THE MOBILE ART STUDIO

What are the best art materials for children to explore painting? Regardless of how young the artist, good quality paints, brushes and art surfaces should be used, otherwise negative associations with art might be drawn due to cheap poster paints and nylon brushes. The good news is, quality art materials do not mean expense. The Best Paints for Children’s Art Few things are more frustrating for a child than to aspire for artistic effects only to be limited by the cheap art materials available. Cheap poster paints are a common culprit, the sort that yields gritty pigment that refuses to cover the art surface evenly. Tablets that require a lot of water and working over can waste valuable time and energy if the child simply wants to get down to the painting. Nylon brushes that cannot hold much paint, splays easily or permits only the broadest brushmarks will do little for children’s self confidence if wanting a particular effect. Again, thin paper that buckles at the smallest drop of...

Creating abstract art at an early age opens creative channels for future creative expression. Such artistic freedom enables children to explore artistic techniques that aid hand-to-eye coordination and colour experimentation without the painting having to ‘look’ like something. Art Activities for Children Criss-cross Explosion by Joseph Busby (5) Abstract painting need not be restricted to post compulsory art schools. Children of any age can explore line and colour for its own sake. Every random line possesses visual energy at various points. Focal points can be created by a splash of colour here, a bizarre shape there. Children may also explore how emotions can be evoked by colour and/or shape, as well as making random associations. Colours used in Abstract Art The inclusion of bright coloured pigments within the colour range is important for colour mixing good secondary colours. Useful pigments are: primary red, yellow and blue (cadmium yellow pale, crimson lake and...

An ideal painting exercise for beginners, recording how a single-coloured object appears to vary under different lighting conditions will help develop visual perception and banish the notion that a red object is simply one red. How to Paint Red This lesson explores the colour red. For ease and the purpose of this exercise, a tomato is the chosen subject matter, (although a pepper can be used.) Tomatoes possess smooth undulating contours enabling the artist to explore how its local colour shifts from one area to the other. To begin with, look for as many variations to red as possible within the tomato(s), such as Violet-red, russet- red, orange-red, golden- red, blood-red, oxide- red, pink-red and brown-red Parts of the tomato may possess no red whatsoever. In such cases, watch out for the automatic inclusion of red within the colour mix due to the nagging insistence that tomatoes are red all over. Often this is not the case. In fact, when painting a bright-coloured object, subt...

This art lesson explores tonal values in monochrome, in this case by the use of variants of blue. Painting in monochrome is a great way of exercising artistic resourcefulness when presented with a limited palette. How does the artist represent the other colours with only blue as the chief pigment when painting an object? How to Paint in Monochrome Many artists like to work with a limited palette; some of Monet’s sketches explored but three oil colours. With just one chief colour at the artist’s disposal, rendering the subject matter in front presents fresh challenges. This exercise involves using blue as the chief pigment. Students may use a dark earth colour to darken blue, white to lighten it, and also to use a pigment that adjoins blue on the colour wheel, which can be either green-blue or violet. Variations in Blue Paint There is a multitude of different blues in oil pigments to choose from: ultramarine, cobalt, Prussian, pthalo, cerulean or Winsor. Learners have a...

Painting with economy of brush marks forces the artist to make each count. The resultant landscape sketch will appear less fussed over and fresher. Painting Technique Cure for Perfectionists Learners afflicted with the compulsion to work over a painting in pursuit of perfection might be dissatisfied if all life appears squeezed out of the painting. The teacher may suggest the use of large brushes on a small art surface to complete a simple landscape study. With limited marks allowed the painting will inevitably retain expression, vibrancy, and freshness, albeit with imperfections. The exercise may feel awkward at first and some learners may still be tempted to fuss over the painting. Art Materials for the Painting Exercise Painting surface no larger than A3 in size (or around 12x15in) Wide bristle brushes, sized around 8-10. Essential pigments of the student’s chosen medium, which must be opaque in nature (oils, acrylics or alkyds.) A photograph featuring a landscape with...

A pencil sketch exhibiting textures or patterns as the pencil is worked over the paper will add an extra dimension to the drawing and offer opportunities for exploration techniques for shading. Shading Technique with Pastel Pencils and Patterns A multitude of effects can be achieved if the drawing paper is laid over a textured surface prior to sketching. This rubbing technique can be used to give a textured effect to an otherwise solid area of shading within a drawing. A different texture can be used for various areas of the drawing or the pattern orientated differently throughout the drawing. Art Materials for the Sketching Exercise Thin drawing paper of around 80gsm. This will permit the texture to show through during the shading process. Soft graphite pencils (2B or softer). Coloured pastels pencils can be used. A selection of textured surfaces. Off-cuts of embossed wallpaper would be ideal. Woodchip, weave effect, swirly patterns or grainy can be found at most DIY sto...

