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One of the most important things that children learn from art is problem solving and original thinking. When they put new ideas together and come up with a finished picture or project that they can own (copyright), it is an amazing self-confidence builder. Sometimes as parents, we are impacted by having had a negative experience in art when we were growing up, and we love our children so we feel as though we might be "saving" them from a similar occurence. However, when approached correctly, art can be the jumping off place for engineering, invention, and creativity. Our own God was the master creator. Not only did he create in the realm of aesthetics, but science as well. He created sunsets, and flowers, and rainbows and other wonders.
This same God also created the human body and all the animals and seasons and has them all fitting together in amazing harmony. We are made in his image. Our children can also be creators. It is part of our human makeup and for some children, it is their gift! A parent can be a cheerleader to a child in teaching art, watching each success build on success. Encouraging and giving sincere compliments is an important component of excellent teaching. There are elements in technique that need to be done in a certain way to succeed, but as a whole, the paramont goal needs to be expression of ideas in a unique way; to be able to formulate an idea and then put things together to carry it out. It is very important to date and sign each work of art they do, so they can compare at a later date their skill growth.
Another major importance of art is that some children are visual and kinesthetic learners. When hands on activities are used to reinforce core learning, learning becomes enjoyable and not just a task.
What do I teach and how do I teach it?
A good art program has four basic components. It teaches the vocabulary of the arts, it teaches technique, it teaches art appreciation and most important, it shows how art is communication and relates to all areas of study. A good art program is fun. It makes you smile when you think about doing art. Your child should be as excited as if he is going to a party! The more core learning you can sneak in with each lesson, the more you discover he will learn core facts. When you teach each lesson, you give the information and encourage them to be creative with the activity, and then you encourage that creativity!!!!
What supplies do I need?
For ages 3-8 I suggest that you need: oil pastels, tempera paints (dauber paints work well for younger children), markers (scented if possible), colored pencils, glue, scissors, clay and scotch tape. When children see the bright colors of oil pastels, and understand they are really paint crayons, their use of colors explode. With younger children, fine motor skill development is very important. I always have plenty of foam/paper stickers on hand. Tearing paper also works well instead of cutting paper. I reiterate, fine motor skill practice is important. Coloring books are not too good for younger children because it hampers creativity. They compare their work to the professional artist's work. Of course their tree doesn't look like the one in the coloring book! Allow them to draw their own picture and color it in.
For older students 9 and up you need: drawing pencils, drawing pen, oil pastels, chalk pastels, terra cotta clay, colored pencils, markers, tubewatercolors, charcoal pencil and willow charcoal, and acrylic paint and canvas. Student quality is fine for beginning artists, however, when they love a medium and want to hone their skills in it, purchase professional quality supplies such as Rapidograph pens, Windsor Newton or Van Gogh paints, prismacolor pencils, etc. Art work will be enhanced
by using high quality materials. What can get messy and what do I do?
Oil pastels are better when they are a hard variety such as Studio Basic. The softer variety can get very messy. Watch out for it falling on the floor and getting ground in carpet.Add a little dish liquid to tempera paint so it will easily come off anything.
Chalk pastels can be very messy, however, the better varieties are soft and blend well. I always teach this medium adding a base color, usually white to the whole sheet of paper first, to enhance blending. Spray with hair spray or fixative when you are finished for sealing in the color. Acrylic paints when allowed to dry on clothing cannot be removed. You need to get the color out right away.
Wet ones work well to clean up and get spots out of most art supplies.
Go to your local hardware store or lumber yard. Ask them for their masonite samples that are discontinued. These make wonderful work surfaces for children. You didn't pay for them so if it is a huge mess, you can throw them away.
Finally younger children benefit if you display their work in dad's office or at home. Older students need to participate in an art show. It is so important for them to be exposed to a variety of artists as teachers so the can see different techniques and very important that they keep a portfolio.
About the author:
Sharon Jeffus has a B.S.S.E. in art education from John Brown University and ten years experience teaching in the public schools. She has written various curriculum and programs, including one for the Cherokee Indians that was rated outstanding by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Sharon has written a complete art curriculum that reinforces the core curriculum subjects. She also was certified to teach ESL (English as a Second Language) and has taught Intensive English at the University of Missouri at Rolla and written Teaching English Through Art. Sharon studied sculpting at Southern Illinois University and painting at Metropolitan in Denver. She has homeschooled her two sons Jonathan and Joshua for 10 years.Contact Visual Manna, 1-888-275-7309 for questions or visit us at visualmanna.com
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