tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19666786232585413212024-02-07T13:35:49.683-08:00Notes from the Battlefield Educational notes on teaching art to kids and adults, taken post classes in studio and en plein air, and from concepts seen in development booksDiana Stelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10829088445849683524noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966678623258541321.post-64928663307727815112014-08-14T08:32:00.001-07:002014-08-14T08:32:33.765-07:00Am I from planet Mars?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdamMuHIz2g520NZtq6GErhkqNARoWiIDjQiP8wZxWaotRK0serC3EauugpVdq3ptaj_pAlcCAJpvEteyG_ENC4Sb5lP5rSK8PpsznTc_94ciddOS1JNE8XTaCeYZ7cJz0fETKONIDsig/s1600/outdoor+painting+class+adults+brookline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdamMuHIz2g520NZtq6GErhkqNARoWiIDjQiP8wZxWaotRK0serC3EauugpVdq3ptaj_pAlcCAJpvEteyG_ENC4Sb5lP5rSK8PpsznTc_94ciddOS1JNE8XTaCeYZ7cJz0fETKONIDsig/s1600/outdoor+painting+class+adults+brookline.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a>Just finished a challenging course outdoors, my first with an all-American adult audience. Challenging not quite because of the material covered, but because I had to fight lots of my own demons. I realized that after some twenty plus years living in the US - I still felt inadequate in communicating in English. I felt again like a newly arrived immigrant from planet Mars. Why? Are we forever plagued with self-doubt if there's no land to call one's own?<br />
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It's the little cultural differences that struck me and wouldn't let me move beyond them. Participants not wanting to be close together, seeking solitary time instead. People not wanting my communal blanket, my tables and paint tubes brought to share, my Dale Carnegie inspired chitter-chatter about their everyday lives. <br />
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When indoors with a Russian-speaking group it's all about wanting to have good company, sharing some therapeutic insights into our lives and the world outside, taking my lead into exploring how our creative outcomes tell us something about things needing attention in real life. <br />
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Or is this just two sides of my own personality wanting to fight it out, clashing in their goals? Part of me wants a great tight group of friends to share in the experience of finding myself. Yet, another part wants some alone time, to reflect and come to my own conclusions, without someone's five cents in the process. Was this experience merely a mirror into how we all struggle to find our true self?</div>
Diana Stelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10829088445849683524noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966678623258541321.post-67350995631329025082014-07-04T13:36:00.001-07:002014-07-04T13:36:48.733-07:00Rainy day supplies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Happy 4th everyone!<br />
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It's been forever since I wrote: third pregnancy and finishing off the semester took all of my energy. But now that I have some free time (ahem), very weather appropriately I decided it's finally time to share a summer supplies list. It should come in handy for all you heading out to vacation homes and encountering some cabin fever moments :)<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8MqAtq_N1ze7gnXE95GssOX7RHfBWTpFZCAgWqK4xmc2SosQzgVw3Bcr9H97CrJS5wQ0QMSKQmJBtlshx92ul9j_V0W6puDRSVikCs4bUg2lhpnsexHChRpnQ-UkliMdnMmidKz9DUpB/s1600/pentel.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></div>
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I found that kids are always ready to come up with stories via drawings. My favorite drawing material (for adults as well) this past year have been oil pastels. What's great about them is that they act somewhat like oil paints, mixing one on top of another and creating great color combos. A parents' paradise too is that they don't smudge or make little artist hands overly dirty. No pastel paper is necessary for support, but tinted background does make things a lot easier for an adult artist. </div>
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Fine motor skills are forever useful, and a set of fine quality construction paper, a pair of scissors and some glue sticks will go a long way in perfecting some art projects. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQRXtSSJILxddGnnc0xwy1091vxBWQ9j_o26FaE2f_Ox6m9mExVtk5A6PMhOl6TpdTi9WgY5h6jWXFn_uEdY4QzBLByPeLGsqyyY6v72XKb2tmDgYqHt_KwfTxYkuFbboUvOIt0yKcvqt/s1600/construction+paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQRXtSSJILxddGnnc0xwy1091vxBWQ9j_o26FaE2f_Ox6m9mExVtk5A6PMhOl6TpdTi9WgY5h6jWXFn_uEdY4QzBLByPeLGsqyyY6v72XKb2tmDgYqHt_KwfTxYkuFbboUvOIt0yKcvqt/s1600/construction+paper.jpg" height="400" width="390" /></a></div>
Start with cutting out basic shapes, but then add finer details like ragged edges of grass, or patterns on top of a tree trunk, overlayering. Feel free to experiment with whatever scrap material is lying around the house like buttons, yarn, twigs and shells found outdoors, for more texture and dimension. It also might be useful to invest in a glue brush, and use Palmer's Glue for finer control of details.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmP1fPuiVp0q_GXB6emNee3hzWK_UCX797XKHB8Ak9p_tr9A6vZkQludvBW8t4CIfJu6H069jASrL5Wj8Pa6Y0upHBEuEJ7nMIAvo9c9l91OSOAgPrh7sdZARBACGd2m6e-_EYWSrfIGn/s1600/sculpeyIII.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmP1fPuiVp0q_GXB6emNee3hzWK_UCX797XKHB8Ak9p_tr9A6vZkQludvBW8t4CIfJu6H069jASrL5Wj8Pa6Y0upHBEuEJ7nMIAvo9c9l91OSOAgPrh7sdZARBACGd2m6e-_EYWSrfIGn/s1600/sculpeyIII.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a><br />
