Reflection #8: Age Appropriate Activities

• Planning on age is an important thing for children’s learning. As an art teacher you want to keep open communication with the regular teacher and keep up to date on their curriculum and subjects being taught. There are so many resources and ways to incorporate everyday learning into art projects. 
• Each state core curriculum (the rainbow chart) is very useful in knowing what each grade and age should be able to accomplish and learn.
• Integrating the lessons is also something very important so you can provide the children with the best lesson that meets their learning needs. Preparation is important in an art class and each lesson should be thought out and planned to provide the best success for the class.
• Each age group is different in their knowledge and what they are capable of doing.  Providing an activity at the children’s skill level may be challenging at first but once you become aware of what the children are capable of you may think of better ideas to challenge them.

Mrsbrownsart.com has been a very useful website for me when creating these lesson plans. She gives great examples of age appropriate activities. I chose to do this lesson on 5^th grade. This seems to be a more challenging grade because they are getting to be fairly advanced in their psychomotor skills, cognitive and affective. They have had many psychomotor skills developed and things like; drawing, creating things, and putting things together seem to easier for them and their creations are more advanced. It is important to improve and work on those skills because they still can be better. They have progressed enough and understand enough that they can create and do many things on their own. They are more creative, imaginary and independent and begin to develop their own unique styles.

Mrsbrownsart.com has a clever project the 1–point Perspective City. Students learn about horizon line which can be used along with the vanishing point to create a more accurate image depicting space. Students will create a series of triangles. Then they create a horizon line behind the rectangles. Then they chose their vanishing point somewhere along that line. Using rulers they complete their drawings and even add small details to make it more realistic. This project is more advanced and suit the fifth grade level. It looks at depth and contrast and space where when younger they just draw on a flat surface. Children at fifth grade level will be able to determine the differences in perspective and drawing what is more realistic based on their knowledge.

Resources:

1. ("Emphasis Art", frank Wochiak and Robert D. Clements)

2. (www.mrsbrownsart.com)

3. The Utah State Art Core Curriculum- Rainbow Chart

Reflection #7 Art Vs. Craft

Art Vs. Craft

ART:

• Art is both traditional and contemporary(1),(2)
• Generally about aesthetics rather than function(2)
• Whether the artist consciously or subconsciously has ‘something to say’, it is there within the finished piece(3) 
• Art has more emphasis on process and the result of exploring and experimentation with materials(3)
• For Kids:
• Children’s art projects are more kid directed and focus on the process
• The goal is for the children to express an idea or emotion in the final outcome(4)

CRAFT:

• In Craft, one employs learned skills to accomplish something. Technical knowledge is used to arrive at an optimal outcome (2)
• Craftwork is skilled work: any kind of craft must involve the application of a technique.  A craftsman has tools at command (3)
• Crafts traditionally were about using a handmade process to achieve an end result. It’s a leisure activity rather than a means to an end (2)
• For Kids:
• Children’s art projects are more kid directed and focus on the process. The goal is for the children to express an idea or emotion in the final outcome (4)

I think that both art and craft are important but feel that art is more important for the child's creativity and learning process in school. Craft seems more instructional and more for the kids to mimic and follow directions which can be used for things like holiday activities. Craft is also considered something you master and become very good at later in life but not as children quiet yet. Art is about expression and creativity which is what is focused on in an art class and when doing integrated work in the classroom and should be tied into curriculum. Both arts and crafts should be incorporated but for the most part art should be the main focus.

References:

1. ("Emphasis Art", frank Wochiak and Robert D. Clements)

2. ( "The Difference Between Art and Craft",  (2008), tanglecrafts.wordpress.com)

3. (" Art vs. Craft: Teacher Art Exchange", (2000), www.getty.edu/education/teacherartexchange)

4. ( "The Difference Between Kids Arts and Crafts", (2010), Tony Kummer, www.ministry-to-children.com)

Art Project #10: Stary Night From My Window

I am a huge admirer of Van Gogh's. Not just for his fame and popularity I have always loved his unique style and interesting brush strokes. His work is truly moving and beautiful. When we were assigned this project I was very excited to do it. I chose to use the view from my home in Pleasant Grove's window. I have the most lovely view of the mountains and the sky especially at night. I tried to experiment and sort of mimic Vincent's style when drawing the stars and the moon. The way he paints gives the painting so much life and texture so I tried to do the same and exaggerate what is reality like he does. I like the way my stars turned out with swirls of color. If I could change anything it would be the moon I would give it less color because the pastels blended too much and made it look a bit messy. I would figure out a way for the moon to stand out above all else but without almost looking like a sun. I would also when using watercolor make it much darker so it looks more like a night time sky. This was probably my favorite project so far and I really had fun creating and experimenting with Van Gogh.

Art Project #9: Watercolor Taste

I think this project was a fun and clever idea. We all brought snacks and were asked to paint with watercolor the emotion of what the food taste like with color. For chocolates and rich foods like brownies I painted deep rich dark colors like blues and purple. For candy I painted lighter more vibrant colors. For salsa I painted a mix of bright colors like green, yellow, pink, and red because of the mixes of flavor. If I could change one thing I would experiment more with different ways of texturizing the watercolor and would try different foods to show more expression. Overall this was a fun assignment. 

