transformed them with pattern and colour.
After tracing around the glue to make the letters stand out, and adding decorative embellishments, we soaked our paper in a tray of water before experimenting with dripped watercolour using pipettes and eye-droppers.
This week is all about experimentation and discovery. We discovered the colours blend well together, and what happens when we mix complimentary (opposite) colours! Watching the colours blend and fan out through the wet fibres of the paper is really fascinating, not to mention beautiful!
This week is all about experimentation and discovery. We discovered the colours blend well together, and what happens when we mix complimentary (opposite) colours! Watching the colours blend and fan out through the wet fibres of the paper is really fascinating, not to mention beautiful!
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| Naomi |
Penguins
Our first Art Day after the Christmas Holidays - Welcome back everyone! Ready for another GR8 year of Gr8 Art??
The last week or two of the holidays was SO hot and humid - and one of the best places to escape the heat is the movies! Many of my students have seen the recently released 'Penguins of Madagascar', so we've used this to inspire our art this week. Skipper, Kawolski, Ricco and Private all feature heavily, with a few evil Octopus Daves in there too :)
We watched a trailer of the film before looking at some promotional posters, making special note of interesting compositions, movement and colour. We used black marker, crayon and watercolour pencil to complete our pictures. Our finished art really captures the humour and personalities of the characters!
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| Olivia |