Sample work Creative Arts K–6 Stage 3: Visual Arts: Still-life of Sunflowers

Suggested extension activities

1. Students compare their work with examples of other still-life paintings and identify similarities in subject matter, use of materials, techniques, colours, line, and shapes.
2. Students name a technique that they (or the artist) have/has used to represent subject matter in the artwork and explain how they made it (or may have made it).
3. Students imagine their work is in an exhibition. They write an explanation of how the work was made and what they, as the artist, wanted to represent to an audience.
4. Students invent an artist character and write a profile for the artist, explaining how they work, including their interests, techniques, and success in the artworld.

Suggested materials

Reference to the still-life works of artists such as Van Gogh, Margaret Olley, Picasso and Vermeer, a vase and sunflowers to view, large art paper (A3), lead pencils, erasers, black crayons/charcoal, chalk, pastels, craypas, cellophane, coloured paper, glue, hairspray/workable fixative and protective sheeting or newspaper.

Prior learning

This activity is a small part of a unit that involved research about famous artists and their styles or movements in artmaking. The Visual Arts focus in this unit is on students' experiences in creating, modelling and using various techniques to develop their understanding about colour, tone and representation of subject matter in their own and others’ artmaking. Students have an understanding of how different visual qualities (colours, tones etc) and techniques and can affect the overall mood of a work, and how this can ultimately influence the audience’s response to the work. Students have been exposed to the work of Van Gogh, including his Sunflowers, as well as the still-life works and techniques of Impressionists and other artists. They discussed a still-life vase of sunflowers which was set up for them to view as an introduction to the activity. Students have made expressive and abstract artworks. They have been encouraged to express themselves and explore various moods through their use of line and colour as an alternative to representing things exactly as they appear.

Outcomes

Making (VAS3.2)
Makes artworks for different audiences assembling materials in a variety of ways.

(Extension Activities)
Appreciating (VAS3.4)
Communicates about the ways in which subject matter is represented in artworks.

Criteria for assessing learning

Students will be assessed on their:

• use of different artistic concepts (eg colour, tone, shape etc) and exploration of how these may be used to represent selected subject matter
• investigation and manipulation of different painting and drawing techniques to represent the subject matter of still-life.

Work Sample Assessment 

Lesley

Lesley has demonstrated a very high level of competence in using different artistic concepts and techniques to represent the subject matter. The chosen colour scheme effectively differentiates between foreground and background, and a range of techniques has been used to show texture, light and shadow on three-dimensional objects. A very high level of competence is evident in the gradation of tone in the multiple colours of the flower petals. There is evidence of careful observation in the use of overlapping, segmenting of the petals and different perspectives of the flowers. Lesley has displayed a very high level of competence in different drawing techniques, in the application of water colours on the table and in the use of angles in the composition of the artwork. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade A standard at the end of Stage 3.

Bobby 

Bobby has demonstrated a high level of competence in using different artistic concepts and techniques to represent the subject matter. There is evidence of careful observation through the use of overlapping, different perspectives of the flowers and segmenting of the petals. A thorough understanding of spatial awareness is evident in the focus on a cropped viewpoint. There is a high level of competence in the use of light and shadow but texture is lacking in some areas. The consistent use of warm colours for the still life creates a strong contrast and defines it from the cool colours of the background. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade B standard at the end of Stage 3.

Rania 

Rania has demonstrated a high level of competence in using forms and techniques to convey meaning. Careful observation is evident in the variation of flower shapes and sizes despite some inaccuracies in the depiction of the stems. The vase has been cropped to focus on the flowers, and contrasting colours and textures have been used to differentiate between foreground and background. Gradation of tone has been used to create a three-dimensional effect for the vase, and some depth and perspective has been achieved. Tonal qualities and textures have been expressively used on the petals and stems, but the shading of the petals is mainly at the edges. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade B standard at the end of Stage 3.

Shane 

Shane has demonstrated an adequate level of competence in using different artistic concepts and painting techniques to represent the subject matter. There is differentiation between the foreground and background. Tonal qualities and textual features have been used to depict a still-life of sunflowers. There is some evidence of artistic influence and expressive use of colour. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade C standard at the end of Stage 3.

Ainsley 

Ainsley has demonstrated an adequate level of competence in using forms and techniques to convey meaning. There is evidence of observation in the execution of the vase, foliage and flowers, and some consideration has been given to size and composition. Depth has been depicted by flowers overhanging the vase, and attempts at shading have been made. There is little experimentation with techniques and smudging has been overused. A stronger sense of perspective and balance would enhance the composition. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade C standard at the end of Stage 3.

Jerry 

Jerry has demonstrated an adequate level of competence in using different artistic concepts and techniques to represent the subject matter. An outline has been completed and consideration has been given to composition, size and colour scheme. A range of materials has been explored and some depth has been created through the use of cellophane. There is evidence of observation and a range of tonal qualities but the work lacks perspective, risk taking and personal interpretation. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade C standard at the end of Stage 3.

Robyn 

Robyn has demonstrated an adequate level of competence in using different artistic concepts and techniques to represent the subject matter. Bold colours have been used to create an effective balance between the subject and the background, and there is some evidence of texture and tone, but the artwork lacks depth and perspective. An attempt has been made to show light and shadow on three-dimensional objects and there is some evidence of shading on the vase. The segments of the petals, use of overlapping and different perspectives of the flowers show some evidence of observation. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade C standard at the end of Stage 3.

Darcy 

Darcy has demonstrated an adequate level of competence in using different artistic concepts and techniques. Expressive use of line is evident in the creation of a variety of flowers in the foreground and background of the composition. Darcy has experimented with texture and tone. There is some evidence of observation but the artwork lacks perspective and the vase has not been accurately represented. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade C standard at the end of Stage 3.

Ali 

Ali has demonstrated a limited level of competence in using artistic concepts, forms and techniques to represent the subject matter. There is some evidence of artistic influence and expressive use of colour but only one painting technique has been used. Some consideration has been given to composition and size but there is a lack of depth and perspective. There is little evidence of tonal variation but some differentiation between foreground and background has been made. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade D standard at the end of Stage 3.

Jules 

Jules has demonstrated a limited level of competence in using forms and techniques to convey meaning. There is expressive use of paint and contrasting colours to distinguish the foreground and background. Basic tonal qualities and textual features have been depicted using different brush strokes but the lack of detail in the flowers demonstrates limited evidence of observation. There is little evidence of light and shadow, and no understanding of perspective has been demonstrated. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade D standard at the end of Stage 3.

Courtney 

Courtney has demonstrated a limited level of competence in using artistic concepts, forms and techniques to represent the subject matter. There is some good use of colour and materials to create texture on the flowers but they are all similar in size and shape. There is limited evidence of observation and little consideration appears to have been given to the composition and colour scheme. Light and shadow are not evident and there is a lack of perspective and shading. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade D standard at the end of Stage 3.

Huong 

Huong has demonstrated a limited level of competence in using artistic concepts and techniques to represent the subject matter. Colour and collage have been used to depict a still-life of sunflowers but the similarity of materials and techniques in the subject and background hinders the balance between the two, and the background appears to be randomly filled with stems added to fit between the pieces of cut and torn paper. A two-dimensional plane has been created with little use of tonal and colour variation. There is limited evidence of observation and no use of light, shadow, perspective or shading. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade D standard at the end of Stage 3.