Tim Winton is a well-known name in the literary world, and on hand today, was the lady who is responsible for the illustrations in his book,  The Deep.  Karen Louise is a talented local artist whose impressive skills in illustration are without doubt, but additionally, her ability to connect with the students and inspire them made her a popular guest.

Her journey into illustrating was outlined, and she delighted the students with her methods of coming up with the artwork she completes.  The story of the Deep was told using a group of pictures she has taken of Tim’s family and even Tim himself.  Karen used multiple photographs to bring together an image that works in telling the story told within the book.  She showed the students the photos she utilised, and then how they came to be part of the story.

The Deep has been recently re-printed, and Karen was delighted to be able to show students the changes in the updated version.

We are grateful for this unusual experience that the College was able to provide for our students, and for Karen taking time out of her schedule to bring it to Cornerstone.

A recent visit to the College’s Pre-Primary classes by a representative from Bunnings, saw not just art as a result, but a lovely gift for Mother’s Day produced.

Zoe arrived laden with pots, paint and plants, and these little Cornerstone students set about producing a very individual and creative painted item.  The Pre-Primary classes were shown the process of decorating, then filling their pots with soil and seedlings.  Just in time for Mother’s Day, these fresh off the production line items were sent home with some very proud students.

Bunnings use this community engagement program to connect in with local schools and provide an avenue for students to do some hands-on activities.  Later this month, they are returning once again to plant out a vegetable patch in the Early Learning Centre.  We are grateful to them for their willingness to come along and make the classroom experience a whole lot of fun!

Well done.

The Friday afternoon art option, taken by Mrs Douglas, has seen some interesting events unfolding which have the faces of her students captured in time……literally.

In recent days, students have taken turns in preparing plaster moulds of each other’s faces, with the aim of providing the opportunity to make custom made masks.  These will be utilised in class for projects in coming months.  One assignment is to create costumes for the upcoming Drama Production that their peers in the drama option are preparing for.

Even the most talkative of students was rendered speechless by the process, which required classmates to shape plaster bandages to their faces.  After liberally applying Vaseline to the skin, the plaster was put in place and kept there until it dried.  The process took about half an hour to be firm enough to be removed, and so some patience and trust was required by the owner of the faces being moulded.

Students behaved responsibly and did an amazing job of capturing the facial characteristics of their classmates.  We now await the next steps in the process and anticipate seeing some very creative results in coming weeks.

The strength of our art students under the guidance of College Art Teacher, Brian Tink, continues to shine through – with two students once again being show-cased at the prestigious Iluka Art Prize exhibition.

The Iluka Art Prize is an annual event on the calendar for young artists around the South West.  Cornerstone has an enormous record of success in this prize, with three winners of their divisions coming from our ranks in the past four years.  This year, we have two students, Lovisa & Anna whose work has been shortlisted for consideration of a title.

According to Julie Blair, the Audience Development Officer for the Bunbury Regional Art Galleries, a high level of work has been submitted this year.

‘The selection day for Iluka Visions 2011 went very well.  We had hundreds of entries go through, and the selection panel did a lovely job choosing the particularly strong artworks for the exhibition’, she said.

Lovisa (Year 10) has submitted an acrylic, and Anna (Year 9), a photographic work.  Both have made it through the tough selection process, which normally whittles down the submitted pieces from over 700, to around the best 150.  To reach this level is already an impressive achievement, with only the highest quality work submitted by schools around the South West.  Currently, both pieces are housed at the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery, ready for the exhibition which will run later this month.

In 2010, Cornerstone’s Rosie Robertson generated a large degree of interest, with her sculpture of a woman made from twigs and leaves.  Her work won the best Senior Sculpture, was featured a number of times in both local and regional media, and saw Rosie being touted as a young women with exceptional artistic talent.  The opportunities that can arise for those accepted into the Art Prize are potentially significant.

Our current artists will hear of their results at the official opening of the exhibition.

Congratulations girls.  We are very proud of you and your achievements – and of course, of Mr Tink who continues to bring out the best in our Arts students.  Well done to all.

The success of several of the College’s Year 12 students in producing sensational art work has inspired the next generation to come up with some creative pieces as well.

Maggie, Tiffany and Lillian are the latest of Brian Tink’s art students who have their work on display in the College foyer.  The girls have completed their pieces in time for the broader College community to be able to appreciate their artistic talents.

Mr Tink is delighted that a new generation of young artists are rising up to carry on the tradition of great art from Cornerstone students.  The College’s recent success in the regions Iluka Art Visions Prize has encouraged extra effort by the students in their painting.

Great work girls!  

Cornerstone Art students, under the capable care of Mr Brian Tink continue to deliver amazing work.  The latest student to complete her Year 12 final piece is Stephanie, who looked close to the College for her inspiration.

Deputy Principal, Mr Bob Cameron has been immortalised in a portrait by Stephanie, and the resemblance of Bob to ‘Bob’ is simply amazing.  She has even managed to capture the reflective light off the subject’s glasses.

The human Bob has offered to purchase the painted version of himself, but Stephanie isn’t selling this piece.  It will be staying close to home.  It is quite a tribute to one of our exceptional staff members that even after leaving school, Stephanie will take with her such a reminder of her time at Cornerstone.

Brilliant work Stephanie.  We celebrate your clear and obvious talent.

Rosie Robertson is no stranger to having her art admired and acknowledged.  As a Year 12 student at Cornerstone Christian College, she is producing the most remarkable pieces which are growing her reputation as a young artist with a great future.

Her latest piece is a painting of her sister, Alice.  The work is still in process, but already is gaining attention.  Rosie has named the piece ‘Heart of Gold’, which will become more evident once the art is completed.  This painting will be the final piece in Rosie’s portfolio in Visual Arts 2B (Portraits).

Cornerstone’s Art teacher, Mr Brian Tink is clearly enjoying having such a talented artist under his tutelage.   He has voiced that it is a pleasure to teach Rosie and he has been impressed with how her focus on art has grown during the past months.

”Rosie has taken to this recent task with a great deal of maturity, and has used her term wisely,’ he said.

As for Rosie’s dreams for the future, art certainly has a place in it.  She is currently considering her options in the art world, and may consider taking on further studies to continue her growth in this field.  

Earlier in the year, she completed a sculpture, made from leaves, twigs and flowers.  This has been entered into the Iluka Art Prize and the College is awaiting news of her results.  Rosie has a desire to complete another sculpture utilising the same materials, and has the design clearly in her head.   This will be undertaken once she has finished all the required pieces for her final year at school.

Whilst Rosie’s art future has every possibility of being impressive, for the moment she is settling on smaller goals.   Short term, she would like to see her profile increase a step at a time. 

‘I really want to see one of my pieces in a gallery somewhere’, she said. 

 There is every chance that she will succeed in this dream and more.  She is a very talented and inspiring young woman.