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Challonerart Blog

Try these Art games...

Friday 6th September 2024
We have made such a positive start to our classes for this year. Its been gratifying seeing all the students set up their sketchbooks this week. We use a great technique called wax resist to decorate the front covers. 
We have also enjoyed awarding credits to those students who excelled in their Independent Research Projects at the end of last year. Credits were given for those students who attained a Distinction or a Merit. Some were so good that I gave 5 credits to them!

 

Monday 2nd September 2024
Week 1 will be a fantastic opportunity for more creativity from our wonderful artists in all year groups in the Art Department.
We so look forward to provide everyone with the chance to shine in their projects and to welcome students new and familiar back to the art room. It is always an exciting period as we embark on new artistic ventures. Be positive and, as we say in Art, challenge yourself to do your utmost at whatever task is set for you. Happy creating!

 

Monday 17th June 2024
Week 32 will be a fantastic opportunity for more creativity from our wonderful artists in all year groups in the Art Department.
It will be another week of opportunity for our Year 10 students as they continue with their Main Pieces in the "Urban Environment project.
In the Prep School,  Year 6  be back working hard on their Animals project and J5 are excelling at the start of the Fossils project.
Year 7 students will continue with Main Pieces in their "
Masks" project  and Year 8 are aiming to complete their Main Pieces in the "Wire Animals" project, having impressed in the prep work for this. Year 9 students have started making main pieces in the "Massive" sculpture unit. 

Happy creating to all this week.

You can check out the entries we had in the ISA art competition here

Monday 10th June 2024
Week 31 will be a fantastic opportunity for more creativity from our wonderful artists in all year groups in the Art Department.
It will be another week of opportunity for our Year 10 students as they continue with their Main Pieces in the "Urban Environment project.
In the Prep School,  Year 6  be back working hard on their Animals project and J5 are excelling at the start of the Fossils project.
Year 7 students will continue with Main Pieces in their "
Masks" project  and Year 8 are aiming to complete their Main Pieces in the "Wire Animals" project, having impressed in the prep work for this. Year 9 students have started making main pieces in the "Massive" sculpture unit. 

Happy creating to all this week.

You can check out the entries we had in the ISA art competition here

Monday 16th January 2023
Week 14 will be a fantastic opportunity for more creativity from our wonderful artists in all year groups as we begin a new year in the Art Department.
Our A-level

Our GCSE and A-Level students will be able to continue with their pieces in their initial lessons before starting their final Exam projects in a couple of weeks.
It will be another week of opportunity for our Year 10 students as they embark on a new, short project entitled "Doorway"
In the Junior School,  we start work on a STEAM project before Year 6 with be back working hard on their joint Autumn Leaves project and J5 are excelling in their "High Street" project.
Year 7 students will continue with Main Pieces in their "Portraits"  and Year 8 are aiming to complete their Main Pieces in the "Music" project, having impressed in the prep work for this. Year 9 students have started making main pieces in the Fashion Design unit. Happy creating to all this week.

2nd Oct 2022

Already this year, we have looked at several incredible Black artists such as Stephen Wiltshire, Tam Joseph and Nathan Bowen, but during this month we will be celebrating artists from the Black community, starting this week with Year 7 homework on Samella Lewis, a Year 8 Homework about the awesome Romare Bearden and a Year 10 homework homework based on the work of Gerard Williams and Year 11 links to Lynette Yiadom-Boakye

Friday 30th Sept 2022

The last day of the month. We will be continuing the study of the Urban Environment with year 8, finding out about the amazing Stephen Wiltshire for homework.

Monday 5th Sept 2022

Welcome to the new year in the Art Department. So much to look forward to this term with all our courses starting. We will say hello to some new students and will enjoy seeing again those that were with us last year. 

There will be the joy of creating paintings and drawings, of producing prints and sculptures, so we look forward in anticipation of the new. Join together with us on this inspiring journey of creativity.

Monday 4th July 2022

So, we have arrived at the last week of term. An amazing journey.

We will say goodbye to our Year 13 students, off to University in the Autumn. We also welcome our new groups to the GCSE course, those Year 9 students who have opted for two more years of Art (Clever people!) 

This last term has been so busy and exciting. We took work to the ISA Art Competition and came away with a first prize and two "Highly recommended"s, and we staged our GCSE and A-Level exhibition in the Art room and had a lovely private view. We also put on two Exam moderations which were both praised and took Year 7 the Tate Britain where we saw Hew Locke's phenomenal installation "The Procession" and made some studies for our 1st Year 8 project; "Urban Environment".

