Focus on Art Week

Art Week: Exploring 10 Famous Paintings

Despite the shorter than anticipated Art Week, the children began an exciting journey into the world of famous paintings. The activities were designed to help them not only appreciate the art but also understand the context and techniques behind these masterpieces.

Look at the Painting: Each class began by observing a selected painting. The children were encouraged to answer questions such as:

• What do you see?
• What do you think the painting is about?
• How do you think it was painted?
• How does it make you feel?
• What do you like or dislike about it?
• Do you think it is a good piece of art?

Discover the Artist: The children researched the artist behind the painting and created portraits. This activity helped them connect personally with the artist and understand their inspiration and life story.

Techniques and Creation: Whenever possible, even during remote learning, the children investigated the techniques used in the paintings and tried their hand at replicating small sections. This hands-on experience helped them appreciate the skill involved in creating art.

Developing Own Ideas: The children were encouraged to think creatively about the painting and start developing their own ideas. They asked questions to inspire new creations. These ideas will lead to new collaborative artwork when we are all back together in person.

Here are the spotlight of the painting each class was focused on;

Our youngest children in FS 1 and Creche explored the vibrant and dynamic world of Jackson Pollock, focusing on his famous piece, Number 5. The children had a blast experimenting with Pollock's drip painting technique, creating their own abstract masterpieces filled with colour and energy.

FS2 students explored Tiger in a Tropical Storm by Henri Rousseau, engaging in observation, research, replication, and creative activities inspired by the painting.

The magic of Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night captivated our Year 1 children. They learned about van Gogh's unique brushwork and use of colour, and then created their own swirling night skies, filled with stars and dreamy landscapes.

The iconic Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai inspired Year 2. The children explored the art of woodblock printing and the use of bold lines and vibrant colours, producing their own versions of the powerful and mesmerizing wave.

Year 3 learners were intrigued by Edvard Munch's The Scream. They delved into the emotions and expressions captured in the painting, learning about the use of colour and lines to convey feelings of anxiety and intensity. Their renditions of The Scream were both haunting and captivating.

The Kiss by Gustav Klimt was the focus for Year 4. They explored Klimt's use of gold leaf and intricate patterns, creating their own pieces that celebrated love and intimacy with a touch of opulence and detail.

Year 5 children were fascinated by Pablo Picasso's Guernica. They studied the powerful symbolism and cubist techniques used in the painting, then created their own abstract artworks that conveyed messages of peace and resilience.

Paul Klee's Senecio inspired Year 6. The children learned about Klee's use of geometric shapes and bold colours, producing their own abstract portraits that showcased their understanding of form and colour theory.

Year 7 delved into Vasily Kandinsky's Komposition. They explored the principles of abstract art and the connection between colour and music, creating their own compositions that were both visually and musically inspired.

The striking piece I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold by Charles Demuth was the focus for Year 8. They studied Demuth's use of precisionism and symbolism, crafting their own artworks that combined elements of realism and abstraction.