Can they get better at it?

Using art to inspire children...

              

Today we set up a table covered in white cardboard. We set out the water colours and paint brushes. We showed the children a beautiful rainbow swirl image and encouraged them to use a swirling motion with their paint brush. We demonstrated using long strokes and changing colours to create a rainbow effect.

Our painting material was quite different to that used in the inspired art. Oil paints give a much more dense effect. However our vibrant water colours did the job. Here we can see Charlotte explaining to Helen: "I can do a swirl, look" Summer is getting in close and using long strokes to add to Helen's swirl. Kara is exploring round swirls and Peyton is being very careful with her strokes and is trying to use 2 paint brushes to add effect. Gracie is slowly warming up to the idea and seems to find the idea of 'just swirls' hard. Children often want to freely paint what ever their heart desires and intervening on this freedom with 'guidelines' can turn children away from participating. However if we do not give children something to work towards, if we do not encourage children to approach art with intention and skill we are not allowing children to become better at making art meaningful.

 

Peyton takes care with each stroke she makes, she is purposeful and experimental. Children can have a natural disposition towards art and others need our support to develop their skill and ability to use art to express themselves, learn and reflect on the world.


  

Milly watched Helen's strokes and colour combinations she is skilled at observation and has been encouraged to step back and look at the whole picture. Milly approached the painting with intent, she wanted to recreate a swirly rainbow effect and was careful in her brush placement and colour choice.


                                

The purpose of this experience was to support children's ability to use certain strokes when painting, to stand back and plan their combination of colour and line. To be reflective and careful. The children watched each other as closely as they watched us and are beginning to understand that they can control the marks they make, they can shape, blend and swirl the paint. They can get better at painting and create art that is meaningful.