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Children's program

Children's Art  

CHILDREN’S BEGINNING ART
Age: 3-5 yrs  (Pre-K-K)

Preschoolers draw their reality and what they know about the world. Rather than attempting to capture a photographic image of reality, this stage of development is dedicated in creating representations using symbols formed with circle, squares, lines, etc., as they associate common objects such as, flowers, trees, sun, cats, etc.

  This is an introductory stage for creating, challenges, development & expressing ideas. Students use learnt skills, language, techniques, & the processes of art making (line, texture, shapes, color mixing, pattern, design recognition, etc.)...but most importantly imagination!

​ Here at WCAAD, we encourage open-ended exploration of art materials, self-confidence, & enjoyment in art & learning. Student collaborate & independently explore, creating, making, & presenting for a range of audiences. Observation & anecdotal responses, assist students, in various situations where they choose more personal artwork.

​  Eventually, children will reach a benchmark where habitual repetition of associative symbols on familiar objects are used as subjects evolving into balance & consideration of a picture as whole

Students will learn:

  • Natural Art Techniques (Scribble Art & Play Painting)-playing can be learning.

  • Art Appreciation & Association (people in daily life, artist, art movements, environment, space, landscape, animals, etc. 

  • Intro to vocabulary & language of the arts & using appropriate vocabulary to discuss & describe.

  • Recognizing rational order & Patterns (shapes & symbols)

  • Tools & Materials (mixed media, collage, drawing, printmaking, found objects, kinetic art etc.)

  • Introduce children to cultures from around the world & collaborate with children & adults to build a community.

  • Elements of Art and Design intro (color, line, form, texture).

  • Observation, Investigate, Perceiving and Responding (learns to observe, describe, analyze and interpret).

  • Practices problem-solving skills, critical-thinking, logical thinking and reflect on analytical processes. 

  • Integrate Art with (Dance, Music, Literature, Math, Science, technology and other subjects​​

​At the end of this stage: The important parts in the pictures are depictions & demonstration of intention. Color-mixing & experimentation, rather than true representation of color & new strategies are achieved to put shapes & object together in an artistic context.​ Experimentation with various material are included in the lesson plans with a newly discovered and appreciation of learnt criteria; Fine motor skills are honed-in for informed choices, contribute ideas, & directions.

​CHILDREN’S CREATIVE ART
Age: 6-8 yrs 

Pictures become more complex & reflect the world in factual, realistic representations.  The schema represents the children's active knowledge of the subjects and there is definite order in space relationships: “everything sits on the “base line”.

  They learn different ways to depict objects, informal drawings and paintings, materials & explore techniques. Visual arts are part of their daily life here at WCAAD, & range from drawing, painting, sculpture, print making, to landscaping, & folk arts, color theory, art appreciation, purpose, space & relation, etc., are few of many topics discussed for better student perspective & analyses. Awareness & use of Design elements in everyday observation are evident to the insights & visual stimuli that is processed & interpreted regularly.
They understand that knowledge of the visual arts is necessary to understand design-oriented surrounding space. The main characteristics of this stage is to balance the whole picture - carefully composed compositions are the objectives.

Children at this stage start demonstrating stronger focus on drawing in a more realistic fashion.

Students will learn:​

  • Line- (implied movement and action; Broken line, contour line, curved, line, zigzag line, directional lines: vertical,horizontal, diagonal etc.).

  • Space and composition with relational order-depict space with overlapping objects. (Foreground, middle-ground, background).

  • Brush strokes and development techniques: introduce a variety of brush strokes: thick, thin, short, dab, dot, dry brush, etc.

  • Creative-Apply appropriate media, techniques, material and tools to explore personal interest, questions, and curiosities.

  • Make works that identify with daily life based on observations and investigation surrounding events, school or community life.

  • Elements and Principles of Art and Design-(shape,space,pattern,emphasis, proportion, unity, movements, line texture, color form, symmetry).

  • Drawing people and animals with invented and observed environments-(Representational and realistic).

  • Explore signage and symbols used to communicate and express ideas symbolically with subject matter.

  • Apply knowledge of available resources, tools, and technologies to investigate personal ideas.

​At the end of this stage: Students will be provided sequential learning in creating art for a broader understanding of space influencing design within their environment. Students will experience distinct ways of thinking, communicating, reasoning and investigating. Awareness that the Visual Arts and Design disciplines have a unique symbol system. Additionally, visual rt allows students to learn spatially and kinesthetically.They are developing increase abilities to observe, think, problem solve and feel competent. Drawing of people become more proportional and more detailed colors become more realistic and accurate. Children have a schema about a way of drawing with different ways of depicting objects with multiple approaches to an art or design problem

​CHILDREN’S TRANSITIONAL ART
Age: 9-11yrs

 Children at this stage may become very frustrated if they are unable to create a realistic picture. This is the time when children may express “I can’t draw.” They are increasingly and critically aware of the immaturity of their drawings and therefore continuously experience frustration at "getting things right."

