Studio Talk
Studio Talk
By Amanda Janquart
"A tent is burning. A tree crashed on it. I’m drawing the human right now.”
Coming to the Art Studio is entering a world of possibilities. Working in small groups of three or four, children express themselves freely and form connections rather quickly.
Some narrate their thinking as they work, not caring who is listening. “I’m going to draw a puppy dog. There’s its tail; there’s its eye. The tail is connected to it.”
Others clamor to be recognized, inviting comments. “I’m going to make a fish. Look, I’m doing it! Oh, it’s a bird. I cannot do a fish, but do you think I can do some teeth? Look!”
Some share opinions bluntly. “That doesn’t look like a heart to me.”
But they all observe, listen, initiate, and imitate. It is learning at its finest.
Toddlers and preschoolers pause often, taking the time to see what their friends are doing. This often leads to alterations in their own work. They turn to their classmates for inspiration and validation. “It’s a cliff with a fox that’s hunting for another fox,” explained a child. A few minutes later, another child in the group responded, “I drawed a fox in the box! A frog in a box. It’s really funny.”
Through conversations and commentary, shared interests often blossom and themes take hold. It is magic when community and a sense of belonging develop through art. This fall, the children in one class have been attracted to all things spooky, and the chatter as they drew was nonstop. “I’m drawing a haunted house. It’s scary. The people are crying.” “I 'goed' into a haunted house before. I was crying.” “I’m going to make something scary, too.” “I’m making a pitch black window.” “Is this spooky looking yet?”
It feels amazing to be seen and heard by one’s peers, an instant confidence boost that keeps the excitement going. While part of what the children learn in the art studio includes concepts like color theory and skills like how to hold a pencil correctly, the experiences extend well beyond that. They make countless connections as they work side by side, sharing their ideas.