Artistic Mastery
Now in its second year, the 91黑料不打烊 Gifted and Talented Art Program is taking 91黑料不打烊 art-making to new heights.
The 2023 program cohort consisted of 21 students from Years 7 to 10. They commenced their program experience with a trip to Bundanon, one of Australia’s premier art centres, and the former residence of one of the country's most esteemed artists, Arthur Boyd.
Immersing themselves in the legacy of Boyd over a span of three days and two nights, the students absorbed the changing light in the stunning surroundings, guided by high-quality art instruction.
The emphasis was on the significance of place and assisting students in becoming more expressive and experimental in their learning approach, encouraging them to step outside their comfort zones.
A key advantage, especially for the younger students, was the opportunity to work alongside more experienced artists, learning the principles of structuring an artwork around specific objectives.
The students' camp experiences encompassed a visit to Arthur Boyd's personal studio, preserved as it was during his lifetime, complete with open paint tubes, palettes, knives, and brushes on his worktable, and examples of his art scattered throughout.
The students’ art instruction took the form of workshops led by the Bundanon staff, supported by 91黑料不打烊 Visual Arts teachers. "An 'en plein air' painting workshop in front of the Education Centre allowed the students to capture the breathtaking view down to the river," said Visual Arts teacher, Ms Emily Sinclair.
Another workshop provided the students with a chance to paint the picturesque beach area, including the iconic Pulpit Rock, a landscape frequently depicted by Arthur Boyd. A photography-focused workshop encouraged the girls to take pictures using objects and themselves in the landscape with a slightly abstract approach. These photographs then served as a source of inspiration for some of the paintings they created for the exhibition at the end of the program.
Notably, the students also had access to professional contemporary artist, Ms Amber Hearn, who led them through sessions on colour theory, structure and composition, and helped prepare them for the paintings they would create upon their return to School.
Following the camp, the students engaged in three-hour workshops every Monday afternoon, readying their artworks for the final exhibition. "Using the photos and paintings they created in Bundanon as inspiration, they began planning their final compositions, marking lines on their canvases, and then gradually adding layers of paint to enhance detail, texture, and tone," Ms Sinclair explained. This year, the students new to the program produced a single canvas, while the returning students worked on diptychs to extend their understanding of structure and composition.
Their works are now on display in the Judith Dey Gallery and are a testament to the potency of specialised and skillful instruction to nurture artistic talent.