| Some students in school feel that they have | | | | the school room, but then all comments should |
| no ability in the art area. They stop | | | | be generic such as: Tell me about your |
| drawing as young as second grade because they | | | | picture. That is an interesting idea tell me |
| do not draw as well as the pictures that | | | | about your picture. I never thought about it |
| teachers have handed them out to color since | | | | that way, you have a real different idea |
| they were young. So what! Who can draw that | | | | there. |
| well? | | | | |
| | | | The rules for what they draw should be rules |
| Many of us cannot draw, but we like to | | | | with why that rule is in effect. I tried to |
| doodle. Doodling should be encouraged so | | | | do it humorously because the students |
| that students can start feeling friendly with | | | | accepted the rules because they understood |
| their pencils. Doodling gives them a way to | | | | why. |
| loosen up their wrists and have a steadier | | | | |
| hand. It also helps students hand writing | | | | 1. No weapons because schools are not |
| because they get better control of their | | | | tolerant of weapons. |
| pencils. | | | | |
| | | | 2. No blood and guts because someone might |
| Students need to express themselves through | | | | get sick |
| their drawings because art is a way to | | | | |
| express their inner thoughts and feelings. | | | | 3. Use the whole page because an artist |
| Art is used in therapy and counseling | | | | doesn't just put the picture in the middle |
| sessions and students should be encouraged to | | | | and leave the outside black. |
| display their artistic abilities. You never | | | | |
| know they might find it very enjoyable and | | | | 4. No names of people should be used. |
| and stress releasing. | | | | |
| | | | 5. Color is essential because we see in |
| Yes, students should be able to color a | | | | color and it makes our pictures stand out. |
| picture, but coloring a picture is not | | | | |
| drawing. Art lessons are important for the | | | | 6. Do not wrinkle and wad up your picture |
| basics, but most students are not going to | | | | because it is being put in a book. |
| become artists and they will feel bad if | | | | |
| their picture is not like the teachers. Some | | | | 7. No negative comments about pictures and |
| things like shading, perspective and where | | | | that includes your own. |
| the eyes should be placed on a head are | | | | |
| basics and students could incorporate them | | | | 8. Be proud enough of your picture to sign |
| into their drawings with very little stress. | | | | it in the lower right hand corner. |
| They just need to feel free to draw what is | | | | |
| in their imaginations or what they see around | | | | Be sure to display the students work and |
| them and feel safe from criticism. I used | | | | encourage them to talk about their art with |
| Art Starts to get my students started on | | | | each other and with you. If they still feel |
| ideas. | | | | that they cannot draw or paint pull out a |
| | | | book of Picassos and tell them how much one |
| No criticism is very important. With | | | | of his paintings sold for Dora Maar au Chat |
| children their needs to be some ground rules | | | | sold for USD $95.2 million at Sotheby's on |
| about what is and what is not appropriate for | | | | May 3, 2006. |