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Sculpting is an activity that can occupy you all for hours. The only problem with most sets sold for kids is that the material is either crumbly or unbendable, and it breaks just as soon as a figurine is built. What I found to work best so far is Sculpey III sets that are also sold in lots of fun color set combinations. Once the project is done, it can be baked in a home oven for 15 min, at 275F. These do need to be conditioned for a few minutes, the most fun way of doing it is with a pasta machine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEheToQsovkd2DFo8KKmyGkAteUjWzsHxy7sVMPNsiDHic2SUnD_sqIJkmcyNVcA-Sre-sTMKyxCr_9GCz8PzU5ATO9oGw5AjTNNCK1Pc-xHuI1I2Nl8aHvHXyYxvN-I4_6HC1D1wJifCT/s1600/crayola+watercolor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEheToQsovkd2DFo8KKmyGkAteUjWzsHxy7sVMPNsiDHic2SUnD_sqIJkmcyNVcA-Sre-sTMKyxCr_9GCz8PzU5ATO9oGw5AjTNNCK1Pc-xHuI1I2Nl8aHvHXyYxvN-I4_6HC1D1wJifCT/s1600/crayola+watercolor.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
And though it's supposedly not recommended for children to use watercolor paints till the age of 12, we've had some very successful projects even by 3 year olds. Only mistake to avoid is buying thin watercolor paper, 90 lbs or lighter. I typically go for 140lb cold press sets, 9 x 12 inch in size. I also don't like spiral sets as pulling out paper is never easy. My favorite for both kids and adults are Crayola educational watercolor sets, and believe me - I compared them with Yarka boxes. They come with a pretty good round brush as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJ-qEX3NLTTOFvlgzANrTKlpMFkQClnxhV3i1GnRv-dFLPE6YD80dDAIGK1rZh3IO4Oogx8U5yViVA8GtQ1qB00pcdBRNaZd-4e-Y1rmLRhujvLiSQ63d_DBtXm0yhLemuY8j_NoLG4j5/s1600/watercolor+paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJ-qEX3NLTTOFvlgzANrTKlpMFkQClnxhV3i1GnRv-dFLPE6YD80dDAIGK1rZh3IO4Oogx8U5yViVA8GtQ1qB00pcdBRNaZd-4e-Y1rmLRhujvLiSQ63d_DBtXm0yhLemuY8j_NoLG4j5/s1600/watercolor+paper.jpg" /></a></div>
I know you don't want to spend too much time at arts/crafts stores, so these key supplies should suffice, oh and don't forget a large sketchbook, newsprint quality should do just fine :)<br />
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Happy travels and have a great summer!</div>
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Diana Stelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10829088445849683524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966678623258541321.post-59404037302824931752014-02-28T15:45:00.000-08:002014-02-28T15:45:30.960-08:00Barcelona as inspiration - teaching children to view the world differently<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6GHgUJlaF_reaIY0BeSNhy5IUqWooHKHAIGuTJFcNMu-LdcdHL6AhWg03d1eo_Z-lrZbiLtkNxGv_hvmX87Edi8WYkJy9nrucVK23l-QG5WdbG0gT8Ucnwwsdc-ZjeVAIio93eYtkipJ/s1600/Gaudi's_chimneys_3,_Palau_Guell,_Barcelona_(IMG_5431a).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6GHgUJlaF_reaIY0BeSNhy5IUqWooHKHAIGuTJFcNMu-LdcdHL6AhWg03d1eo_Z-lrZbiLtkNxGv_hvmX87Edi8WYkJy9nrucVK23l-QG5WdbG0gT8Ucnwwsdc-ZjeVAIio93eYtkipJ/s1600/Gaudi's_chimneys_3,_Palau_Guell,_Barcelona_(IMG_5431a).jpg" height="320" width="229" /></a>I was lucky to finally make it back to Barcelona, Spain, a city where so many greats had started, and which even today proves to be a place of inspiration and innovation. <br />
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What had impressed me the most this time around (last time of course Antoni Gaudi was the focus) was the <a href="http://www.fundaciomiro-bcn.org/index.php?idioma=2">Fundacio Joan Miro,</a> which I had missed on my last trip to the city. <br />
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I was especially taken with the incredible accomplishments of its education department. In the course of a few hours that we spent there, there were at least 4 different school groups passing through, beginning with pre-school aged children, and all the way to high schoolers. I went to the museum not only because I'm fond of Miro's work, but also because I was unsure as to how to approach Joan Miro with kids. How does one introduce abstract art with ease to different aged students?<br />
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What I had learned was that it's best to let them interact with the work as much as possible and use their imaginations to complete its meaning. Each of the tours I had encountered, and unfortunately my Spanish was lacking to fully understand them, was nothing like I had ever seen in museums in US, where museum docents are simply being informative. Tour guides sought to encourage each student to communicate what he/she thought they were looking at, meanwhile carefully extracting what it was the kids were feeling as spectators while engaging with each piece, or color, or symbol. <br />
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We also spent a bit of time watching a video on Miro's life and work, and his goals for the foundation. His main idea behind the endeavor was to teach people a new way of looking at things. I believe the goal is certainly being accomplished there and should serve as a motto for every art teacher...inspiring kids to view the world through their own lense...</div>
Diana Stelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10829088445849683524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966678623258541321.post-79310323278612579782014-01-29T11:56:00.000-08:002014-01-29T13:08:51.963-08:00Tips for Parents: How to tell your child's work is created by your child....and not the instructor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Disclaimer: My sincere apologies in advance to instructors, who are focused more on results for the parents, rather than the creative process with the kids. I tend to subscribe to the camp of creativity, rather than perfection. Sometimes our end results aren't understood by the powers at be at the end of each class. However, it is important for me personally to know that the child had worked on the project himself, and there's natural development in his/her skills, rather than a forced vision of the world by the instructor.</div>
