Stage 1 have almost completed their UOI How We Express Ourselves with a focus on Australian animals through Aboriginal art.  In their art lessons, Years 1 and 2 listened to stories by Sally Morgan and Bronwyn Bancroft and were able to determine a common theme in the books that we read: animals as the main character!  The boys chose their own Australian animal and created a visual story in watercolour, using Aboriginal symbols they had seen and learned about. Boys discovered abstract dot and line painting with acrylic paints to recreate symbols and explained their selection in the key that will accompany their artworks. The artworks are amazing – the use of bright, vivid colours and interesting layers to tell a story visually is a unique way to explore storytelling. From this, the boys will use oral storytelling to share the story of their animal with their classmates. I am looking forward to hearing the boys’ stories shared and to see the connections made between visual and spoken traditions.

Phoebe Burnett – Art Teacher