Art & Design Technology

Art & Design Technology

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Art allows our children to develop their cultural awareness of the world around them, as well as express their own creativity, thoughts and feelings and perspectives.

Art and Design at St. Matthias

‘I found I could say things with colour and shapes that I couldn’t say in any other way – things I had no words for.’ Georgia O’Keefe

The role of art

Art can be a valuable tool in helping us to develop a sense of creativity and play. It enables us to view ideas in a particular way, draws us closer to cultures and helps us to express feelings that may otherwise go unshared. The roll of art within school is to develop a language through which children feel confident to express themselves. This language is built through acquiring skills in observing and making but is importantly harnessed through an attitude and environment that allows children to feel confident in making mistakes and enjoying the challenges that are faced when expressing oneself creatively.

 

Sketch books

Sketchbooks are used throughout lessons to allow the children to explore and experiment with materials and ideas whilst referencing the work of other artists. Sketch books allow children to create and view their own personal responses to the work of artists as they build an artistic language of their own. Evaluations are carried out by children in their sketch books, which inform their personal creative journeys.

 

Materials

Topics and themes have been designed to allow a variety of materials and artists to be explored through the year. These skills are built upon and developed as children progress through the school. Skills including drawing, painting, sculpture, food technology, design, and print making are introduced first by observing the work of other artists. Observation then lead into experimentation as children understand how different materials can be used. They then use this to create artwork that is personal to themselves.

 

History of Art

A range of artists, designers and chefs are explored through art and DT lessons. Artists and their work are explored in relation to the culture and historical context that surround them. Throughout the year, children are introduced to important themes and styles and understand how artists have attempted to convey messages through their work.

 

Curriculum Map

Here, you can find the progression of skills that are developed at St Matthias. The outline indicates the core theme/skill and the main artist associated with it. You can also find an outline of skills progression here.

 

‘Painting is self-discovery.’ Jackson Pollock

 

‘Art does not reproduce what we see. It makes us see.’ Paul Klee

Our Art Gallery

I love this piece from Maysie in Year 6 as she has used uplifting words found in newspapers to create something that feels strong and resilient for Mental Health Week.

Year 3 has been learning about the Shang Dynasty in China. This is a fantastic Willow pattern plate drawn by Roshni. Each part of the plate represents part of a famous Chinese story.

Here is another piece from Mental Health Week by Abelle in Year 6. She has painted an image of her hand and thought of some positive phrases.

Alberta from Year 1 has been using a programme from Google Arts and Culture to create this colourfully patterned piece.

This fantastic drawing by Ebenezer in Year 4 is inspired by Andy Warhol. Warhol often used repeated portraits to make his art. I like how Ebenezer has drawn himself in his school uniform.

Chantae in Reception has thought of her own animal and written a description of it.

Rhea, from Year 6, has created some really detailed drawings. I love how she has used white to add light and texture to the lips and eye to make them appear like they are glistening.

Year 2 has been looking at patterns designed by Orla Kierly. Raynell has designed his own patterned based on nature, just like Orla Kierly does.

Op Art is a type of art that plays on your eyes. Maysie in Year 6 has used lines and shapes to make this 2D artwork appear 3D. What an amazing illusion!

Nyah in year 4 has done some fantastic work inspired by Andy Warhol. Warhol liked to change and repeat images of people using photography and paint. I can see how Nyah has been influenced by his art in both of these pieces.

Year 1 looked at the paintings of Giuseppe Arcimboldo. He painted detailed portraits of people but used fruits and vegetables for their features. Luna R has thought of her own way to design a face out of fruits and vegetables.

Mc’kai in Reception has created his own animals. I like how he has drawn the different parts of each of his animals.

Ja’kayla in Year 4 has continued their Pop art theme by creating this vibrant image. I love the bright colours she has chosen as well as the modern touch with the thumbs up emoji she has added.

This piece for Mental Health Week is by Kyra in Year 6. She has used some wonderfully bright colours on her laptop to create a really positive image.

