Kohl MaryAnn F - Scribble art: independent creative art experiences for children

Kohl, MaryAnn F. Scribble art: independent creative art experiences for children / author, MaryAnn F. -- 2nd ed. p. cm. -- (Bright ideas for learning ; 4) Rev. ed. of: Scribble cookies. c1985. c1985.

Includes index. Preassigned LCCN: 94-94502. ISBN 0-935607-05-6 1. Handicraft-Juvenile Literature. I. II. II.

Kohl, Mary Ann. Scribble cookies. III. Title. IV. Series: Kohl, MaryAnn F.

Bright ideas for learning; 4. TT160.K65 1994 745.5 QBI94-1270

To my husband, Michael, and my daughters, Hannah and Megan. Thank you, former students from Mountain View Elementary School, Ferndale, Washington, for your creativity and your beautiful inner spirits. With you I learned as I taught, and with you I found creativity came from within you, not from my teaching you how. Sterling Brand, principal of Mountain View Elementary School, encouraged creativity and individuality in the teachers who worked with him, thereby encouraging us to do the same with our students. Marlene McCracken, author and master teacher, taught me the philosophy that children learn by doing, that teachers find success by guiding children in their individuality, and that all children can achieve if given the time and respect to do so.

Special thanks to: textype, Trish Lemon and Dorothy Tjoelker-Worthen; BookCrafters, Donna Shankleton; WestPro Graphics, Arthur Mole; and Tore Ofteness, Photography. Every time we teach a child something, we keep him from inventing it himself. On the other hand, that which we allow him to discover for himself, will remain with him visible for the rest of his life.John Piaget

Dear Artist: Are you ready to enter the world of creativity, where there is no right or wrong way to create? Imagine feeling free to encounter any art experience without a set of rules or expectations for outcomes! I like to say, Process not Product, which means: the doing, exploring, creating, and attempting of new ideas is more important than the result of your creativity. You may end up with a painting resembling a muddy smear, but if you tried something new, learned something interesting, or discovered how paint acts, then you had a successful art process. The product is not as important. However, if you would still like a nice art product, all the art ideas in this book are easy, creative, and interesting, and can turn out to be quite amazing and fun.

The art experiences found in this book were tested by children and then compiled for the purpose of independent art expression and experiences for artists of all ages. These art techniques and ideas are the same as those used by professional artists, but you can explore art and its process, rather than working towards the end product of art as a goal. When you are ready and have explored the process of art, go ahead and try for a finished product you would enjoy. Anything goes! Think of your art as experiments. Some things will look great and others wont, but what you learn and discover in the process is worth so much more than perfect looking results. Go ahead and recycle or reuse your experiments or save your favorite artworks.

Think of ways to use your experiments for other art ideas, too. There is no right or wrong way to create with the ideas in this book. Each art experience can be set up in an independent art center at home or at school and enjoyed and explored without adult samples to copy. Gather some materials and supplies from the kitchen or classroom and then, with a general technique with which to get started, you create, explore, discover, and express. There is no right or wrong way for the art ideas in this book to turn out. There is only your way, the way of the artist.

You, the artist, need only please yourself. I hope you will enjoy creating and discovering as you drip, smudge, glop, and sculpt your way through this book over the next few hours, weeks, years, or a lifetime! Oh, I almost forgot. Dont forget to help clean up! Write soon! Your friend, MaryAnn F. Kohl
author

How to set up an art center: Encourage Independence Select a corner of the room or a table that will be the center of art activities. This area will be child ready with supplies at child level: scissors in a can, pencils, brushes, crayons, glue, tape, stapler, and other commonly used materials. Keep a supply of paper, newspaper, paper towels, collage items, sewing trims, ink pad, empty cups, and other items often used for art on hand.