The Atelierista in You

Recently we returned for a long holiday in Europe. Most of it was holiday, but some of it was work related. I was blessed with the opportunity to visit Reggio Emilia, Italy, the place where the Reggio Emilia Approach was birthed. The Reggio Emilia Approach is one that recognises children thrive and learn best in an environment that supports individualism, creativity, respect for oneself, others and the community. It is a curriculum that is guided by the children; this is accomplished when teachers observe their students closely and form close bonds and communication with them and their parents in order to provide the necessary resources to the environment in which they can explore and learn. Teachers use provocation to stimulate the act of questioning and peak curiosity. The Approach is unique because it heavily relies on parent and community input and support; because each and every community is different, the Reggio Approach can not be replicated or put in a box and taken to another part of the world for use. Each community would offer its own qualities and culture. So while schools and childcare centres can use principles of the Reggio Emilia Approach, they will never fully function like a true Reggio school.

One fascinating aspect about the Reggio Approach is the place it has for atelierstas or art teachers. Reggio schools have a separate atelier (studio) in all the childcare centres that is supervised by an atelierista. Children share this space and the materials within, known as 'the hundred languages of children,' with other classrooms. The materials are appropriately called 'the hundred languages' because they are what the children use to express their thought, feelings and emotions. Access to varying materials is very important in creative expression. The resources provided should stimulate all the senses so that the young budding artists have a kaleidoscope of media to choose from. The materials are so important because they are a means of symbolic representation, in which the children can manipulate to reflect their thoughts and ideas. Thoughts now become something that others can see and even feel. The end result is left for further interpretation by others. The materials affect the children--each stroke of paint may encourage another...and another. The child not only influences the material, but the material influences the child. As the child alters the material to accomplish a particular goal, the material will move or present itself in a new way that will further inspire the child. As you can see, a beautiful relationship between the artist and material is formed. This is probably why so many artists and musicians talk about their work with such passion; they too are transformed during the creative process. This is also why children tend to always gravitate towards certain media--'they just like the way that it feels', they will tell you. The simple-minded adult will assume that the child is talking about how the material makes them feel physically; perhaps gooey, smooth or cold. An atelierista, however will see the emotional side and ask the child, " how does it make you feel?" Perhaps the child may respond with, "happy or excited." I once asked a child this very question while she was painting a picture and she told me that the painting made her feel pretty. When I asked why she said because she could paint herself to look however she wanted. She really wanted her ears pierced but her parents wouldn't let her until she was eight (sure was a very mature six and a half going on sixteen). Through painting, she could paint herself and have as many piercings as she wanted!

Now, I didn't major in the expressive arts but I do consider myself creative (you really have to be when you are in my line of work and especially as a mom!). I have learned through experience and interactions with other colleagues and children that you can turn anything into anything! Children are especially good at teaching this lessons. Most of what I do was inspired by someone under the age of six and that is the honest truth! The beautiful thing about children is that they remind you what it is like to be a child and to think like a child--there are no boundaries and no rules when it comes to art and it is always okay to colour outside of the lines (an important lessons for parents and grandparents to remember.) Lachlan and I try our best to engage in one creative experience a day; this may be through painting, cooking, sculpting, you name it--the list goes on. I try to determine what he is interested in and go from their. For children under two who are pre-verbal, you achieve this by lots of observation and jotting down a few notes (these notes help when the mommy brain sets in). For example, Lachlan has been really interested in anything that turns (cars, gears, pinwheels, etc) and stars. Stars are the first shape that he began identifying when he was 6 months and he's been obsessed with them ever since. I found some foam star cut-outs at a dollar shop and offered those along with some strips or recycled corrugated cardboard for him to make a collage with. This was his first collage so I showed him how to use the glue-stick by covering his paper with it. I pressed a small bit of cardboard on so he could see where the process was going. I then stepped back and left him to it. I went to get the camera and when I returned he had already placed several stars and stripes on the paper. I praised him for his work. He added another star and then decided he was done. The who process was only a few minutes and then he was ready to hop off of his chair. He was very proud of his masterpiece! Later this week, I will take out some small paint rollers for him to experiment with on canvas. The rollers should excite him as they turn and I'm sure he'll mostly end up with paint on his hands then anywhere else!

When engaging in creative activities with children, consider the following tips:

1) Make sure the activity is fun! If your child isn't interested then don't force them. Sometimes they just aren't comfortable with the materials or aren't ready yet. Wait a few weeks and try again.

2) For young children, show them what the art tools are used for first and then let them have a go.

3) Remember that it is their masterpiece, not yours! Avoid altering or encouraging them to make something in a particular way--that is not creativity, that is replication.

4) Offer a lot of different resources. Recycled goods are best! Old birthday and Christmas cards cut into strips are great for collages. Boxes and containers can turn into cars, animals, etc.

5) Put a mat down on the floor or table that is easy to wipe clean and always keep a wet rag handy for quick clean up of surfaces and hands.

If you don't have a paint smock, put your child in one of your old shirts. You can use a clothes pin to bunch up the excess material in the back.

6) When your child is finished, display their work of art where they can see it so they know you are proud of their accomplishment.

7) Ask open-ended questions about their work. Don't just say that you like it, ask them to tell you something about it; this also allows you to figure out what it is that they made. After all, you don't want to call it a beautiful cat when it is really a moose!

8) You don't have to buy expensive materials. You can use an adult easel if you already have one, lower it to the bottom for your child. You can also make your own paint stand by using a shoe box. Cut circles on the bottom of the box that will fit the paint cups. Make the holes slightly smaller so that the cup lip won't fall through the hole. An example is shown in one of the pictures above. You can also make your own paint cup holders by using small yogurt container tubs that have plastic lids. Use and exacto knife to cut a small circle in the cent of the lid, large enough for the paint brush to fit in. If the plastic is sharp after cutting, cover with some masking tape. These containers prevent paint messes if your little one accidentally tips over the paint cup.
9) When buying paint, buy the basics! All you need is the primary colours: red, yellow and blue. It is a great lesson for your child to mix the colours. Imagine their surprise when they mix red and blue and get purple! You can also provide the hues white and black to make additional shades (such as mixing white with red to get pink) and contrast.
10) Be creative with your art tools. For example, a toy car can be used to make a painting by rolling the wheels in paint and making tracks on the paper. You can also make wheel tracks in play dough. Leaves and feathers also make fun paint brushes. Don't forget about the body either; mix it up and instead of painting with your fingers, use your feet! Long butcher paper is great for this.

Wonder what is in Lachlan's atelier?
1) Lots of natural light! Put easels by windows if possible.
2) Recyclables: shredded old holiday cards, corrugated cardboard, egg cartons, paper towel rolls, foil, small boxes and containers, rings from milk and juice jugs, lids, muffin paper.
3) Finger paint and poster paint
4) Hand stamp paint
5) Paint brushes, various textured rollers, textured stampers, sponges
6) Die cut foam shapes
7) Feathers, gum nuts, dried leaves, small twigs
8) A4 paper and rolls of butcher paper.
9) Adult easel which is shared with his daddy.
10) Paint smocks
11) Shoe box paint stand
12) Crayons, markers, chalk (sidewalk chalk for outside)
13) A4 display book to showcase artwork after it is removed from the wall.