Reflection #6: What motivates me as a learner

When I was younger I didn't always like school. I struggled greatly in reading and felt discouraged and frustrated with my self.  But in fourth grade I had the most amazing teacher who truly cared for me and wanted me to succeed. She made that extra effort to help me learn and grow. She was truly passionate and enthusiastic and strongly believed in what she did as a teacher. She knew she had the power to influence someone's life and help them gain a love for learning for their future. I can not imagine what my life would be like if I still struggled and did not learn to overcome those trials. Without her compassion and love toward me I know I may not be where I am today in school. 

Half way through junior high a light turned on in my head to work hard in school and do the best I can. I motivated myself to do my best and I was a happier person because I worked so hard and challenged myself.  What motivates me now as a college student learner is my will to succeed and do the best I can in life. I am here in school to work hard and make something for myself and for my future. I think because of the people who supported me and helped me is what made me have motivation and want to be a teacher. I want to be one of those teachers that shows such love and compassion shines for those little minds of my future children to grow and gain a love for knowledge.  Also to help those children discover themselves and their uniqueness. I want them to find importance and know what they are good at and help them in things they struggle. I truly believe that you can influence someone's life for the better and especially children at a young age to gain a love for knowledge and discovery.

We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Art Project #8: Color Wheel

We were asked to paint a color wheel using only the primary colors mixing them to make the rest of the colors. I think this project will be a great classroom resource that I would like to hold onto and I think that was Maele's intention when assigning this project. I think each color had emotional value and things that represent it. I chose for the primary colors to paint a design that represents those colors. I think the more eye catching and colorful it is the more likely people will pay attention to it. I added some simple definitions explaining; primary, secondary, tertiary and complimentary colors. 

Art Project #7: Visual Culture

I have never been a sports fan and have never enjoyed watching sports. I have tried to sit down and understand what is going on and try to enjoy myself but I truly am just too bored and baffled watching it.  It has come to my attention recently how big of an industry sports especially NFL football is. I don't really understand as too why so much money goes into  people throwing around a ball and tackling each other. I don't really understand why so much money is spent and these players get payed ridiculous amounts to spend on material things. It is actually kind of sad to think that so much money goes into something so silly when it could go to a much better cause. Maybe I will never understand it but a lot of people especially guys truly enjoy watching these sports and get so consumed by it. I can't go to school, go to the store, turn on the TV or computer without seeing or hearing something about football or some game. I decided to do this visual culture project because the NFL is something very prominent in our culture and has meaning to be because I think about it a lot. I chose to use red, blue, silver, gold, and black; more patriotic colors because it is part of american culture so the colors are symbolic. I especially chose to print in silver and gold representing the money spent in the NFL. 

Reflection #5: Artist Statement

Here are some good ways to write an artist statement. Reviewing questions and ways of writing with the class is a great way to teach them. Showing examples of good and bad statements may help the student see and improve on their own statements. Giving specific rules and guidelines to follow helps the students write a accurate statement. Especially with younger kids giving specific questions for them to answer like; What do you think you were best at? What do you think you could improve on? What was the hardest part of this assignment? etc...

Here are some great Ideas I found:

Your artist's statement can be a moving testament to your creativity and integrity. The expression of this commitment will vary, but the effectiveness of your artist's statement stems from the authority with which you write it. (1)

1. Take five minutes and think about why you do what you do. How did you get into this work? How do you feel when work is going well? What are your favorite things about your work? Jot down short phrases that capture your thoughts. Don't worry about making sense or connections. The more you stir up at this point, the richer the stew. (1)

2. Make a list of words and phrases that communicate your feelings about your work and your values. Include words you like, words that make you feel good, words that communicate your values or fascinations. Be loose. Be happy. Be real. Think of these as potential seasonings for your stew. You don't have to choose which ones to use just yet, so get them all out of the cupboard. (1) 

3. Answer these questions as simply as you can. Your answers are the meat and potatoes of your stew. Let them be raw and uncut for now.(1)

What is your favorite tool? Why?

                 .  What is your favorite material? Why?

                 .  What do you like best about what you do?

                 .  What do you mean when you say that a piece has turned out really well?

                 .  What patterns emerge in your work? Is there a pattern in the way you select materials? In the way you use color, texture or light?

                 .  What do you do differently from the way you were taught? Why? (1)

• Make "I" statements, rather than "you" statements. Talk about what your art does for you, not what it's supposed to do for the readers. This doesn't mean that you start every sentence with "I," but rather that you respect people's autonomy and allow them to respond to your art as they wish. (2)

1. (“How to Write and Use and Artist’s Statement” Molly Gordon, mollygordon.com )

2. ( “Your Artist Statement: Explaining the Unexplainable” http://www.artbusiness.com/artstate.html)

3. (“Emphasis Art”, Frank Wochiak and Robert D. Clements)