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So onto to the task at hand. I've been asked multiple times to assess how much involvement a child might have had with a particular finished product. Though surely some little artists are more talented than others at a certain age, here're age related benchmarks for physical development. These developments had been witnessed in classes, but are initially based on the research by the famous Child Psychologist, Viktor Lowenfeld:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJ1RTa6nOJTutkSvbqaNSX3jU1PtWxDsjR8CLK5yP9nPTOUh4OHRxBSlBaTBSE4TXnhKXHmfy6qstqXCxn4xlLMlHILRgDzK48hCGJ6ehkJ0cL11gKTOJdePSuvxQZgNksj8TPnG5FVMm/s1600/brighton-art-activity-children.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJ1RTa6nOJTutkSvbqaNSX3jU1PtWxDsjR8CLK5yP9nPTOUh4OHRxBSlBaTBSE4TXnhKXHmfy6qstqXCxn4xlLMlHILRgDzK48hCGJ6ehkJ0cL11gKTOJdePSuvxQZgNksj8TPnG5FVMm/s1600/brighton-art-activity-children.jpg" height="264" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Age 3-4: Most children are still scribbling and some might begin to develop basic shapes, mostly circles. They have no concept of space or planes within a picture, or a developed human figure representation.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAk0b2Xv576xVcu2-HL3NItK07OQgPv55Q3ls8PFcX91hYz8omsHBzDH0u1esPCS_4dufqL7BxRc0P1YKhxNomUQa15sEdvNT0GhH6FdMVVyEouV2DSQHphBgGWWHlJFYBAwIIg06mJyT/s1600/blog+4+year+old+humans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAk0b2Xv576xVcu2-HL3NItK07OQgPv55Q3ls8PFcX91hYz8omsHBzDH0u1esPCS_4dufqL7BxRc0P1YKhxNomUQa15sEdvNT0GhH6FdMVVyEouV2DSQHphBgGWWHlJFYBAwIIg06mJyT/s1600/blog+4+year+old+humans.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Ages 4-5: Shapes of objects are geometric, they float in space and sizes/proportions are subjective and distorted. Human form is being developed, starting from head/feet symbol, followed by inclusion of arms, lots of details will still be missing.</span><br />
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<span style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCS33D_MUEAXwuwkNhtovY70vyPnKIRkz54apCeA23uKwiqOl2v0nwmk1bMsmID14BR-bQ5E3J5ZB6QvpS1tB15NImbimrS2TyJ3aN9YAO0BwfAmWWrXpj_7TAbBJ6qgLOHAQgtMICRFiO/s1600/blog+notes+7+year+old.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCS33D_MUEAXwuwkNhtovY70vyPnKIRkz54apCeA23uKwiqOl2v0nwmk1bMsmID14BR-bQ5E3J5ZB6QvpS1tB15NImbimrS2TyJ3aN9YAO0BwfAmWWrXpj_7TAbBJ6qgLOHAQgtMICRFiO/s1600/blog+notes+7+year+old.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></span><span style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCS33D_MUEAXwuwkNhtovY70vyPnKIRkz54apCeA23uKwiqOl2v0nwmk1bMsmID14BR-bQ5E3J5ZB6QvpS1tB15NImbimrS2TyJ3aN9YAO0BwfAmWWrXpj_7TAbBJ6qgLOHAQgtMICRFiO/s1600/blog+notes+7+year+old.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Ages 6-8: A form concept is developed but doesn't change much, base line establishment but no understanding of overlapping (tree in front of house), human figure consists of geometric shapes, no proportions.</span></span></div>
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Ages 9-11: Events are characterized rather than drawn realistically, no understanding of shadow, there's a beginning of relationships between objects, lots of details in the figure, but greater stiffness<br />
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Ages 12-14: Wrinkles and folds might be important, can zoom in or out, still only important elements drawn in detail, attempt at perspective, greater awareness of joints and body actions, sexual characteristics overemphasized</div>
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Ages: 15-17: Will begin to show light and shade, imaginative use of figure for satire, expressiveness and awareness of atmosphere.</div>
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Diana Stelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10829088445849683524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966678623258541321.post-85365890086444207042013-08-12T19:09:00.001-07:002013-08-12T19:20:57.361-07:00Material exploration vs. progress<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So my goal when planning the curriculum for the school was to make sure there're varieties of materials at hand and that at every lesson there's a rotating exploration of various art forms: painting, drawing, collage and sculpting... half the classes indoors and have outdoors.<br />
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This way kids never get bored, feel more open to experiment and discover hidden talents. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYxqFt67qvmM2Wb1wVZku02DE7TIrqDOPpzq3b97KDVXFR5jef6-Tyy0xZ3RuQHRv60-Dk0-Cani77QfZVjxe0qcuYUx1QT6NOyVtuvmwYGHYFGVoDBXSLYX9aOZFrPSRcR_bzDyhzapb/s1600/felting-wool-technique-Japan-Art-camp-Plein-Air-Academy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYxqFt67qvmM2Wb1wVZku02DE7TIrqDOPpzq3b97KDVXFR5jef6-Tyy0xZ3RuQHRv60-Dk0-Cani77QfZVjxe0qcuYUx1QT6NOyVtuvmwYGHYFGVoDBXSLYX9aOZFrPSRcR_bzDyhzapb/s320/felting-wool-technique-Japan-Art-camp-Plein-Air-Academy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
However, there's this constant demand for progress, and the trouble is that by the time a monthly rotation is over and we start on the same medium again next month - it often feels like they don't remember how to approach it and we're starting from scratch. To anxious parents who are trying to ascertain progress at the end of each class it also doesn't feel like things are moving fast enough. It feels like more of a jerky reaction approach rather than a program developed for long term natural growth. <br />