  This stage is the crisis period when children are easily discouraged. Those who do manage to survive the crisis and learn the "secret" of drawing will become absorbed in it. 

  With our mentoring, students become much more self- aware, & at this stage, try for more details, hoping to achieve greater realism, and attempt to produce artworks that meets adult standards. Students create art from their own interest with an Introduction to Fundamentals of Art & technology.       Demonstrate willingness to experiment, innovate, & take risks to pursue ideas, forms, & meanings that emerge in the process of art or design. 

  Furthermore, through language & skills, students perceive & respond to works of arts, objects in nature, events, and their environments. This is a critical stage for children because they either reach a plateau or enter the stage of realism.

Students will learn:

  • Formal Techniques, Line development with intent of design and emphasis of detail

  • Brainstorming with sketchbook ideas & reference consideration for realistic approaches

  • identify light sources and discuss depiction of light and shadow.

  • Color theory advanced concepts and application

  • Creative- Interpret art by analyzing approaches, characteristics of form & structure, contextualization, subject matter, & use of media to identify ideas & mood   

  • 2D/3D approaches 

  • Art Appreciation- works of artists (locally, nationally & internationally) based on style, & social, cultural, political & history. 

  • Utilize inquiry methods of observation, research, and experimentation to explore unfamiliar subjects through art- making.

  • Formulate & integrate key Ideas, detail & methods while demonstrating ideas (symbolically & realistically) effectively communicating & expresses ideas 

  • Digital-intro​

At the end of this stage: Students will enhance hand & eye coordination, fine & gross muscle development & control, demonstrate proficient language unique to Art.  Initiating & independently create with a continual enjoyment of the process of art making by choosing from a range of materials and methods of traditional and contemporary artistic practices to plan artwork. Gain a range of various art skills and understanding complex vocabulary with appropriate level through experimentation, practice, & persistence

​JR. ADVANCED ART
Age: 12+

After 12 years old children enter adolescence, marking the end of art as spontaneous activity. They strive to create "adult-like" naturalistic drawings with formal foundation. Light and shadow, perspective, three-dimensionality, etc. Various studio experiences in the classroom will give learners opportunities to experience a variety of media while developing student’s individual style and creative problem-solving skills.

At the end of this stage: Students at this stage will learn the Elements of Art and Principles of Design while developing professional drawing skills, painting techniques, & digital media. Create works that use the elements of art and principles of design to solve specific visual arts problems;

Students will learn:

  • Critically aware of maturity of their art & describe their own artistic growth over time in relation to specific criteria.

  • Formal foundation begun (Sketching, Color theory, Painting /Drawing Digital)

  • Life Drawing with anatomy intro with application to artwork

  • Research Project based design assignments

  • Digital with concentrated project(s)

  • Apply visual organizational strategies to design & produce a work that clearly communicates information or ideas.

  • Understand the importance of balancing freedom & responsibility in the use of images, materials, tools, & equipment in the creation & circulation of creative work.

  • Reach Master level. Produce sophisticated work

  • Analyze, select, & curate artifacts &/or artworks for presentation & preservation & critique personal artwork for a collection or portfolio presentation.

  • Describe careers & occupations in which knowledge of design principles is important, such as fashion, manufacturing, advertising, web design, etc.

​POTENTIAL PATHS ARE:

  • Hobbiest and General Advanced Studies 

  • High school Portfolio Preparation

  • Supplement and College Portfolio Preparation

  • College Transfer ​

Stationary photo

All students learn through balance of:

*SKETCH* *DESIGN* *CRAFT* *PASTEL* *INK* *COLOR THEORY* *GAME/ENTERTAINMENT DESIGN* *COMMUNICATION ARTS (ILLUSTRATION/GRAPHIC DESIGN)* *ANIMATION* *PRINTMAKING *PAINTING(OIL, WATERCOLOR,ACRYLIC)* *2D* *3D* *SCULPTURE* *STORYBOARD* *DIGITAL/IPAD PHOTOSHOP,CAD,ILLUSTRATOR & RELATED SOFTWAREs* *ART HISTORY & APPRECIATION* *FIELD TRIPS* *CARICATURE* *CARTOONING* *FINE ART & NEW GENRES* *PHOTOGRAPHY* *FILM* *PRODUCT DESIGN** *TYPOGRAPHY *INTEGRATED ARTS* *COMIC AND ANIME* *MIXED MEDIA* *FIGURE DRAWING & ANATOMY* *ARCHITECTURE* *INTERIOR DESIGN* *URBAN PLANNING* *MODEL BUILDING* *UX/UI* *FASHION* and more! 

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