GCSE Art

In the weeks leading up to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Art department collaborated with local primary schools, St Mark’s and St Finian’s, as well as Cold Ash Pre-School to create artwork to celebrate this momentous occasion.

This work was brought together at an exhibition in Acland Memorial Hall, which also featured Royal memorabilia presented by the Cold Ash History Group. This formed a key part of the programme of Jubilee events that took place at the Cold Ash Recreation Ground over the weekend, which was attended by around one and a half thousand residents.

It was wonderful to see such a range of colourful, celebratory and uplifting pieces of Art on display, and the feedback from those who visited was tremendous!

Downe House girls created portraits of the Queen (with a few corgis thrown in for good measure) and contributions came from those in the UIV, the Lower School boarding houses and members of the Art clubs.

The Art department would like to thank all those who contributed – it was a fantastic event and a wonderful opportunity to work together with our neighbouring schools!

Mrs Kirsten Mortimer, Head of Art

Newbury City Arts Competition

Our potters have been very busy this year, making all sorts of clay creations and would certainly make fine future competitors for The Great Pottery Throw Down! Thirteen girls had their work on show at City Arts in Newbury, which is a lovely creative space that runs art workshops for the local community. A competition and exhibition were held there in the Michaelmas term for local schools and ceramic makers. This was a wonderful opportunity to enter work from Remove, UIV and GCSE pupils. We were able to take the Downe House girls to City Arts for the prize-giving, enabling them to see the exhibition and their work on display. They were also able to sell their ceramics – so many had price tags attached! The Remove girls exhibited ceramic houses, UIV exhibited robot- inspired teapots and a GCSE pupil exhibited a large ceramic sculpture inspired by her travels in Africa.

Chiara De Sa Subiotto (UVI) won first prize and Amelia Clark (LV) won third prize in the 14 – 18 age category. Alice Bevan (LIV) won second prize and Imogen Brass (LIV) won third prize in the 10 – 14 age category. Well done to everyone who took part! We hope there will be more opportunities at City Arts in the future.

Mrs Alison Keeling, Teacher of Art

At the beginning of the Michaelmas term, Upper Fourth pupils produced artwork for a Remembrance exhibition that took place in the Murray Centre.

2021 saw the centenary year for the Royal British Legion, hence the image of the poppy was selected as the theme. As part of the event, Textiles pupils made poppy brooches that were sold to raise money for the British Legion to support the important work they do to help members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, veterans and their families all-year-round.

Upper Fourth (D) created the relief poppies that were suspended from the railings on the stairwell of the Murray Centre. They referred to source photographs when sketching the poppies onto foam board, then tissue paper and diluted PVA glue were used to sculpt the petals and pistil. Coloured and textured papers and sequins were added before the poppies were painted with blended acrylic. Finally, glass beads were added to replicate the seeds.

Upper Fourth (B&E) studied the work of the American painter Georgia O’Keeffe, who for seven decades was a major figure in American Art. The girls focused on her paintings of magnified flowers, for which she is best known. They were particularly inspired by her slightly exaggerated use of colour and simplification of tone. They began by choosing a background colour and technique that they felt would complement their subject matter. They then digitally edited their poppy images to simplify the detail and intensify the hue. Acrylic paint was used in a variety of ways to show form and texture.

The Upper Fourth (C&G) developed gelatine prints with subject matter that focused on letters and poetry written by soldiers in the first and second world wars. The girls made background compositions from the imagery and letters they had researched, creating digital manipulated compositions using Microsoft Word. Their completed background compositions were applied to a gelatine plate, covered in acrylic paint. This technique produces varied results according to the pressure used when rubbing a photocopied image on to the painted surface producing a range of interesting effects.

On Remembrance Sunday, Cold Ash parishioners, Girl Guides, Scouts and pupils from local schools, including Downe House, assembled for a service at the War Memorial at St Mark’s Church. Wreaths were laid at the base of the Grade 2 monument, which was recently saved from ruin by the Cold Ash Restoration and Preservation Action Group, who raised fifteen thousand pounds to bring it back to its former glory. Several years ago, Downe House pupils sold some of their paintings at the Men of the Memorials exhibition at the church and decided to donate the proceeds to the fund. Following the laying of wreaths there was a donors’ service in the church that was attended by representatives who had helped to fund the restoration. We are very proud that Downe House was able to play a part in the regeneration of this important local monument.

Mrs Kirsten Mortimer, Head of Art