Still life drawing is a key skill of any artist. The ability to draw objects from observation rather than from a photo or image is a skill within itself that can be quite challenging, as the Year 10 Art class experienced during their last assessment task of Term 3. As with their past tasks, the students did not fail to impress and they submitted work of a standard that exceeded the already high standards they had set for themselves.
Being at home, the students completed the entire process from start to finish on their own. Choosing the objects, creating a cohesive and visually pleasing composition, setting up their lighting and backdrops, and then drawing their artworks. They had to consider what lighting would create the most dynamic shadows and highlights, as well as including different textures in the objects they chose to draw.
Peter Scoble (Year 10 Bronze) reflects on how he has found Art this term:
Art class during remote learning has been restricting as ideas with the class aren't shared as easily, but focusing on the work is a lot easier as there are fewer distractions to disrupt your focus. It has been an interesting task that I find works well for me.
In recent weeks the class have been completing theory on the great impressionist and post-impressionist artists of the last century. They have learned about the likes of Monet, Renoir, Matisse, Seurat, Kandinsky, and many more, and now they are creating their own artworks based on the painting styles of these artists.
'En plein air' was the practice of painting outside that the impressionist artists were famous for. They took the elite practice of art and moved it into the everyday, which was revolutionary for its time. With the arrival of spring and sunny weather, the students moved their painting set-ups outside for the final lesson in order to truly paint like an impressionist artist and experience en plein air themselves.
Here are some student reflections about the 'en plein air' work:
It's been a while since I've gone outside and stayed out here for a long time. I felt the breeze in my face and hair and the sun shining in my eyes. I never realised that being outside would make you feel relaxed. It's good to get a bit of sunshine every day and paint outside. It's really relaxing.
— Marisa Lopez Garza (Year 10 Orange)
'En plein air' is an art phrase used by artists meaning to work outside, which is what most impressionism artists do and what we are encouraged to do in class. Doing our painting task, especially outside, is really relaxing and I am able to take my mind off things and focus on the painting that I am creating in front of me. It is also a really great way to relieve stress and it is very enjoyable to do.
— Sabina Lantouris (Year 10 Purple)
