Dear Parents,
Our theme this term has been “Reflections on the Landscape”. We have been looking at things that are part of the landscape rather than studying the landscape in a traditional way. I really wanted the students to think of what makes the landscape, how plants and trees for example make different patterns with the way they branch out and the different kinds of barks on trees. I wanted them to think of what the plants are made of, “the inner landscape”. I encouraged the students to find emotion in the way that plants and trees grow on different parts of the Australian landscape. The dry landscape, the cool landscape, the way trees and plants are affected by the elements like wind and rain.
The Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday groups started the term with mixed media paintings of pumpkins, we studied colours that represent autumn and also the idea of related shapes and related colours.
The second project involved the study of pictures of various landscapes and painting a landscape that depicted the feeling of hot and dry.
Then students studied pictures of trees and did drawings of trees and from these drawings students developed a foam print. When the prints were finished students cut plastic stencils to overprint “positive” and “negative” shapes on their prints. They also created drawings depicting hot and dry and misty and cool landscapes.
The Friday group finished their prints using three different printmaking techniques, foam printing, etching and linocut printing, inspired on the monumental print “The Fountain” by Frank Stella. The results are stunning, it took a while but it was worth the efforts and the time spent. The Friday group is also looking at the landscape, a different kind of approach that involves a close look at the different kinds of barks and patterns found on trees to create a panting.
Next term we will continue looking at the landscape to study the way artists like Bauhaus artist Paul Klee and indigenous artist Sally Gabory have represented the landscape and we will also look at the “Urban Landscape”.
Have a lovely holiday. We will see you again on Monday 18 July.
Raquel Redmond
