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I have been working in various museums over the last 20 years. I have
worked in about every position, from janitor all the way up to head art
curator. However, my favorite position is being in charge of child
outreach.
Many people believe that viewing and understanding art is
difficult and can only be achieved by a cultured few. In reality there
is nothing further from the truth. Anyone can appreciate things that
are beautiful. Most people have the ability to appreciate art, but not
the ability to create it freely.
Our projects for kids are always so thrilling because the children still have their imaginations intact. I cannot say as much about the artwork created by some of the most respected artists in the entire world.
You see, technique can be learned, but imagination once forgotten is rarely reclaimed. There are people who make their whole careers out of kids’ art projects. There is nothing simpler than art for kids. Any adult who has imagination can figure out how it is done.
You need three things when you are designing kids’ art projects: a story, a technique, and tools. The story puts the art projects into context. For instance, you might tell the kids something about Egyptian history and the fantastic carvings and hieroglyphic letters that the Egyptians made.
Then show them a little bit about how to draw, paint, carve, or sculpt in the style of the Egyptians for the technique. You don’t have to get all the details perfect. Then give them the right art supplies for their tools, and let them do their thing. You can then just sit back and watch the art projects take care of themselves.
Children who has been given the opportunity to do elementary art projects in school will simply love doing them as long as you teach them correctly. A controlling teacher who thinks that art projects must all be done in one way will probably do irreversible damage to the self-esteem of their students. You see, creativity must never be bullied, it must be nurtured.
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