Art and Design

"If I could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint.”

Edward Hopper, Artist

Having art in our lives not only brings us pleasure; art offers us a chance to think, to be curious, to be amazed, or even confused. What am I looking at? What I am I listening to? What am I reading? What is this artist trying say? How am I feeling? What is this author trying to convey? Reactions can vary greatly. People become more relaxed in a creative environment. When our mind and body are relaxed, ideas and inspirations come to us without effort. Some refer to this experience as divine intervention or being in-the-flow.

Art education, in particular, encourages students to observe the world from many different angles. Most art is very complex and consists of layers of meanings. It takes time to find, examine, and consider these many layers.

It’s this very process of observation and study that teaches students of the arts to more intensely observe and analyze the world. And it gives them the skills that build the foundation of critical thinking.

At St Mary's, we aim to ensure that all children can learn and develop their key skills in drawing, painting and sculpting by teaching a broad range of skills taken from the National Curriculum.

Each child has their own sketch book for the purpose of developing their artistic skills and showcasing their learning, development and understanding.

Children learn subject specific vocabulary that enriches their understanding of key skills and concepts which they then apply to their own ideas. All children have the opportunity to learn about famous artists and their impact on culture and artistic movements.

We use a See, think, wonder approach - children look at artwork, study pieces carefully and generate their own ideas and responses to the art they have encountered.

EYFS

During the autumn term, children explore the work of  Jackson Pollock and Andy Goldsworthy.

KS1 and KS2

Over the autumn term, children are inspired by the work of Henri Matisse, Vincent Van Gogh, Antony Gormley, Claude Monet, L S Lowry and Auguste Rodin.