I love this piece by Roshelle in Year 6. She has used repeated images on the computer and mixed them with words and colours to show a real mix of emotions. For me it really captures how we might all be feeling at the moment.

Year 2 took a quiz to find out which animal they were most like. They then had to draw a picture of that animal. Daniel is a peregrine falcon!

This vibrant piece is by Abelle in Year 6. She has chosen some fantastic colours for her paintings. I love the energy and movement in the more abstract one and the detail of the butterfly’s wings in the other. Amazing work!

This piece of Op Art is by Jordan in Year 6. The way he’s drawn it really makes it look like the hand is coming out of the page.

In school, some Year 3 and 4 children have been sculpting their own cauldrons, based on artefacts found from the Shang Dynasty of China. They used clay to mould the shape then carved ancient Chinese symbols into their cauldrons. Finally, the clay was painted to look like ancient bronze, the material that they would have been made out of during the Shang Dynasty.

Continuing the Chinese theme, the children in school also created these paintings of cherry blossom trees using black ink which was blown using straws to create the jagged tree. Red paint was then added as the cherry blossom flowers.

See below for some art activities to keep you busy!

Wassily Kandinsky

Here’s a great activity that combines music and art. Wassily Kandinsky used shape and colour to describe musical sounds in his paintings. Follow the steps in the video below to use the Kandinsky programme on Chrome Music Lab and make your own musical picture.

Bridget Riley

Artist Bridget Riley creates optical illusions with many of her paintings. An optical illusions uses shapes, colour and patterns to trick your brain and eyes into seeing things in a different way. You can use the internet to search for lots of Bridget Riley’s optical illusion paintings and follow my guide on how to paint your own optical illusion below.

Chris Ofili

Chris Ofili used watercolour paints to create these portraits. He used bold and simple outlines to draw the people and made them stand out with different hairstyles and colourful clothes. Use the watercolours in your art boxes to create a portrait of a friend or family member in the style of Chris Ofili. You can see more of his watercolour portraits by clicking here.

‘I matter’ T-shirt designing tutorial – Black Lives Matter
As a side-project to Miss. Freeman’s ‘I matter’ project, celebrating why our childrens’ lives matter, this tutorial focuses on creating T-shirts to with messages from the children. There is a particular focus on BLACK LIVES MATTER, to recognise the important movement happening in the world right now, as well as to represent our children.
Print the pdf below to help you make your T-shirts

Touch

This is a fun picture to make that reminds us about touch and connection with each other. We have had to think a lot about what we touch and how close we are to people over the past few months. These pictures remind us that we will be back together again soon. Watch the video below and follow the simple steps to make your own touch painting.

Frank Bowler
Watch this video about how artist Frank Bowler makes his artworks. He finds different ways to put paint onto the canvas and adds a mixture of materials as well. You can find more pictures of Frank’s work by clicking here . Have a go at using some of the things in your art kits to make a picture inspired by Frank Bowling.

Pirates

Ahoy there mateys! Here’s a challenge to design your own pirate wanted poster. Watch the video below for instructions on how to draw different types of pirates. Remember to add a reward and description of your pirate as well. Click here to find out what your pirate name is. Arrrgh! – Rascal Ralph Moneybags

Keith Haring

Watch this video storybook of Keith Haring: The Boy Who Kept Drawing. 

Click here to see pictures of Keith Haring’s art and for activities inspired by his drawings.

More challenges!

Make an Abstract Face Sculpture

Drawing Challenge Day 5 – Take a line for a walk

Drawing Challenge Day 4 – The Squiggle Game

Drawing Challenge Day 3 – Thoughtful Mark Making

Drawing Challenge Day 2 – See Three Shapes

Drawing Challenge Day 1 – Continuous Line Drawing

Make a Rainbow

Jabberwocky – Illustrating this scarily silly poem (Years 4, 5 and 6)

Surrealism – Weird, Wacky and Wonderful

Roy Lichtenstein – CRASH! BANG! Art Activity!