Expression in Art
Featured Article
by Brenda Ellis
Personal expression is a vital part of artistic endeavors. As children walk through the day they have many experiences within their homes and communities. Most experiences that children enjoy are suitable subjects for artistic expression. When children are directed to draw and paint what interests them, it will be easy for them to find suitable subjects. At times the parent can impose new situations into their daily experiences in order to feed their ideas for drawing. Setting up a situation that is sure to inspire creative expression is as easy as looking for opportunities that relate to a theme. When a garden is in full bloom, explore it with the child. Point out anything from a near-by nest for the nature lover to a deserted car-lot for the automobile enthusiast. Visit pet stores, zoos, museums, and firehouses. New information provides the motivation to express oneself.
It is important to remember that children do not naturally connect their experiences to the act of making art. Teachers or parents who give their children art materials and tell them to do whatever they want may find that the child is stumped and the results are hurried and disappointing. The child may have many experiences, but has not yet learned to use them in a way that produces creative output. It is up to the parent, teacher, or textbook (as is the case with ARTistic Pursuits) to draw out information from the child until the child has honed his thoughts down to a specific topic and is able to visualize how that will look on paper. Once he or she has done this, then careful, considerate attention is usually given to the work and the child is successful in creating a truly expressive and unique work of art.
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
Greetings!
Spring is a constant, but the unique way your child approaches it each year is not. Children grow, become more aware, and have rapidly changing interests. Take advantage of the outdoors in ways that meet their needs at their stage of development. I took advantage of a cloudy day this week to introduce my two-year old granddaughter to the open space near our home. She climbed rocks, was a bit intimidated by the roly-poly beetles, and generally enjoyed herself immensely. Instead of using the word bird, I began to identify them by a more complete name: red-wing black bird, robin, morning dove, and duck. We even saw a rabbit up close. Being familiar with Peter Rabbit, she was especially excited. What does this have to do with art? You may be familiar with our talk, Three Keys to a Great Art Education. If so, you will remember that the first key is awareness of the visual world. It's such a simple, but necessary first step to drawing! You can read a bit more on the role of awareness in these past Newsletters from Artistic Pursuits Inc.
Awareness Article #1
Awareness Article #2
- Brenda Ellis
|
"The definition which children give to events in their lives, by performing expressive acts, allows them to come to grips with their environment and to profit from their contact with it. For this reason alone, art may be considered an extremely valuable part of general education."
- Dr. Charles Gaitskell, Art Educator
|
|
Your Question Answered
|
We have just finished the first pencil and paper lesson (Artistic Pursuits K-3 Book One). My girls are asking to add color to it. Should I have them do another picture with color and help them to appreciate the one they have in black and white? Or do I let them add the color? -K.Z.
Children are literal. They do not see the way we adults are trained to see and understand art. They may not appreciate black and white because they do not see a black and white world. There is so much color in our world today, that it is quite natural for a child to want to make art in color in order to make it look like the object. So just let that be until they desire to use the pencils.
|
| Capturing Nature with Photographs
| There are many reasons you may choose to work from a photograph rather than from direct observation of an object. The weather may still be too cold to work outdoors. You may want to choose a subject, such as an animal, that is not readily found in your area. In those cases you may choose to look at a photograph. When you work from a photograph remember that you can make choices on what parts of the photo you will use. Here the student chooses to paint the bear from the waist up, leaving out the legs. The background has been eliminated, which gives her opportunity to imagine what she wants to put in that space.
To set up your area, place your paper directly in front of you. Place water containers, tools and other equipment to the side and within easy reach. Your photograph can be mounted onto a cardboard backing so that it can be propped up. This makes it easier to see, as you are working.
 . Many delightful subjects for children can be found in calendars. Cats, dogs, wild animals, landscapes, boats, cars, and butterflies can all be found and saved on cardboard backing. I use a spray adhesive such as 3M Super 77 so that the image lays flat and does not buckle. I suggest choosing only photographs of real subjects, not artists' renditions of subjects. In this way your child will see accurate details and not a processed image. Brenda Ellis Artistic Pursuits Inc. 2626 East 109th Ave. Northglenn, Colorado 80233 www.artisticpursuits.comTo Contact Brenda at Artistic Pursuits Inc. |
| DID YOU KNOW? |
2012 CONFERENCESThank you to those attending the convention in Memphis TN this past weekend. Next weekend Dan and Brenda will be in Cincinnati Ohio. We look forward to talking to you there. Artistic Pursuits is expanding its conference area to two new states, Florida and Texas! See Brenda at FPEA Florida Homeschool Convention May 24-27 and at Homeschool Bookfair in Arlington, Texas May 10-12. Conference attendees can look forward to a 15% discount on our art supply packs with the purchase of a book. We also give out FREE portfolios with each book purchased at a conference. We love to answer your specific questions on any art topic.
|
|
|
|
|
