When a teacher is passionate and inspired, children cannot help but follow suit.
I was inspired from the moment I spotted Lisa Kennedy’s brilliant book Lielle’s Spirit Bird.
It caught my eye because it is obviously aboriginal design but the colours are so NOT traditional. This book is full of the vibrant colours I’ve always said we mustn’t use when doing aboriginal work! The pinks, purples, blues and greens are used in wonderful ways. Some illustrations combine the old and new colours brilliantly.
We’ve always discussed why isolated indigenous people had to crush rocks, charcoal, blood and eggs etc., as they couldn’t just walk into a paint shop like we can. Modern artists now can, and they are free to choose whatever colours they wish to use.
We’ve tried to combine traditional and modern with our use of colour. Our smudged sunset backgrounds are modern with a total free choice of colour combinations applied in very fluent, almost wild ways. Our traditional printing on our black hands has to be stamped very slowly and carefully using only the earthy natural colours available years and years ago.
Zart Super Mix Oil Pastels are another thing that inspire me. Their super softness makes them perfect for smudging and colour blending. Children explore smudging effects before beginning their half circle sunset sky.
The method of smudging, the number of colours used and how they are repeated is totally their choice. They were so proud of their brilliant artworks!
The artwork in Lielle’s Spirit Bird comprises a complete set of works exhibited in Melbourne in 1994 and 1995 by well known Koori artist, Lisa Kennedy. Her work is drawn from her own experiences and her aboriginal ancestry in Tasmania, mixed with the rich traditions of storytelling in Australian cultures today.
Sue Creighton
Art Teacher
Kent Park Primary School
“Lielle’s Spirit Bird” published by Holy Angels
336 Rae Street, Fitzroy North, Melbourne Vic 3068
National Library of Australia – ISBN 1 875 930 000
