March 2025

Programme Art and Thought 

Art and  Thought workshop invites children into a creative space to explore the foundations of visual while reflecting on personal and shared themes. This course fosters dialogue, discovery, and independent thinking as participants exchanging ideas and developing their creative images.

Each session delves into different aspects of artistic expression, encouraging experimentation with diverse materials. Sessions also integrate artistic references to inspire discussion and creation, complementing the themes explored. 

For example, participants engage with Newton’s theories on light and colour through an interactive demonstration using a prism, sparking exploration of their relationship. These activities combine scientific principles with artistic interpretation, encouraging participants to connect theory with practice. 

The course offers hands-on engagement with materials such as water-based acrylics, flat palette, spatula, oil pastels, markers, coloured pencils, glue, cardstock, and more. Through this immersive approach, children build confidence in crafting and expressing their ideas.

Nov. 2024

The Importance of Process in Children's Art Education

As an artist and teacher, I emphasise the importance of the creative process in children's art education. The journey of creating art is far more valuable than the final product. This is reflected in the subtle interplay of light and shadow, and the dynamic movements captured by a 7-year-old. Observation and dialogue are integral to the pedagogical process, revealing the subtleties of a child's perception.

Elliot Eisner states, "The arts teach children that problems can have more than one solution." (1) This underscores the value of the creative journey, where children explore multiple pathways and solutions, enriching their cognitive and emotional development.

Lev Vygotsky explains, "Imagination is a necessary, integral aspect of the cognitive process." His insights highlight the importance of fostering imagination through artistic exploration, which is crucial for a child's overall development.

Imagine the creative process as a journey through a landscape filled with high mountains and flowing rivers, where children encounter games, surprises, and personal discoveries. The final artwork represents the culmination of this journey, reflecting the various experiences along the way.

In contrast, a class focused solely on achieving a hyper-realistic drawing restricts imagination, akin to solving a simple equation with one correct answer. While I respect different teaching methodologies, drawing realism is not part of my approach. Instead, I believe in fostering imagination and creativity through exploration and experimentation.

Eisner also notes, "Art education fosters the imagination, enabling children to envision new possibilities." This reinforces the idea that the process of creating art helps children develop a broader perspective and innovative thinking.

By valuing the creative process, we nurture creativity, critical thinking, and emotional expression, providing children with a space to thrive artistically and personally.

For further reading: 

-Eisner, Elliot W. "The Arts and the Creation of Mind." Yale University Press, 2002.

-Vygotsky, Lev S. "Imagination and Creativity in Childhood." MIT Press, 2004.