Process painting brings out children’s individuality
jects, and from paintings of simple black circles to complex fantasy creatures. Second Street School’s teachers
don’t praise their students’ artwork. Douglas clarifies, “We don’t want students to be proud of their work because it earns them approval.” Teachers respond to student artwork with enthusiastic but judgment-free comments such as, “Wow, look what you did!” “I can tell you really worked hard on that!” and “Can I hold your picture up so you can look at it?” These comments keep the students from forming links between the process of art and outside assessment. Fun and self-expression aren’t the only benefits of process art for children: Bev Bos, an internationally known early-childhood
For more information about
advertising and how you can participate, call
520-760-2378 Coming In September
CREATIVE EXPRESSION Natural Awakenings
Explores How Creativity Heals Us,
Lifts Our Spirits, Makes Us Feel Good, and Inspires Community
August 2010 15
A teacher has “set the stage” for an art activity combining paint and collage.
“For many people, a few pointed incidents of shaming during
childhood are enough to turn them away from art forever.”
educator, asserts that taking risks with art has been shown to be a building block for later academic success. People who haven’t had early exposure to process art often grow to adulthood certain that they have no artistic “talent.” When faced with the prospect of using art materials, they may feel intense shame, recall-
ing a childhood art teacher who told them they shouldn’t waste their time with art or that they should know better than to draw a purple tree with blue leaves. For many people, a few pointed incidents of shaming during childhood are enough to turn them away from art forever. But others, responding to an inner prompt that urges them not to forfeit their creative desires, may be fortunate enough to find their way to a Painting Experi- ence workshop. These workshops in process painting offer an opportunity to work through and get beyond the “old tapes” from childhood; they welcome people with all levels of ex- perience, even those who have never picked up a paintbrush.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48