A stunning tradition

We have found ourselves once again at Mairtown, creating beautiful art for our end of year calendar fundraiser. As a community based kindergarten, fundraising has become an important way for us to maintain our high quality learning programme, yet this particular fundraising has also become so much more than that. The manner in which all the children create, in an unhurried manner, their own unique piece of art has also become a rather stunning tradition – one that many of the children look forward to, remembering previous years’ work, or having seen older siblings’ pieces.

What I really love about working with the children on their art pieces is watching how they interact with the materials, how they notice and enquire about the work of their peers, and how children when supported with time and space begin to ‘think like an artist’.

Often when I work with children on any art related experience I encourage them to ‘think like an artist’. Although as adults we may ponder too much over how to do this, for children I find it comes quite naturally. So how do artists think? I’m actually not much of an artist myself despite it being very much embedded in my teaching practice, so to answer this question I have to look at what artists tell me,

Artists often look at things more closely than most people do. They tend to notice things that others might miss, often with the eyes of a child...Artists also tend to look at things in different ways, often without using labels…when artists sit down to draw or paint a scene they look at the objects as shapes and lines, not as trees or noses. They notice how the shapes and lines are related to each other; they look at spaces between shapes; they look at shadows... (Mulcahey, 2009)

It is with that statement in mind that we often find ourselves at Mairtown returning to the work of Hundertwasser. His work is delightfully colourful, rather abstract and children are naturally drawn to his pieces, all interpreting his work in very individual ways.

For some, art and creativity comes more instinctively than it does for others, however I still encourage all the children to ‘think like an artist’. As I work with the children either in small groups or individually, I’ll encourage them to take a risk, to experiment and try out their ideas, as that is how we gain the confidence that anything is possible; I’ll encourage them to look at things in different ways, as that is how we learn that everyone sees the world differently; and as I perhaps do more frequently than anything, I’ll encourage the children to dream and imagine, to tell stories, to think about what it could be rather than what it is, as this strengthens our imaginative and critical thinking skills.

Artists often take risks with their work since more will be gained by taking a risk than not. We expose ourselves to risk any time we begin a work of art. Children do the same. Will it turn out the way they want it to? Will they be able to control the paint? What if they don’t like it? As [adults] we need to reassure the child that risk is a good thing and that mistakes are learning experiences (Mulcahey, 2009) 

Although we may have used Hundertwasser’s art as a provocation for the children’s work, I feel it is still vital for the children to make choices. In this year’s work, many children decided not to use Hundertwasser but created work from their imaginations. Those that did were given Hundertwasser books and left to browse his pictures until they settled on one that inspired them. In doing this all the children’s work has turned out differently. Some children have painted Hundertwasser's famous lollypop trees in an expanse across their paper, others have painted only one, some children included themselves in their picture, some have created buildings and others patterns. Each child has approached his/her creation differently; there was no right or wrong way to begin or to finish and as such the pieces once again this year are totally stunning.

Providing open-ended experiences based on adult artwork gives children a rich exposure to art and a rich exposure to art experiences. Children are learning and doing at the same time. As children look at examples of works of art that initially inspires them, their visual perception skills are being nurtured (Douglas et al., 1981).

I wish I could show you all the finished pieces, but for now I have included some of the stunning and beautiful final art works for you to see.

Allowing children choices of material and ideas stimulates the imagination and allows the child to think more inventively (Colbert & Taunton, 1990).

Money raised from this fundraiser will go towards purchasing some new outdoor play resources.

Until next time,

Christine