I’m excited about a kids’ art-appreciation movement that’s online. While I always loved Montessori-inspired art appreciation, many of us Montessorians don’t follow up by intentionally encouraging children to create in the style or technique of a particular artist.
Today is Pablo Picasso’s birthday (born October 25, 1881). What a great day to focus on art appreciation and creation for kids! Art appreciation is wonderful for preschoolers on up, and even babies and toddlers can enjoy examples of fine artwork in their environment. Creating artwork in the style of an artist is very compatible with Montessori education, and I’ve seen many amazing examples of it on blogs that aren’t specifically Montessori blogs. Today, I want to give you some resources in case you’d like to try creating in the style of the great artists with your child or class.
Art Appreciation and Creation Resources
I have a roundup post with lots of wonderful Montessori art-appreciation ideas along with a few posts about creating in the style of the great artists: Montessori-Inspired Art Appreciation.
Kids Get Arty was started by Maggy from Red Ted Art. On a Wednesday every other month, there’s a Kids Get Arty link-up party co-hosted by Red Ted Art, The Imagination Tree, Imagination Soup, Creative with Kids, Tinkerlab, and Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas.
Here are the Kids Get Arty link-up parties already published with lots of great inspiration in the linky collections: May 16, July 18, and September 12. The next Kids Get Arty link-up party will be November 14, so you have plenty of time to prepare if you’d like to participate. You can find any future Kids Get Arty link-up parties here: Kids Get Arty.
Here are Maggy’s three steps to take part:
“1) Take an Artist – any artist – be it contemporary or not.
2) Look at a piece of art by them with your children. Be it at a museum, in print or wherever!
3) Then let that piece of art inspire you to get creative. And share it with us at our link up parties!”
Maggy has two introductory posts to help you get started: Exploring the Great Artists – 30+ Art Projects for Kids and Exploring the Great Artists – 20+ Art Books for Kids.
Kids’ Art Appreciation and Art Project Pinterest Boards
I have a Kids’ Art Appreciation Pinterest Board with lots of ideas for both art appreciation and creating art in the style of the great artists. You’ll also find ideas for various art techniques on my Kids’ Art Projects Pinterest Board.
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Ooooh what a wonderful post Deb! So wonderful to encourage more people to get arty with their children. Brilliant. And really appreciate the big Kids Get Arty shout out. Would be wonderful to see (even) more families exploring Art together!
Maggy
Thanks so much, Maggy! Your comment had gone in the wrong folder at first, but I found it finally. Your Kids Get Arty link-up is fabulous! I hope you more families starting exploring art together, too. 🙂
Deb, thanks for this post!
As a Montessori-trained educator myself, I’m always happy to read your posts.
In this case, you’ve taken a fairly intimidating idea and shown how simple it really is. I’ve pinned it on my art-themed Pinterest board to share in the hopes that it inspires some more people to give it a go. Well done!
Thanks for your kind comment, Eddie! I’ve always loved art appreciation and wish I would have had these resources easily available to do more art creation with my kids when we homeschooled.
Wonderful ideas Deb. I’ve been trying to find ways to increase my son’s awareness of the great artists. Your Pinterest board looks great. Off to check that now.
Thanks so much, Ness! I hope you find some activities that fit your son’s interests well! 🙂
I’m going to go through this great info! I’ve been looking for art appreciation ideas! Thanks, Deb!
Thanks so much for your kind words, Sylvia! I’m happy I could help! 🙂
Great links and a great resource. At the first school that I taught at, I had to teach my class art as there was no specialist art teacher. I’m going to bookmark this page for my own kids and if I ever have to teach the art class again! Thanks for putting it all together, Deb.
Thanks so much for your kind comment! I hope it makes it easier for parents and teachers who want to do art with kids! 🙂
great post Deb! Feel free to share it at Learn and Link http://mamato3blessings.blogspot.com/2012/10/learn-link-easy-bird-craft.html
Thanks so much, Nicole! And thanks for the invitation. I just linked up! 🙂
Thanks for sharing all this fab info and for all the details for Kids get Arty! It’s such a fabulous way to introduce kids to art and artists in a fun way.
My pleasure, Bern! I think Kids Get Arty is awesome … I would have loved to participate when my kids were little! 🙂
Hi Deb! I just started following your Art Appreciation pinterest board. So many good ideas! Coincidentally, I just pinned my own art post today. I’d love if you checked it out. http://52brandnew.com/2012/10/26/new-experience-41-a-study-in-pop-art/
Thanks so much!
Thanks, Danielle! Your post is awesome … I had already discovered it and pinned it to my Kids’ Art Appreciation board! 🙂
As always – AMAZING round-up!! Thanks for sharing our Picasso one =-) I am honored to be included!!
Thanks for linking up to TGIF! Have a great weekend,
Beth =-)
Thanks, Beth! I LOVE what you’ve done with art appreciation! I hope you have a great weekend, too! 🙂
I haven’t yet participated, and I’m looking forward to it this month!
That sounds great! If I had young kids, I would definitely participate,too! 🙂
I am so excited to hear about that link up as art is huge for our kids, and, thus, increasingly, for me. We recently enjoyed (and posted about) Piet Mondrian inspired work: http://traininghappyhearts.blogspot.com/2012/10/piet-mondrian-and-easy-going-art-study.html
I cannot wait to be inspired to do more. 🙂 Thanks
Thanks so much for sharing your Piet Mondrian study, Martianne! What a wonderful unit study! I pinned your post to my Kids’ Art Appreciation Board: http://pinterest.com/debchitwood/kids-art-appreciation/ 🙂
I’m so happy to see this. I have 5 kids in Catholic school, and I’m looking for ways to enhance their learning at home without spending tons of money.
Thanks, Barb! Doing these sorts of art projects with your kids would be wonderful! 🙂
You have the best roundups! This is one area that I feel like I need to add to our after school activities. Thanks for so many inspiring ideas!
Thanks for your kind comment, Kelly! You have such a fabulous artistic sense … you’d be great with art appreciation projects! 🙂
Awesome post ! I think it’s really great art appreciation project specially for kids. Your Pinterest Board provides many creative art related ideas. I like it.