The Year 10 GCSE students continued with their "Me, Myself and I" project, some nearly completing their main pieces. Year 9 students carried on with their research project looking at public art and Year 8 made their wire animal sculptures in groups. Year 7 will be continuing a research project on Masks also working in groups. Year 6 completed the Big People portraits and  Year 5 made 3-D project fossils.in clay.

Have a wonderfully creative term. 

Monday 6th June 2022

Welcome to the new term in the Art Department. So many good things will be happening in the next 5 weeks. Our Year 13 and Year 11 students will be having an exhibition of their work towards the end of term. Also, their coursework will be moderated.

Year 10 GCSE students will continue with their "Me, Myself and I" project, starting their main pieces.

Year 9 students are going to complete their exciting new research project looking at public art and Year 8 will be making their wire animal sculptures in groups. Year 7 will be continuing a research project on Masks also working in groups and we aim to take the students to Tate Britain.

Year 6 will be pushing on with the Big People portraits before staring a sculptural project about shoes and Year 5 are going to begin a 3-D project looking at fossils.

A term to look forward to.

Monday 9th May 2022

Today is the final deadline for A-Level and GCSE Art Coursework. We always anticipate such great things on this day and this year will be no exception as many students have been working really hard as the deadline approached. I so look forward to seeing the work as we mark it over this week.

Wednesday 20th April 2022

Welcome to the new term in the Art Department. So many good things will be happening in the next 6 weeks. Our Year 13 and Year 11 students will be focusing their efforts on their Mock Exam studies and we will see the results of these in the Art Mock Exam in the first Friday

Year 10 GCSE students will continue with their "Me, Myself and I" project.

Year 9 students are going to complete their Pop Art Mains before starting an exciting new research project looking at public art and Year 8 will be painting their Posters. Year 7 will be starting a research project on Masks, working in groups.

Year 6 will be pushing on with the Big People portraits and Year 5 are going to begin a terrific project entitled "Elegant Hairstyles"

A term to look forward to.

Monday 21st February 2022

Welcome to the new half term in the Art Department. So many good things will be happening in the next 6 weeks. Our Year 13 and Year 11 students will be focusing their efforts on Main Pieces in their Mock Exam studies and we will see the results of these in the Art Mock Exam.

Year 10 GCSE students will continue with their doorway Main Pieces. These are coming along 

with great promise.

Year 9 students are going to be getting on with their Pop Art Mains and Year 8 will be painting their Fragmented trainers. Year 7 are completing the prints they started last term. 

Year 6 will be pushing on with the Big People portraits and Year 5 are designing sculptures for the Fourth plinth competition.

A term to look forward to.

Monday 7th February 2022

Week 19 brings great anticipation to the Art Department as it is the final week before the half term break. 

We look forward to J 5 continuing with their studies for the Fourth Plinth sculpture competition and to J6 starting their large self portraits.

Year 7 will be continuing with their printing project and Year 8 will be ripping and sticking the training shoe drawings and finding out more about the Cubists in the Fragmentation project.

Having visited the Tate Gallery last week, our lovely Year 9 students will be  pushing on with the Pop Art project.

The GCSE students in Year 10 are printing in the doorway project and Year 11 are continuing with the prep in their final Coursework project

Monday 24th January 2022

This week, on Wednesday, we are taking Year 9 to the Tate Britain. Its been a while since we visited so there is much anticipation.

Otherwise, we will be in the Art studio making more fabulous art work all week. It will be a fantastic opportunity for more creativity from our talented artists in all year groups 

Our GCSE and A-Level students will continue with their pieces in their in anticipation of starting final Exam projects next week.

It will be another week of opportunity for our Year 10 students as they embark on a new, short project entitled "Doorway"

In the Junior School,  Year 6 with be back working hard on their Big People pictures and J5 are finalising their "High Street" project with the name "Golden Avenue"

Year 7 students will be making printed studies in the Fabric Design project and Year 8, will be making line drawings and will be weaving paper in the interesting Fragmentation project. 

Thursday 13th January 2022

Good luck to all those applying for Art Scholarships next week. Bring work that you have completed outside of the lessons you have in school. We want to see how creative you are!

Thursday 13th January 2022

There is a good series of Arts programmes on the BBC at the moment. Check this one about the American Pop Artist, Andy Warhol: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0b5mp52/andy-warhols-america

Monday 10th January 2022

We will be back in the Art studio making more fabulous art work all week. It will be a fantastic opportunity for more creativity from our skilful artists in all year groups 

Our GCSE and A-Level students will continue with their pieces in their in anticipation of starting final Exam projects next week.

