Art making has been theorized as a way for children to develop the capacity to participate in social and cultural transformation. Yet, little research has been done to examine the role of art making in children's development as participants in society. This study used ethnographic methods to investigate children's art making in elementary school. Observations took place in one elementary school art room for one academic year. Children were interviewed, in small groups and individually, about their art making activity. In the art room, the children were found to be creating a community of art practice. This community of practice had implications for how the children were developing as participants within the community, and for how they made their school art making into personally meaningful activity. (Contains 1 table and 1 footnote.)