Creativity is a huge buzzword in art education today. The employers of tomorrow will be looking for employees who can think creativity, are quick on their feet and are able to work collaboratively with others. In order to ensure they are preparing their students for the challenging world ahead, art educators must know what creativity truly is and…

Children can be motivated to transform their thoughts, feelings and perceptions into visual expressions for drawing and painting. A variety of means are available to help them produce diverse and creative artworks. This article offers a few challenging ideas to get one's class whizzing along.

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…

The author's fifth-graders are usually easy to motivate, especially with an assignment as exciting as dragons and mythical beasts! Since many of the author's projects are "typical" subjects such as flowers, animals, still life and so on, the idea of creating mythical creatures really caused a stir in her classroom. In this article, the author…

This article describes an art activity on self-portraiture inspired by artist Tim Hawkinson. Hawkinson created a sculpture titled "Emoter" in which his face, moved by motors, twisted and contorted based on random signals from a TV. This art activity incorporates technology into the art room, brings the work of practicing artists alive, and is a…

In this article, the author describes an exciting project, written for first-graders, wherein students got to put themselves into their art using a camera and just one computer. In this project, students were challenged to invent their own fantasy place where anything could happen. Using the camera, the author took their picture in their chosen…

Describes an advanced elementary art project that was inspired by a fountain. Explains that the students created water fountains for tabletop display using hand building clay and glazing techniques. States that students selected a design based upon their abilities. (CMK)

Presents background information on the artist Ginny Ruffner who was a "flameworker." Includes information on the exhibition entitled "Creativity: The Flowering Tornado, Art by Ginny Ruffner" and the accompanying art pop-up book. Provides photographs of some of her artwork. (CMK)

Describes a printmaking activity where the students draw in printing ink on plexiglass slabs in order to create a mirror image called a monoprint. Explains that the students should not write words on their monoprints for two reasons: (1) it takes too long to write backwards; and (2) the ink dries quickly. (CMK)

Provides an interview with John E. Kennedy that focuses on topics such as his childhood interest in creating puppets, his puppetry career, and his workshop called Character Lab 2000. Provides a lesson for students 8-years-old and older on how to create a pencil head rabbit puppet. (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)

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)

Presents an art project where students are asked to use paper to create a product for a business, such as paper flowers. Explains that the project works well for sixth- and seventh-grade students. Discusses the process of creating the product and the product exchange. (CMK)

Describes in detail an art assignment influenced by the book, "Collage Techniques: A Guide for Artists and Illustrators" (Gerald Broomer). Explains that students created mini-collages out of various types of paper, but focused on only three colors. (CMK)

Presents an art project for high school students that was inspired by the 1999 "Cows on Parade" exhibition in Chicago (Illinois). Explains that students used old Gateway computer boxes to create their own cows using the box, scissors, and a hot-glue gun. (CMK)