Stage 2 and 3 high potential and gifted students creating artworks outdoors during the Bush studio HPGE enrichment program at Field of Mars Reserve

Bush studio HPGE enrichment program | Stage 2 and 3 Creative arts

Program overview

Students will create artworks inspired by urban bushland, exploring contemporary artists and experimenting with a variety of mediums including drawing, painting and clay.

Learning intention

Close-up of a student using frottage and etching techniques to capture textures of bark and rocks for a Bush studio mixed-media artwork
Student experimenting with drawing, watercolour and printmaking in a nature classroom, recording visible and hidden features of the bush

Activities

This is an immersive day, connecting students with nature, their creativity and visual art making.

The day commences with students acknowledging Country and working together to build ephemeral artworks inspired by Andy Goldsworthy. Among other artists, students will learn about the work of contemporary Australian artists Nicole Foreshew, Bianca Hester, Mabel Julie and Nicholas Mangan.

Students will go on a bushwalk and spend time in nature's classrooms to explore the natural features of the reserve through art making. Photography, sketching, etching, frottage and water-colour painting will be used to record the things in their environment that can be seen and those that remain unseen.

Instruction on the elements and principles of design, mixed-media, printmaking and collage will enhance students' abilities to create and appreciate artworks.

Facilitator: Emily TBC

This program is supported by the NSW DoE Arts Unit.

This program is only available to NSW Department of Education school students.

Location

Boardwalk and bushland setting in Field of Mars Reserve, main location for the Bush studio HPGE enrichment program

Field of Mars Reserve

Main location – including risk assessment, maps and track overview.

Teachers or parents will need to drop off and pick up students.

Westminster Road entrance to Field of Mars Reserve, used as an alternative access point during flooding or high tides at the main entrance

Westminster Road alternate entrance

This entrance or exit offers access during severe high tides and heavy rainfall events that cause flooding on the main Pittwater Road entrance.

Essential information

Cost and details

Cost

$60 per student - GST free

This will be processed through the student's home school.

This program is only available to NSW Department of Education school students.

Dates

Available dates

Transport

Schools are required to organise transport for students to and from the location. No vehicles are permitted into Field of Mars Reserve.

Staff

Teachers are not required to attend but are welcome.

Student selection

Maximum 8 students per school per day.

When choosing your students, remember the program takes place indoors, outdoors and in public spaces. Students may be near creeks and bushland tracks. While EEC teachers supervise them all day, consider if they’ll need SLSO or teacher support to stay safe.

Bring

Sports uniform, art smock backpack, medication, low-waste food, water bottle, sunblock, raincoat, hat, sturdy shoes.

View

Preparing for your excursion

Welfare

Participants will be walking during the day on an accessible boardwalk.

Wheelchair accessible.

May not suit recently unwell participants.

For medical or special needs notify staff prior to program.

Extreme or wet weather

Program may be modified, postponed or cancelled due to predicted extreme temperatures, bush fire danger, heavy rainfall, high winds or dust storms.

Booking policy

Confirm student details 7 days in advance.

Cancellation fee

Less than 4 weeks notice – full cost

Weather or fire danger cancellation – $0

Suggested timetable

Time

Activities

9.15 Arrival
9.30 - 10.00 Introduction and ice breaker activities
10.00 - 10.15 Recess
10.15 - 11.00

Inspired in nature

iPad photography

11.00 - 12.00 Art making
12.00 - 12.30 Lunch
12.30 - 2.00 Art making
2.00 - 2.15 Gallery walk
2.15 Depart

Tier 2 and 3 vocabulary

inspired, contemporary, experiment, interpret, compose, contrast, evaluate, ephemeral, elements of design, principles of design, frottage, etching, mixed media, printmaking, collage

Syllabus outcomes and content

Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus (2024)

Visual Arts

Outcome

  • Makes artworks using art forms to represent subject matter and ideas, and describes ways artists convey ideas about their world to audiences through artworks CA2-VIS-01

Content

Making: Artists represent their world through subject matter and ideas in artworks

  • Represent subject matter and ideas in artworks, making choices based on own interpretations of the world
  • Use drawing materials and techniques to create effects with texture and tone to represent subject matter and ideas
  • Explore balance, scale and proportion in compositions to represent subject matter and ideas
  • Demonstrate safe art making practices with respect for physical, social and digital safety

Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2024

Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus (2024)

Visual Arts

Outcomes

  • Makes artworks in intentional ways to represent ideas about their world, and explains ways artists are influenced by contexts and how artworks are interpreted by audiences CA3-VIS-01

Content

Making: Artists represent their world in intentional ways through their artmaking practice

  • Represent ideas or perspectives of their world and intentions in own artmaking practice
  • Use drawing materials and techniques to create artistic effects to represent subject matter or ideas in intentional ways
  • Create intentional effects with awareness of the relationships between colours and tones, to represent subject matter or ideas in realistic, imaginative or symbolic ways
  • Use painting materials, techniques and processes to explore ways to apply paint in combination with mixed media materials
  • Apply understandings of materials, digital technologies and processes to represent intended ideas in artworks
  • Explore artistic conventions and ways to represent subject matter and ideas in compositions
  • Demonstrate safe artmaking practices with respect for physical, social, digital and cultural safety

Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2024

Book now button linking to Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre Bush studio HPGE enrichment program bookings

Book now

Book your HPGE program using our online booking form.

Learning resources tile linking to digital materials that support Bush studio visual arts, nature journalling and mixed-media techniques

Learning resources

View online lessons that support primary incursion and excursion programs.

Flora and fauna fact sheets tile for native plants, animals and habitats in Field of Mars Reserve that can inspire Bush studio artworks

Flora and fauna fact sheets

View our curriculum-aligned fact sheets on Australian animals, plants, ecosystems and environments for NSW primary and secondary students, ideal for research, projects and classroom learning.