Artist of the Moment Notable Artworks Why are we exploring the artist? Based on careful observation of the children’s interests our artist of moment is a perfect fit. The children have shown an interest in mark making, especially displaying their artworks to one naother and talking about what they have drawn. Like Emily Kame, the children give Earth’s Creation, 1994 meaning to their artwork through the lines and shapes that are made. In the 2-3s room we are also exploring the interest of transport (bus, trains, aeroplanes etc.) In particular the children enjoy exploring motion e.g. watching a car fall from a ramp or riding a bike outdoors. Emily Kame explores motion too through the lines that she makes.
The artist, Emily Kame Kngwarreye (1910-1996) Big Yam, 1996 was an Aboriginal, Australian artist, from the Utopia community in the Northern Territory. She is one of the most prominent and successful artists in the history of Indigenous Australian art. Emily is most notable for artworks that focus on the Dreamtime (A belief system that laid down the patterns of life for the Aboriginal people.) Her artworks tell stories through the marks she made. A notable achievement was when Qantas Airlines included Emily’s artwork ‘Yam Dreaming’ for Qantas, Flying with Art Series their ‘Flying Art Series’. Our Activities • Observational Drawing: Using objects Learn found from the nature hunt children • Dot Painting: Using inspiration from Explore can explore the shapes, colours, and either the Japinka website (see below) appearance of leaves or a book • Mark Making: Explore different mark create a dot making tools e.g. chalk, charcoal, pencil, Create painting based crayon. Take a crayon/ pencil for a walk. • Create an aeroplane using recycled on a theme. Create different lines – squiggly, materials. Paint the aeroplane in the Use card, paint straight, zig zag etc. style of Emily Kame Kngwarreye. colours suited • Listen to different tempo music or • Collage coloured paper (can be torn with the sounds. Move to the pace of the music- from previous artwork) theme. Use what types of marks have been left? • Large paint brushes, sticks or ear buds to Are they quick or Mural: create dots. Then give your artwork a slow lines? Just like name! • Tape Crayons to Emily • Discuss: Look at some artworks either the back of toy Kame, she by Emily Kame or other aboriginal cars. Take a car enjoyed creating large murals pieces. artists. Talk about the meaning behind for a drive. What Lay a large cloth or paper on the their artworks e.g. I wonder what this lines do you notice? ground. Use different mark making artwork is about? Why? • Painting on different surfaces. Tape tools to create marks. • Read or watch stories on the dreamtime paper on a floor, table or window • Clay echidnas: Using (e.g. The Rainbow Serpent, Tiddalik the space. clay or playdough Frog). Create an illustration based on • Exploring motion and lines: Create a children roll it into a the story – Can you use dot painting? ramp (can use cardboard) for cars to be ball. Then, using dropped down from. Dip cars into paint Links lollipop sticks or to see what lines are left behind. natural sticks children More resources and activities can be found here Discover can place the sticks Japingka Aboriginal Art Online - Australian into the clay to • Nature Hunt: Find different leaves, Indigenous Artworks create an echidna flowers, sticks in your area. This can be Emily Kame Kngwarreye | National Museum of (Australian Animals in combination with taking photographs Australia (nma.gov.au)
of interesting textures or lines found
outside e.g. the texture of bark Stories Talking to Children about Art Dreamtime stories: A period in time when life Making was created according to Aboriginal culture. “I wonder..” “I notice..” Tiddalik The Frog “I see..” “Keep going”
“Tell me about that”
“Artists take their time to
show they care about their The Rainbow work” Serpent “You’ve got really good ideas”
“I see you are making really
important decisions about your work”
Why I love Australia “I wonder what you’ll do next ?” “I wonder what might happen if you keep going? I can not wait to see!” “I can see you are really proud of your work”