Art
Art Junior school
“Every child is an artist,” said Picasso. At St Mary’s, we believe that each child has expressive capabilities and artistic potential that can be nurtured.
Children are encouraged to notice details of colour, pattern, structure and design in their environment. As they begin to look intently and to use all their senses, they bring richer insights to their art making. They might also use their bodies in movement, listen to stories or translate music and sounds into paintings.
Dressing up is a favourite activity and the girls take turns drawing or being the model. A variety of media is used during the year: tempera paint, oil pastels, wax resist, charcoal, papier-mâché, clay, wire, collage or printing.
Art making is an adventure, a process of discovery and creation. It requires problem solving, imagination, co-operation, perseverance, and a willingness to go beyond one’s limits to encompass memory and emotion. The rewards are enormous.
Our younger girls do not receive a mark in Art, as we do not want children to categorise themselves negatively. In Grades 6 and 7, the girls are introduced to some art theory and history, which is assessed. They also have a practical assessment at the end of the year.