Art
|
Specific
Information About Art Courses
|
|
|
|
Additional Reference
|
Philosophy
The main goals of the K12 Art program are to develop a lifelong interest
in artistic expression and appreciation, to build knowledge of great art
from various traditions, and to foster creativity. To meet these goals,
key components of the program focus on:
Creative Expression
Activities include drawing, painting, printing, sculpting, constructing,
and weaving and use materials such as pencils, oil pastels, crayons, markers,
colored chalk, paint, clay, plaster, a variety of papers, yarn, found
objects, and fabric. In some works, your student will apply or extend
concepts taught in the lessons; in others, your student will express his
or her own ideas.
Interpreting Visual Elements
Many lessons ask your student to look at and discuss principles of design
and visual elements in works of art, such as line, shape, color, texture,
and pattern. Other lessons focus on various genres, such as portrait,
landscape, or still life. You and your student will examine the composition
of artworks to see, for example, how artists carefully arrange the subject
matter, or how they use bright and dark colors for contrast, use different
lines to create a pattern, or work with different textures.
Artistic Heritage
Some lessons focus on the careers of great artists, their styles, and
how their culture, place, or times influenced them. Other lessons expose
your student to diverse cultural traditions, themes, and styles, and the
use of natural materials native to artists in different cultures.
Fostering Creativity
Children
who see themselves as artistically talented may show more interest in
art than children who do not yet recognize their own creativity. For this
reason, it is important to encourage developing skills and to provide
a wide variety of art experiences, since one child may have greater skill
in drawing, another in sculpting clay.
Here are some suggestions for fostering creativity:
Acknowledge that mistakes
are an expected and accepted part of the process. Welcome imaginative
thinking. Ask “Why?” and “What if?” during discussions. Display student artwork
in a frame. Encourage students to
use a sheet of paper of paper to “try out” ideas before beginning a final
drawing. Be open to artistic
experimentation. “Let’s give it a try!” is a wonderful motto. Praise effort as well
as accomplishment. When praising your student’s artworks, be specific.
Instead of saying, “I like it,” give reasons why.
Other Art Lesson Issues
Viewing Artwork Online
You and your student will be able to enjoy and examine many works of
art on your computer screen. Although it may seem obvious, it is worth
reminding students that onscreen reproductions are of course typically
much smaller than the real works. Also, because color monitors vary, you
may see some variations in color from the original works (for example,
on some monitors a yellow object may have an orange tint).
Some special features of the onscreen artworks:
The Art Gallery:
With the click of a mouse, you can access thumbnail sketches of each artwork
used in the lesson. When you move your cursor over the thumbnail, a larger
image appears for you to examine. The Art Gallery is available on every
screen, including assessment screens. This tool is helpful when you wish
to view larger versions of onscreen artworks or compare the masterworks
in a lesson.
Due to the detailed nature of the masterworks featured in our Art program,
lessons that feature images may take longer to load on your computer. Magnifying Tool:
Some lessons allow you to enlarge a masterwork by clicking a magnifying
glass icon. When you move your cursor over the artwork, the pointer turns
into a hand that allows you to click and drag to explore the enlarged
artwork. Animations:
Some lessons use animations to help explore visual elements in artworks.
For example, in a lesson on shape, computer animation can help your student
see how an artist used shapes such as triangles, circles, or rectangles
in the design of a painting.
General Tips
Create an “art space.” If your situation allows,
set up a special space for working on art projects, where your student
can focus on the project without having to worry too much about making
a mess. Paints, clay, and other materials can sometimes
spill, so it’s advisable to avoid working in a carpeted area. If you must
work on a carpet, spread a drop cloth or old shower curtain. Store drawing materials in their original packages
or in plastic containers. Store cleaned paintbrushes in a cup with the bristles
facing up, or in a flat container. Save foam egg cartons, margarine tubs, ice cube
trays, or used muffin tins for painting projects. Save foam trays, plastic lids, and cookie sheets
to use as painting palettes. Store scraps of construction paper in a cardboard
box or plastic container. Store skeins of yarn in a box that has holes poked
through the top—pull the end of each skein through a hole so that each
color is easy to pull and cut to the desired length. For messy projects, have your student wear a sleeveless
art smock or one with short sleeves. A man’s old shirt or T-shirt, with
the sleeves cut as needed, can do the job.
Safety Tips
Use non-toxic materials. For example, instead
of using permanent markers, which produce toxic fumes, use non-toxic markers.
Look for “CP” or “AP” non-toxic labels on art materials. "CP” stands
for “certified product” and “AP” stands for “approved product.” These
products are certified to contain no known toxic materials in quantities
that would be injurious even if ingested. Instruct your student in the safe use of tools,
such as scissors. When using materials that produce dust, such as
colored chalk, discourage your student from blowing the dust off the artwork.
Otherwise, your student may breathe in the dust. If your student is allergic
to dust, be sure to use an alternate material.
|
