Sample work Creative Arts K–6 Stage 2: Visual Arts: Insect drawings

Description of activity

Students create an artwork depicting an insect or insect-like creature.

1. Students make drawings of insect body parts, noting texture or patterns that appeal to them. They can use soft pencils on art paper of different sizes.
2. They draw their own insect or insect-like creature, observing common features, patterns, lines and colours of insects. <
3. They explore a range of drawing materials and techniques, choosing those best suited to the effect they want to achieve.

Outcomes

Making (VAS2.1)
Represents the qualities of experiences and things that are interesting or beautiful by choosing amongst aspects of subject matter.
Making (VAS2.2)
Uses the forms to suggest the qualities of subject matter.

Criteria for assessing learning

Students will be assessed on their:

• experimentation with a range of drawing techniques
• selection of appropriate materials, tools and techniques to suit their artmaking intentions
• representation of details of the subject matter of insects and their features including body parts, the texture of their skin, patterns of their wings, colours and lines of their antennae

Work Sample Assessment

Alex

Alex has experimented with a range of drawing techniques, such as shading, colouring and line, to represent the subject matter. There is evidence of careful and detailed observation in the texture, patterns and variations in tone. Alex has experimented with colour and attempted to relay transparency. An informed choice has been made to create depth, angle and perspective by using an interesting orientation of the subject matter. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade A standard at the end of Stage 2.

Rania

Rania has demonstrated a very high level of competence in using forms and techniques to represent subject matter. Careful observation is evident in the elaborate detail in the leg and body segments, wings and eye of the insect. Rania has experimented with line, colour and shading. An informed choice has been made to display the insect in an appropriate habitat, and the partly eaten leaves show knowledge of the subject matter. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade A standard at the end of Stage 2.

Jamie

Jamie has experimented with some drawing techniques, such as line and shading, to represent the subject matter. There is evidence of careful observation in the transparency of the wings, segmentation of the legs, and the correct body parts. Although there has been minimal use of tools, Jamie has effectively used variations in tone to capture the lightness of a dragonfly. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade B standard at the end of Stage 2.

Lee

Lee has chosen to represent an imaginative insect-like creature and has demonstrated evidence of observation. Lee has effectively used variations in line, shape, pattern and colour to capture the subject matter. There is some evidence of texture in the detailed representation of this insect-like creature. Lee has applied knowledge to new understandings by creating an original creature. Overall, this work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade B standard at the end of Stage 2.

Terry

Terry has demonstrated a high level of competence in using forms and techniques to represent qualities of the subject matter. There is effective use of media and experimentation with line, shading and colour to create texture and represent body parts. Line patterns have been used to indicate wing markings and suggest transparency. Terry has experimented with perspective, and the drawing is detailed and in proportion. Consideration has been given to the display of the subject matter against a background but this aspect could be more effective. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade B standard at the end of Stage 2.

Bobby

Bobby has demonstrated an adequate level of competence in using forms and techniques to represent qualities of the subject matter. The insect has been drawn in proportion and there is evidence of observation of common features such as legs and antennae. Bobby has used a variety of colours and experimented with the use of line and shading in an attempt to create texture. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade C standard at the end of Stage 2.

Ariel

Ariel has demonstrated an adequate level of competence in using forms and techniques to represent the qualities of the subject matter. There is sound choice of materials and evidence of observation in the antennae and detailed legs but the body shape is incorrect. Proportion and perspective have been considered but the three-dimensional structure is lacking. A variety of colours has been used and Ariel has experimented with materials in an attempt to create texture and represent body shape. A sound understanding of the subject matter is evident in the inclusion of an appropriate habitat. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade C standard at the end of Stage 2.

Darcy

Darcy has demonstrated a limited level of competence in using forms and techniques to represent the subject matter. There is very little detail in the features of the insect. Darcy has produced a simplistic outline drawing with rough colouring to indicate texture, demonstrating limited observation skills. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade D standard at the end of Stage 2.

Prior learning

The students have been participating in a Science and Technology unit on insects. They have used large photographs of insects to identify features including the shape of their body parts, the texture of the skin, patterns of their wings, colours and lines of their antennae. They have used soft pencils to draw insect body parts.

Board of Studies, Creative Arts K–6 Units of Work, pp 32–37