Room L1 painted rainbows and butterflies. I provided the children with a wide range of visual aids, photographs of butterflies, paintings and illustrations of butterflies I have done myself. These children focused on mixing colours from the primary colours cyan, yellow, magenta and red. They learned how to exploit tone and blend by adding white. Through observation and use of mirrors children explored symmetry and applied it to their butterfly paintings.

Room L2 explored impressionist technique. I showed the children examples of work by impressionist artists such as Van Gogh, Cezanne and Monet. I then showed the children step, by step how to apply paint in the impressionist style. The children then drew a simple sea scape We discussed Horizon lines and the reflection of sky and land on the sea. I added modeling compound to our acrylic paints to give the thick consistency found more traditionally in oil paint mediums.

Room L3 painted Auckland city at sunset. This project proved to be very successful, every child created their own unique, sophisticated, expression of Auckland city at sun-down. I believe each piece stands solidly in its own right. We began by looking at photographs of the sun setting behind Auckland. We talked about the colours we could see in the sky and on the water. The silhouette outline of the skyscrapers and made note of the lights reflecting as straight lines over the harbour. I then gave the children yellow and magenta paint to create a sunset. They then used black acrylic paint to paint in the city silhouette.

Room L4 painted lighthouses at night. The children explored tone by adding small amounts of white to make the beams of light from their lighthouse appear to glow. I provided many examples of lighthouses in the form of photographs, drawings and paintings.

 

Client List

By participating in these workshops the year four children of Whangaparoa primary actively engaged in the level three requirements of the visual art New Zealand curriculum. In draft stages the children shared ideas about how they would compose their paintings. They observed crucial elements of light, such as reflection symmetry, shadow and tone. Children were able to learn painting techniques such as dry brushing, washing and blending. Most importantly children learned the importance of observation. They began understanding the process of breaking down an image into tone and colour, to manipulate shadow and light. The children were able to see an artwork being made before their eyes (by me) and so were able to see directly, specific procedures crucial to good painting techniques in action.