How to Teach Art Careers
Here’s some fun ways to teach art careers to your students. As an art teacher and lover of art, I feel like it is my responsibility to introduce students to a variety of careers that involve the arts. It is important for students to start setting goals and begin thinking of their future at a […]
9 Art Teacher Tips To Keep Students Engaged
Here are my nine easy, classroom-tested art teacher tips to keep art students engaged and creating with purpose. It can feel like a balancing act with short attention spans and the ebb and flow of creativity but with these strategies, I turn curiosity into engagement and help my students feel excited about both the process […]
How to Teach Pointillism
Pointillism is a great way for art students to explore how color, perception, and technique work together. Here is how to teach Pointillism, why I think it’s worth teaching, a brief biography of Georges Seurat – the master of the Pointillist technique, and how I use watercolor wash and acrylic dots to mimic optical color […]
How to Critique Art
There are many methods to critique art but my current favorite is the ‘Think, See, Wonder” method. Here’s what it is, why I like it and how I use it in the classroom. What is the ‘See, Think, Wonder’ Art Critique Method? The first step is See. Start by describing only what you can observe […]
How to Make Acetate Portraits
Here are some tips and tricks to teach acetate portraits. Students enjoy this art project because the end results look like them and it builds self-confidence. They also like the additional background painting because it is open to creative problem solving and exposure to a variety of mediums. What are Acetate Portraits? An acetate portrait […]
9 Art Room Organization Tips
These are my top 9 art room organization tips that are working for me right now. During my 26 years as an art teacher, I’ve learned many tricks to get more neat, clean and organized – my mother would be so impressed! Let’s Talk About Tables I have always used seating charts and I am […]
Paper Chain Art Project: Collaborative Art Lesson for All Ages
The Paper Chain Art Project is such a fun collaborative art lesson for kids of all ages. I have taught this lesson to 2 different age groups and here is how I adapt it for different age groups. Why Students Love It Students enjoy working together in teams and with their friends while establishing a […]
How to Teach Repousse Art and Metal Tooling
Here are some tips and tricks to teach repousse art and metal tooling to kids in a way that’s safe, engaging, and rewarding. Metal tooling and repousse are fascinating techniques that involve shaping and decorating thin sheets of metal. These ancient arts can be a wonderful introduction to relief sculpture for young artists. Metal Tooling […]
7 Tips for Having an Easy Student Art Show
A student art show can be exciting but also a bit stressful for art teachers managing everything. Whether this is your first or 10th art show, here are seven tips to help reduce stress for your upcoming art show. Plan Ahead and Stay Organized Organize a timeline well in advance, from the theme of artworks […]
How to Teach Stippling
Stippling is a great way for students to learn texture, shading and most of all, patience; so here’s some ideas for how to teach stippling to your art students. Introduce Stippling First, I explain that stippling is a technique where artists use small dots of ink, pencil or paint to create shading and texture. I […]