Bits and Pieces

Sometimes, an idea or a project can be daunting.  Looking at something as a big picture bring more cohesion and understanding, but can also bring about feelings of anxiety.  Sometimes, reorganizing the idea or project into bits and pieces can allow feelings of ease to come, and facilitate a more successful process.

In the studio, many of our young artists have great ideas.  However, they learn along the way that they must first find the bits and pieces that are needed to construct the whole.  This can be very literal, as with materials and tools, or it can be very intellectual, as with measuring dimensions and planning how it will function after it is made.

The artist here works in steps to create a piece of art.  She finds new things along the way, and is able to remain flexible while adding these in or taking others out.  The great thing about visual art is that it can be modified fairly easily.  Glue can be unstuck and wiped off.  Things can be covered up and glossed over.

Reaching for further bits and pieces, of both collage material and information, she can assimilate what she has with what she wants to achieve.  Again, this occurs both literally, through the art piece, and metaphorically, as knowledge is gained and understanding of the artistic process is cultivated.

Melding all of these bits and pieces together to reach a cohesive whole is the eventual goal of an artist.  It can be a long journey, full of struggles and strengths.  Yet, approaching the task with an ability to persist allows those small steps to result in a big leap, from investigation and uncertainty to understanding and self-trust.

Designing with Dad

Fathers and sons often bond through physical activities.  For some, this activity is sport, fishing or hunting.  For others, it is building or working on cars.  In the art studio, the same type of bonding can occur through creative construction of various other media.

This father and son duo work together to communicate and engage with each other through clay.  They focus on a character with whom they can both relate, Handy Manny, and exemplify their feeling that any problem can be fixed through collaborative effort.  They check with each other on their plans and reflect each other's experiences as they proceed with support.

Working together to design, construct, repair and modify Manny and his helpful tool friends, the pair makes a tangible representation of their problem-solving abilities as a team.  In this way, they also build not only a more meaningful relationship, but also individual character.  

For the young and the old, constructing personal character is essential for confidence and growth.  A child who designs with dad in the art studio will experience the benefits for the rest of his life, as he learns to count on his father for compassionate support, creative feedback, hands-on help and real-life relationship building skills.  As a result, he can offer the same to others, and continue feeling the quality of his own worth.

Sculptural Sewing

The pursuit of sewing is not just one of simply drawing with a thread and needle.  It can become a sculptural process, where an artist builds with fabrics and uses stitching as a sort of adhesive for the three-dimensional structure.  Turning two-dimensional images into actual objects gives them life and further meaning, as the art piece can serve to function in multiple ways.

Just as with any art project, sewing takes time and planning ahead is key.  The artist here worked on her soft sculpture over a period of many days.  Beginning with a sketch of various ideas, then finding the fabrics and buttons that corresponded to her imaginings, she was able to decide on a specific design.  Simply jumping in and attempting unfamiliar techniques leads to discovering which steps to take next.

Creating a basic pattern and remaining diligent while overcoming struggles allowed the artist to follow through with her goal.  Through repeated practice of threading needles, tying knots, and figuring out what does and does not work, she furthered her understanding about the sewing process.  At the same time, she increased her confidence in being able to construct her own piece from scratch and to persist through mistakes until she got it right.

Witnessing her initial drawing come to life through fabric, the artist was compelled to add various details with beads, buttons and additional textured materials.  She now knows that she can create anything, if she just makes a plan and starts working on it.  Making the leap from stitching a design or sewing a button, to creating a detailed soft sculpture, becomes easy if an artist's inner desire to discover is present.  

The intrinsic three-dimensionality of fibers and fabrics provides endless possibilities to artists who want to build in a different way.  Functional or non-functional, sculptures obtain many meanings and serve to enhance the lives of both the creators and viewers.  The meaning of this artist's piece is multi-layered.  It represents her first accomplishment as a seamstress, holds value as a successful art piece, is aesthetically and tangibly pleasing, and tells a story of the connection with her father's favorite stuffed dog from his childhood.  