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But then I'm totally against a step by step demo class, and every time I show my own variation, they immediately copy what I did as opposed to turning on their imaginations or powers of observation. I really don't want every child to walk out with my version of a cat. I want them to observe the world and develop their own schemas that will remain with them for a lifetime, or change based on their changing perceptions of the world...not mine. And I don't want to be the teacher who says: 'You came here to paint, so why are you so focused on the sharpener?' I think sharpening pencils is part of the process of material exploration and developing comfort with the medium.<br />
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Also, if I prolong a project which half a class wasn't thrilled about, then it turns into the torture many kids associate with school projects and art is no longer fun and therapeutic like it should be. <br />
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So it's a constant dilemma and I know I can't be all things to all people, but how do I achieve this balance between teaching technique and providing fun variety of media?</div>
Diana Stelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10829088445849683524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966678623258541321.post-19997784049822863292013-06-26T12:00:00.000-07:002013-06-26T12:02:06.539-07:00Are we killing their imagination?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbGAwmZ6qkqlSthUwwswa0F0K86oZ08HdtKZre6-v51woPcm70qC1oiRkZXsRVLyiL2S-EwBUXGeq3h3slqErx-KzSzHYgl0ASf7e_yBV4dMwh77SxjkLyyuoZm-rieBjq5vMhyphenhyphenlnRfRe/s1600/dali_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbGAwmZ6qkqlSthUwwswa0F0K86oZ08HdtKZre6-v51woPcm70qC1oiRkZXsRVLyiL2S-EwBUXGeq3h3slqErx-KzSzHYgl0ASf7e_yBV4dMwh77SxjkLyyuoZm-rieBjq5vMhyphenhyphenlnRfRe/s320/dali_04.jpg" width="320" /></a>I'm amazed at the flight of imagination in most <br />
3-6 year olds. Free associations abound, twisting, connecting and disconnecting at 100 miles an hour. A single sketch can have so many different layers that effortlessly succeed each other and just work. And then, abruptly, perhaps with the start of school, it stops. <br />
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The other day in class a 5 year old came up with 3 different variations of a zoo theme. An almost 7 year old copied exactly what the other child did as he couldn't imagine anything else. So sad.<br />
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The more they root themselves in the real world, the less their imagination roams, the more they become like us, adults, unsure of our beliefs, striving for perfection, afraid to let go. These free associations only visit us in dreams, or induced by hallucinatory drugs, like in the case of Dali and most Surrealists. <br />
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But am I partially at fault then for forcing the kids to pay close attention to details around them, instead of nurturing their ability to invent realities? Are we as overachieving parents , while pushing the kids to study the tangible, scientific truths earlier and earlier - killing their innocence prematurely? Should I help the kids complete their imaginary realms rather than attempt to ground them? If they allow their imagination to flourish, then perhaps it will live a bit longer, perhaps as adults they'll have an easier time summoning it? Perhaps they won't have such difficulties returning to purity? Like all us artists do?</div>
Diana Stelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10829088445849683524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966678623258541321.post-34736101118233442822013-05-24T09:16:00.000-07:002013-05-24T09:16:08.693-07:00Template projects for children<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So of course my imagination doesn't run wild all the time and I have to resort to checking various project ideas on the web. Also because I'm strong in some things and haven't used other media in some time - I go ahead and try various suggested lessons on my students. <br />
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Perhaps I deal with a much younger audience and simply miss the point, but I'm getting more and more frustrated with the prevalence of follow me instructions. If the main goal of an art teacher is to develop creative thinking - then why do all Monet ponds in one class have to end up looking almost identical?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FbK16FWMYN77BJpCcDKxjkznBy2Z18PVRVUnNqgB0nWbDi2OazeuY8dRekGsQUiNqqE0xtp9jPE9HudAyVLUCfgCXnsS-0XQ3M2EzqmPMXSdWNBrZlgmTCFwyIc2eJfZVaatxcC3Ruu6/s1600/Monet+water+lilies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FbK16FWMYN77BJpCcDKxjkznBy2Z18PVRVUnNqgB0nWbDi2OazeuY8dRekGsQUiNqqE0xtp9jPE9HudAyVLUCfgCXnsS-0XQ3M2EzqmPMXSdWNBrZlgmTCFwyIc2eJfZVaatxcC3Ruu6/s320/Monet+water+lilies.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyCITIcnpaMpQWUAuVbTIrB_3sW5Rg_C9lDqi14AtFplnOxJDS4vtAXt7rDRxBTlAq35FqqeFBizVu2bM35w4I8PgM5g4iA6Bo4_5xdc2M8_eIlRpnCM0cGnWgM41TptvHd61w00byYlE/s1600/art-camp-week-5-van-gogh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyCITIcnpaMpQWUAuVbTIrB_3sW5Rg_C9lDqi14AtFplnOxJDS4vtAXt7rDRxBTlAq35FqqeFBizVu2bM35w4I8PgM5g4iA6Bo4_5xdc2M8_eIlRpnCM0cGnWgM41TptvHd61w00byYlE/s320/art-camp-week-5-van-gogh.jpg" width="320" /></a>Yes, if we're raising robots, then they should simply follow step 1, 2, 15, 20. But with excited kids full of raw emotions shouldn't their imagination play a certain part in the process, shouldn't there be an element of media exploration, experimentation, flight of imagination? So what if it isn't a pond with water lillies a la Monet that will look perfect for when the parents come in to look at it? What if it's a farm, or a zoo, or a cave with dragons? At least you see real personal interest there and not a follow along manual. <br />
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And yes, I know that with age children's minds cannot roam as freely and they become as rooted as adults in the real world. But perhaps just in art class they can get in touch with their inner selves and be kids just a little longer?</div>
