End of the Year Art Activities

Here are a few end of the year art activities I like to do in the last few weeks of school to keep students engaged and responsible for their learning.   Art Games  Games are an easy filler. They are perfect for a short class period or or make a great end of the year […]

How to Teach Observational Drawing

Teaching the art of observational drawing is less about producing perfect images and more about helping students learn how to truly see. Many of my beginning artists come into the art room believing that drawing is a talent you either have or don’t, but I believe observational drawing is a skill that can be learned. […]

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 […]