Visual arts deals with visual and verbal modes of communication. In visual arts you look for signs and symbols in order to read and understand the many images that bombard us all each day.

Year 7 students  study the foundations of visual arts as a core subject. Throughout  this course the students are introduced to 2d, 3d and 4d images and objects. The students have experiences in drawing/observation skills, painting and 3d work which build up each term.

Besides the making skills, students also have had experiences in writing about artworks and art objects. These writing skills enable year 7 to verbally describe artworks by using language dedicated to visual arts.

Entering  year 8 students build from experiences that were had from year 7. Making skills need time to be perfected as does writing skills, so year 8 gives the students time to sharpen their making and studying skills.

At the moment the students in year 7 are exploring the self image and how the self image can be portrayed. Students have been working on drawing skills using a variety of media… lead pencil, charcoal, coloured pastels. Soon students will discover how to scan images into the computer and to manipulate and create  ‘change’ and ‘alternate’ artworks. Other students have been exploring the foundations of visual arts like the elements.

Year 8 Core Art

Some classes are both involved working on a design program based on the sea.  Students began by researching shells and fish, then completing a series of pencil, pen and ink and painted images.  These images formed the basis of a collection of works composed of circular painted designs and ceramic forms. 

Topics covered included use of materials, eg pen and nib, as well as the use of clay to produce sculptural and functional art works.  The class also investigated the use of colour using paint, crayons, ink and ceramic underglazed.

The final works were mounted and displayed upon completion.