While teaching about Making Connections while reading this week I re-read two wonderful books revolving around art! The first being The Art Lesson by Tomie dePaola and the other was Willow by Denise Brennan-Nelson and Rosemarie Brennan.
Students made text-to-self connections with The Art Lesson and then text-to-text when Willow was introduced. These books reminded me how important it is for students to be able to have creative freedom when doing art. Children need to have opportunities to explore and discover new techniques and mediums, but just as importantly they need opportunities to create without too many "rules" to follow.
In 7th grade I had an art teacher that wanted our art to look a certain way, regardless if we used the technique correctly or not. I recall drawing the back of a person's head-- specifically the hair and it not being what she thought it should be. I became very discouraged with after that year and din't take another art class until my senior year of high school. My teacher then allowed us creative freedom within certain boundaries. She was more concerned with the process and not only the finished product. My love for art was rekindled. Then in college I was able to take graphic design classes and that love deepened. Who would have known I would teach art about ten years later??
Those experiences guide me as I teach young children to experience and appreciate art. I can only hope my impact on their lives has a much more positive outcome.
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