It is with immense pleasure that our department spotlights Primary Visual Art this week. During the recent Primary Parent Conferences, Mrs. Duckett outdid herself, transforming the classroom and foyer into beautiful galleries to celebrate the work of our young artists. Our students explored with inquiry for transdisciplinary themes through a diverse range of media. Here is an overview of our tremendous work:
Natural Inspiration: Year 1 turned classrooms and shared areas into botanical wonderlands, celebrating nature with art. Throughout the unit, students explored how different iconic artists drew inspiration from the world around them. Parents were shown a variety of techniques: from the delicate, impressionistic marks of Monet and bold floral compositions of Georgia O'Keeffe to Lucy Tiffney's paint experiments on unique surfaces and the textured collage styles of Eric Carle.
The Art of Giving: Year 2 showcased 3D sculpture techniques with charming pinch pots. The students explored the universal theme of celebrations. They focused on dance, food, light, and the spirit of generosity. These vessels were designed and created with a specific purpose in mind: the intentional act of gifting them to a special person in their lives, blending clay skills with a lesson in kindness.
Collaborative Construction: Teamwork took center stage as Year 3 presented massive collaborative cardboard sculptures. Working in energetic groups of 8–10, the students designed, planned and constructed stacking masterpieces. Beyond engineering with cardboard, the true success of this project was seeing students communicate, delegate, and overcome creative challenges as a unified team.
Precision in Relief: Year 4 demonstrated impressive technical discipline with the display of relief tiles. During the exhibition, students walked parents through the complex steps of their process: rolling an even slab of clay, using templates to cut exact squares, and masterfully attaching designs. They took pride in explaining the “score, slip, stick, smooth” technique that ensured the 3D designs remained bonded.
Identity and Myth: Year 5 offered a sophisticated dual exhibition this week. In the foyer, they showcased collaborative staff portraits which utilised the grid method for accuracy and applied advanced colour mixing for realistic skin tones. Meanwhile, in the classrooms, mythical creature eye sculptures were on display alongside creative writing, demonstrating how they used sculpting to bring their characters to life.
Master Printmakers: Year 6 students displayed a high level of artistic maturity with block prints in the foyer. They guided parents through the multi-stage process of printmaking: from the initial design and the physical carving of a rubber printing block to the rhythmic process of printing multiples over several lessons. To conclude the project, students practised curation skills, carefully deciding how to adapt and elevate a specific piece from their body of work for its final professional display.
On behalf of Mrs. Duckett, the entire Art Department would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the wonderful parents who give their continual support and energy to viewing our Primary Art Showcase. Transforming our classrooms, the foyer, and the Visual Art studio into a professional gallery space was no small feat, and it simply wouldn't have been possible without you as the viewer. It was a joy to stand back and watch our students lead you through the exhibition with such confidence. Thank you for fostering an environment where our young artists feel seen, valued, and celebrated!
