Page 24 - 2021 - Altiora Vol 73 Sem 1 and 2

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24 | VISUAL ARTS
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VISUAL ARTS BUNDANON TRIP
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ANON TRIP
I never know what to expect on camping trips, but I challenges that helped me gain greater insight into
thoroughly enjoyed our Year 10/11 Art Camp, for a myself and my own personal style of art-making. We
variety of reasons. When we arrived at Bundanon, had two amazing camp leaders, Mary and Leanne, and
the home and studio of Arthur Boyd, we were given a a wonderful group of fellow artists who encouraged
tour of the property, and learnt all about the history each other when we were struggling, and this made
and past events that took place there. Art has been us feel like amazing artists. This kind of positivity and
made at Bundanon for many decades, from a variety friendship within our group helped us all to thrive.
of different artists, so it was an honour to be able I think art camp was an extremely valuable
to contribute to the range of unique and exquisite experience because our whole art class came away
artworks created on the property.
with new confidence in our art abilities. We saw
In the first art-making workshop, we were asked to the development of our own styles and had the
create a large charcoal drawing of our own personal opportunity to build our skills and techniques working
perception of the local landscape’s flora. It was really in and from nature.
freeing to be able to experiment with different grades Ellie Molla, Year 10
Ellie Molla, Y
ear 10
of charcoal and create art in the open air instead of at
a desk in the classroom. This activity was the perfect The Year 11 students’ experience at Bundanon was
introduction to the theme of the camp, which was to similar, yet different from the Year 10’s experience.
experiment with different art styles and techniques in We attended the same charcoal workshop on the first
nature and find or create a style of our own. afternoon, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the plein-
air work; it was a fun break from classwork.
On the second day we made an ink painting of rocks
across from the river; we also used nature for some The second day was where our course differed, as
of our materials, including water from the river, reeds we spent the morning working on a series of plein-
and sticks. This style of artwork really challenged me air studies on the river bank of Pulpit Rock and the
because we couldn’t erase any lines we made on the surrounding environment. Throughout the morning,
paper. By the end of the experience, I think this was a we used felt-tip pens and water colour to create a
positive aspect because it really allowed me to create small body of work that focused on zooming in and out
art more freely; I just accepted that it was not going of a subject, working with scale and in new styles and
to look perfect and precise, so I really just had fun using different techniques to explore the same subject
interpreting the landscape and experimenting with matter. This was a highly valuable experience and it
different techniques to create the final composition. gave us a grounding in developing a body of work,
In the end, I actually preferred it even more to my something that will be essential next year in the HSC.
charcoal drawing, where we were given the option to Overall, the art camp experience was, again, a pleasure.
erase and work back into areas. The instructors and teachers gave us lots of creative
The camp was designed to build and test our creative freedom.
ear 11
er Stephens, Y
Oliv
abilities with a lot of fun challenges. It was these Oliver Stephens, Year 11