Printing

Recently this term has been filled with numerous individual print projects accross Key Stages 4 and 5. The variations from dry point acrylic to more technical aqua tints on copper plates, has led to exciting experimentation for both students and teachers. Traditional printing processes have been fully engaged with by all students and they have been encouraged to make thier own decisions in refining their work. Knowledge from our amazing print-maker Madalena has been revisited and all pupils have excelled in their outcomes.

We are now over half way through the first term at St Julian´s and work has developed quickly. Here are a selection of pieces across the Middle Years (years 6-9).


Year 9's have developed their observational drawing skills and engaged with African Art. They have learnt about the different cultures of some African tribes, plus how or why they made particular pieces of Art. The theme will continue but already they have created strong and varied chalk drawings from a variety of African artifacts. I can see that their skills and style of work is becoming much more independent and sophisticated. I hope that they recognise this too. Here are some of their amazing examples:

Year 8 pupils have also worked on their drawing skills through creating a refined traditional Still Life. Pupils are showing development of skills, whilst engaging with Art history and reviewing their own work and progress. A big congratulations to all pupils on their accomplished outcomes.

 

     

Year 7 pupils have developed their understanding of perspective elements and tone by creating bright and cheerful still life compositions. They have recognised their own skills and are all very pleased with and enthusiastic about their outcomes. It has been nice to see them all excited to find their own work when it has been put up on display.   

Lastly,  but importantly Year 6 pupils have been introduced to the Art Department and making cross curricular links with History. They are working on a project where they are investigating the Ancient Greeks. In Art they have looked at the different varieties and shapes of ancient Greek pots and the patterns and stories that are told through the Art work. They have created large contrasting pattern work and are continuing this project by making their own clay pot.   

It once again has been a busy start to the year and lots have new projects and plans are being explored. I apologise for not updating this sooner but I am aiming to keep you more aware of what has been happening in St Julian´s Art department. 


It is crucial that Art students have the opportunity to view, first hand, other artists work. Fortunately Year 10 art students, this week, have had the experience of engaging with the diverse work of Vieira da Silva in Lisbon. They had the opportunity to discuss her work and learnt of the her commitment and focus of being a female artists in the 1930´s. Pupils related a lot of their previous knowledge to her work and what inspired her. Individuals have taken many different concepts and information from their visit and have used their own observation skills to engage with the movement in her work. Well done to all the Year 10 Pupils for their curiosity and commitment to their own learning. 

Also this week, Year 12 and 13 Visual Art students were given an introductory workshop into Chinese Painting by visiting Chinese Artist, Jingweh Liang.  In this workshop the students learnt about the cultural significance, history and techniques used in Chinese painting.  The practical workshop provided students with hands on experience of working with the inks, pigments, paper and brushwork involved in traditional Chinese painting. Students and teachers reveled in this experience and were excited by the unfamiliar materials. Exciting work has been produced by all. 

IB Visual Arts 2015

Dear All, I have been away for awhile and will go away for awhile. But this blog will continue with my fabulous colleagues at St. Julian's. I has been an amazing time for the past 9 years in this incredible Art department. I leave you our new IB video. Just press the photo above to watch.

Our current exhibition at St. Julian's Palacio

I wish to share with you a few pages from our school magazine with examples of work from year 6 to year 9, which are now on display in our gallery in the Palacio. These pages were published on the Lighthouse magazine two weeks ago.

Drawing bottles and glasses

Today I found these images of last summer's year 9 internal art exams . We ask students to draw a bottle and a glass using a pencil. They have one hour and 20 minutes to do it and we ask them to try to apply all the techniques they have learned to the best of their ability. We then mark them on specific criteria such as quality of line, shading, mark making, composition etc. Looking at these I am impressed with how our students can draw at this age.

We are back with Life Drawing

Dear readers, once again I ask for your apology for the prolonged absence. We are back at work in the Art Department. Life Drawing has started again and I leave you a few early sketches of what will be a set of outstanding oil paintings.