Art guide. Art is a wonderful way for your child to express themselves and interact with the world around them. From color to texture and size, art speaks a language we can all understand, even the smallest members of the family! Art can even help children empathize and understand emotion, a very valuable skill to acquire. Some find engaging with art easier than others, however.
To help your children along, SINGULART’s Head Curator, Marion Sailhen, provides the following expert art guide tips:
Understand the artist
One of the first places to start when engaging with artwork is to encourage your children to take the time to understand the artist. This may include where they come from, when they made the art, and if available, why they made it.
Ask questions about the artwork
To understand an artist’s creation, there is a need to ask questions about it. Start with the medium and the method; was it painted? Was it drawn with pencils? Then, broaden out to the size and color, do the two go hand-in-hand? What does it remind your child of?
More often than not to find your answer, you’ll need to get as close to the artwork as possible to break it down section by section.
Think about how it makes you feel
Art that makes you feel something, whether it is a welcomed emotion or not, has achieved a greater purpose. Feel it, notice the impact it has had and use those responses to analyze what the piece might be trying to tell you. Ask your child if the art makes them feel happy or sad, and ask them why this might be.
Understand that all interpretations are valid
One of the most important pieces of advice is to know that all of your interpretations are valid, whether you want to interpret art at a surface level or you want to dive in deeper.
One of the beauties of art is that when an artist releases a new work into the creative sphere, they give up their control behind the understanding and interpretation of the piece, allowing those who view it to develop their own meanings and emotions towards it. From mums and dads to toddlers, everyone’s interpretations are valid and real!
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