Motivated Movements

Artists are often inspired not only by cognitions and ideas, but by movements and kinesthetic learning.  Since art making is a physical activity, it allows for one to use smaller muscles and concentrate on fine motor coordination.  However, gross motor coordination and using larger muscles can allow an artist to literally get into her work, and use her whole body to express herself.

As this artist began her piece, she enjoyed discovering the different patterns and marks that were left behind by her big paintbrush.  Continuing to work, she decided to experiment with her tools and see what different patterns and textures she could make with varying brushstrokes.  She takes her time to fill in every bit of the paper, as she becomes physically closer to it, so that she can more closely observe the immediate effects of her actions.

Adding more layers of color seems to inspire her to blend them in certain areas, while leaving other parts of her painting a more saturated shade of a contrasting hue.  The artist moves from sitting to standing and tries using both her hands to maintain better control over her materials.  She has not restricted herself in what she can do with her painting, so is focused on fully enjoying the movements that are necessary to produce dramatic results in her piece.

Explaining what she created, the artist discusses not only the final visual product but also her process.  She realizes a significant color scheme and abstract image within her painting, after looking at it from a different perspective, and mentions this observation.  Yet, the amount of energy that she put into her piece made it what it is, and highlights the artist's physical engagement with the materials and studio space as her most favored part.

Elevated and Esteemed

Wooden blocks may not seem as sophisticated as some of the toys seen on television or found in toy stores.  Yet, they are wonderful for children play with, because they involve the child as a whole.  This artist is using his whole body and mind as he works.  He uses his hands to dig for pieces that he wants, employs his larger muscles to move around his creation and get a different perspective, engages his senses as he feels the shapes and textures of the different materials, and employs his critical thinking skills as he balances his structure according to both weight and visual symmetry.

Blocks are also a great material for children making art because they grow with them.  Infants and toddlers enjoy simply touching and gripping larger, textured blocks.  As toddlers, they develop more muscle control and are able to combine blocks, stack them, or line them up.  Two-year-olds may demonstrate their first attempts at building structures, and show the beginnings of fantasy play.  Around age three, children learn how to balance and fit pieces together to build sturdier towers, then bridges and enclosures.  At ages three and four, the ability to recognize designs and patterns emerges, which is when towers and buildings become works of art.  In kindergarten and early primary grades, blocks allow children to recreate structures, cities and landscapes from everyday life.  The artist is depicted doing this in the images, as he considers what he has seen in the world around him.

He goes on to work with some of his peers, as they collaborate on different ideas and construction methods.  Socially, blocks encourage children to make friends and cooperate.  Large block play may be a young child's first experience playing in a group, while small block play may encourage an older child to work with others in solving problems.  Physically, children build strength in their fingers and hands, and increase hand-eye coordination, when they reach for, pick up, stack, or fit blocks together.  Intellectually, blocks help children learn across many academic subjects. Young children develop their vocabularies as they learn to describe sizes, shapes, and positions.  Preschoolers and kindergarteners develop math skills by grouping, adding, subtracting and eventually multiplying with blocks.  Older children make early experiments with gravity, balance, and geometry.  Creatively, blocks offer children the chance to make their own designs, and the satisfaction of creating structures that did not exist before.  

Children value their own block structures whether or not they represent specific things.  The artist here remained extremely engaged as he worked and was eager to present a dialogue about his creation.  He not only erected a complex structure, but felt pride in what he had made.  These skills help young artists to understand different perspectives and take steps necessary for success.  Such opportunities to practice design, representation, balance and stability carries over to other areas in life.  They allow the artist to develop techniques and interests of his own, while using them to create, solve problems, and challenge himself to build something bigger, stronger, more complex, and uniquely representative of his thoughts.

