Term Topic
Each term, we develop a set of lesson plans based on a new topic to keep your child engaged.
The term topic supports learning of techniques and artistic styles presented in the context of an art movement or famous artist Introducing a fresh topic each term enhances student interest and engagement, accelerating the learning process.
The Topic for Term 1 2025 is “Young Archies” where the students will prepare an entry for the Art Gallery of NSW Annual Young Archies portrait competition.
Enrol now for Term 1. Art Classes starts on Monday 3 February 2025 and run for 9 weeks.
In the “Young Archies” topic, students will focus on creating meaningful and personal portraits as they prepare entries for the prestigious annual Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) Young Archie competition. This competition celebrates young artists aged 5–18, challenging them to capture the essence of someone special in their lives, such as a family member, friend, or someone who inspires them.
Throughout the term, students will study the styles and techniques of renowned Australian artists, including Margaret Olley, Brett Whiteley, and Del Kathryn Barton. They will learn how to use intricate detail and storytelling, bold and expressive compositions, and vibrant, symbolic designs to bring their portraits to life.
By the end of the program, each student will have completed a finished portrait ready for submission to the Young Archie competition. This experience not only provides an opportunity to showcase their skills on a prestigious platform but also encourages them to express their individuality and creativity, celebrating their unique artistic voices.
Term Topic
Each term, we develop a set of lesson plans based on a new topic to keep your child engaged.
The term topic supports learning of techniques and artistic styles presented in the context of an art movement or famous artist Introducing a fresh topic each term enhances student interest and engagement, accelerating the learning process.
The Topic for Term 1 2025 is “Young Archies” where the students will prepare an entry for the Art Gallery of NSW Annual Young Archies portrait competition.
Enrol now for Term 1. Art Classes starts on Monday 3 February 2025 and run for 9 weeks.
In the “Young Archies” topic, students will focus on creating meaningful and personal portraits as they prepare entries for the prestigious annual Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) Young Archie competition. This competition celebrates young artists aged 5–18, challenging them to capture the essence of someone special in their lives, such as a family member, friend, or someone who inspires them.
Throughout the term, students will study the styles and techniques of renowned Australian artists, including Margaret Olley, Brett Whiteley, and Del Kathryn Barton. They will learn how to use intricate detail and storytelling, bold and expressive compositions, and vibrant, symbolic designs to bring their portraits to life.
By the end of the program, each student will have completed a finished portrait ready for submission to the Young Archie competition. This experience not only provides an opportunity to showcase their skills on a prestigious platform but also encourages them to express their individuality and creativity, celebrating their unique artistic voices.
What Will Students Do & Learn
This term, our young artists will embark on an inspiring journey into portraiture as they prepare for the prestigious Young Archie competition, held annually by the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW). The Young Archie competition invites children and teenagers aged 5–18 to celebrate creativity by creating portraits of someone special to them—whether a family member, friend, or someone who inspires them.
Our classes will guide students through the artistic process, from understanding the fundamentals of portraiture to exploring techniques in drawing, painting, and composition. Students will gain inspiration from some of Australia’s most celebrated artists, including Margaret Olley, known for her observational detail and vibrant palette; Brett Whiteley, whose expressive and dynamic portraits capture personality and emotion; and Del Kathryn Barton, celebrated for her bold colors and intricate, contemporary designs. By studying these artists, students will learn to infuse their own portraits with creativity, individuality, and depth.
Through a mix of structured lessons and creative exploration, students will build confidence in their artistic skills while being encouraged to express their unique perspectives. By the end of the term, students will have completed a finished portrait ready for submission to the Young Archie competition. They’ll also gain insights into the process of entering their work and celebrating the achievements of young artists across Australia.
While the exact dates for the 2025 Young Archie competition have not been announced yet, based on previous years, entry forms are typically available online from mid-February to mid-March. For instance, in 2024, entry forms were available from 12 February to 17 March. We anticipate a similar timeline for 2025 and will keep students and parents informed as soon as the official dates are released.
Let’s celebrate the joy of art and self-expression as we inspire the next generation of portrait artists!
