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 Last week, I probably made one of the most interesting realizations I have had about art since I opened my program back in 2012. That for children, art is serious work. Nothing captured that fact better than the picture in the title. I am not sure why it NEVER occurred to be before to add food coloring to bubble solution, but really it never did. So when the project came about from Mother Goose Time, I was a bit worried. I mean this is bubble solution and it looked like JUICE! The children even said as much and when they saw that the way they would create their art was with straws I had the urge to scrap the project right then and there.... But I am glad I didn't. Because as soon as I explained what they were suppose to do, they lit up like Christmas trees. They were going to blow bubbles AND create art?! I mean what is there not to love about such a project. I thought this would be like other creative projects I had given the children...over in minutes. While they love the projects, often there was a sense of urgency to complete them. Not with the bubble art though, with this project they were excited and remained engaged well past the time I had designated for art time.  This does not mean that they were serious to the point of not having fun. They were serious about creating something that looked different from their friends. It wasn't about looking at a picture and trying to make something that looked like the picture or like it. It was fun because of the PROCESS. The process! We are so focused on the end result of the project, we forgot to concentrate on the process. There are so many different ways to create art on so many different surfaces. Why do we not bring this fact to the children? Why have we forgotten the basics of art with children? The bubble art wasn't fun because they were rushing to the end to see the finished project it was fun because the process doing the art was fun. And if they were able to make a pretty picture at the end of it...well so be it.  After this realization, I pledged to introduce the children to the different ways to create art. Ways that may not be found in a museum. Well, maybe a Modern Art Museum, after all I did see a mannequin sitting on a toilet in a Modern Art Museum. I just want to show them that there are other processes and tools to work with besides their hands, glue, paper and paint brushes. Like remember creating a rainbow with cotton balls dipped in paint? That was super fun. So with this in mind, I am going to introduce the children to the process of pour painting. You can find the basic concept here: Plenty the Magazine
I will let you know if this turns into a horror show. Enjoy the Process, Live Long and Keep Teaching! Ms. Tessie |
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