The Open Art Studio

As teachers, we value our open art studio as much as the children do.

The opportunity for undirected activity in the art studio gives the children the ability 
to explore vital parts of who they are.

Community          Culture

Confidence           Critical Thinking

Observation          Revision          Problem Solving

Emotion          Intuition          Creativity

Observation          Revision          Problem Solving

 

 Mia drew a picture. She coloured with crayons...then decided to do more.

 

 Quietly working away, Mia moved her drawing to the floor and began to choose pieces of clay from the open materials. She chose a light peach colour and took small bits, pushing them and smoothing them to show her skin colour. Then she began to choose colours for the clothes. Mia took time and considered her drawing, adding details with clay to the things she had drawn.

 

 Once she had finished, Mia returned to the table and began to colour blue 

all over the page. She glued on a flying creature, which she created with 

card stock, marker and clay.

 

 Mia's finishing touch was a string. She had made a kite!

She wanted it to fly. Her kite seemed quite heavy.

It was decided that Mia's picture was just perfect for a frame, 

to inspire other friends while they create.

 

Celebrating the children's choices and processes lets them know that their creativity and ideas are valued.

Encouragement (rather than praise) will give valuable meaning to the learning that is happening. 

Things you could say:

"How did you do this?"

"You seemed to be having fun."

"You were really concentrating."

"What an interesting way to use..."

Talk about the shapes, colours & marks you see.
"What I notice first about your drawing is . . ."

"Isn't it interesting how you've used lots of . . . " 

Promote self-evaluation
"Have you put in everything you want to show?"

"Do all the parts of the picture look like they belong together?"

"Which of your paintings from today do you like best, and why?"

 Encourage effort, enjoyment, & risk-taking.
"It's fun to try it different ways."

"We learn a lot from our mistakes."

"Can you think of other ways to use this tool?"

"Let's try anyway."

"It's okay to get dirty."

Inspirational Life Lessons from Nature

Oh the colours!

Oh the shapes and lumps and bumps 
and twisty twirls!

Oh the inspired stories and art!

Mrs. Brent brought in a wagon full of pumpkins and gourds.
They were every shape, size and colour.
They had names like 'swan necked gourd' and 'warty pumpkin'.
We loved to guess what the name might be and what the shape and look of the pumpkins and gourds reminded us of.
The story 'The Bumpy Little Pumpkin' fit the mood just right.
Click on the link for a video reading.
The Bumpy Little Pumpkin


We decided to do was bring the pumpkins and gourds to the art studio.
Colours like yellow, red, green and brown were available. 
But there was no orange!
How do you make orange?

Some of the gourds were set in a grouping at the art easels.

Mrs. Brent talked about what she was seeing as she began to paint. She talked to the artists about colours, shapes and details. 

She used the words realistic and still life. 

It's one of the ways to think when an artist is creating.

The story and gourds inspired many pictures and much creativity.

Mrs. Brent thought it would be fun to add twigs to the paint pots along with the paint brushes. Twigs sat in a basket nearby.

Simply inspiring!

Perfect really is in the eye of the beholder and 

unique is a perfect way to be!

A Moment In Time

As the children play and learn throughout the year, they begin to understand so much about themselves. They are drawn to activities that make sense to them. These activities often reveal to a child ideas about what they know and what they want to know. 

 

Enjoy these moments in time and spot the self-discovery!