Diana Stelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10829088445849683524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966678623258541321.post-13116705500903244342013-04-23T18:49:00.000-07:002013-04-23T18:49:48.051-07:00What's the difference between a 4 year old's work and a Jackson Pollock?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NiaGD8JimjUnKNkkE24nMuPDbdtte3bbHqtm4DYQfZPpkwDrkHin2fzzFvqcVYJMrvZQT9Bax29kHl8IvpUselnraEYmudodPZ9XgmsEUMkqly-pkw3qIps4jZHh3wEP-KvtKRFLmJmJ/s1600/joan+mitchell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NiaGD8JimjUnKNkkE24nMuPDbdtte3bbHqtm4DYQfZPpkwDrkHin2fzzFvqcVYJMrvZQT9Bax29kHl8IvpUselnraEYmudodPZ9XgmsEUMkqly-pkw3qIps4jZHh3wEP-KvtKRFLmJmJ/s320/joan+mitchell.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Many experienced collectors don't get abstract art. What can I ask of an average parent then, even of myself? Yes, when I look at a Jackson Pollock sometimes I think my kid can do that: and you know what? He can. But the question is how does he arrive at the end result? <br />
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For an excited preschooler it's a happy accident - and it's up to adults to appreciate the sudden color relationships, layers of thoughts piling up on one another, a story that keeps growing and changing as it develops in the mind of a child. <br />
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For an adult abstract painter it's a much more complex trip and therein lies the difference. Every patch of form and color is planned, its application is a result of years of grueling experimentation, inward analysis that can drive one mad. Suddenly the rhythm works, composition flows, your eye wanders around the balanced painting. And many a time it's overworked, trying to say too much, not leaving any room to breathe. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY93ucmIQ-WNt5NGzNI1QYHBCxwjgs-eZz21hI70zL-T8xYhhXXwbo79d5GZ-X0IpkkikXNVaj-tNwFcYAoBeEQIPtGwJvZMxMvO7m3ZBZsx2kpHo99KCJyjVImcG4Id9-hJIm7NSdd-mJ/s1600/abstract+art1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY93ucmIQ-WNt5NGzNI1QYHBCxwjgs-eZz21hI70zL-T8xYhhXXwbo79d5GZ-X0IpkkikXNVaj-tNwFcYAoBeEQIPtGwJvZMxMvO7m3ZBZsx2kpHo99KCJyjVImcG4Id9-hJIm7NSdd-mJ/s320/abstract+art1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I think the more I strive for meaningful abstraction, the more I appreciate a child's freedom. Their inner voice is so clear, and its driving their hand to simply act - pure energy, new sensations with new material exploration. Let's learn to love their work before they grow up and their innocence in abstracts disappears. Reality will surely kick in by age 7.</div>
Diana Stelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10829088445849683524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966678623258541321.post-56662676720400307352013-04-03T13:58:00.000-07:002013-04-03T13:58:12.920-07:00Dynamics of a group<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzZe5EQ1X7UM0cMJUvJtXUQU41soKeuukRclmXU6dLcm1ySQi12qRQdeIVAikNlxYOiWsLPs3jo7fC3DSqDckDR4tUm6XBg-UvzXnbk3YtRWW0SYSvWzduZhN9TK3-NE6W3bcwTxi4FEU/s1600/negative_space_Matisse_cut_outs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzZe5EQ1X7UM0cMJUvJtXUQU41soKeuukRclmXU6dLcm1ySQi12qRQdeIVAikNlxYOiWsLPs3jo7fC3DSqDckDR4tUm6XBg-UvzXnbk3YtRWW0SYSvWzduZhN9TK3-NE6W3bcwTxi4FEU/s320/negative_space_Matisse_cut_outs.JPG" width="320" /></a>Adults change based on whom they encounter, despite our trying to stay 'true' to ourselves. We're different with our parents and with friends, with our spouses and with our children. I'm now starting to see how early this change in behaviors occurs. Any new variable in the group determines its success, starting from when the kids begin to interact, at the age of 3. <br />
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I was reviewing notes from a fellow teacher when I was preparing for classes and was wondering why she talked about each new student entering her class. It's a huge adjustment - that's why! One bad apple spoils the bunch they say...Sadly, quite a true statement and a tough one to control. No child behaves similarly in any given group, and it takes most quite a bit of time to adjust to any change. <br />
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Siblings act together as a unit, exhibiting roles they have adapted at home, for comfort sake, younger mimicking the older, older ones overprotecting the young. When separated, they're very different individuals. Those constantly acting out in front of parents, to win some independence and control of their lives, have no need to do so in an unknown setting where everyone is on a level ground. Loud kids quiet down and turn their gazes inwards, introvert kids feel they can speak up in a smaller group setting.<br />
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So how does one ever begin to stay true to him/herself if we're constantly adjusting? Do we ever know who we are if cards change so many times per day? And what is better for the kids - stability or constant change to develop strong personalities?</div>
