The art room can become a canvas, covered in white paper from floor to ceiling. Doors, windows--even the sink--can play a role as a canvas. One may begin by dressing everything in white. When students get dressed in white paper clothing, watch out--they have become walking canvases ready for painting. Beyond the art room, one imagines draping…

This article describes an art lesson that allows students to set up and collect sphere canvases. Spheres move art away from a rectangular canvas into a dimension that requires new planning and painting. From balls to many other spherical canvases that bounce, roll, float and fly, art experiences are envisioned by students. Even if adults recognize…

Children's portraits begin as a search for faces in objects, later in drawings, photos and videos. From a child's first line, trekking across a page to the circle representing a round head, young artistic life begins as a search for a portrait. Picturing oneself and the face of others is a lifelong journey. As with other creative ideas in…

A lesson led by adult ideas, rubrics and formulas, conducted in a shrine dedicated to adult artists, demonstrates that children's art does not carry much weight in the art room. Art lessons need to speak of why and how artists do what they do. Art lessons also need to express the freedoms in drawing, instead of the search for the "proper way." In…

In this article, the author describes an art-class parade. In art-class parades, students set up scores of play figures, taking charge of customizing, choreography, casting and directing everyone. They create found-object floats and use instruments to accompany their parade. They empty their trunk of flashlights to light the videotaped event.…

The author has always liked the look of stained-glass windows. Usually the designs are simplified and the shapes are easier for younger students to draw. This technique seemed to be the perfect place for her fifth-graders to try their hand at color mixing. The smaller spaces and simple shapes were just what she needed for this group. Her students…

In school, the author sat next to Sandor the sculptor--when he was still undiscovered. He could take a pencil and, while seemingly listening in class, completely reshape the pencil by biting it. To detail his best pieces, Sandor would highlight the dents and gnashes with colored pens. Little did Sandor realize that his early efforts would be an…

Presents a printmaking project that enables students to work with lines and shapes by having them create tile designs on Scratch-Foam Board. Explains that the shape of the combined four tiles should be a pinwheel while the design on one corner of each tile should connect forming a design within itself. (CMK)

Presents an elementary art activity that successfully teaches the process of slabbing by having students create fishbowl plaques. Explains the process step-by-step beginning with a demonstration to the students along with showing previous examples. Endorses a type of clay that fires white because the glaze colors are much more vibrant. (CMK)

Describes an art activity that (1) began with students interpreting slides of artworks by Chicago (Illinois) artists and (2) led to students creating artworks directly on slides. Explains that students included descriptions and meanings of their works. (CMK)

Presents an art lesson for elementary students using painter Claude Monet as an introduction to Impressionism. Discusses Monet and his artwork. Explains that the students copy Monet's painting "The House of Parliament, Sunset" in order to draw the contour or outline of the buildings. (CMK)

States that many art teachers see weaving as too simple to be used as an activity in the art classroom. Asserts that weaving does not have to be unimaginative and provides ideas for using weaving to give students an artistic experience. (CMK)

Discusses the importance of planning for art projects by first producing sketches and then selecting the best sketch. Illustrates this by describing an activity used with fifth-grade students in which they make cut-paper collage turkeys and turkey disguises. Lists possible turkey disguises. (CMK)

Focuses on sculptures created by children related to dolls. Discusses different types of toys that inspire children and explains that students can learn about figure studies. States that students learn about topics such as posing and grouping figures. (CMK)

Discusses a six-week art program developed for kindergarten students where they learn about various artists with a focus on the work of Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Describes an art project where the students create collages in the style of Hundertwasser using the watercolor-resist technique. (CMK)