Skills Students Will Learn in the “Young Archies” Term
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Expressing Personality Through Portraiture: Students will learn how to capture the essence of their subject, drawing inspiration from Margaret Olley’s ability to convey personality through intimate detail, Brett Whiteley’s dynamic and emotive compositions, and Del Kathryn Barton’s intricate and symbolic storytelling. They will explore how to infuse portraits with individuality and emotional depth.
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Exploring Color for Mood and Character: Like Whiteley and Barton, who used vibrant and unconventional color palettes, students will experiment with color to evoke mood, highlight character traits, and add vibrancy to their works. This exploration encourages an expressive approach to color selection.
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Techniques in Composition and Design: Drawing inspiration from these great artists, students will study different approaches to composition. From Whiteley’s fluid and spontaneous layouts to Barton’s intricate detailing and layering, students will practice balancing elements within their portraits to create visually compelling works.
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Texture and Brushwork for Detail and Expression: Students will experiment with brush techniques, from delicate detail reminiscent of Olley’s still lifes to bold, energetic strokes inspired by Whiteley. They will explore how texture can enhance expression and bring a portrait to life.
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Personal Interpretation and Storytelling: Like the artists they’ll study, students will learn to add personal meaning and narrative to their work. Whether by focusing on their connection to the subject or incorporating symbolic elements like Barton, students will develop their own artistic voice and storytelling abilities.
By exploring the techniques and styles of these celebrated Australian artists, students will not only build technical skills but also discover how to express their unique perspectives through portraiture. These lessons will prepare them to create meaningful and captivating entries for the Young Archie competition, reflecting the emotional and artistic depth celebrated by this prestigious event.
Materials
We recommend students purchase the Sydney Art School Student Resource Kit
OR
You may purchase your own materials separately
The paints in the SAS resource kit are high quality and will typically last a student 3 terms. Contents of the SAS resource kit can be found at …. https://sydneyartschool.com.au/product/resource-kit-acrylics-artist-quality-starter-set-detail/
If you purchase your own materials please ensure they include; Paints: good quality and the same colour set and sizes as the SAS resource kit. 2 tubes of white paint recommended. Brushes: (variety of small, medium and large). Visual Art Diary (A3).
Other items to bring to each class include; Tea towel, washer, paper towel, or cloth: for drying brushes and cleaning spills. Pencil and eraser. Apron, or paint smock Water bottle: please note if coming after school and you bring a snack you may not bring foods containing nuts.
Tutors may ask students to bring in additional items from home such as photographs.
Each term the school will provide; Additional material for major work (canvas, high quality paper). Palettes and water jars are provided in the classroom.
Studios Dates Times
Art classes for kids are available in studios in Hornsby, Baulkham Hills & Epping.
Each term the classes start on the same starting week as NSW Public School Term dates
Classes run for 9 consecutive weeks.
