Art is always a favourite with me – despite me being the actual worst artist EVER!! I cannot draw at all. I’m almost embarrassed to even try. Thank goodness for google images!
But I do love creativity. I do love originality. And I believe that enthusiasm is the key to success (not just In art lessons). Just don’t ask me to paint your portrait unless you’re not easily offended!
I believe that you should approach any art focus with lots of questions and an open mind – whatever your age. It is such a subjective area as everyone has different artistic approaches and preferences – and that’s ok! I love looking at art with children and asking them if they like it or not. As we all know, children are brutally and beautifully honest and will say it like it is! I love listening to their answers and always encourage them to justify their ideas. I also ask them what they would prefer? ie another artist or artistic method. I believe that children need to see a wide range of contrasting art across the primary phase. Art that seems to make perfect sense and art that absolutely doesn’t. Art that needs no explanation and art that literally cannot be explained. I also believe that talking about art… is art itself and should be embraced and acknowledged along the way! Teachers can help children to think critically about different representations or artwork by asking both open and closed questions! Have sentences stems or modelled examples at the ready….