Diana Stelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10829088445849683524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966678623258541321.post-42161358067883646452013-03-06T11:45:00.002-08:002013-03-06T13:59:23.702-08:00The battle of expression and end result<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0gmS4IEJGNDMZOViUC2c9UeJhRkpH9mu3ry7o5Z9-rgYOm4bwCTTb_ESTwK3SXnovk2-YQXG2eF2irU9DdQrq62H5f74ZC6HpPcF_u6JB96Dx8Vy9TLjUwTBjMBR0feDhhgrL9cHhAub/s1600/young+DeKooning+and+young+Mondrian+at+work2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0gmS4IEJGNDMZOViUC2c9UeJhRkpH9mu3ry7o5Z9-rgYOm4bwCTTb_ESTwK3SXnovk2-YQXG2eF2irU9DdQrq62H5f74ZC6HpPcF_u6JB96Dx8Vy9TLjUwTBjMBR0feDhhgrL9cHhAub/s320/young+DeKooning+and+young+Mondrian+at+work2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So as I go on lamenting on my attempts to relax and let go while painting, I hold a class with a serious theme of portraits a la Matisse. Kids have fun painting to music, they get crazy to 'Loca Loca' and start dancing to Spanish rhythms while throwing paint onto their paper, arms swooshing, whole body moving and everything. I, in the meantime, totally freak out that my portraits are going nowhere and soon enough their abstracts will also turn into mud. I'm so dead set on my idea of how this class's project is supposed to look, that I can't appreciate these children's pure enthusiasm and excitement about simply painting. And yet, isn't this why we're here in the first place? To let them express their emotions in productive ways, to allow them to unleash their creative juices and simply enjoy the process? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Mf6UymVN7YgLI7Mk1-7I9zhSRNsV5XYWFqXsSeG5YqBzwr9QnMFeHA8s5HmbOoczFMks3amhHQVN9JxjsfI77EqzGzBAv58f2A1QkY-mK_ORVoIh0wsT-cS_-0_scYsOjzi5IdklQx9G/s1600/young+DeKooning+and+young+Mondrian+at+work3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Mf6UymVN7YgLI7Mk1-7I9zhSRNsV5XYWFqXsSeG5YqBzwr9QnMFeHA8s5HmbOoczFMks3amhHQVN9JxjsfI77EqzGzBAv58f2A1QkY-mK_ORVoIh0wsT-cS_-0_scYsOjzi5IdklQx9G/s320/young+DeKooning+and+young+Mondrian+at+work3.jpg" width="211" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_rGWDJqx-RUtvMHPGyZ0B-8qJfoUAvnIrFHtnC1tt8lNkGIixlLEvZmhakhbJxJJDp1kbYEcUaI9MpDcdgyCXVhUpYdIPXnCKL_StL9EOt2-ZuWRTag0J0rByjAKXCIRv_CV6DB4dfte/s1600/young+DeKooning+and+young+Mondrian+at+work4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_rGWDJqx-RUtvMHPGyZ0B-8qJfoUAvnIrFHtnC1tt8lNkGIixlLEvZmhakhbJxJJDp1kbYEcUaI9MpDcdgyCXVhUpYdIPXnCKL_StL9EOt2-ZuWRTag0J0rByjAKXCIRv_CV6DB4dfte/s320/young+DeKooning+and+young+Mondrian+at+work4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We as adults are so programmed on end results that letting those shift is exceptionally tricky - so difficult in fact that many of us end up doing the work for the kids, just to make sure it comes out "right", in accordance with our standards. <br />
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My son brings home ceramic plates, jugs and animals that they supposedly make in day care. Except he doesn't even recognize them as his, and we both know he's not at that level of sculpting - his art teacher does everything for him. And what is the purpose of such an art class? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrg99Z-Y_2B2WAiLN11Qtr04IISRftcjPwVudCR3gZjsyNeGE_eue2L5_XLEUjjPxOxy9z9N9I-v0sTjLP_o_tHKne23QHVDwLeVLkM9YOFN43e3AMPfwJDUQ5cvLLh0r5rI486a068pCJ/s1600/young+DeKooning+and+young+Mondrian+at+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrg99Z-Y_2B2WAiLN11Qtr04IISRftcjPwVudCR3gZjsyNeGE_eue2L5_XLEUjjPxOxy9z9N9I-v0sTjLP_o_tHKne23QHVDwLeVLkM9YOFN43e3AMPfwJDUQ5cvLLh0r5rI486a068pCJ/s320/young+DeKooning+and+young+Mondrian+at+work.jpg" width="213" /></a>What about you - can you appreciate the process or do you get upset when the end result is nothing to write home about in works by your kids?<br />
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Or in general, can we as adults simply relax and enjoy the act of doing something without it having to result in something grand?<br />
___<br />
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photos copyright <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/anna.kreslavskaya/DianaSStudioForKidsArt#5851686994306422850">Anna Kreslavskaya</a></div>
Diana Stelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10829088445849683524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966678623258541321.post-54623413990024420202013-02-17T15:54:00.000-08:002013-02-17T15:54:06.733-08:00Personal styles at the age of 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfp6IC1KGtA58buYKPTkuya8CycOQ92feQWfi2zH6mAxdQUgaO7IQw_pClzBE89mZ8FvZatX5r6vXHw1BH1C2QqylBQE6S7oMcEJxf0QDDDWZja_VaJX7uzI2fj3HZ1ow-gRjdguMFx8RN/s1600/scribble_stage_color_choices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfp6IC1KGtA58buYKPTkuya8CycOQ92feQWfi2zH6mAxdQUgaO7IQw_pClzBE89mZ8FvZatX5r6vXHw1BH1C2QqylBQE6S7oMcEJxf0QDDDWZja_VaJX7uzI2fj3HZ1ow-gRjdguMFx8RN/s320/scribble_stage_color_choices.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUPBYmrQsAROyt5h2C1E_CbqhLbJeoWTgQrA8p3zqBYJPHFL9p4am7ofH9AI4niNEVrJ3VoyVi6ytfT7zM1m0KW7I2xF1zMsXe-WDMq1FvDc6xyXsFqUZpS1vFmZPnr-I0ezeVFdxtwKD/s1600/scribble_stage_color_choices2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUPBYmrQsAROyt5h2C1E_CbqhLbJeoWTgQrA8p3zqBYJPHFL9p4am7ofH9AI4niNEVrJ3VoyVi6ytfT7zM1m0KW7I2xF1zMsXe-WDMq1FvDc6xyXsFqUZpS1vFmZPnr-I0ezeVFdxtwKD/s320/scribble_stage_color_choices2.jpg" width="320" /></a>We as artists are always encouraged to develop a style of our own, so that a gallerist who looks at one piece of our oeuvre is able to recognize the artist hand behind it straight away. It's quite difficult to arrive at, especially after years of mimicking the masters and looking at art from all ages, styles and locales. <br />
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But I'm seeing that with children it's a natural phenomena. A particular sensibility to color choices and application is there from the get go and it only reinforces over time. One can argue that it's a schema that they have developed and is getting perfected with each new drawing. But I truly think it's more than that. We each have an inner palette, all our own. <br />
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No matter how many variations I mix and how much I force myself to pay closer and closer attention to the surroundings, the resulting overall color scheme is always quite similar. Without noticing, my hand creates similar relationships time and time again.<br />
