This year our Art students have truly excelled, showcasing remarkable growth in their creativity as they experimented with a number of different mediums

Creative Journeys in Year 7 Art 

This year, our Year 7 students have embarked on an exciting journey through the world of Visual Arts, honing their practical skills in drawing, painting, and mixed media techniques. They began with personal Koru flag designs and vibrant Dreamscapes inspired by artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

Through studies of Māori artist Vanessa Wairata Edwards, students created vivid animal drawings and intricate kaitiaki Animal sgraffito artworks. They also connected with Ngā Toi, producing Kōwhaiwhai patterns, Tiki designs, and a stunning Rangitoto silhouette to celebrate Matariki.

This artistic journey has not only nurtured their technical abilities but also deepened their appreciation for cultural storytelling and visual expression. The Year 7 boys have truly brought their imagination to life in the Art room this year!

Year 8 Artists: Honoring Heroes, Culture and Faith 

This year, Year 8 students have excelled in Visual Arts, refining their skills in drawing, painting, and mixed media. They began by exploring Ngā Toi, traditional Māori art forms of Kōwhaiwhai patterns as well as Polynesian-inspired tattoo designs. These projects highlighted the rich artistic traditions of Māori and Pacific cultures.

They continued their skill development by learning how to use the Grid drawing method to create detailed portraits of their role models, these were not only artistically impressive but also served as heartfelt tributes to the individuals they admire. Students' creativity blossomed as they refined their technical skills by drawing scientific studies of insects and then expanding into the vibrant world of watercolour painting. 

To close the year, students created beautiful Christmas cards for children in Starship hospital, honoring the birth of Jesus Christ and celebrating the Catholic character of giving back this Christmas. It has been a year of creativity, culture, and meaningful expression for our Year 8 artists!

Artistic highlights in Year 9 

Year 9 students have had a creative and reflective year in Visual Arts. They began with a Cultural Mask Sculptures unit which saw students research, design, and craft intricate paper mâché masks. 

They then ventured into the world of Ngā Toi Māori, creating woodcut prints of Tiki designs inspired by Whakairo and New Zealand artists Michel Tuffery and Carmen Snelgar.

Our Personal Still Life drawing unit allowed students to use various pencils and mixed media to render meaningful objects with detail and skill. While the Mixed Media Self-Portraits unit allowed them to explore identity through techniques inspired by artists Shepard Fairey and Brad Novak, as well as the Fauvism movement. Their work this year reflects creativity, cultural appreciation, and technical growth!

Year 10s expand their Artist skills

Year 10 artists explored a vibrant mix of culture and techniques this year. They began with Māori kōwhaiwhai painting, studying traditional patterns alongside contemporary artists like Sandy Adsett and Reuben Paterson. Next, they honed printmaking skills through detailed woodcut prints of animals, which continued into expressive and flowing watercolours. Term 3 celebrated food through mixed-media still life—drawing, painting, and photography brought kai to life.

The year finished with a standout project: painting directly onto vinyl records, creating visual responses to favourite songs that perfectly matched message and medium. From kōwhaiwhai to vinyl, our Year 10s showed skill, creativity, and heart. Awesome work, boys!

Year 12 and 13 Painters: A Year of Mastery and Creativity

This year, our Year 12 and 13 painters embraced the challenge of creating their own artistic journeys. Through in-depth research, they explored the styles and techniques of artists who inspired them, selecting personal themes to guide their creative process. 

Balancing time management with the development of advanced painting skills, they demonstrated resilience and dedication. Each project was a step toward refining their craft and expressing their unique perspectives. The result? Stunning final portfolios that showcased vibrant creativity and artistic maturity. These works stand as a testament to their hard work and leave a memorable legacy of talent and vision. Well done to our Year 12 and 13 painters!

Miss Rudden