Outstanding HSC Results in Visual Arts
The 2024 HSC Visual Arts cohort achieved exceptional results, showcasing their dedication, creativity, and artistic excellence. Of the 28 students, 21 achieved their best HSC mark in Visual Arts, while six earned their second-best result.
Students performed strongly across bands, with four achieving a Band 6, fourteen a Band 5, and ten a Band 4. The highest score was an impressive 94, with results ranging from 76–94.
We are especially proud that two Bodies of Work were nominated for ARTEXPRESS, and two were selected for FIRSTCLASS 24, recognizing artistic excellence at the highest level.
These achievements highlight the passion, resilience, and creative talent of our students, supported by the dedication of our CAPA staff. Their success reinforces the importance of Visual Arts in shaping innovative thinkers and artists.
ARTEXPRESS Pre-Selection: Recognising Excellence in Visual Arts
We were thrilled to announce that Year 12 students, Ava K and Callie S, were pre-selected for ARTEXPRESS 2024. This prestigious recognition highlighted their exceptional talent, dedication, and creativity in their HSC Bodies of Work.
ARTEXPRESS is a highly esteemed annual exhibition showcasing outstanding student artworks from across New South Wales. Pre-selection acknowledged Ava and Callie’s technical skill, conceptual depth, and artistic innovation, placing them among the most promising young artists of their cohort.
Their success was a testament to the strength of our Visual Arts program and the passion and perseverance nurtured within our CAPA Faculty. We congratulated them on this outstanding achievement and looked forward to their future artistic journeys.
First Class 24 Exhibition: Celebrating Artistic Excellence
We proudly celebrate Ava K and Lucy L for their selection in the First Class 24 exhibition at the Museum of Art and Culture, yapang, Lake Macquarie. This prestigious annual exhibition showcases the finest HSC Visual Arts works from the Hunter and Central Coast regions, highlighting artistic excellence and innovation.
Ava’s work, Absinthe Trails, explores memory and place through expressive documentation, while Lucy’s Internal Chatter delves into the power of words in shaping relationships through innovative textile techniques.
This recognition is a testament to their creativity, skill, and dedication, and we congratulate them on this outstanding achievement.
MAD Nights: Celebrating Student Creativity and Success
In 2024, the CAPA Faculty proudly hosted our biannual MAD Nights, showcasing the talents of Years 7–11 students across Visual Arts, Photography, Visual Design, and Ceramics. These highly anticipated events provided a platform for students to exhibit their work, connect with the community, and celebrate artistic expression beyond the classroom.
MAD Nights highlight the diversity, creativity, and dedication of our students, reinforcing the importance of public exhibitions in developing confidence and a deeper appreciation of the Arts. Each event inspired students to take ownership of their artistic journey while engaging audiences in new and thought-provoking ways.
The continued success of MAD Nights reflects the passion of our students and the unwavering commitment of the CAPA Faculty, who support and nurture artistic excellence across all disciplines.
HSC MAD Night: A Celebration of Artistic Dedication
In Term 3, the CAPA Faculty proudly presented HSC MAD Night, an exhibition of Year 12 HSC Bodies of Work, marking the culmination of months of dedication, experimentation, and critical reflection. Diverse expressive forms including painting, sculpture, photography, digital media, graphics & design, time-based forms, textiles & fibre, ceramics, collection of works, drawing, printmaking, and documented forms, demonstrated the depth of student creativity, with each piece reflecting personal, social, and cultural themes.
Completing a HSC Body of Work is a rigorous and transformative process, requiring commitment, resilience, and creative risk-taking. Students navigated challenges, refined their ideas, and pushed the boundaries of their artistic practice, ultimately presenting their works in a professional gallery setting.
HSC MAD Night was a powerful celebration of student achievement, bravery, and artistic vision. The CAPA Faculty is immensely proud of our Year 12 students, whose dedication and innovation continue to inspire the next generation of artists.
