This week in Art, Shackleton Class kicked off our exciting new topic all about painting, and we’ve been getting messy and creative in the best way!

Our significant artist for this unit is Jim Dine, an American artist known for his expressive use of colour, bold brushstrokes, and repeated symbols—especially his famous painted hearts. We explored some of his vibrant artwork and noticed how he often adds texture and layers to bring his paintings to life.

To build on last week’s learning—where we experimented with texture using table salt and rock salt—this lesson was all about creating new types of texture using liquids. Pupils had a go using materials like oil and dish soap to see how they interact with paint on paper. It was a brilliant way to explore how different substances can change the look and feel of paint.

We also learned and used some new vocabulary:

• Absorb – when one material soaks up another

• Spritz – to lightly spray a liquid over a surface

Everyone reflected on how their painting changed with each method, showing how thoughtful and curious our young artists are becoming.

This links perfectly with our Art curriculum vision:

Be creative. Be proficient. Be reflective.