2NR Portal 2009

This week we had some fun learning about measurement while drawing our portraits. We used half a photo to get the correct measurements that we could then try use on the other side. We also learnt about shading and how you often draw the shadow rather than a particular feature.

The lesson was a great success and everyone had a go. It wasn’t an easy lesson and I am amazed at the fantastic results. To see more of the portraits you can click the brilliant portrait or hyperlink below.

See more portraits in the Gallery.

Drag the parts of the face wherever you like. Add the hair last. You can make each part larger or smaller by pressing the “+” or “-” key while dragging it. You can move it behind the face by pressing “B” while dragging it. Press “F” to move it in front of the face. And you can always drag the parts into the Trash Can and start over. www.alifetimeofcolor.com/create/portrait1

Today was a very special day as we had a visit from Zoe’s aunt, Jo. Jo works for the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra and did a fantastic lesson with the students on mapping their story. I would like to again thank Jo, and Pip, for providing such a fantastic opportunity for the students and of course myself.  The lesson was, obviously, a fantastic success.

The lesson was based on Warlugulong, one of five massive canvases that Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri produced in the 1970s, mapping his ancestral lands and their creation stories. It is regarded as one of his greatest works and as one of the outstanding paintings of the 20th century.

click the picture above to use the ZOOM feature
on the National Gallery of Australia’s website.

The painting’s central story is that of the mythical Blue- Tongued Lizard Man, who started a bushfire after his two sons killed a kangaroo but failed to share the meat with him. Other sacred stories are woven around it.

More photo will be added to the gallery

Most students have now finished their name badges, only a couple more remaining. They will go up in the bag room sometime this week.

The name badges were made using air drying clay, acrylic paint and PVA glue. For most students this was their first time using clay and the results were fantastic. We will have another go at using clay later in the term as everyone seemed to have a great messy time.

You can see more photos in the Gallery

Jackson Pollock was born in America in 1912. When he was 24 he was introduced to the idea of liquid paint at a experimental workshop. A few years later he started painting by laying the canvas on the floor and tying tins of paint hanging over the canvas. Pollock would then poke holes in the tins and let them move in every and any direction as they dripped. In 2006 his painting “No. 5, 1948″ (the painting on the left) sold for $140 million.

Click here to try and create your own Jackson Pollock.