9am Wonder Arts: Wet on Wet Watercolor, Clay, Shadow Screen

This week we used a Waldorf watercolor method called Wet on Wet watercolor.
We soaked the heavy "watercolor" paper in water for about 15 - 20 minutes and then the children used liquid watercolor to paint.
"Watercolor is a medium that requires great discipline, says Waldorf Teacher Helena Niiva, you have to learn when to let go and allow the colors to live and also when to exercise more control."







I believe it's crucial that children have contact with this basic elemental material that has been used by humans for thousands of years. Formed from the weathering of rocks, clay can range in color from white, grey, reddish brown, etc...

Claywork can be a language for exploring and communicating ideas. It can be an exciting experience for children to discover that they have made something with a 'back' and 'sides' as well as a 'front' and even an 'inside' and an 'underneath'.

-An excerpt from Rapunzel's Supermarket by Ursula Kolbe p.66













Around the house and the countryside

it stays nearby and accompanies you,

if you step on it it doesn't complain,

water passes over it and it doesn't get wet.

Riddle

10:30 Wonder Arts : Wet on Wet Watercolor, Clay, Shadow Screen

A Sand box in an Arts class?

Most big people understand that the sand box is there for the Science class but luckily the kids don't understand that! I actually love having the sandbox as an option for the kids to use in between or even instead of the arts experiences. I am such a strong believer that our children show us what they need to be doing. The sensory learning from the sandbox is critical to a toddler's development. Feeling the sand squish between your toes, pouring it on yourself or into a container calms the brain as well as activate! There was so much laughter coming from the sandbox that we can also see how much social learning is taking place.

Wet on Wet Watercolor

I had chill bumps as mom proudly declared this painting to be A's very first!!

Mom introduces the race car as a possible art medium for her son. It could be easy to say, "Oh, he just doesn't like art, " instead of taking on the challenge of "How can I spark his interest in art?"

I don't believe in teaching art to young children in order to create or discover a hidden talent. Art is a tool for both children and adults to express themselves, to discover paradoxes, to observe each other's artistic endeavors, to marvel at the aesthetic beauty created by light and darkness, and to enable us to learn about ourselves and each other.