Elphinstone Secondary School students put on a show of their artwork, fashion, food and entertainment June 2 during the annual Elphi Fine Arts Night.
Several of the senior students drew the admiration of viewers by exhibiting portraits, some done in oils and displaying a high degree of technical difficulty.
Grade 12 student Grace Dieroff showed many examples of face and figure studies including her personal favourite, Best Friend, a graphite rendering of a young woman recovering from cancer.
Kaity Shields' oil painting was inspired by a picture of a striking nude figure.
Grade 12 student Lucy Webber exhibited her portraits including an eye-catching portrayal of an elfin girl with a cheeky expression, painted from a photo. Lucy's art teacher, Rob Steeves, said she had taken her work to show at Emily Carr College of Fine Arts during one of their portfolio critiquing sessions, and was encouraged to apply.
Chelsea Wright's portraits in dry pastel on handmade paper gave the work an antique look.
Though portraits seemed to be popular, several students excelled in landscapes. Sarah Mackenzie's Home Away From Home showed an unusual perspective of a swimming pool and patio in Texas painted with much detail. Jessica Monk's painting of a kids' field trip was spectacular. She had first experimented by putting a photo of the field trip into a program for photo manipulation; her subsequent painting shimmered with saturated colours to give a dream-like effect.
Pottery students showcased their skill in sculpting traditional busts, many of them cleverly worked or showing touches of whimsy, such as the sculpted head that could double as a planter. A personal favourite was the dainty reindeer modelled in paper clay and colourfully decorated.
Steeves pointed out the addition of more fibre art and fashion than in previous years. Caiti Parrell took the entire back wall to display her quilts, one of which was comprised of hand-made batik squares. Teacher Ann Allen said that Caiti produced all her quilts during a course of independent study over five months, and that the careful backing and corners demonstrated the high quality of the work.
In the area of fashion, Ione Skye Ravine, a Grade 10 student, showed her bubble dress, made from a pattern, but with her own touches. Teacher Sylvia Calvori gave her textile juniors projects -making sock monkeys and cloth bags. During Fine Arts Night she also led the Foods class in putting on the French Café.
The drama students performed a play called Heart and Soul to round off the evening.
