Art and Design.

Subject Leader: Miss S Warren

Vision / Intent:                  

To provide our students with an inspiring, exciting and rewarding art education, building an understanding and appreciation for art, craft and design (and their associated skills) as well as enriching students' lives with a sense of wonder and creativity.

‘The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.’ Pablo Picasso

Approach / Philosophy / Implementation:

The department will offer an environment and working ethos where students will be able to:

  • Develop creativity and imagination through visual, tactile and sensory experiences
  • Explore, experiment and develop a positive growth mindset
  • Produce expressive and creative responses that communicate their ideas, feelings and meaning
  • Develop knowledge of a variety of approaches, techniques and materials will ultimately enhance their own practice
  • Explore ideas and meanings in the work of artists, craftspeople, architects and designers
  • Learn about the diverse roles and functions of art, craft and design and in the contemporary world and in different times and cultures
  • Work in a calm, caring, stimulating and inspiring environment where individual needs of students are addressed
  • Develop pride in their work and exhibit work regularly around the school

We hope our students leave Holywell with the sense that Art making and appreciation is a source both of meaning and pleasure.

‘Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.’ Scott Adams

Department Members 

Miss S Warren Art Subject Leader
Mrs A Jeavons Art and Geography Teacher
Mis E Lau Art/DT/Display technician

Topic Overview 2023-2024:

Year 5

Exploring the elements– Observational drawing and painting

Main focus: To learn about, to explore and learn how to use colour, texture, value, shape, line, form and space in painting and drawing

Colour and shape – Matisse - Painting and collage

Main focus: To create a cut out inspired by Matisse with an effective composition

Creating Dreamtime – Sculpture and painting

Main focus: To create an Aboriginal inspired mixed media art work. To create a story using symbols. To mix and paint tertiary colours. To use slab pottery to create an aboriginal animal sculpture.

‘Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.’ Twyla Tharp 

Year 6

Nature in Art – Sculpture and photography

Main focus: To be inspired and influenced by nature and the work Andy Goldsworthy. To explore with material, process and form to create a final piece.

SATs Monsters – Illustration, imaginative drawing and painting

Main focus: To explore own thoughts and feelings about SATs. To be influenced by the illustrator David Litchfield. To express own emotion in an imaginative SATs Monster illustration.

Our Ocean – Sculpture, observational drawing, printmaking and painting

Main focus: To explore and develop skillset, sketching, painting and printing (shells and water) and design and make a fish sculpture from clay

‘If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.’  Vincent Van Gogh

Year 7

Gargoyle inspired face sculptures – Gothic architecture

Main focus: To develop knowledge and understanding of gothic architecture and gargoyles. To design and create an original face sculpture from clay, focusing on exaggerated features and facial expression. Further influenced by The Green Man, Sugar skulls or Greek masks.

Changing faces and Observing Celebrity– Collage, painting and grid drawing method

Main focus: To explore and discover the work of Arcimboldo. To use imagination and creativity to create a collage of a face using random objects and recreate it using paint. To use grid drawing method and a viewfinder to create a pencil sketch of a celebrity face.

Cubist Self- portraits – Mixed media, painting, collage, oil pastels

Main focus: To learn about Cubism (focus on Picasso); artists, features, analysis, critique and compare. To create a cubist style self-portrait expressing a mood or emotion(s).

‘A picture is worth a thousand words.’  Napoleon Bonaparte

Year 8

Fashion Illustration – Watercolour and pen wash techniques, imaginative drawing

Main focus: explore watercolour and pen techniques. To create figurative drawings to develop understanding of the human form. To create an imaginative fashion illustration inspired by research

Exploring modernism with Gaudi– Texture and shape focus

Main focus: To explore and be inspired by the architecture of Gaudi. To explore creating textures in clay. To create a sculpture inspired by Gaudi from clay.

Monochrome illusions –Optical illusions, technical drawing, pattern and printing.

Main focus: To explore the work of a range of techniques, artists and illustrators who use black and white and illusion in their work. To create a final lino print.

NB. A new project is being trialled with year 8 during the final half term this year. 

’Creativity takes Courage’ Henri Matisse 

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