Year 8 Art

In Term 2, Year 8 Art students developed images based on architectural details, learning about pattern, textures and different art periods depicted in architecture around the School. From these images they developed an understanding about tessellation and repeat patterns, and how they create unusual visual effects. Each student worked on an individual triangle piece of lino, cutting out the intricate patterns. When printing the images the students created lovely square patterns which revealed shapes and patterns not evident in their original designs. Part of this task was to work collaboratively to create a large group artwork, allowing them to explore.

When printing the images the students created lovely square patterns which revealed shapes and patterns not evident in their original designs. Part of this task was to work collaboratively to create a large group artwork, allowing them to explore colour and tessellation using all their individual images. The results were stunning, with each class printing a variety of combinations. The fact that all their patterns were so different accentuated the triangular formations. The sheer joy expressed by the girls when they pulled back the large paper to reveal their collaborative artworks was delightful. It certainly was a ‘wow’ moment in their art making.

Printing with a large group of students can present a number of logistical problems in the print studio, however, the girls all worked well together, discussing placement of images, colour choices and the different arrangement of the triangles so that the final artworks resembled a Persian rug. It was not until they had printed multiple images of their own and then the much larger group work did they realise the links with maths we were trying to achieve for this task. How geometric patterns work together to form interesting visual effects. These large group artworks will now form part of the School art collection, something the girls should be very proud of.