Lessons in ART
Top 3 things I say during my art lessons…
If you didn’t know, I spend my winter months travelling from school to school, 15 to be exact, teaching art to grade 3, 6 and 8 students all around Simcoe County. I roll into each classroom with a wagon full of art supplies, share a slideshow showcasing an artist and their work that inspires the lesson, and we make art within an hour or two. All that artwork (approx. 2800 pieces) is collected and displayed every Spring in our local libraries for the community to view and enjoy.
During my art lessons, I find myself sharing the same pieces of advice that I feel are applicable to other avenues in life. Here are my top 3.
“Practice makes Progress”
When I’m at the front of a classroom, I’ll often ask students “how many of you practice a sport, play an instrument, dance, or cook at home?” Almost always, all the hands go up. Proudly. I then say, “Now, take a moment to think about how many times you practice; with your team, that song, your routine, a recipe... Versus how often you have tournaments, perform for an audience, go to competition, cook for guests. It’s the same thing with our ART! This piece is here for you to practice, to try new techniques, feel inspired, share ideas and make some mistakes. Take all that you learn here today and apply it to the next piece of art you make.”
I tell them my sketchbook is full of awkward drawings, some are stronger than others. I share that I don’t always love every painting I create, but that I always gain something from each piece. The expectation of perfection is different from one person to the next, it’s so subjective, and it can be harmful in ways. Practice always leads to progress. The goal posts are always moving, ideas are expanding, skills are strengthening, and I think that provides us with the confidence and resilience we need.
“Creating = Cleaning”
The reality of being an artist is that I spend sooo much time cleaning up after myself. Cleaning brushes, scrubbing paint off the floor, putting things away and constantly organizing supplies. So I tell my students that “it’s a joy to be creative, but you also need to find joy in cleaning”. I stress the importance of taking care of tools and materials. I ask them to be responsible for washing their brush, cleaning their paint palettes, and helping others to tidy up before the end of class. This all translates to cooking in the kitchen, cleaning sporting equipment, tuning instruments, etc. The prep, the creating and the cleaning, is all part of the process, in anything. The more accustomed they get to doing all aspects, the more they respect the end results.
“Use this time to TRY”
The fear we have in failing at something is what prevents us from doing it in the first place. We need to romanticize trying. Lean in to doing new things and find humility in failing or fumbling the first few times. I tell my students “I’m proud of you all for trying something new today”. I also find myself saying the following;
Try holding your brush differently. “Rotate your brush so you have a variety of widths”.
Try mixing your colours. “Create a warmer blue for the water or a cooler green in your trees”.
Try letting go of control and allow yourself to play. “Get a little silly with it. Use more water. Rotate your paper”
Try encouraging yourself and your neighbours. “I enjoyed doing this part. I like how you did that. You inspired me to ___”.
Try to creatively problem solve. “Find ways you can turn that ‘mistake’ into something else. Be flexible with your ideas”.
Whether you’re a creative person or not, and you probably are!! I hope these art class tips can resonate with you and whatever you find joy in doing. Life can get busy and sometimes heavy, so here’s your reminder to go try a new recipe, walk a different trail, revisit a project, get a little messy and just have FUN with it!
:)
Ms. S
Here are some pieces of art created by my students during this year’s school tour.
Inspired by; Ken Done, Cynthia Decoste, Yayoi Kusama, Lisa Congdon, Rhi James & Henri Matisse.
If you are within Simcoe County and want to know more about this art programing, please visit https://www.magicofchildren.ca/
