STUDENT PROJECTS
Drawing in Elementary school
Friends and coworkers tell me about their perceived artistic abilities. They talk about how naturally talented their grandmother or child is, how they just knew how to draw from a young age. If the conversation continues, usually I am told that the ability to draw is a gift, indicating that some people have it and some do not. While all of us learn in different ways and have different strengths, drawing skills are perceived as unteachable. This way of thinking is prominent in art school settings as well, as so many people do learn to draw intuitively. Is drawing an unteachable skill? I am here to assure you it is not.
Using an analogy, I will ask the question, “do you think learning how to read is unteachable?” I am sure if you left alphabet magnets on a refrigerator door a few children would intuitively learn to read. Especially if those children listened to and spoke a language that uses those alphabet letters. But we know that that this is not the best way of teaching someone how to read. People need different points of entry and lots of practice.
My job as an arts educator is to make sure a project is both engaging and challenging, regardless of your perceived ability level. Learning how to draw from both your imagination and observation is attainable, with intention and practice. Learning to draw is a birthright for everyone and not just a gift for the intuitive visual learners.