This is the last week of our 1st term 2013.
Next Term will start on Monday 15 April.
Looking at the body of work produced by the students this term, one more time I conclude that children are great artists and how important it is for them to have the opportunity to express their ideas and feelings through the visual arts.
We looked at computers parts to get inspiration for our drawings and prints. Starting with the idea of artist Leonardo Davinci’s drawings of the human skeleton, we looked at the “skeleton” of an old computer then we examined the different parts inside the computer. Students selected pieces of the “inside” of the old computer to do pastel drawings and pen and black ink drawings. I encouraged the students to create drawings, using techniques as colour pastel blending and for the ink drawing they worked with bamboo pens and brushes to create lines and textures. The idea of this project was to interpret in an imaginative way the small computer parts they selected for their drawings. From these drawings they also produced designs to prepare their printing blocks for collagraphs and card printing.
Printmaking involved printing the two blocks together, the collagraph and the card print on top, to create colours and textures. The printing was done on both sides of the paper as our aim was to make a concertina book with prints.
The second project was ceramics, using the “slab method” of rolling clay, students used bowls and oval plates as moulds to make their ceramic pieces. Students rolled, cut, impressed, painted and scratched designs on their clay work. The only instruction I gave the students about painting their ceramics was an indication of how the colours will change once exposed to heat in the kiln. I encouraged them to paint the way they normally paint on paper, applying colour freely. The results where amazing, the expressive way they painted and the combination of colours made their pieces beautiful and fresh.
Our Last project this term has been painting a still life composition. To do so, students used thin paint brushes to create line drawings. The idea was to learn how to use the paint brush as a drawing tool and then apply paint using techniques as colour mixing and colour blending. Once again I’m amazed by the results.
Next term I have been invited to go to south of Alice Springs to paint with a group of people. Unfortunately, they haven’t confirmed the dates yet, but it will be in May. I calculated that we will be away painting for 10 days. I’ll most definitely let you know the dates I’ll be away.
Next term is a long term so we still have 8 weeks of art lessons. Have a lovely holiday, see you next term.
Raquel Redmond