Packing Room Prize: Recognising Emerging Talent
The Packing Room Prize at Talent Quest MAD Night is awarded for originality, technical excellence, and emotional depth in visual storytelling. This year, Year 10 students Addison L and Josef L received the award for their outstanding artistic contributions.
Addison’s highly realistic paintings demonstrated exceptional precision and attention to detail, while Josef’s atmospheric charcoal drawings and urban photography captured mood and narrative with striking impact.
Their achievements reflect the creativity, dedication, and artistic innovation fostered within the Visual Arts program, showcasing the strength of emerging talent in our school community.
Body of Work Day: Supporting the Artistic Journey
The Body of Work Day provided HSC Visual Arts students with a vital opportunity to reflect on their progress, refine their artworks, and receive valuable feedback as they approached the final stages of their Bodies of Work. This dedicated day played a key role in building momentum toward the completion and submission of their HSC artworks.
The commitment, creativity, and perseverance demonstrated by the students highlighted their dedication to their artmaking practice. As they move closer to their final submission, the growth and development showcased on this day reflect the depth of talent within the Visual Arts program.
CAPA High Potential and Gifted Education Program: ‘A Night at MAP Mima’
Throughout 2024, students in the CAPA High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) Program have engaged in a series of workshops, collaborating with industry professionals across film, media, dance, music, graphic design, sound technology, and coding. These workshops have provided students with invaluable mentorship and hands-on experience in their chosen creative fields.
Working with artists, curators, and digital specialists, students explored experimental filmmaking, sound engineering, choreography, and digital media, contributing to an interactive and multidisciplinary showcase event. The culmination of their efforts will be presented at ‘A Night at MAP Mima’ on November 22, celebrating their exceptional creativity and innovation.
This program has been instrumental in fostering artistic excellence, collaboration, and industry engagement, reinforcing the CAPA Faculty’s commitment to nurturing high-potential students and showcasing their outstanding talents.
Year 6 HPGE Visual Arts Program: Inspiring Young Artists
As part of the High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) Program, Year 6 students from Biddebah and Valentine Public Schools participated in two immersive Visual Arts workshops at Warners Bay High. These sessions introduced students to a range of artmaking techniques, including organic brush creation, mark-making with inks and paints, and digital photography with Photoshop manipulation.
Inspired by local artist Brett Piva, students collaborated to design and paint panels for a large-scale outdoor mural, developing their creativity and artistic confidence. These
workshops provided a valuable opportunity for young artists to experiment, learn, and connect through Visual Arts.
Artist of the Month: Celebrating Outstanding Creativity Every Month
Artist of the Month recognises exceptional dedication, creativity, and skill in Visual Arts. Each recipient has demonstrated artistic excellence, setting a high standard for their peers. Artist of the Month is a special award presented each month to a student from Years 7 to 12.
This initiative highlights the diverse talents within our school’s artistic community, celebrating students who push creative boundaries and inspire others through their work.
Year 12 Visual Arts: Expanding Artistic Perspectives
Year 12 Visual Arts students engaged in a series of inspiring excursions throughout the year, deepening their understanding of contemporary and historical art practices.
Students explored ARTEXPRESS and Tacita Dean’s exhibition at the MCA, analyzing themes of anachronism, film, and mixed media as part of their HSC Case Studies. At Sculpture by the Sea, they experienced large-scale installations in a coastal setting, discussing materials, techniques, and conceptual intentions firsthand. The Sydney International Art Series at the Art Gallery of NSW introduced them to the emotive works of Louise Bourgeois and the groundbreaking abstraction of Vasily Kandinsky, enriching their understanding of artistic expression.
These excursions provided invaluable real-world experiences, inspiring students’ own creative processes and critical thinking as they developed their HSC Bodies of Work.
Year 11 Visual Arts: Exploring Artistic Innovation
Year 11 Visual Arts students participated in an enriching excursion to the ‘Kandinsky: The Abstract Pioneer’ and ARTEXPRESS exhibitions, expanding their understanding of art history and contemporary practice.
At the Kandinsky exhibition, students explored the evolution of abstract expressionism, analysing his innovative use of colour, form, and synesthesia. ARTEXPRESS provided insight into outstanding HSC Bodies of Work, offering inspiration for their own artistic journeys.
