The Age Range in an Art Class

I've made an interesting observation within my last few kid's art workshops; an age range in class is beneficial to the creative process.

Now, I haven't done any scientific, psychological studies or anything, but I do spend a lot of time with children and their art. It seems that around third or fourth grade children start to fear creativity. They begin to feel anxious about being right versus wrong (understandably in our test-crazy educational system.) Some have a hard time with the whole trying and not caring if it's perfect. It is almost as if they have begun to define themselves as artistic or not-artistic.

Kindergartners are fun to watch doing art. They are boundless with their creations, happy to mix a paint color and never actually apply it to a canvas. Exploring and trying to do something as simple as drawing a star can give them immeasurable pleasure, and upon their success the gratification is the joy of being able to guide their mind and their hand together.

A parent asked if I was going to start splitting up my classes by age. I respect that question and certainly someone in upper middle school and in high school might have a hard time in the same class as a first grader that doesn't comprehend in-depth instruction. But, after I thought about it I figured that first graders in the same art classes as seventh graders could actually benefit both parties.

The free-flowing creativity of younger students and the detail orientation and calm of older students are a great combination in an art classroom. The energy rises and falls and ultimately, they inspire each other.

Art Camp Success!

Van Gogh Inspired Acrylic Paintings

What a group to end my Art Camp summer. The palette colors in this session are subtle compared to previous sessions. The work turned out beautiful! My age range was first through sixth graders. My favorite experience for this week was watching the results of the Van Gogh inspired flower painting. We started with a blank paper canvas  and minimal direction. The only thing I told the kids was to draw the horizon and the vase. They picked and mixed their own colors, decided how many flowers and what the flowers were to look like. I did emphasize layering the paint. When the background dried then they did the vase. When the vase dried then they painted the stems. Then the flowers.

In between the drying acrylic layers we worked on the wood pile watercolor resistance painting. When I do my art painting workshops in the future, I'll continue that and people will end up with two completed pieces by the end of the class.

I overheard some parents during the art show laugh and say "Well this camp certainly wasn't about finger painting." I took it as a compliment. Depending on how things go, I want to do these camps again next summer, only twice as many and I'll do a bit of advertising to boot. There are so many starving young artists out there, starving to learn and create art. I feel a sense of joy knowing I can provide my experiences and practice to help them improve their skills and discover more about who they are through their artistic expression.


Reflection - Color Pencil, Watercolor
Fourth grader



Flower Vase, acrylics - Fifth Grader

 

 

Rooster, Watercolor Collage - Third Grader

Cupcake, watercolor pencils - Sixth Grader

 

Flower Vase, acrylics - Fourth Grader



Dinosaur Point of View, colored pencils - Fourth Grader

Woodpile, Watercolor, Crayon Resistance - Fourth Grader

Cupcake, watercolor pencils - First Grader

 

Flower Vase, acrylic - First Grader



Reflection, colored pencils, watercolor
Third Grader

Session Three Art Camp

Four of my students and their week of creativity

Each art camp session bodes new and exciting creations. This past week I had a wonderful group of artists not only visually but verbally as well. When a glue stick ran out, one student said we should have a gluneral for it. Of course this idea stuck and so when a marker ran out we gave it a markuneral.

I know I've written before the glory of watching students explore who they are through their art, but every day I work with kids I'm reminded of it. Every child is different. How they see color, shape, design is different. Never is it right or wrong, it just is what it is and no one can help but be successful every day when they have that attitude.

So, enjoy this sampling of children's projects. One week and so much brightness and life!


Watercolor Pencils - 6th Grader

Marker and water - 1st Grader

Marker and water - 4th Grader

Acrylic Paint - 3rd Grader

Acrylic and Crayon - 2nd Grader



Watercolor and Salt Collage - 3rd Grader

Watercolor and Crayon and Glue - 6th Grader

Acrylic Paint - 4th Grader

Watercolor and Crayon - 1st Grader

Last Week's Art Camp

Wow. Kids are so creative. One of my favorite parts of working with students of all ages is when they alter and interpret a piece to make it all their own. You'll see repetitive works and yet how the students choose their colors, patterns, how dark they make something, how light, represents them. I always have an example of the project posted, a jumping point, and the fun is watching them add their personality often very tentatively. I usually get asked if it is okay to use a different color or set of lines from my example and that always brings a smile to my face.

I liked having boundaries to break when I started exploring my artistic talent. I firmly believe all artists need the basics to grow from and I tell my students that. So many think more is more, or I'm an artist I can ignore you and break all the rules. Well, yes, artists should break the rules, but they need to understand them first to break them better. Picasso broke all the rules, but he learned them first.

I become a better artist every day I nurture young artists. I'm lucky that way.

Amelia (4th grader) Watercolor, glue on the black crayon barrier 

Brian (5th grader) Watercolor, glue on the black crayon barrier

Gabriela (1st grader) Watercolor collage rooster

Grace (3rd grader) Acrylic (Mixing colors, learning
about warm vs. cool and compliments.)

Hayden (5th grade) Wave

Katelyn (2nd grade) Watercolor pencils

Katie (fourth grader)

This is my example for a marker project. The kids drew trees on
half a piece of paper then colored them with markers.
I sprayed it with water and folded it in half,
making the reflection. so cool.

Natalie (2nd grade) Crayon, colored pencil and oil pastels
on black construction paper. Inspired by Paul Klee.

Zoe (2nd grade) Rooster in a Boat

Keira (1st grade) Walter color pencils

Art Camp Friday

Silly me to think I'd have time to post projects each night. My late night prepping, mounting and project creating, left took me to the wee hours. 

We had a very busy week, as shows in the display panels for the art show. I totally enjoyed watching the kids glow as they told their parents how they created their projects. 

As promised to my students, I am posting one piece from each of them. Here are my six other masterpiece makers from the week.

Aliah (4th grade) Mixing Acrylics and Painting Flowers

Katie G. (4th Grade) Mixing Colors

Julia (3rd grader) Watercolor Pencils and Patterns

Julia (3rd grader) Kandinsky inspired oil pastel

Naomi (Kindergarten) Watercolor pencils

Nick (4th grade) Tissue paper and glue

Art Camp Tuesday

Well, I have some extremely fun and talented artists in my first session summer art camp. I promised the students that I would post three pieces today. Everyone will get a chance to be on the blog. It's just fun to let the kids wonder who will be up on the site:)

The Proud Rooster by Emmy (11 years old) The students painted two sheets in watercolors and then drew the pieces over the paint, cut it out and pasted into a collage. I LOVE this project!

Perspective (Kat, 11 years old) This was teaching the kids about foreground and background. Getting students  to bleed off the edges of a paper is very challenging. I thought this was a great project to show the illusion of distance.

Reflection (Haley, 9 years old) Colored pencil on top, watercolor paint on the bottom, spectacular effect. Haley's piece is so vibrant in person. I love how she just let go in the reflection.

Hayden's Reflection (11 year old)