ERIC Number: EJ913839
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 4
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0164-8527
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Children's Art as Dynamic Storytelling
Yarrow, Aleta Wynn
Exchange: The Early Childhood Leaders' Magazine Since 1978, n194 p68-71 Jul-Aug 2010
Adults have long been fascinated by children's drawings and paintings. Significant research has been done on the development of representational imagery. Most young children are not primarily focused on the visual appearance of the final image. Instead they are engaged in the unfolding and observation of their ideas, their experience, and the transformation that is occurring visually and mentally. Usually in the months approaching the fourth birthday, the child's ideas take the form of a narrative. For many preschool children creating art is transformative. It is experiential, like a game. Young children begin with a simple idea. They react to their original marks or forms with sounds and story, continuously interacting with their own work by transforming images, and continuing the story thread. This ongoing process enables them to create sophisticated narratives and envision complex actions. The final image often does not reveal the depth of their ideation. Everything that happens during the session is equally valued: (1) words; (2) sounds; (3) lines; (4) shapes; and (5) imagery (even if transformed to the point of obscurity). Art tools join the narrative, becoming props or characters. In this article, the author provides some examples and offers some tips for enhancing children's art experiences.
Descriptors: Childrens Art, Art Activities, Preschool Children, Story Telling, Freehand Drawing, Young Children, Art Products, Personal Narratives, Creativity
Exchange Press, Inc. P.O. Box 3249, Redmond, WA 98073-3249. Tel: 800-221-2864; Fax: 425-867-5217; e-mail: info@ChildCareExchange.com; Web site: http://www.childcareexchange.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A