There is no such thing as failure in ART

In almost everything your child will do, failure can and will occur.  1+1=2 not 3.  

Cat is not spelled kat.  The list goes on.  

ONE OF THE BEST Gifts you can give your child is a NO FAIL approach to art.  

Their hands and minds can create things we could never dream up of becuase they see life in a very different way then we do.

How and what they create will show you pieces of their small hearts and minds that you would

not be able to see any other way. 

 Lesson One in art as a teacher and student: there are no mistakes in art.  There are uh-oh's and ah-ha moments that create a better artists, and artwork.  But there are no mistakes, no failures.  

Yes there are principals and elements that help a growing artist know how to control and create something specific, but rules are often meant to be broken in art.  So the minute they are speaking  tell them often and clearly that there is no failing in art.  Every mark made will develop their creative and imaginative muscles.  Teach them to be fearless of failure and they will create amazing things.  

Let art be a place of connecting not correcting. 

5 mistakes we make with kids and art

Five mistakes we make with our kids and art:

1.  Trying to keep art clean, quick, and saying "DON'T MAKE A MESS... " as they create.

              Art is messy, it is experimental and unrefined.  

Don't make them feel bad for getting messy.  

Lay down newspaper, let them wear an old shirt, and have them help cleanup at the end.

2.  Trying to guess aloud what they must have drawn unless they have asked you to.

ALWAYS ask what they have made first. Let them explain the picture.  You will be shocked at how much they can see and express from a few marks and scribbles on a page.  

In art, telling the story behind the piece is sometimes more important that the art itself.

Let art give them a voice.

3.  Tossing their art aside, in a stack, or thrown away.  Even if their work is only displayed for one day on the fridge or bulletin board, HANG IT UP.  My boys create so much more art when I hang up what they have done.  We have several spots in our house where their work is proudly displayed.

4.  Agreeing with them that what they have drawn does not look good, 

or that they could have done better.  

Even if you follow it up with, "well you are only...years old, when you are older you will be much better.  Encourage them where they are right now. That their small hands just turned something out of nothing.  The minute a child senses that expectations weren't met, the creativity is stifled.

5.  Tell them you are not a good artist.  OR politely refuse to create art with them because you feel you are not a good artist.

We typically draw at the age level we were when we stopped drawing.  Most people stop at between ages 7 and 9 years old.  This is when they are most likely wanting to switch to realism and not sure how and so they just stop.  No one is a bad artist, we all just draw at different levels depending when the lessons or creating stopped.  DRAW with your kids, make marks and create.  Sit beside them focused on your work not theirs and they will LOVE those memories made together.

Don't start with crayons

 My experience as an art teacher and mom is to have a child start with MARKERS.  Why not crayons?  Most people think you are suppose to start with crayon AND that their child is just not interested in drawing.  That is far from true.  The wax in crayons prevent them from gliding smoothly and the mark made is not as distinct.   The child loses interest after the first couple marks.

MARKERS however GLIDE AND MAKE DARKER MARKS!  

The minute a child can grip something and control their movement is the moment they can create.  This can happen as early as seven months to a year old!

The next best thing to use is OIL PASTELS.  Oil pastels can get a bad rap for being messy, the oil and pigment can make small fingers smudged quickly.  But the oil also helps the pastel GLIDE and MAKE DARK MARKS!

You will be amazed at how fun it is to watch your child's eyes light up when they see that their small hands are creating marks.  You will be surprised at just how much they naturally LOVE to create when creating is made easier.  

So, put the crayons up until they are a little older and buy some washable markers and a small set of oil pastels!

HERE GOES...

 

I don't know why my perfect day consists of kids, paint, and messy hands.  I don't get a lot of things, but I do get art and kids.  I would love to help moms, dads, and teachers get over their fears of not being"the creative type" and get their hands dirty while making memories with their kids.  There is nothing quite like a child looking at a blank paper and realizing what their small hands can create.