Year 6 Coil Bowls

We have finally finished our first ever Clay Coil Bowls... Hurray! Thanks to Ann Duke from Strathmore North Primary School for allowing me to use her kiln. I do not have a kiln in my art room. Thank you Ann for all your advise and guidance. I was very pleased with the result and the Year 6 students have really enjoyed the process. Unfortunately there were many breakages because I believe the coils were not blended properly or the clay was too thin. It's amazing what a coat of paint can do to a humble bowl. Well done Year 6 students!

Year 2 - 'Belonging Mural'

We are working on a collaborative artwork. The year 2 students are exploring and learning about the inquiry unit titled Belonging. The main idea is about understanding that even though we are all different because of our heritage we all come together and belong  to a school community and the world. So I thought of embarking on a Year 2 mural.  The background is a basic landscape of the sky and the earth. We are using different shades of blue and green paper to create an amazing collage. So far the children are enjoying the experience. Once the background is complete, each child will trace their arm, up to their elbow and hand. They will use only one colour from the colour wheel and illustrate their cut out. My intention is to glue them on. Perhaps I will overlap the arms... I'm not sure yet...

The cows are back! - Prep

To finish off the term's work about The Farm, Preps created Peter Diem inspired Cows. I guided students step-by-step on how to draw a cow. They used oil pastels to colour cows in and painted the background with blue and green paint.

Olympic Pictograms in 3D!

Year 3 & 4 students were challenged with this art task. I got the idea from a book. Our focus was the 2012 Olympics and I wanted the students to embark on the challenge of drawing the human body. Using pictograms was perfect. I printed copies of different Olympic sports for them to copy from. Firstly they needed to draw the first copy in their visual diaries.Then they traced 3 copies on separate A4 white paper.They then coloured their figure using Olympic colours. I stressed that precise colour needed to be applied.They used Crayola pencils and colour sticks. Once completed they started to layer parts of their Olympic bodies.They glued foam in between layers.The project was finished by adding an illustrated background. Most were successful. It took longer than expected but overall I was pleased with the outcome.Well done to everyone!

Artwork for a book of poems! Year 5

I met Ray Mc Alary a poet who is writing a book to raise funds for the local Fire Brigades. He asked me to to include my student's artwork. So of course I jumped at the opportunity. My year 5 students read  various poems including: Around the Campfire

It's a cool Winter's night, the air is so still,

My friends and I camp on the ridge,

By the light of the moon we can see the next hill

And below there's the river and bridge.

We build up the fire with timber that's dry,

We'll need to keep warm through the night,

I look up above at the clear starry sky

Then back at the embers so bright.

We cook up some food, a big pot of stew,

Potatoes we place in hot coals,

I love meals like this, I've had quite a few,

The smell of the food warms our souls.

When the food is all gone it is time for a song

While the billy boils gently away,

Our favourite songs we will sing loud and long,

A beautiful end to the day.

We hear the night birds as they call to their mates

And the sounds of the possums above,

It's time to forget all our fears and our hates,

This is the time that we love.

The great Aussie bush is a wonderful place

To relax with a close group of friends,

As the warmth of the fire takes the cold from your face

It's a comfort that just never ends.

Ray McAlary

Copyright © 17 July 1999

They responded to the poems by drawing in pencil. Most of the poems depicted the Australian climate.

 Some students found drawing trees a little challenging. I was very pleased with their persistence and the results were very pleasing. Well done everyone!