Art teachers share a variety of lessons that encourage community building, choice, and student engagement. The lessons in this issue provide a high level of choice for students learning from home, and may encourage collaboration among family members as well. Students learn to be resourceful while using everyday materials to create bound sketchbooks; use reference photographs to complete a still-life drapery study at home; experiment with line printing using corrugated cardboard; and more.
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This is a challenging time for art educators as states practice social distancing, close schools, and recommend staying home. As I write this, we don’t know what will happen this fall, but I know we will persevere.
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The best way I know to do printmaking with young students is through a process called Thinking with a Line. This approach was developed by Cathy Weisman Topal through her work at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. Cathy is the author of six books and multiple teaching resources, including Thinking with a Line (Davis Publications, 2004).
In the midst of summer vacation, I’d say the last thing most teachers want to do is think about the upcoming school year, but we art teachers are a different breed. Our heads and hearts are full of the beautiful masterpieces our young artists will joyfully create during those first few weeks of school.
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Clay is almost every art student’s most talked about medium. From the first day of school to the last, it’s constantly on my students’ minds. “Ms. Drake, when are we using clay? Are we using clay today?”
The quote, “A pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty” is often attributed to Winston Churchill. Whether Churchill said it or not, it’s true.
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Albert Einstein once said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” As a long-time art educator, this quote stands as a mantra to me. I often try to implement things into my art program that encourage students to take creative risks, problem solve, and think outside of the box.
Something I’ve learned in my thirty years of teaching is that the little time we have with students is precious. So much so that many years ago, I made the decision that I would no longer do exercises in class like shading cones, making crosshatching practice bars, or color wheels.
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In keeping within our drawing curriculum, I chose the American flag as the subject of this year’s drapery study. With the primary election right around the corner, I thought the flag may help to remind those who recently turned eighteen to exercise their right to vote.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, many teachers transformed their programs to virtual instruction seemingly overnight with verve and patience. Administrators across the nation are enacting contingency plans for continued virtual instruction, requiring educators to reinvent their programs for the long haul.
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Lawrence Lindell is a cartoonist, zinester, musician, and art educator who lives and works in Oakland, California. He specifically notes that his work is “for Black women, Black people, people of color, queer folks, and folks with mental health issues.” He considers his works to be tributes to the communities that helped form his accepting and open worldview.