It will be another week of opportunity for our Year 10 students as they embark on a new, short project entitled "Doorway"

In the Junior School,  Year 6 with be back working hard on their joint Autumn Leaves project and J5 are excelling in their "High Street" project.

Year 7 students completed their "Portraits"   so will begin studies in the Fabric Design project and Year 8, who all finished their Main Pieces in the "Music" project last week will start the interesting Fragmantation project. Year 9 students have aim to complete main pieces in the Fashion Design unit. Happy creating to all this week.

Monday 3rd January 2022

Week 14 will be a fantastic opportunity for more creativity from our fantastic artists in all year groups as we begin a new year in the Art Department

Our GCSE and A-Level students will be able to continue with their pieces in their initial lessons before starting their final Exam projects in a couple of weeks.

It will be another week of opportunity for our Year 10 students as they embark on a new, short project entitled "Doorway"

In the Junior School,  we start work on a STEAM project before Year 6 with be back working hard on their joint Autumn Leaves project and J5 are excelling in their "High Street" project.

Year 7 students will continue with Main Pieces in their "Portraits"  and Year 8 are aiming to complete their Main Pieces in the "Music" project, having impressed in the prep work for this. Year 9 students have started making main pieces in the Fashion Design unit. Happy creating to all this week.

Monday 13th Dec 2021

Week 13 will be a fantastic opportunity for more creativity from our willing and able artists in all year groups.

Having analysed the GCSE and A-Level Mocks on Friday, the Year 11 students and the Sixth Formers will be able to continue with their coursework.

It will be another week of opportunity for our Year 10 students as they continue the making of their first GCSE main piece on their theme: Natural Form 

In the Junior School,  the House Christmas Card competition will be judged,  and in class, Year 6 with be back working hard on their joint Autumn Leaves project and J5 are excelling in their "High Street" project.

Year 7 students finished for the year last week and so will continue with Main Pieces in their "Portraits" project after the Christmas break, but Year 8 are aiming to complete their Main Pieces in the "Music" project, having impressed in the prep work for this. Year 9 students have started making main pieces in the Fashion Design unit. Happy creating to all this week.

Monday 6th Dec 2021

Week 12 will see our GCSE Exam groups face their 5 hour session on Tuesday. I wish both the Year 11 students and those in Year 13 all the best.

It is also a week of opportunity for our Year 10 students as they continue the making of their first GCSE main piece. We were privileged to have Mr Wallace in the room last Monday and he seemed impressed by the student's progress. 

In the Junior School, we see the deadline for the House Christmas Card competition today and in class, Year 6 with be back working hard on their joint Autumn Leaves project and J5 are excelling in their "High Street" project.

Year 7 students will continue with Main Pieces in their "Portraits" project and Year 8 are in the initial stages of their Main Pieces in the "Music" project having impressed in the prep work for this.  Year 9 students have been learning about pattern and clothing at the outset of a Fashion Design unit. Happy creating to all this week.

Monday 29th Nov 2021

Week 11 brings much to think about in our lovely Art Dept. It is, for our Exam groups such an important week as they anticipate their 5 hour session next week, so the work done in the next 8 days is crucial to the outcome. I wish both the Year 11 students and those in Year 13 all the best. It is also a week of opportunity for our Year 10 students as they embark on the making of their first GCSE main piece. A chance for them to show how independent-minded they have become. Year 7 students will continue with Main Pieces in their "Portraits" project and Year 8 are in the intital stages of their Main Pieces in the "Music" project having impressed in the prep work for this.  Year 9 students have been learning about pattern and clothing at the outset of a Fashion Design unit. Happy creating to all this week.

Monday 22nd Nov 2021

Week 10 brings much anticipation in the Art Dept as we have, along with all the normal goings on, a Year 6 Taster day on Thursday. We so much look forward to running 4 sessions with our prospective students, trusting that they enjoy them so much that they will be back next year in our Year 7 cohort.  Happy creating to all. 

 

Wednesday 17th Nov 2021

Such a busy time in the Art Dept as we enter the middle of this productive term. Our Year 11 students are beavering away on their Mock Exam Project prep work as they try to get ready for their 5-hour slot in a couple of weeks. Always a nerve-racking burt exciting time. I have to say, that as a group, they are rising to the challenge. The Year 10 GCSE class continue to impress me with the standard of homework and classwork. This week, they largley finished the natural form prints. In Key Stage 3, Year 9 have just concluded their War and Conflict project and Year 7 are starting work on the "Face" theme but it was Year 8 who caught the eye with the initial studies in a project entitled "Music"

 

Monday 1st November 2021

Welcome to the new half term in the Art Dept.