This experience deepened their critical thinking, conceptual development, and technical understanding, supporting their Places and Spaces Body of Work and strengthening their engagement with Visual Arts.
Year 10 Visual Arts: Drawing Inspiration from the Urban Landscape
Year 10 Visual Arts, Photographic and Digital Media, and Visual Design/Ceramics students embarked on an immersive excursion to the Museum of Contemporary Art and Luna Park, exploring contemporary artworks and the dynamic urban environment.
At the MCA, students engaged with diverse contemporary practices, sparking inspiration for their creative projects. Walking across the Sydney Harbour Bridge provided a new perspective on the city's architecture, while the vibrant atmosphere of Luna Park offered rich visual stimuli for their upcoming Bodies of Work.
This experience encouraged students to observe, interpret, and translate their surroundings into their artistic practice, fostering creative exploration and conceptual development.
Year 9 Visual Arts: Inspiring Creativity at Taronga Zoo
Year 9 Visual Arts students embarked on an immersive excursion to Taronga Zoo, using the natural environment and diverse wildlife as inspiration for their artmaking. This experience encouraged students to observe, sketch, and photograph animals in their habitats, deepening their understanding of conservation and environmental awareness.
Back at school, students transformed their observations into thoughtful and expressive artworks, exploring themes of biodiversity, sustainability, and the connection between art and nature. Excursions like these provide young artists with valuable first-hand experiences, fostering a deeper appreciation for their surroundings and enriching their creative practice.
Year 8 Visual Arts: Exploring Art in the Gallery and Beyond
Year 8 elective Visual Arts students engaged in enriching experiences at MAC Gallery, viewing diverse exhibitions such as First Class 23, The Australian Society of Miniature Arts, and ALTERNATING THE CUBE. Through critical discussions and historical investigations, students deepened their understanding of contemporary and traditional art practices.
Beyond the gallery, students worked with practicing artists, experimenting with various artmaking techniques. They explored their environment by creating sand sculptures at Nobbys Beach and capturing landscape photography along the promenade, using these experiences as inspiration for their upcoming Body of Work. These opportunities encouraged students to engage with their surroundings in new and creative ways, broadening their artistic perspectives.
Year 7 Visual Arts: Exploring Creativity Through Diverse Artmaking Practices
Year 7 Visual Arts students embarked on an exciting introduction to high school Visual Arts, exploring a range of innovative artmaking techniques in painting, drawing,
printmaking, and ceramics. Through hands-on experimentation, they developed fundamental skills, confidence, and a deeper understanding of artistic expression.
In addition to their practical work, students engaged in critical and historical investigations of influential artists such as Sally Morgan, Hundertwasser, and Brett Whiteley, among many others. These studies enriched their appreciation of different artistic styles, cultural perspectives, and the significance of art in society. This foundation year nurtured creativity, curiosity, and technical skill, setting the stage for future artistic development.
Newcastle Show Success
Hayley C’s artistic talent was recognised at the Newcastle Show, where she achieved remarkable success across multiple categories. In the High School Division, her Textiles work earned a blue ribbon, while her ceramic jellyfish sculpture, adorned with intricate beadwork, was awarded Best in Room and an Excellence Award.
Her creativity and craftsmanship further shone in the High School Aged Beaded Article category, where she secured First Place. Hayley’s dedication to detail and innovation in her work exemplifies artistic excellence and is a testament to the strength of our Visual Arts program.
StarStruck Performance: A Celebration of Talent and Dedication
25 dancers from Warners Bay High School took to the stage in StarStruck’s 'Love It' showcase, performing “Stranger Like Me” and “All I Want for Christmas” with precision and passion. This highly anticipated event provided students with the invaluable experience of performing on a professional stage, honing their skills through rigorous rehearsals and teamwork.
The showcase was a testament to their dedication, creativity, and commitment to dance, reinforcing the strength of our school’s Performing Arts program and fostering a sense of unity among the performers.
