Grade 12 Visual Arts - Resistance Art in SA (Blood River)

Norman Catherine's painting, Blood River is a comment on the state of South Africa in the 1980's. Why do you think he used this title?

Illustration of the historical Battle of Blood River between the Voortrekkers and the Zulu  Impi of Dingaan

The Blood River Monument near Dundee in KZN

Have a look at the following links too:

http://www.sahistory.org.za/people/norman-catherine
http://www.contemporary-african-art.com/resistance-art.html

mad term 2

Hi all. I have been very slack in updating this blog, but I will try and make up for it from now on.

Everyone is up to their eye-balls in deadlines and preparing for the upcoming exams.

I'd like to share the following links with you - well worth a look.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Incredible-Art-Department/155062338112

Welcome to our new teacher

Ms Linda Antelme joined the Art Department in January 2012.

She teaches Grades 9, 11 and 12.

Her new ideas and input are most inspiring.

Crit lesson

The dreaded Grade 12 crit lesson. If it is any consolation, PAT 1 in matric is always the most difficult one of your high school career. It will get better as you get used to the work-load.

This could be relief that their turn is over or just hysterical nervous reaction.

"don't look at us!"

Add caption

Some people just don'e take anything seriously!

Banksy prank.

Read about this fake "rock art" in the link above

Grade 10 stuff

San tools make from found materials . Pigments found in Port Shepstone Greengrocer (spices etc.) were mixed with raw egg and oil to create these colourful paints.

Grade 11 block test

The block test will cover Neo-Classicism, Romanticism and Realism.

Just to make your task a little lighter, I found this tongue-in-cheek version of Oath of the Horattii



YouTube has some very informative videos on all kinds of art subjects. I suggest that you
 browse for some more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50yBFkbD0Kk

I also found some interesting bits of trivia about Liberty leading the People
(Romanticism in case you were wondering) If you compare this painting with O of the H,
you will notice that this one has lots of curved lines, dramatic billowing clothes, flag and smoke.

Oath... is formal, perfectly arranged and balanced. The people don't even show any emotions,
 despite the fact that they are all about to be plunged into disaster and personal tragedy.

This gives one an idea of how big the painting is...


I don't know how many of you noticed the Cold Play Album Design below in Musica...





This sketch was made in preparation for The Gleaners. (It makes you re-think your source book!)





Have fun learning more about these timeless pieces.

Grade 11 Art

Grade 11's first attempt at using charcoal has been most rewarding.

Another Monday Morning

The first batch of Grade 12 PAT's are due this morning, and judging from the packeages lying around the classroom, it looks promising. As soon as we have some pics. they will be posted.

Onto more serious stuff:
Grade 9's are currently working on their compositional drawings. (Remember to bring THREE items from home) Don't bring anything too small or fiddly.

The Block Test is on 07/03. The complete set of notes you have been given is covered in the test.

Grade 10:
Thank you for the lovely posters for the Rape Crisis Centre at Port Shepstone Hospital. We hope to hand them over this week.

Great fun was had with our home-made paint project. Everyone had to make San art "tools" from natural materials such as twigs, feathers and quills. Ms Antelme and Mrs Rautenbach decended on Sheppie Greengrocers to look for potential pigments. We went there to buy beetroot and eggs and ended up with a box full of goodies ranging from Turmeric to Henna and other mysterious coloured powders and spices.

the powders were mixed with raw egg, water and coconut oil to make a wonderful thick paintlike substance. One should use linseed oil, but we were experimenting.

Grade 11's were thrown in at the deep end this year with new media. Charcoal and soft pastel have been dealt with and the next step is painting.

Open Day

Open day was well attended, and Ms Antelme had the busiest shift this morning. We have been Spring-Cleaning the Art Rooms and getting rid of years of junk and clutter. (Many of Mrs Rautenbach's past-pupils will be most relieved to hear...)

This new arrangement utilizes the workspace more effectively.

Art Books

Clear work space with Mr Leisegang keeping an eye on things.

2012

Welcome back to all you artists out there.

The new year has started with a bang - as usual - with  its inoration overload, but we should all settle down soon. The heat and humidity does not help either.


Our Matric Visual Arts and Design results for 2011 were excellent. I will give you more details on this at a later date.
We say farewell to Mrs Sandi Steffen who leaves for Turkey at the end of January and wqelcome to Ms. Linda Antelme who has joined us in her place. We wish them both success in their respective ventures.

Please keep up to date with all the Art Dept activities by following this blog.