Visual Arts in Scoil Fionntáin Naofa
We have a great interest in the Visual Arts in Scoil Fionntáin Naofa and all teachers ensure that a broad, balanced and stimulating Visual Arts curriculum is taught in all classes. All strands of the Primary Visual Arts curriculum namely Paint and Colour, Drawing. Fabric and Fibre, Construction, Print & Clay are given equal time and attention during the school year. The pupils produce very imaginative and creative work in the Visual Arts and you can view samples of their work from across the different strands below.
The school also participates in the 'Artists in School' partnership in conjunction with Laois County Council and the Arts Council. Under this partnership, professional artists visit the school for a block of time to work with classes in the different strands areas as outlined above. We are also very fortunate to have been awarded two 'Blast Artist in Residencies' in conjunction with Laois Education Support Centre in the school years 2021-2022 and 2023-2024 respectively.
We are delighted to have been chosen to participate in the Creative Schools from 2026-2028. Creative Schools' is an initiative of the 'Creative Ireland Programme', led by the Arts Council of Ireland, that puts arts and creativity at the heart of children's and young people's lives. It empowers students to lead the development of arts experiences in their own schools.
The school also participates in the 'Artists in School' partnership in conjunction with Laois County Council and the Arts Council. Under this partnership, professional artists visit the school for a block of time to work with classes in the different strands areas as outlined above. We are also very fortunate to have been awarded two 'Blast Artist in Residencies' in conjunction with Laois Education Support Centre in the school years 2021-2022 and 2023-2024 respectively.
We are delighted to have been chosen to participate in the Creative Schools from 2026-2028. Creative Schools' is an initiative of the 'Creative Ireland Programme', led by the Arts Council of Ireland, that puts arts and creativity at the heart of children's and young people's lives. It empowers students to lead the development of arts experiences in their own schools.
Artists in Schools: 4th to 6th Classes worked with artist, Ms. Monica O'Meara in the school year 2025-2026 to create a large outdoor learning themed installation for our 'Outdoor Classroom' using clay and mosaic as the artistic media. Child agency, voice and participation permeated all aspects of the project from the initial design stage i.e preparatory drawings to clay-making to painting of clay pieces to choice of colours for the mosaic tiles and finally to tiling with the mosaic pieces. It was a fabulous creative learning experience for the senior pupils and it opened up many meaningful lines of integration with various other subject areas. Click on the video above to view the entire process.
5th & 6th class created a visual response to the poem 'Colour' by Adeline White in the medium of paint.
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5th & 6th Class studied the Celts in History. They then created intricate Celtic designs using interlocking techniques.
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5th & 6th class created Autumn Apples that were ripe for the picking using quilling techniques in the Construction strand of the Curriculum.
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Junior Room pupils decided that they would like to build snowmen as part of their work in the Fabric and Fibre strand of the curriculum.
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5th & 6th class created Hallowe'en monsters using the poem 'Jabberwocky' by Lewis Carroll as the stimulus.
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Middle Room pupils created lovely name plates using different fabrics and fibre.
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A visual response to the poem 'In Flanders Fields' by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
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Construction meets Fabric & Fibre as 5th & 6th Class make their own scarecrows for our raised, vegetable beds
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Junior & Senior Infants painted wonderful self-portraits of themselves. It's great to see such a happy bunch!
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5th & 6th class created 'God's Eyes' using weaving techniques in the Fabric and Fibre strand of the curriculum.
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1st and 2nd class looking and responding with ceramicist Monica O'Meara at her exhibition 'Unfurled' in Abbeyleix Library.
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A Senior pupil taking some time for looking and responding in the National Gallery of Ireland
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The Junior Room created very imaginative 'Colour Wheel Eyes' as part of their exploration of colour in the Paint and Colour strand of the Visual Arts Curriculum.
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Ten thousand saw I at a glance, tossing their heads in sprightly dance: The Junior Room used a mixed media approach namely Construction and Paint and Colour, to create their very own Spring Daffodils!
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'Achy Breaky Hearts' created by 5th & 6th Class
Summer Flowers painted by the Junior Room pupils
Spring Blossoms in Ming Vases by Senior Room pupils
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1st & 2nd class created very thought provoking drawings to reinforce the key messages of Anti-Bullying Week.
Serene Summer Scenes painted by 5th & 6th Class
Monoprints of Winter Trees
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Construction: Sculptures of Winter Trees
Winter Mosaics
Autumnal Paintings from the Junior Room
School Year 2021-2022: 5th & 6th class' paintings of local History and Heritage themed elements, as part of their engagement with the Blast Artist in Residency Programme. These paintings were then incorporated into the large scale mural that was completed under the Blast Residency
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Pastel Drawings
Autumnal Leaves created in the medium of clay
Christmas Carol Singers using a mixed media approach
School Year 2021-2022: 'Blast,' a work in Progress: The Local History and Heritage themed mural in progress, under the guidance and direction of Artist in Residence Mary Slevin.
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Blast: The finished product! An amazing opportunity for the 5th & 6th class of 2021-2022 to participate in such an engaging and worthwhile arts project, which opened up very meaningful lines of integration between the Visual Arts and History curricula, with specific emphasis on local history and heritage. Míle buíochas to Artist in Residence Mary Slevin for her excellent work in facilitating and overseeing the project.
2nd to 4th Classes in 2023-2024 worked with professional artist Monica O'Meara to create a large clay installation as part of the 'Blast Artist in Residency' awarded by Laois Education and Support Centre. They explored the theme of biodiversity through the medium of clay and used the rich flora and fauna of the natural environment around the school as the stimulus for their creative endeavours.
