Painting With the Color Mixed by Yourself!

One of the interesting activity in art at the center is mixing color! Through several practice, they learn to generalize from the experience of mixing color. Children thus are able to develop their preference for color and know the esthetic quality of color.  

Always surprised by their fantastic name. 

If you want to paint a person, you need to mix a skin color.

Sometimes the color is the origin of inspiration! What does the color remind you? Does it make you think of anything?

Take a look at those colors on the wall, you will be amazed by their creativity.

The Importance of Listening

"Respect for children's opinions is expressed through listening and interviewing in a way that encourage them to express their own thoughts and associations about both process and product."--- Judith Rubin (2005)

We encourage children to share their artwork and have been amazed by the wonderful stories in their art. By speaking out their ideas, they learn to organize their ideas and share in public. It is not only beneficial to identify their self consciousness but also to build up empathy to others' opinions.

Children at times feel comfortable to talk about their thoughts while making art. Before that happens naturally, we can just be an observer until children finish their artwork.

Through hearing interesting ideas, artists become curious. Sometimes being further inspired by peer's art.

If we feel getting attention and respects when we are sharing, we will pay our attentions in return. It is a learning process of respecting others.

In this studio, I am glad to see how they explain their ideas, not for please others or draw our attention, but for explore themselves to form their unique artistic styles.

mixing paint 

Look! I made a smiling face!

Imagine how many great stories wait for us to learn from children's artwork!

References:

Rubin, J.A. (2005). Child art therapy—25^th anniversary edition. Hoboken, New Jersey:  John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Does freedom Mean That I Can Do Whatever I Want?

This week I started a new group colead with Cassie. We are just start to build a new atmosphere interaction mode in group, thus it is normal to happen some "interludes."

A girl took the paper on the table which near another girl's personal space, and the latter  insisted that she owns the paper. The girl ignored her objection and started to draw on the paper, thus another girl began to cry.

I paused their argument and listened to their explanation of "who should own the paper." then I let them know we have more paper but wish they could simply ask for permission before picking up a paper from other's space. Because everyone needs to be respect and doesn't want this happen to him/her in the future. She promised me she will do that next time, and another girl was willing to accept this result and allow me to bring her a new paper. I heard the girl who took the paper said sorry to another after I left for taking a new paper. That's how kids learn to respect and forgive. I saw them talked together happily after a while, I knew they did not put the dispute on mind anymore.

Though we hope children have free choices and independent thinking in art, we do have to educate them the social skills with positive approach. In order to maintain every child's freedom and security in art exploration, children need to learn how to interact and show their respect and empathy to others. I feel I also learn from those girls. Once facing this kind of situations, I wish I can try my best to empathize others perspective and never give up fixing the mistakes rather than stuck into a small misunderstanding. Look what a truly forgiveness kids show to us!

Children Never Stop Growing

 After a two weeks break, we were very excited to see these artist again. They came here making art and progress to a higher level! Here I want to share something wonderful I observed from Wednesday class, Art in the Afternoon:

I saw a girl drawing squiggle lines for the first time.

I saw a boy working deliberately on threading his artwork.

I haven't thought of making the whiskers for a dog in this way!

What a creative face they made on a blank circle.

Several tryouts in clay-work:

After two weeks, they are more mature and ready to learn more in making art. I look forward to seeing what surprising sparkles they brought into the group, how they affect each other's art, and grow together!

Draw on...Everywhere!

It was a special week. We provided diverse objects and papers everywhere to surprise our children! 

building & drawing 

We also put the drawing robot* out! What amazing drawing it made with children!

Today was busy, because we had new friends and old students at the same time. The comparatively unstructured atmosphere made Art at the Center like a play room, an artistic edition one! 

 I saw the process how children adjusted to a different environment and found a space to explore either their own or co-create art pieces. They got familiar and then contributed to a wonderful flow in group. It was a whole new experience. A group dynamic was able to be completely displayed during one session!

I was always moved by how hard-working the little artists are while facing art.

*What is the drawing robot?