The Power of Process Art: Beyond the Craft
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Hey Reader! I can’t really say that I typically consider art as an “alternative means of communication”. But when I stopped for a second and really thought through this quote, this is what stuck out to me – we help children “make sense of their surroundings” when we allow them to explore with various materials, in multiple environments, without interruption or expected outcomes. Art is not something that comes naturally to me. For as long as I can remember, I have been “results-driven”. I like to know the expectation so I can meet it (or, let’s be really honest…so I can exceed it). Give me a “paint-by-number” so I can make sure I’m doing it “right”. I’ll take a cross-stitching pattern so I know what the final product should look like. Give me a blank canvas and supplies? I have no idea what to do and I will feel anxiety well up in me because I don’t know when I’m “done” or whether I “did it right”. Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever seen a child just freeze when given an open-ended creative opportunity? Could it be that when we allow children the freedom to explore creatively, with a variety of materials, in multiple environments, without a finished product in mind, that we actually allow them to rest in the beauty of who they are in the moment? This thought has hit me in a profound way this week. We spend a lot of time in the education world measuring progress and outcomes – our children learn early-on that their worth is somehow tied to their performance. How can we, in early childhood, allow for a different experience? Process Art is one answer! It’s a philosophy that allows us to give children autonomy, agency, choice…children are allowed and encouraged to explore various art materials in whatever way they wish. Take a look at your lesson plans for the next couple of weeks. Do you have crafts on your plan? Great! Do you have an open-ended, exploratory, discovery-focused art center in your plans? They are not the same. When your focus is on allowing children to discover and explore rather than “complete a craft”, you are offering an opportunity for children to learn to think critically, to problem-solve, to make mistakes and try again, to express their ideas and then change their minds. So…set out that art easel, provide various types of paints and brushes and sponges; glue and glitter; various types of paper. As with any activity you plan in your classroom, start with just a few supplies and show children how to use them properly. Teach them how to clean up and how to care for the supplies you provide. Then let them explore. Interact with the children as they work – “What is happening here?” “What were you thinking about when you decided to use the big paint brush?” Ask the children if you can write down the “story” of their creation – do they want you to write it on their paper or on a separate sheet so it doesn’t disturb the art? Click on the podcast link below to listen in to a conversation with Jennifer McCarville on how she uses process art in her school if you want to get a few more ideas! Next week, we’ll dive a little deeper into helping children use art to “represent” something. For now…how do you feel about letting children explore in this way? Are you excited? Maybe a little nervous (like me)? We’d love to hear about your experiences with process art! Reply to this email with your best stories (or worries) or comment on our social media posts this week!
Cheering you on this week! -Your ECCN team
Colossians 3:16 “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” |
