Visual Arts Gallery Walk

In Visual Arts the girls have come in excited and ready to explore their creative side. I am new to the College this year and am excited to be working with girls in an open and collaborative creative space.

Each year group has been learning about different artists, and experimenting with different mediums and materials new to them through formative tasks which have been innovative, creative and fun. I like to showcase students’ work around the room for inspiration and further motivation. Below are a few recounts from each grade to explain their artistic journey.

I hope you enjoy this virtual gallery walk as you experience what our students have been working towards in Visual Arts. 

Year 7 

When we first started art, we began to learn about the 4 frames of art which are the structural, subjective, postmodern and cultural frames. But we mostly focused on the structural and subjective frames. The information was explained in a fun and interactive way which helped us better understand the concept. We then moved on to learning painting techniques that a famous artist named Georgia O’Keeffe had used in her paintings. We then were able to practice the painting techniques ourselves in a fun and enjoyable way. We have also begun to learn some drawing techniques using coloured pencils. We learnt so many new techniques that we didn’t know we could use with coloured pencils! Overall, Visual Arts is a very enjoyable experience for the whole class!

Sofia Valentini  – Year 7 Student

Year 8

This semester in Visual Arts, we studied the art and everyday life of Vincent Van Gogh and William Dobell. We also studied the four frames Cultural, Postmodern, Structural, Subjective and additionally, the conceptual frame.  Van Gogh was part of the post impressionist movement and he painted with broken brush strokes and cool colours, these techniques are evident in his famous paintings, in particular Starry Night and his own self portrait. During practical lessons, we practised using monochromatic painting techniques on paper, and painted faces using multiple tones of the same colour. 

Alessia Saija – Year 8 Student

Year 9 

To start off the year we ventured into perspective drawing where we learnt all different techniques to create interesting and creative landscapes. After, we explored all different mediums and ways to make art. Each of us created a micro to macro piece of our choosing to experiment with different textures. It was a great way for us to figure out what we enjoyed and how we like to create art as an individual. We continued using all our newfound skills to start our assessment landscape artworks. This assessment gave us a lot of freedom to create art that inspires us. This class is such a supportive environment for aspiring artists to grow in skills and confidence. I have loved immersing myself in all different styles of art this year and I am so excited to keep expanding my artistic horizons.

Jade Dunleavy – Year 9 Student

Year 11 

As a Year 11 student completing the Visual arts course in 2021, there have so far been many new and inspiring opportunities to explore our individual styles, thoughts and visions through many different mediums and expressive forms. 

In particular, analysing the human form has allowed us to expand our knowledge and viewing of the organic ways in which our body is structured, by drawing bones, hands, figures and facial features. As well as this, completing activities which overcome our personal boundaries in relation to what we are comfortable with creating, by experimenting with colour palettes and gaining confidence in simply putting pencil to paper and starting an artwork. 

Along with this, learning and building upon our knowledge of iconic artists throughout history and how they have revolutionised art into what we see today. Artists such as Ah Xian, Gordon Bennett and Jackson Pollock have been significant inspirations and influences upon not only our art, but also our ways of thinking and interpreting their practices into the four frames of art. 

It is with these practical and inspiring activities that we have developed important skills in creating art and have set foundations for our evolving knowledge of artists and the art world around us. 

Jane Linetsky – Year 11 Student