Schwake - ART LAB FOR KIDS: express yourself!

This book was written to inspire the teacher, parent, childcare provider, grandparent, and anyone who wants to make art with (and possibly alongside) a child. It is always about the process in our studioand enjoying the process deeply. For children, art is a way to convey their experiences and feelings about the world. It helps them define and evaluate their world. Sometimes, art making doesnt go as planned and the end product doesnt work out as envisionedthats okay. It takes a lot of practice! These lessons are designed to repeat over and over to gain competency through repetition, expand creative thought, and increase the makers skills. I have found as a teacher of both children and adults that everyone learns through practice. I encourage students of all ages to try the same lesson twice, at the very least, and let newfound knowledge guide the process. I encourage you, the adult, to work alongside the students to discover the joy of the process for yourself. Investigate your creativity again and help explain, without words, your world.

The following art materials list is a guide to often-used materials and a simple art studio setup. Itr is a comprehensive list for all the lessons in the book, but you dont need all the materials for each lesson. Each lesson outlines the materials needed to create the project.

I encourage you to set up an area to exhibit and celebrate the art that is made. This elevates the process to a place to be admired and remembered. A simple string with clothespins to hang flat work can fit in the tiniest of spaces. A shelf or table can hold sculptural work. For larger rooms, a cork strip or wire curtain rod can run along a wall to hold a classroom full of artwork.

It is important to celebrate the creative process without making it all too precious. I often have parents lament about where to display or how to keep artwork in their homes. One of the easiest ways to hold on to the work is to photograph it and have a simple photo book made. We found this to be a great solution for many families. We also gave special pieces to relatives who would appreciate the artwork. Sometimes, I have asked my own children if they have art they would like to recycle into bookmarks or greeting cards. This has been a fun way to enjoy the initial artwork once again by making something new and spreading the love to friends. At the end of each year, in our home, I went through the art that was made and kept one piece for myself and one for each child. These pieces went into paper portfolios and we often pull them out for a look. The rest is photographed and the originals are recycled.

Many of the lessons in this book can be adapted with your own ideas. I think of them as springboards for interpretation. There are many ways that each lesson can be donebe open and let your personal expression flow freely! In a classroom setting, there can be as many outcomes to each lesson as there are students. Most of all, enjoy the process. Embrace the differences and then admire the results! It is my greatest hope that these lessons inspire art making and a closer look at the world within each of us.