7.C

The Still Life

The still life object has been a key genre in Visual Arts since ancient times. 'Still Life' or sometimes called 'Nature Morte' refers to objects that are non living. Some still life works have hidden meanings conveyed through symbolism. This is particularly evident in the Vanitas paintings of the late Renaissance in northern Europe. See Harmen Steenwyck's painting to the left. Look at the title. Does this give any hints about what the painting is about? What is meant by 'vanities'? What does the skull symbolise? A book? A flute? a conch? Luxurious fabric? The sword? Lots of hints!

Harmen Steenwyck (1612-1656)

'Still Life: An Allegory of the Vanities of Human Life', 1640 (oil on oak panel)

Year 7 have begun to explore their ability to see objects more carefully so that they can begin to observe the actual shape, tone, colour and textures. They are on on their way to becoming true vanitas artists!

Isaiah Arriaza

Jack Wilson

Tahlia Robins

Brinley Cook

Tristan Field

Zanthi Galvin

Owen Haran

Tahlia Robins

Angus Buck

Heather Nolan

Cody Rogers

Nathan Sorbilli

Cody Rogers

Jack Wilson

Olivia Zammit

The crazy world of SURREALISM!

The word 'Surrealism' means 'beyond' reality. That's exactly what the Surrealist artists were trying to depict - a world beyond reality! In short, they wanted to escape reality because their world, at the time, was the terrible aftermath of World War I. Also at the time Sigmund Freud published his world famous book 'The Interpretation of Dreams' which described a way for people to access their subconscious mind. With these two events in mind, The Surrealists decided to access their own subconscious mind and create some very strange looking artworks. Enjoy some of Year 7's creations below!

To introduce students to the weird and wacky world of Surrealism students created a 'Surrealist Bug' and then drew their insects in their habitat.

Isaiah Arriaza

Asaiah Arriaza

Angus Buck

Brinley Cook

Callum Daniels

Tristan Field

Zanthi Galvin

Owen Haran

James Haworth

Thomas Hedge

Tahia McNeil

Tahlia McNeil

Heather Nolan

Tahlia Robins

Cody Rogers

Olivia Stenhouse

Nathan Sorbilli

Jack Wilson

Sacha Uwimana

Owen Williams

Olivia Zammit

Zachary Condon

Luke Lapic

Bailey McNamara

Will Morris

Rene Magritte's 'False Eye'

Artist: René Magritte

Title: The False Mirror

Dimensions: 54 cm x 81 cm

Medium: Oil on canvas

Created: 1928

'The False Mirror' is a Surrealist oil painting by René Magritte that depicts a human eye framing a cloudy, blue sky. In the depiction of the eye in the painting, the clouds take the place normally occupied by the iris. The painting's original French title is Le faux mirror. Enjoy their appropriations below.

Brinley Cook

Tom Hedge

Jack Wilson

Tahlia Robins

Luke Lapic

Olivia Zammit

Owen Williams

The eye of the storm

Angus Buck

Zac Condon

Callum Daniels

Zanthi Galvin

Tahlia McNeil

Nathan Sorbilli

Jack Wilson

Isaiah Arriaza

Heather Nolan

Surrealist City Head

The Surrealist City Head activity is an art task where students can create lots of different ideas about what goes on in our minds. Students have interpreted this task in a variety of unique ways!

Isaiah Arriaza

Jack Wilson

Heather Nolan

Zac Condon

Cloudy Minded

Angus Buck

Brinley Cook

Callum Daniels

Tom Hedge

Luke Lapic

Bailey McNamara

Will Morris

Tahlia Robins

Owen Williams

Olivia Zammit

Tristan Field

Zanthi Galvin

Cody Rogers

Nathan Sorbilli

Asaiah Arriaza

Heather Nolan

Joan Miro

Joan Miro was a Surrealist artist who practiced a particular technique called 'automatism'. This technique involved the artist drawing or painting whatever came to mind. Below are some examples of Year 7 Surrealist works employing automatism, just like Miro.

The Hunter (Catalan Landscape)

1924, Oil on canvas, 65cm x 100cm

The Interface

Angus Buck

Zac Condon

Brinley Cook

Jack Wilson

Bailey McNamara

Tahlia Robins

Nathan Sorbilli

Owen Williams

Colourfield Artworks

In term 1 Visual Arts Year 7 focused their attention on exploring the elements of art. Students learnt about each of the elements of Line, Colour, Shape, Texture, Tone and Space. Students created artworks based on the Colourfield artists of the 1940s. This was a group of artists who wanted their artworks to look completely non representational or 'abstract'. They were called the 'Colourfield' artists because they painted in large fields of colour that would 'envelop' the view when they stood in front of their expansive canvases. The Colourfield artists rejected all forms of illusionism (especially perspective and tone) and any hint of subject matter. In term one, Year 7 Visual Arts students employed line, shape and colour to create their own Colourfield artwork.