Artist in Training
We have been introducing a few ” guided art ” experiences to get ready for an end of year art show. Today we watched a 5 minute video of the style of painting that Jackson Pollock does.
After watching and talking about what we saw we tried it !
Perhaps I should have thought through my decision to experience this stye of paining today since I had a transition conference at Northside and a meeting directly after with my accountant. Even with an apron on I left wearing a little of our art.
Although this was a teacher driven art experience it still left enough room for creativity . The children chose the colors they wanted and where to drip or splash their paint. The only instruction they were given was to remember on the video that Pullock did not touch the canvas with his paint brush. Why do I prefer art this way?
Remember when you attempted to put together your child’s first instructions enclosed , all parts included ( 20-50 ) non batteries operated toy ? So many steps had to be done a certain way that you had to refer to the instructions many times. And if you are like me, you felt uncertain , inept, and uncoordinated.
When a child is asked to duplicate a given pattern , following a series of steps that result in an end product , the same feelings emerge. Class craft projects may be cute to put in the family scrap book or nice to send to grandma, but they do little for your child’s self esteem , and cognitive development , and creativity.
That is why blank paper, scissors, paint , markers and glue and a variety of other materials to choose from are available at all times in our classroom. Children are encouraged to use the materials to make their own creations. ( Some of you get a LOT of creative art from school. )
When we introduce a special art activity, like today, we many introduce a new material or even demonstrate possible ways to use the tools and materials , but the children themselves decide what they want to create and how. The children care more, learn more, and enjoy an activity more when the produce their own creations – not copies of ours.