Middle school students have the opportunity to spend a full day with their class exploring art techniques this term. Sessions are being taken by our new art teacher, Mrs. Coetzee, in Room 23. Learners have the chance to use creativity whilst planning and completing a finished piece of art.
The students have been exploring the concept of Atmospheric Perspective by creating layered New Zealand landscapes. They have been learning how artists use space, tone, and depth to make objects appear softer and lighter, allowing background elements to stand out more clearly.
First the students used light, medium, and dark-coloured paper to tear (rather than cut) mountain ridges, layering them from lightest to darkest to show misty, distant hills. This helped create natural edges and added texture to their landscapes.
The second session focused on Developing Ideas, where students designed silhouettes of native New Zealand flora such as ponga, nikau, and harakeke. These were carefully cut from black card and enhanced with white chalk details, to highlight the structure and form of the plants.
In the final session, students brought their compositions together by layering the silhouettes over their mountain backgrounds and adding subtle chalk highlights.
It is wonderful to see the pride students take in their work, as well as the enthusiasm they bring to the process. The new art room has quickly become an exciting learning space where students can experiment, develop their ideas, and express themselves through art.