Writing objectives for a class of art students is not easy if there is a diversity of learning needs and artistic aspirations to cater for. How does the art teacher write clear objectives that cater for all? SMART learning objectives for art is the answer. Aim and Objectives: What’s the Difference? To write good objectives for art courses, the teacher must first understand the difference between aims and objectives. An aim in teaching context is a general state of intent that may or may not be fulfilled. The teacher may formulate generalized teaching aims at the beginning of the course module after initially assessing the students and which will help the teacher formulate a series of art lessons. This aim (or learning outcome) might be To help students: Develop their drawing ability Know the key art movements. Learn the color theory To explore mixed media Improve figure drawing. Or simply to improve painting skills. Clear Art Objectives These general statement...

Almost every art class has one student that cannot or will not deposit paint onto paper. The teacher may offer assistance on the rounds only to find the student has done no work by the end of the lesson. How can the teacher raise student motivation in art class? How to Motivate Students in Art Before tackling the problem of the procrastinating student, the teacher must first identify the source of the problem, which, for example might be that the art activities are too advanced for the student, or not advanced enough. Many other factors might come into play, which could be any of the following Art Activities too Advanced Beware of the subconscious assumption that anyone can draw a cube or mix blue and yellow to make green. Some students may still need guidance with such practices. An absolute beginner might not have the confidence to pick up a paintbrush, let alone mix paint. A fear of looking stupid might hide itself behind a façade of bravado or a withdrawal response....

Initially assessing students at the beginning of an art course is vital if the course teacher is to formulate a meaningful programme of lesson plans that are geared to the ability and needs of the students. It also ensures each student is enrolled upon the correct art course. Why do an Initial Assessment in Art Courses? Without a preliminary assessment, the teacher cannot make informed decisions on what teaching methods to employ within the class, and the students cannot make informed decisions on whether to pursue the course. Really, the initial assessment establishes crucial facts about the students prior to enrolling which the teacher can use. Initially assessing students also helps students decide whether the course is really for them. After all, a student interested in botanical illustration would be inconvenienced if the art course focused mainly on landscape art. Similarly, a hopeful watercolorist might be disenchanted with a course that concentrated mainly on acrylics. ...

An art class will often comprise students with an assortment of leaning needs and levels. For this reason no one teaching method will suit all. But a blend of the two opposing teaching approaches: pedagogy and andragogy will suit everybody. The Best Teaching Methods for Art Instruction Contrary to first impressions, any teaching method can be seen fit into one or the other divergent teaching approaches. These are known as andragogy and pedagogy. Andragogy is based on the behaviourist approach to teaching. Behaviourism is where something is learned without involvement of the higher thought processes. This ‘learned’ behaviour becomes automated due to conditioning. A stimulus brings on the response, which can be as subtle as the tone of the teacher’s voice to urge a student  to complete a project on time. Behaviourism in the classroom can be seen when children automatically file out of the classroom at the sound of the bell. The bell is the stimulus; the filing out is the resp...

Developing artists looking for exercises to expand art techniques or teachers looking for art lesson plans may find something on this blog to fulfil a particular requirement. Online artclass challenges exploring the key art mediums: pencils, acrylics, watercolours, oils, alkyds and pastels are covered here. Art activities to suit young children to adults of varying abilities can also be found. New Ideas for Artistic Expression Finding new art challenges to try can be difficult if seeking inspiration or new ideas. An over-familiarity with one’s chosen medium can make the practice seem stale. But trying a new way of colour mixing, untried subject matter or combining two techniques can bring a fresh insight. Art Lesson Plans for Arts Education In this vein, certain articles on this blog can be used by developing artists and teachers alike. A section for teachers can be found on matters as lesson planning, learning theories, assessments and health & safety, etc,. Each artcl...

My teaching book on oil painting for post compulsory education could come in useful for the art teacher who has hit a mental block when it comes to oil painting lesson ideas. Guidance for Art Teachers My book which condenses my knowledge of oil painting and my experiences teaching art is in fourteen sections, which are: guide to art materials, students’ needs, preparing to teach art, the initial lessons, lessons to underpin painting, lessons on colour use, lessons exploring painting techniques, lessons on still life painting, lessons on landscape art, lessons on alfresco painting, lessons on life painting, lessons for further exploration, end of course preparation and assessment. How Students Learn A gifted artist does not necessarily make a great teacher although it might help. This is why learning theories are essential in helping the teacher understand the different ways people learn. Practical issues such as the layout of the classroom, logistical factors of the art material...