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It'd be wonderful to capitalize on this natural style that kids have, to understand it and to teach them to not let it go. But alas, as they learn more and more about the world, the fluidity vanishes.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJKWHBmih4MC2xVy3X1Dy5xmcpzyvlOpXbX3gmdISHmPAJ35vGOVaw1Ha68aw9oerIOmCws-MlVuGTDpNllfUVRrrlGKmp57FXF0C2AY30-3OXfkhErKSMi6AHrF19ntoqjzkayzOrml5/s1600/scribble_stage_color_choices_Joan_Mitchell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJKWHBmih4MC2xVy3X1Dy5xmcpzyvlOpXbX3gmdISHmPAJ35vGOVaw1Ha68aw9oerIOmCws-MlVuGTDpNllfUVRrrlGKmp57FXF0C2AY30-3OXfkhErKSMi6AHrF19ntoqjzkayzOrml5/s320/scribble_stage_color_choices_Joan_Mitchell.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Diana Stelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10829088445849683524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966678623258541321.post-42891686238207860832013-01-11T09:02:00.003-08:002013-01-11T09:24:16.094-08:00What I won't do...or bylaws for my teaching proposition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When I was 5, I started to get into drawing. I found napkins of all kinds and drew little dolls on them in various costumes. My grandfather would make up where those costumes would be from, as in - this is the customary dress of the Georgians, or - that one is from the Republic of Congo, etc. I was ecstatic and wanted nothing less than to one day become a fashion designer. <br />
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Then, at the age of 15, seeing how my dream was so persistent, my mom found me an art teacher. He, probably self-interestedly or unknowingly, declared that in order to be a fashion designer, I need to learn how to paint everything - from still lives to portraits to landscapes, and so I did. And when the day came for portfolio reviews, I was welcomed with all kinds of scholarships and bells and whistles to different art schools, but none of the fashion design schools,. Apparently for that I needed to learn how to sew and actually present dresses, etc. What about the factories where that actually gets done? But whatever...<br />
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And so I had no choice but to become an artist. My official art schooling began. It was incessant figure and gesture drawings and anatomical studies interspersed with occasional self portraits, close copying of the Renaissance masters (no wonder I hate the Renaissance), and chiaroscuro based on photographs. Only once in my 4 years in undergrad were we given an assignment to paint the stunning Ithaca landscape, and only one course introduced me to various painting media. And of course not a word about the contemporary art market, or art careers, or what the hell you're supposed to do with your life once you get out. And I hated art school with all my heart - it just seemed so irrelevant, and dated, and exclusive. It simply pretended that all great art was somewhere in the books and slides and not all around us...<br />
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And then I did my Master studies and it was even more dissapointing. It was a degree in Arts Administration, but it pretended that only part of the art world existed, the one where everyone is poor and in dire need of fundraising and it made sure that the real art market wasn't touched upon. As if there're no auction houses, or art insurance or art fairs and successful galleries and artists. Meanwhile, I was managing a thriving art gallery.<br />
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So I volunteered in a community arts complex just to get back to the roots, teaching kids art - and yet again - arts and crafts galore: making Valentine's Day cards, and teachers sculpting pretty little things for the kids so that parents think their kids talents are advancing. <br />
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Well, enough complaining. Here's my proposition. How about we combine it all? Not just a museum school where students walk with sketch books and pretend to be the next Van Gogh, and not just boring academic still life, or fat nude models, or long stories about how this genius reached his peak of creativity? But a program where every class gives you a sense that everything is connected? That the world around us is forever changing and it's stunning in all its seasons and moods? That Picasso stole from the Africans, and that we can paint like the Egyptians if we wanted to, or like the Japanese with their screens and no three point perspectives, or the Indians with their stunning gold illuminated manuscripts? What if we could create new designs through learning about ornaments on mosques? What if students would see local galleries and art fairs in addition to walks through dark museums? What if they designed costumes for the next Nutcracker like Chagall and Dali did for current plays? What if they practice grafiti art? Somehow, especially now, when we become more and more removed from the natural world, sitting behind our computer desks and residing in virtual realities...our kids need to get back to the roots...</div>
Diana Stelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10829088445849683524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966678623258541321.post-60200492415661123512012-12-28T15:25:00.001-08:002012-12-28T15:25:47.750-08:00Adding to Adam Lanza's trail of discussions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It seems like the whole world is discussing the motives of <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/14/justice/connecticut-shooting-suspect-profile/index.html">Adam Lanza</a> and <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/I-am-Adam-Lanza-s-mother-4125542.php">other problem children</a> who are at risk for hurting our society. It's time that I add my five cents towards the ongoing discussion from an educational perspective. A mother who comes from a creative world, and a wife to someone who is purely analytical, I find it very difficult sometimes to defend my point of view in allowing and promoting children's creative urges.<br />
