Our Approach
At St Joseph's, we aim to nurture children's enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts by exposing them to a vast range of creative techniques. For example, children are given opportunities to express themselves through printmaking, drawing, collage, 3D modelling, textiles and painting, to name but a few. Alongside this, children study a broad range of artists, photographers, architects and craftspeople to inspire and influence their own artistic talents.
The curriculum is further enhanced by educational visits and projects within the local community. We aim to demonstrate how artistic skill plays a part in almost every aspect of life. It is probable that almost every item ever made, started off as an idea and progressed to a drawing and through participating in events such as the 'Brighton Children's Parade', children are able to see first hand how art and creative thought (as well as collaboration) can lead to impressive outcomes.
Emphasis across the curriculum, but particularly within art, is on children being able to express themselves, experiment and explore their ideas. Our art lessons offer a fantastic opportunity to reinforce the idea that mistakes are an essential part of learning and being creative.
Our Lessons
Each class has a weekly art and design lesson delivered by their class teacher. We base our Art lessons around the KAPOW scheme of work.
Our lessons take children through a range of creative processes using different mediums and materials. We understand and value and importance of children having opportunities to experiment, explore and practise the artistic techniques and methods they are taught.
Children will continually critique and evaluate their own work, and that of others, to help develop a deeper understanding of the decisions that are made in the artistic processes; encouraging them to form an opinion and ask questions.
As well as having dedicated art lessons, pupils are given opportunities across the curriculum to practise and develop their creative skills in order to strengthen their understanding of a particular topic. For example, using 3D modelling skills during a history lesson to better understand the construction of the Egyptian pyramids.
Art is seen as an invaluable tool to build a wider understanding of the world, cultures and peoples' heritage.
Here are a few pictures of this year's art work:
Year 4 - POWER PRINTS
L.O. I am learning to work collaboratively to develop drawings into prints.
YEAR 2 - EXPLORING LINE YEAR 2 - MAKING FELT
L.O. I am developing my understanding of mark making. L.O. I am I am learning how to apply the steps of the felt making process.
L.O. I am learning to develop ideas and apply skills when printmaking. L.O. I am learning to work collaboratively to develop drawings into prints.
YEAR 3 - TEXTURE PICTURES YEAR 5 - VIEWER EXPERIENCE
L.O. I am learning how texture can be created and used to make art. L.O. I am learning to apply my knowledge of installation art and develop ideas into a finished piece.
YEAR 6 - MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY YEAR 6 - RECREATING PAINTINGS
L.O. I am learning to apply understanding of abstract art L.O. I am learning to apply an understanding of photography through photography. to design and recreate a famous painting.
EYFS - OUTDOOR PAINTING YEAR 1 - TUBE TOWERS
L.O. I am learning to create natural paintbrushes using found objects. L.O. I am learning to roll paper and make 3D sculptures
YEAR 4 - PAINTING TECHNIQUES YEAR 6 - CHIAROSCURO
L.O. I am learning to explore how paint can create L.O. I am learning to demonstrate and apply understanding of very different effects. the drawing technique chiaroscuro.
Subject context - from the National Curriculum :
Key Stage 1
Pupils should be taught:
- to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination
- to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
- about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between
different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.
Key Stage 2
Pupils should be taught to develop their techniques, including their control and their use of
materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds
of art, craft and design. Pupils should be taught:
- to create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas
- to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and
sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay]
- about great artists, architects and designers in history.