Kids Are Wonderful Storyteller

Spring is coming! Last week is our last winter class on Saturday. Children were able to pick their favorite art piece from the portfolio. 

a little artist was exhibiting her artwork.

paper building and collage in a "environment"

As we were going to share the favorite pieces at the end of class. We also encourage them to write down the stories of their art. 

it's never a easy job. They have put so much energy in making artwork.

 Look how amazing their stories are! It was just like a small gallery!

Artwork of the same subject but were demonstrated in different ways. We are able to see the whole image from her three dimensional artwork.

I am curious what will happen on these characters in her sketch book

I am so grateful that I have seen their thoughts taking place in their artwork, which means their fantastic ideas have always been respected. I wish these little artists keep up their creative way to live. As the quotes on the wall of Art at the Center: Art is not a thing, it's a way.

Making Your Own "Toy" in Art at the Center!

This is what we glazed one week ago! 

Let's see their glazed artwork after firing!

The change of color with firing makes children surprise!

The boy on the right asked another boy the story in his art

They even started a pretend play, holding other's artwork carefully. Because they knew how much efforts and energy it had taken doing these wonderful art pieces! 

 They made more clay-work, and with higher molding skills and of greater imagination!

This is a great cycle playing with Clay. From modeling, firing, glazing to the shiny artwork. So magical!

Clay and Beneficial Glazing!

Clay is a therapeutic material in which also promote children development. Sholt and Gavron (2006) points out the three major therapeutic features of clay-work in their literature review and clinical experience as art therapists. 

(a) procedural expressions through the experience of touch, movement, and the three dimensional aspect of clay-work

(b) construction and deconstruction processes through clay-work

(c) the regression process ( In art therapy, children use clay to represent food and engaging in symbolic acts of nourishment, Sholt & Garvon, 2006)

So what are the benefits glazing bring to children in Art at The Center?

Glazing is a complicated step that require patience and intelligence. You have to put colors separately, for they are not like painting color mixing together. Moreover, you have to carefully paint two layers in order to see the bright and shiny color after firing.

Sometimes the colors look like just what they are. 

Sometimes it is hard to imagine what the glaze will be after firing. See the glazed artwork on the left. 

It's actually brown. 

I think the greatest advantage of glazing is to make clay-work a complete production. One thing is that children's ideas are able to take place in clay gradually. In addition, by engaging the process and expecting for the product being done, they definitely can't wait to create more artwork with clay! What a good circle of art making!


References:
Sholt, M., & Gavron, T. (2006). Therapeutic Qualities of Clay-Work in Art Therapy and Psychotherapy: A Review. Art Therapy: Journal Of The American Art Therapy Association, 23(2), 66-72.