‘Creativity takes courage’ – Henri Matisse

There has been much to celebrate in terms of Carey’s online learning program, none more so than in our visual arts program. In fact, the creative juices have really been flowing in ELC to Year 6 at Donvale during the lockdown. The children have been working on art projects using the mediums of salt dough and clay. Considering the conditions the children and teachers have been facing, the resulting products are a study in ingenuity!

Throughout Term 3, all the students have been engaged using their powers of observation and manipulation. The ELC students looked at shape, line, pattern and form. Shifting from clay to salt dough, they used their imagination to ultimately create a gift for their fathers for Fathers Day last Sunday. Prep to Year 2 children watched the Philip Island penguin parade when it streamed live recently, observing these unique birds marching up to the beach, which was the inspiration behind some wonderful models they made. Years 3 to 6 investigated the similarities between Wurundjeri and Chinese patterns through their application and use of the elements of shape and line.

Years 3 and 4 students experimented with 3D modelling, creating a Bunjil the Eagle sculpture out of clay, but were then challenged to create one out of paper. Students took this challenge further, creating their sculptures using a wide array of objects and different mediums from around their homes.

The Year 5 students learnt the skill of creating a pinch pot to make a mythological fish, decorating them using the elements of shape and line common to the Wurundjeri and Chinese cultures. Their challenge was to then use 3D materials and digital technology to produce a series of very creative hybrid animals.

All these areas of investigation across the campus resulted in myriad spectacular 3D models, with the children demonstrating their proficiency in two significant attributes, as the celebrated artist Matisse suggested: creativity and courage.

Margaret Adams
Deputy Head of Junior School Donvale