Art and the brain

http://sites.psu.edu/siowfa14/wp-content/uploads/sites/13467/2014/10/art-brain-brains-brainstorm-collage-color-Favim.com-38248.jpg


http://hyperallergic.com/136378/study-finds-making-art-may-keep-our-brains-healthy/

It is a journey!

Encouraging our children to explore the world of art.

This is a letter I shared with my parents last term. This week I was reminded again of the real privaledge I have in teaching and helping kids find art and enjoy drawing. I was struck again by the boxes we adults place around art and ideas about what art is and is not; what all artists do and how to create. what is beautiful and good and what is not. We hem kids in with the language we use. Mostly we do not mean to. Talking to kids about their artwork in a way that helps them to continue is tricky and takes mindful , purposeful thinking. I often say something and then think how that was a limiting thing to say. 

*

Dear Parents

" It is about the journey as much as the outcome" is a quote that sort of, kind of, captures my art classes. 

I love teaching art to your children. They enrich my life on so many levels and honestly I get to have all the fun because I walk the art lesson with them. When you arrive to pick them up, we have had quite a time. These are some of the things that happen....

* talking about life and all sorts of "stuff" as my son likes to say

* learning about art / techniques / medium/ elements/ language of etc

* discovering problems and  deciding upon solutions

* exploring emotions - do I like this kind of art? do I like my work?

* training---- reminding children to NOT compare 

* Sharing - ideas, space, laughter, time

* enjoying the freedom of doing and not having to do

and of course art!!

So, as you can see from this incomplete list, your child gets to experience a whole lot of wonderful things called " stuff" at my art class.

By the time you come to collect them and see their finished work, a whole lot of "stuff" has taken place. This is the process of art and for me and this art class is where much wonderful learning takes place. This art is NOT just about the end product, which might look odd and strange to you but I assure you that behind each piece careful thought and planning has taken place. We experiment a lot and so sometimes the end product might not be pleasing or beautiful. Be assure it is of value because the process has been good. 

Please can I encourage you to chat to your child about what they did and how they got to the end product. This helps them think through the process for themselves. I really love children's art so basically I enjoy even the strange negative works and funny line drawings BUT you might not and that is ok. Please use this time to encourage your child and build up his/her sense or worthiness even if you do not like the work. ( this does not mean you have to keep all the art:))

Dorothy Delay " children become what they are told they are" 

Have a great day

Caren

  

Have a seat!

 This is a famous painting by the fabulous Van Gogh. We used this as a launch into the lesson on the folded chair. We looked at van Gogh and some of his works; use of colour etc.

 The children first had to fold their page in half and then fold a smaller piece in half too. From here began the construction and drawing of the chair before them.

 We used ink for the floor. The children needed to decide upon a sutable flooring type. Their choices were marvelous.

 Where to put the floor in relathion to the chair and where to place the back of the chair and legs was all part and parcel of this excercise.

 Even the stickey craze joined in:)

 Hard at work. Great concentration.

 Fox came to visit:)

 This one even had the cross bar put in. Wow!!

A bite of the apple

 This was an exceptionally fun lesson. The children got to draw with charcoal, pencil and watercolour paint.

  I set up a juicey, shiny apple for each child to draw.  Then, we got to take bites out of the apple and explore drawing or painting it as the apple was eaten and enjoyed.

 I love this work. it shows a real careful observation of the apple and its colours. The shadow is beautiful.

 Shadow and value exploration here are simply special.

Here the children used chalk pastles to try and capture the apple. These are soft and yet real at the same time. 

 The children in my art groups are made up of a variety of ages. Some are as young as 6 and others are 13. The range of work and ability depends upon the age of the child. Enjoy!