Stamping with Siblings

Creative habits are often built during time spent with family.  Offering opportunities for such focused play can benefit individual members, as well as the whole unit.  This artist and her mother are discussing various materials that are available for use in the studio.  Though mom may give her two cents and express her personal preference, the artist makes choices for herself as she engages in genuine self-discovery.

Experimenting with different colored paints, the artist also tries out various shapes and sizes of stamps.  She samples large corks, small foam toys, skinny rubber pencil grippers, wide bottle tops, patterned thread spools and textured plastic parts.  Repeatedly using those that she favors allows her to produce multiple prints, resulting in a more pleasing and inspirational outcome.  The process has also allowed the artist to perfect skills, such as learning how much paint to use and how hard to press.

After looking on at her brother's progress, she decides to try something new.  Borrowing stamps that he has finished using, she adds her own twist and continues creating according to her personal style.  Each child works separately, but both take cues from each other to share items or focus on a specific part of their painting.

The unique way that sister paints is very different from the autonomous technique that brother is using. Neither are forced to work a certain way, and can discover their true potential while enjoying the process.  Admiring the resulting artwork together also brings more attention to each sibling's personality and developmental abilities.

Bringing siblings to the art studio together may feel a bit intimidating for a parent.  Taking this step, however, can be a great way for family members to channel energies and form a bond through a common interest.  Specifically, using stamps is a wonderful way for anyone to learn about making art.  He or she can find things in the house to use, and leave a personal mark with a special symbol.  As seen here, the siblings use similar materials but create individual pieces.  They work side by side, but focus on their own actions.  As a result, family time can be relaxing, fun, and allow for personal growth.

Powered by Pop Culture

Inspiration can come from anywhere, sometimes appearing from a random observation and other times growing from a personal encounter.  This artist has a deep-rooted passion for video game characters, which often appear in his creations.  His current interest lies in Minecraft, a game about placing blocks to build anything you can imagine.  

The artist seems to feel so strongly about this digitalized outlet for imagination and wonder, that he works to depict it through many different mediums.  He has been able to transfer his abstract thoughts about the challenges and skill components of the video game to a more concrete depiction of the characters and scenery through drawing, writing cartoons and stories, and molding in clay.

Luckily, the artist wore his Minecraft t-shirt to the studio and was able to refer to it for appropriate dimensions and details.  Recreating an already-existing theme is often even more difficult than coming up with an original idea.  The artist does his best to match what he remembers from the game, with what he constructs on his own with the clay.

Combining visual memories of an electronic world, with the necessary steps of scoring and slipping to attach clay pieces, can be demanding.  However, approached in an artistic manner, it seems quite similar to the ambitious task of building and breaking down pixelated worlds.  The artist is able to conquer both of these adventurous activities, by physically using his fingers and hands, and by mentally connecting his past and present experiences.

While explaining his interest in pop culture and inspiration from computer-made graphic art, the artist captures the attention of his peers.  They can relate to him, as they also enjoy playing the video game and have engaged in group conversation about their struggles and successes.  The artist has now encouraged them to take their understanding of Minecraft from the electronic realm to the studio space. 

Getting into the Flow

In the studio, artists are able to try many different materials as they learn to express themselves.  These opportunities allow them to choose which mediums and tools they feel most comfortable with, and which they might need to use a bit more, in order to gain mastery and build skill.  

This artist has never before used a dropper to paint with watercolors, but is excited by the idea.  She practices squeezing the dropper, sucking up and squirting out the liquid, and mixing different colors together in the various compartments.

Maintaining control over the medium, the artist discovers that she can apply small drops of paint.  Then, realizing that she can also move the paint around with the dropper, she lets go of that control and enjoys seeing the result of her purposeful movement.  Streams of color run across her paper and blend together to make a pattern of swirls.

Though the artist remains careful to keep a tight grasp on the dropper, she is at ease and accepts whatever occurs within her creation.  Becoming caught up in the gratification of this activity has resulted in a balance of thoughtful progress and carefree retreat. 

