The end of the year is creeping up fast. In Visual Arts, we have been experimenting with many new techniques and ideas, and it has been wonderful to witness the students' creativity and collaboration.
In SLC, we explored the work of Australian artist Ken Done. The students loved his use of bright colours and the simple shapes within his work. They used this inspiration to create their own 'trees', and I'm sure you will agree that they have captured the essence of his work wonderfully.
Our YYLC students worked with pattern and form to create paper spheres. Students chose a theme for their paper circles, and once they decorated them, they were joined together. Four circles formed a half-sphere, and if two students collaborated and joined eight circles, they formed a full sphere.

Term 3 is all about TEXTURE!
All students hav been learning about the two types of texture in art; 

• Actual Texture - the texture we can feel, like on a sculpture or collage
• Implied Texture - when we use repetition of line, shapes or patterns to make something look like it has texture in our drawings or paintings, like repeating lines to look like fur on an animal

PLC - The students experiemented with both tearing and cutting paper to create funny monsters. They used layering to add texture.
SLC - Students explore the texture of tree bark by first colouring some pages with paint slicks and then painting them with water. In the following week they tore the paper and layered it on a backing sheet to mimic the texure of tree bark.
CLC - Painting without paintbrushes was the task. Students used screwed up newspaper to stamp paint onto their page. In the following week they added detail and definition with black permanent markers and collage.
YYLC - For the whole of Term 3 YYLC students are participating in a wellbeing program in Visual Arts. This program is facilitaed by myself and Lauren from The Song Room. The goals of this term are;

• Experimentation
• Collaboration
• Process over product.

Students are experimenting with lots of new art techniques while focusing on enjoying the art making process. By working collaboratively and experimentally students don't feel the prossure of creating 'good' art and can just enjoy the process. So far, students are having a lot of fun.

Our PLC groups dived into the fascinating connection between colour and emotions, uncovering how hues can express and evoke feelings. They also explored shape with foam stamps and paint. SLC explored new materials to create mythical Dreamscapes full of colour inspired by the art of Melbourne-born artist, Laura Blythman.

Students in CLC have been exploring the Ophism art movement which was created by Sonia Delaunay. It took the abstract style of Cubism and added bright colour and complementary pairs. 
The students took inspiration from this movement to create their own Abstract Shape Culture. Each students created two artworks and the goal was to have Balance and Unity between the two pieces. Balance and Unity are two of the Principles of Art.

YYLC students have been looking at different forms of printing this term. Our most recent form of printing was creating a rubbing plate by gluing cardboard onto a backing page to create an image. Students then created a rubbing from this plate. The theme of this project was Human Rights. We talked about how we can all be a human rights defender every day!

Busy, busy busy! Term Two has gotten off to a wonderful start. 
In SLC we looked at the amazing Rainbow Village in Taiwan and created our own Rainbow Village. The decorations was a great exercise to explore line, shape and pattern.
Our CLC students studied the work of Russian artist, Wassily Kadinsky. Using his work as inspiration, the students created two artworks:
1. Colour Study - Concentric Circles with Squares (1913)
Students used this work as inspiration for their own colour study. It was a chance to experiment with colour. This knowledge can be then used in future work
2. We then looked at a sellection of Kandinsky's work such as Compostion 8. Students created a mixed media piece using foam stamps, watercolours, black markers and black fineliners.
In YYLC, students experimented with a new techniques, Foam Etching. First, students etched a design into a piece of printing foam. They then used a roller to apply paint to their foam, before stamping it onto a piece of coloured paper.

Each year, to celebrate Harmony Day, we create a whole school artwork. This collaborative piece is always displayed on the wall in the front office. 
This year's display is a tree with each student adding a leaf to the tree. Each LC has a different leaf design and a different colour:
PLC (green) - new growth, the newest MPPS students. They decorated their leaf with their favourite things.
SLC (yellow) - These students also decorated their leaf with their favourite things.
CLC (orange) - We talked about identity and what makes us the same and what makes us different.
YYLC (red/brown) - our autumn leaves, some of which will fall from the tree at the end of the year to begin their high school journey. These students also looked at identity and what makes them special.

Here are some more photos from our talented students. The Fox paintings are examples of our SLC students exploring tint and shade, The amazing mural was created by our YYLC students, as were the wonderful, Ken Done inspired, oil pastel works. The monochromatic landscapes are from our fabulous CLC students as they too explored tint and and shade.

We are halfway through Term 1 already and what a start it has been.  Welcoming our new Prep students has been lovely. We have been learning all about primary colours and colour mixing.
Our SLC students have been demonstrating their CARE values creating minibeast collages. 
In CLC the students have been exploring colour, shape and form with subtractive paper collages. These challenging artworks have yielded wonderful results.
The YYLC students began the year creating cubes to be joined together in a collaborative mural inspired by the street art of LA based artist, Thank YouX. We then moved on to exploring tone with watercolour bubble paintings.

This term we have been exploring the art element of Form. The YYLC students had two fun weeks of collaboration and creativity while exploring this element.
Week 1: Students worked in small groupsto build an abstract sculpture using the various materials and items provided to them. The once catch was that there was no glue or tape to help with their constructions. This activity was inspired by the 'Kitchen Table Sculptures' of British artist, Henry Ward. Once students had completed their sculptures, they had to photograph them before dismantling their work.

Week 2: This week the only material that students had for their sculptures was strips of paper. However, they were allowed to use gluesticks. The challenge for these sculptures was to manipulate the paper strips in ways to give their sculpture structural integrity. The goal was to build the tallest freestanding sculpture.