How to Teach Art
Art is one of the fundamental forms of human expression. For thousands of years, people have turned to painting, sculpture and other forms of artistic media to help express their deepest emotions and convey their thoughts. When teaching this subject, it is necessary to explore the various techniques artists use, as well as the history of art.
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Instructions
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Start by teaching color theory, or how colors fit together. Students should understand how colors combine with each other and how colors can convey feelings such as happiness or anger. Distribute color wheels to each student. A color wheel organizes colors to show how they are related to each other. Students can see complementary color relationships and learn about opposite colors and shades.
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Have students draw simple shapes. Many forms and objects can be reduced to simple shapes, such as triangles and circles. Hand out rulers and compasses so students can experiment with line and form. Show students how simple shapes can combine to form more complex structures. This method helps show students who may struggle with drawing that they can draw larger and more complicated objects.
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Work with different media. Hand out watercolor paints so students can learn about watercolor techniques. Buy inexpensive cameras so they can discover how to take artistic photographs. Have them cut up photographs and arrange the photographs on a larger surface to illustrate the principles of collage and composition. Students should be comfortable working in a wide variety of artistic media. Through experimentation, a student may discover a love for a certain form of art.
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In addition to hands-on work, study art history because it provides a valuable foundation for any art education. Bring in slides of famous paintings and sculptures. Show students work from the various periods over hundreds of years.
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As part of your study of art history, if you have an art museum nearby, take students on a field trip to it. Have them examine paintings, drawings and sculptures close up. The opportunity to see diverse artwork can help them understand their own tastes and artistic goals. Also, contact a local artist and find out if he or she is interested in giving a talk to students about art and his or her specific work.
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