We are so looking forward to teaching drawing, painting, printing, photogtaphy and sculpture in the next seven weeks up until Christmas.

Our year 5 and 6 artists will be continuing their projects on pattern and natural forms. In Year 7, we will continue with the first RED-P project about portraiture, and in Year 8, once our Urbn Environment project is completed, we embark on a series of work about the entitled "Music". Once they have completed their Main Pieces in the War and Conflict theme, our 9 students will begin to look at Fashion Design. At GCSE level, the Year 10 students will be starting their MainPieces in the first topic, "Natural Forms" and our Year 11 and 13 students are engaged in preparing for their Mock piece in December.

Happy creating to all...

Monday 11th Oct 2021

In the last week of this productive term the Art Dept looks set to be a hive of activity, with printing at the centre of everything. Year 10 are continuing with their natural form repeat patterns as A-level students work on fabric designs. We continue to study many interesting artists such as the fashion designer Grace Wales Bonner in year 9 and the portrait artist Tamara Madden in Year 7. Happy creating to all during the Half Term Break.

Monday 4th Oct 2021

We are looking forward to another productive week in the Art Dept. In Year 6 we are  embarking on a collaborative project based on the work of the Artist Andy Goldsworthy as Year 5 students are about to learn painting. Year 8 and 9 students are about to start on their main pieces in the "Urban Environment" and "War and Conflict" projects. We are expecting great things of charcoal pine cone drawings being made in Year 10 and Year 11 students continue to develop their ideas for a Main Piece in the Mock Exam project. The themes of "Crowds", "Natural Forms", Human Form" and "My Surroundings" promise so much creative work.

Happy creating to all.

Friday 1st October 2021

The fourth week of the year has been the best so far in the Art Dept with brilliant work produced throughout the year groups and lovely lessons on such a deep and rich range of themes. We have had Year 5 continuing their pattern and year 6 produce some gorgeous ballpoint pen drawings of leaves. Year 7 were outstanding as they embarked on a new project all about portraits and Year 8 made some excellent monoprints of doorways. Our Year 9 students have been getting to grips with developing their compostitions in the "War and Conflict project" and my terrific Year 10 students are excelling with their prep work in the Natural Forms theme. the Year 11 group are currently compling their coursework portfolios as they continue with studies towards a Mock Exteranlly Set Task and my sixth form class are embracing all things Japanese are they create work about the "Artists of fthe Floating World" And today marks the day in 1760 when the Japanese master Hokusai was born.

Happy weekend....

Monday 27th Sept 2021

It was so special to be back in the classroom on Open Morning and being given the chance to show off the Art  Room to the many families who visited. It is an honour to talk about the work we do in each Year and every phase. As I explained our work and answered questions from our many visitors children helped build a Cartoon Character board. A lovely day. Special thanks to Morayo, Yasmeen and Jacob for helping run the drawing workshop and to all the guides who brought people round.

Saturday 25th Sept 2021

Looking forward to our Open Morning today. We have a Cartoon Character Project going on in the Art Room. Come and join us between 9.30 and 12.00

Wednesday 22nd Sept 2021

Always a lovely moment for the department when we get Art Club up and running and in our first session yesterday it was good to see so many faces with a great bunch of Key Stage three students starting out Children's Book project and four brave Year 10 students tackling the HPQ with a focus on Fashion Design and Architecture.

Friday 17th Sept 2021

We had a brilliant second week in the Art Department with all our year group projects up and running. Such fantastic creativity across all years it is hard to pick an absolute favourite moment, but it could have been marking the homework of 7A. Such breadth and depth and variety in the shading techniques. And, so much work. I had to tell many of the students to stop doing their work on a whole sketchbook page!

Looking forward to another fruitful week.

Monday 6th Sept 2021

Welcome to the new term in the Art Dept.

We are so looking forward to teaching drawing, painting, printing, photogtaphy and sculpture this year.

Our year 5 and 6 artists will be intitailly looking at pattern and natural forms as their introduction to the Art room. In Year 7, we begin with a short project all about Still Life and in Year 8 we embark on a series of work about the City. Year 9 students will tackle a the War and Conflict project. At GCSE level, the Year 10 student's first topic is nature and our Year 11 students are engaged in producing a portfolio of studies on a theme of their choosing. A-level students are looking at Japanese Art.

Happy creating to all!

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