From paint to pen.

Imagine a place where artistic expression, writing, and the critique process about art become a way to communicate in a child's everyday life. Students learn that there is a balance in the relationship between colors, lines, and objects. Students begin to think critically and reason through real-world situations. As observation and thinking skills develop, students write about what they see of have learned. Parallel to this is the critique process. Throughout my years of teaching art in both high school and elementary school, using a process of critique gives kids the opportunity to look objective]y at their own artwork and the artwork of others. This artist's eye becomes invaluable to students as they develop analytical skills necessary for success in middle-school and high-school testing.

As an art teacher, it is also an artistic imperative for me to teach about the important contributions made by masters and contemporary artists to grades K through 5. I believe that it is important to submerge students into a visual setting that stimulates them into feeling and expressing themselves creatively.

In addition to teaching art in an innovative and stimulating way, it is also my belief that showing artwork in a gallery-type setting can teach parents and the community about the importance of art in children's lives.

Critic's Review

An important element of the art exhibition is the Critic's Review. It invites the community to give general feedback about the exhibition as a whole and specific feedback about work represented in the show. The Critic's Review is a personal letter written to each artist. The letters come to artists in one of two ways: during the art exhibition and during art class.

During the art exhibition, guests study the artwork and complete a Critic's Review form. However, the Critic's Review process does not end here. Following the art show, students learn how to critique artwork through the use of a friendly letter format and art-related vocabulary. As a group, students create an art vocabulary word wall which is used as a resource when describing their classmate's artwork. In developing the art wall, students are encouraged to think about descriptive words, rather than using simple adjectives such as cool, nice, or pretty. Giving students these prompts helps them to dialogue with others about art.

Following the art exhibition, the written reviews of student work are collected and returned to each student as a way to improve or change their art skills. As an objective measure of feedback, the critique gives students an opportunity to reassess their artwork. Although a written review is done following the annual art exhibition, assessment of a student's work really begins at the beginning of the school year and continues beyond the art show.

The assesment includes students' written work and their drawing and painting works of art. The entire paint to pen process is very affirming for students as they recognize their growth as artists. Students develop an understanding of their own learning style and process. In addition, a running dialogue between the art teacher and each student is essential to the production of art in a cultural context.

Art Exhibition

My idea for Burning Tree Elementary School was to introduce the annual From Paint to Pen art exhibition and the Critic's Review process. My philosophy for displaying children's work was clear: every child would display a piece of original artwork that would be shown during the exhibition.

The From Paint to Pen exhibition transforms the lobby and hallways of the school into a three-dimensional gallery where art forms, still-life objects, furnishings, art banners, and tapestries cover walls and floors with student artwork. Parents and the community enter the school and are transformed as though they were entering an art gallery. Students walk the halls with pride and conviction because their work is displayed on banners, wall hangings and on the wall. I have observed that this changes the way students look at their artwork and the artwork of others.

NATIONAL STANDARD

Students understand there are various purposes for creating works of art.

WEB LINK

www.art.unt.edu/ntieva/artcurr/crit

Dustine Price is an art teacher at Burning Tree Elementary School in Bethesda, Maryland. [e-mail]