TEACHING CHILDREN TO APPRECIATE ART, PARTS 3 AND 4

Harbour Seal
30" x 30" oil on canvas
by Joanne Giesbrecht

The Feldman's Critique really worked to help kids "get into" the art that they were seeing in the week they spent at Museum School in the Glenbow Museum, Calgary. It helps if they stick to one piece of art to do the 4 steps, and then move on to another piece of art. After spending time on each of these steps (they shouldn't rush the process), we had them do a quick sketch of the piece in their journals. Later, they could choose to do a painting based on one of their favourites pieces, or favorite artists. They worked so hard to create their own masterpieces, keeping in mind all the things they had written and experienced when viewing a piece in the museum. As well, you could have them write a story - either based on the responses of their favorite art piece, or based on the piece of art they had created for themselves. And depending on the age of the child, you could have them investigate more work by their favorite artist, the life of the artist, etc.

Here are the final steps for experiencing a painting. (There is a different set of steps for looking at 3 dimensional art!)


3. WHAT IS THE ART ALL ABOUT?

Imagine you are in the middle of this work of art...

Are there sounds, smells, tastes?

How does it make you feel in your body? in your thoughts?

Does it remind you of anything? 

What is the artist telling you...is there a story, a feeling, an idea?


4. YOUR LAST WORD

Do you think this is a good work of art? Why?

What do you like most?

Would you change anything?

Would you like to see more work by this artist?