MaryAnn Kohl - Preschool Art: Craft & Construction: Its the Process, Not the Product

Contents Preschool Art
Craft and Construction Preschool Art
Craft and Construction MaryAnn F. Kohl Illustrations: Katheryn Davis Dedication Dedicated in memory of my grandmother, Mary Geanne Faubion Wilson, the first published author I ever knew, who sparked my imagination when she told me that angels made my freckles when they kissed me on the nose as I slept. Acknowledgments I would like to thank my editor, Kathy Charner, for her humor and kindness in our editor-author relationship. Sometimes I think we have too much fun to call this work! In addition, I would like to thank the owners of Gryphon House, Leah and Larry Rood, for their support and friendship, and their belief in this book and in me. Most important, my thanks go to my husband, Michael, and my daughters, Hannah and Megan, who keep my mind clear, tell me when Ive been wonderful or when I havent, and remind me of what is most important in life. Copyright 2001 MaryAnn F.

Kohl Published by Gryphon House, Inc. 10726 Tucker Street, Beltsville, MD 20705 Visit us on the web at www.gryphonhouse.com All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Kohl, MaryAnn F., Preschool art: its the process, not the product! / MaryAnn F. Kohl; [illustrations, Katheryn Davis]. p.cm.

A MaryAnn Kohl book. Inludes indexes. Contents: [1] Craft and construction --[2] Clay, dough, and sculpture -- [3] collage and paper -- [4] Painting -- [5] Drawing. ISBN 978-0-87659-251-9 1. Art--Study and teaching (Preschool)--Handbooks, manuals, etc. I.

Title: craft and construction. II. Title: Clay, dough, and sculpture. III. Title: Collage and paper. IV.

Title: Painting. V. Title: Drawing. VI. Davis, Katheryn. Title. Title.

LB1140.5.A7 K64 2001 372.5044--dc21 2001018468 Illustrations: Katheryn Davis Cover photograph: Straight Shots Product Photography, Ellicott City, Maryland. Bulk purchase Gryphon House books are available at special discount when purchased in bulk for special premiums and sales promotions as well as for fund-raising use. Special editions or book excerpts also can be created to specification. For details, contact the Director of Marketing at the address above. Disclaimer The publisher and the author cannot be held responsible for injury, mishap, or damages incurred during the use of or because of the activities in this book. The author recommends appropriate and reasonable supervision at all times based on the age and capability of each child.

Gryphon House is a member of the Green Press Initiative, a nonprofit
program dedicated to supporting publishers in their efforts to reduce their use of fiber-sourced forests. This book is made of 30% post-cosumer waste. For further information visit www. greenpressinitiative.org. Its the Process, Not the Product Why is art process important? Young children do art for the experience, the exploration, and the experimentation. In the process of doing art, they discover creativity, mystery, joy, and frustration, all important pieces in the puzzle of learning.

Whatever the resulting masterpiecebe it a bright sticky glob or a gallery-worthy pieceit is only a result to the young child, not the reason for doing the art in the first place. Art process allows children to explore, discover, and manipulate their worlds. Sometimes the process is sensory, such as feeling slippery cool paint on bare fingers. Other times it is the mystery of colors blending unexpectedly, or the surprise of seeing a realistic picture evolve from a random blob of paint. Art process can be a way to get the wiggles out, or to smash a ball of clay instead of another child. How can adults encourage the process of art? Provide interesting materials.

Stand back and watch. Offer help with unruly materials, but keep hands off childrens work as much as possible. Its a good idea not to make samples for children to copy because this limits their possibilities. Sometimes adults unknowingly communicate to a child that the product is the most important aspect of the childs art experience. The following comments and questions serve as examples of things to say that will help encourage each child to evaluate his or her own artwork: Tell me about your artwork. How did the paint feel? What part did you like the best? The yellow is so bright next to the purple! I see youve used many colors! How did you make such a big design? Did you enjoy making this? I see you made your own brown color.

How did you do it? Process art is a wonder to behold. Watch the children discover their unique capabilities and the joy of creating. This is where they begin to feel good about art and to believe that mistakes can be a stepping stone instead of a roadblockin art as well as in other aspects of their lives. A concept children enjoy hearing is, Theres no right way, theres no wrong way, theres just your way. Getting Ready! Being prepared makes art experiences all the more enjoyable. Here are some tips for success: Covered Workspace Cover the workspacewhether it is a table, floor, chair, wall, or countertopwith newspaper.

Tape it down to prevent wiggles and spills of art materials. Its so much easier to bunch up sheets of paint-filled, sticky newspaper and find a clean space underneath than to clean up uncovered workspaces time and again. Other workspace coverings that work well are sheets of cardboard, an old shower curtain, a plastic tablecloth, big butcher paper, and roll ends of newsprint from the local newspaper print shop. Handy Cleanup Make cleanup easy and independent for young artists. All the less worry for the adult in charge! Place a wet sponge or pads of damp paper towels next to the art project for a simple way to wipe fingers as needed. Rather than have children running to the sink, fill a bucket with warm soapy water and place it next to the work area.

Then add a few old towels for drying hands. Damp rags and sponges are handy for wiping spills, tidying up, and cleaning splatters as needed. The Cover-up Any old apron, Dads old shirt (sleeves cut off), a smock, and a paint shirt are all helpful cover-ups for creative preschoolers. Instead, consider this: wear old play clothes and old shoes and call them art clothes, used for art only. Its a wonderful feeling to get into art without being concerned about protecting clothing. These clothes become more unique with time and are often a source of pride! Other Tips Create a separate drying area covered with newspapers.

Allow wet projects to dry completely. Always protect a larger circle of space than the immediate area around the project. Think about floors, walls, and carpets (maybe even ceilings!). Shallow containers are often mentioned in the Materials lists. These include cookie sheets, flat baking pans, clean kitty litter trays, plastic cafeteria trays, painters pans, and flat dishes and plates. Its never too late to start collecting recyclables for art.

Save collage materials, fabric and paper scraps, Styrofoam grocery trays, yarn, sewing trims, and even junk mail. Wash hands thoroughly before starting any edible activity. Do activities inside or out unless specifically noted as an outdoor activity only. Using the Icons Each page has icons that help make the projects in Craft and Construction more useable and accessible. The icons are suggestions only. Experiment with the materials, vary the suggested techniques, and modify the projects to suit the needs and abilities of each child.