(For classes that fall on a NSW public holidays an additional week will be added to ensure that students receive a total of 9 classes)
| Recommended Age Group Suitability | |||
| Mini Monet | Intermediate | Senior | Senior Transition |
| 5-7 | 8-10 | 11-13 | 13+ |
| Days & Start Date Term 2 – 2024 |
Level | Baulkham Hills |
Epping | Hornsby |
| Mondays
|
Mini Monet | 4:30 – 6:00pm 6:00 – 7:30pm |
4.00 – 5.30pm | 4.30 – 6pm |
| Intermediate | 4:30 – 6:00pm | 4.00 – 5.30pm | 4.30 – 6pm | |
| Senior | 4.00 – 5.30pm | |||
| Senior Transition | ||||
| Tuesdays
|
Mini Monet | 4.30 – 6pm | 4.30 – 6pm | |
| Intermediate | 4.30 – 6pm | |||
| Senior | 5.00 – 6.30pm | 4.30 – 6pm | ||
| Senior Transition | 5.00 – 6.30pm 6.30 – 8.00pm |
5.00 – 6.30pm | ||
| Wednesdays | Mini Monet | 5.30 – 7.00pm | 4.00 – 5.30pm | 4.30 – 6pm |
| Intermediate | 4.00 – 5.30pm | 4.30 – 6pm | ||
| Senior | 4.00 – 5.30pm | 4.30 – 6pm | ||
| Senior Transition | 5:00 – 6:30pm | |||
| Thursdays | Mini Monet | 4.00 – 5:30pm | 4.30 – 6pm | |
| Intermediate | 4:00 – 5:30pm | 4.30 – 6pm | ||
| Senior | 5:30 – 7:00pm | 4.30 – 6pm | ||
| Senior Transition | 5.30 – 7:00pm | 6.30 – 8pm | ||
| Fridays | Mini Monet | 4.00 – 5.30pm
5.30 – 7:00pm |
5.30 – 7pm | |
| Intermediate | 4.00 – 5.30pm
5.30 – 7:00pm |
|||
| Senior | ||||
| Saturdays | Mini Monet |
9.00 – 10.30am
|
9.00am – 10.30am
11am – 12.30pm
|
|
| Intermediate | 11.00 – 12.30pm | 11.00am – 12.30pm | ||
| Senior | 1.00 – 2.30pm | 9.00am – 10.30am
1.00 – 2.30pm |
||
| Senior Transition | 2.45 – 4.15pm | 2.45 – 4.15pm |
Why Sydney Art School?
- Qualified & Professional Tutors
- Structured and Varied Syllabus
- Broad Cognitive Skills Development
- Affordable Value for Money
- A Safe and Secure Environment
Sydney Art School has developed a range of kids art classes that meet those expectations.
Your Children Get The Best Qualified and Professional Art Tutors in Sydney
All senior tutors in childrens art classes are tertiary qualified, and professional artists. They combine full time art tutoring with their personal exhibition schedules.
Students in senior art classes who show high skill levels are invited to attend occasional adult classes and workshops when space permits.
Our extension art students are also given the opportunity to learn from some of Sydney’s best award winning artists including finalists and prizewinners in the Archibald, Sulman, Moran and Dobell art prizes.
An Art Class Syllabus that Combines Structure and Variety Enables Faster Development
To get the most benefit from art classes your child needs to be engaged across a wide area of styles techniques and subject matter.
Subject matter needs to be continually refreshed. If children lose interest the benefits drop away.
Every term a new artistic topic is chosen and lesson plans are created. The artistic topic focuses on a subject type e.g. portraiture, landscape, still life or an art movement such as impressionism, surrealism, cubism.
Variety gives breadth to learning experiences and is an important factors in keeping the students engaged.
Structured lesson plans are developed by our team of artists and teachers with degrees in fine arts and education.
Cognitive Skills Development
Each term topic is supplemented with cognitive skills training exercises specifically designed to strengthen areas such as:
- Visual memory,
- Observation and concentration, and
- Visual processing skills.
Value for Money
We pride ourselves on providing value for money.
An investment in art classes is an investment in the development of your child’s cognitive skills. So it is important that you choose quality and reliability.
Although you can find some classes that cost a little less than Sydney Art School – you will find that this usually means a compromise tutor quality, syllabus breadth and variety, facilities and materials.
Also when you consider the cost of art classes you will find that they are affodable and compare favourably to other activities. A good choice when investing in your child’s development.
Safety Security and Compliance
As a professional organisation the safety and security of your children is of paramount importance to us. We make sure we comply with all government regulations including:
- Working with Children checks: All tutors have certificates provided by NSW Police and and are authorised to work with children.
- First Aid Officers: Each studio has a designated First Aid Officer and most tutors are First Aid trained.
- Public Liability Insurance. Certificate of currency
- Drop Off – Pick Up Policy: All students are required to be escorted to the tutor, the tutor will supervise untill pick up by the parents.
- Visitor Policy: Visitors to studios are only permitted if prior arrangement is made with Sydney Art School. Tutors will be notified via email to expect the visitor – otherwise they will not be allowed to enter the premises.
General Information
Terms of Service https://sydneyartschool.com.au/about-us/terms-and-conditions