Getting into the flow, the artist and her sister both remain individually focused on their separate artworks.  They share this experience, but each put forth effort from their own personal passions, which grow from their connections with the artmaking itself.

The freedom and spontaneity inherent in making art affords this family a relaxing morning together.  At the same time, a unique experience to become both pensive and playful is offered, as they can contemplate and create with watercolor.

Stitch by stitch

Sewing can be an intimidating activity to some, but it really is a fairly simple task.  It just takes jumping in and actually trying it out!  The artist here approaches the task step by step, to make sure that she understands details of the process.  This allows her to master the basic skills needed, so that she can more easily move from there toward more complex patterns.  Even though a struggle or two may inevitably occur, persisting through this results in greater personal confidence.

After threading her needle without fail, the artist is ready to begin sewing.  She experiments with a running stitch to make a design across her fabric, and witnesses how her efforts are making the piece come together.  This moment of success is important for artists to feel, as they continue to focus their energy on the challenging, yet rewarding, task at hand.

As the artist continues to stitch, she becomes a bit more relaxed.  The repetitive movement of weaving in and out, up and down, calms the mind and body, while coordination of the brain and muscles increase in a natural rhythm.

Though the process can be trying at times, an increased feeling of tranquility that comes with sewing helps to motivate the artist to keep working.  Recalling knowledge that has been gained from the start of the session, the artist here takes time to do it right, so that she can proceed with steady success.  Envisioning the outcome, she connects what has already been sewn with what she plans to add in her next movements. 

Feeling confident, the artist continues to work, step by step, stitch by stitch.  She is not hesitant to ask questions when she needs a reminder, but is learning on her own by seeing evidence of achievement in her tactile creation.  Learning in this way, the artist is building skills not only for practical production, but also for persisting through problems with a relaxed mindset.  Combining these elements leads to success within the art studio, but also when discovering new opportunities every day.

Tracks toward Meaning Making

Exploring with art is a learning process that is filled with fun!  This young artist is discovering the different ways that he can apply paint to his paper.  The contrast between the warm-colored paint and cool-colored paper brings even more energy to his creation.

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Using a wheel taken from an old roller chair, he is making tracks and checking out his route for travel.  The artist experiments with moving it fast and then slow, up and then down, all over, back and forth in a scribble scrabble pattern.  Its such an invigorating ride!!! To look back and see where one has been can be just as exciting.

The artist now wants his mom to join in his adventure.  Taking the journey through the world of art is that much more enjoyable when shared with another!  He explains his actions and the revelations he is having, as he starts fresh with different colored materials.  It is nice to relay ideas and get rewarding feedback from a peer, as the artist gains confidence through the process. 

Deciding to keep the paint colors separate, the artist makes a choice based more on the visual outcome of the tracks made, than on the variation of hues.  He is so focused on the cause and effect, that his whole arm just seems to move itself!  It can be easy to get into the flow of a painting, as the body and brain are both used to engage in the here and now.

Further learning takes place as the artist moves off of the paper and finds that the ball makes different patterns on the table's harder surface.  Paying attention to the kind of marks that his tool of choice is making allows the artist to determine which other kinds of tools he would like to use.

 The artist finds that this smaller wheel rolls through the paint in a different way.  Comparing the marks made by the different wheels helps the artist gather more information about his options in the studio.

As the artist and his mom zoom around on the paper together, the image of bulldozers and tractors working at a construction site comes to their minds.  Reinventing this scene on the paper, the two communicate about how to move their "machines", just as real workers would discuss their plans when interacting on site.  "Beep Beep!! Coming up behind you and getting ready to dig!!"

After trying brushes, wheels, roller balls and fingers, the artists have discovered various ways to make their marks.  These pieces serve as a sort of road map, showing where the artists began and how they continued to progress.  In the artistic journey, and throughout the voyage of life, taking advantage of opportunities allows one to gain experience, figure out what did and did not work, and to use that knowledge for continuing along to further destinations.