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It seems with the focus on math and sciences and incessant testing on those subjects in our school systems that our society is so preoccupied with training robots that poor children don't get a chance to feel and react to the world around them. I know of parents who prefer to not read fairy tales to their children, (to not cloud their minds with surreal imagery). But what about fostering their imagination or learning valuable lessons about morals, human psychology, etc? Most extracurricular activities are aimed at bettering the chances of ultimate college applications, aka sport sections galore and extra math labs from the age of 4. There's lessening interest in the arts: music, writing, sculpting, painting, theater...and many schools are completely taking creative arts out of their curricula. If those exist, it's only to develop fine motor skills, expose to various options and materials, but not to treat the left side of the brain seriously, not to discuss art production as a way of learning about the inner and outside world.<br />
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Yet, as famous child development psychologist, <strong><em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Lowenfeld">Viktor Lowenfeld</a></em></strong> notes: "It is interesting to note that youngsters who have run into problems with the law and been put into institutions under the label of "delinquents" have apparently not been able to express themselves creatively".<br />
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Judging from my own experience, I paint best when I'm angry at the world. All these negative emotions are being put to creative use. The act of artmaking is allowing me to calm down, process my feelings and regain a trail of logical thought. No wonder art therapy has become such a hit over the last few decades. It opens doors to our subconscious and kids who aren't yet able to express themselves with words, are given a chance to let it all out, explain themselves by other means so that others could listen in. If only Adam Lanza's mother knew what her son was suffering from, if he had a way to calm down, he could have been a genius, a hidden gem in our midst. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_pollock">Jackson Pollock</a> is considered the most influential Amerian artist of the 20th century...</div>
Diana Stelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10829088445849683524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966678623258541321.post-921895035806261812012-12-12T14:11:00.001-08:002012-12-12T19:22:00.211-08:00Art Basel Miami for kids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofDtoNS5Q2eO03hRWtNa9P6hHLuUXBjHetGto2Ux9cqR799sd1WNdit4XOvJQDb1Mj-kXg5KtgQyl8UljEknGP_whEUAagJuvaqDWqfnVugEA3MD-N7ghJfwnhSiEFjDkFIhm3WXa6cGL/s1600/art+basel_children+art+appreciation_sculpture+and+kids2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofDtoNS5Q2eO03hRWtNa9P6hHLuUXBjHetGto2Ux9cqR799sd1WNdit4XOvJQDb1Mj-kXg5KtgQyl8UljEknGP_whEUAagJuvaqDWqfnVugEA3MD-N7ghJfwnhSiEFjDkFIhm3WXa6cGL/s320/art+basel_children+art+appreciation_sculpture+and+kids2.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10mcW9borP4hI4uNpjQWIALIyscLsICnu-LUODq5-MFpe8xUAasMINdzixj-2IIysojeIVcdgDj3AxWKEDQc0d5P0kI-c9XLMVszRwJRlzm1vPlj0Vk-yRYoSlmijTSpCVws7cTnbNE35/s1600/art+basel_children+art+appreciation_sculpture+and+kids3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10mcW9borP4hI4uNpjQWIALIyscLsICnu-LUODq5-MFpe8xUAasMINdzixj-2IIysojeIVcdgDj3AxWKEDQc0d5P0kI-c9XLMVszRwJRlzm1vPlj0Vk-yRYoSlmijTSpCVws7cTnbNE35/s320/art+basel_children+art+appreciation_sculpture+and+kids3.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkHjnCuY-96cKddbRUdjnMt6P9Qxkc3Pf_YolNg82qX0C-EriQGWiIN3uOIIcpQDmEVh9-t6SWRGEHOk82eQWeK1xYVIdqQLfN20dZlxsBZcbl6UIi_yMinfNOLxwke3b2guFEvxE4Tjq/s1600/art+basel_children_art+appreciation_sculpture+for+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkHjnCuY-96cKddbRUdjnMt6P9Qxkc3Pf_YolNg82qX0C-EriQGWiIN3uOIIcpQDmEVh9-t6SWRGEHOk82eQWeK1xYVIdqQLfN20dZlxsBZcbl6UIi_yMinfNOLxwke3b2guFEvxE4Tjq/s1600/art+basel_children_art+appreciation_sculpture+for+kids.jpg" /></a></div>
I just returned from our annual trip to Miami. First week of December is the week of <a data-cke-saved-href="http://miamibeach.artbasel.com/" href="http://miamibeach.artbasel.com/" target="_blank">Art Basel Miami</a>, the largest art fair in the country, and a time for art craziness, inspiration galore and an opportunity to somehow connect in my head everything that I am and would like to contribute to the art world. Earlier in the fall I launched a website for <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.plein-air-academy.com" href="http://www.plein-air-academy.com/">Plein Air Art Academy</a>, and am now promoting it and waiting on enrollment. Therefore, this time Miami wasn't just a research on dealers and their offerings, or new talent discovery, or pure art appreciation for personal inspiration. It was also an opportunity to view a child's reaction to contemporary art. It's certainly an overwhelming affair but while the attention span was still there, sculpture was incredibly captivating to my four year old, much more so than two-dimensional art. Discussions were very engaging and some incredible interpretations were offered by him that I could not have arrived at on my own. Though absolutely spent in two and a half hours, he demanded on our way home that we return year after year, as he enjoyed this activity of art watching and discussing so much.That of course was pure music to my ears.This statement is also very much in line with his stage of development where imaginative play is at its height. It is quite fascinating though to let his creative mind roam and I'm thrilled we could be on the same page while engaging in my favorite activity.Diana Stelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10829088445849683524noreply@blogger.com0