You’re probably a creative person and you know how much kids love to create. They can even get excited about things like planning and creating with other kids, too. In fact, it’s a good idea to get your students excited about creativity from an early age so they develop an interest in it for life with creative teacher painting ideas. The best way to do that? Make them feel passionate about their work through the visual arts. Creativity springs from art.
So if you’ve got kids who love art but don’t have time for formal lessons or activities, why not incorporate some of their favorite elements into your daily classroom routine? Experiment with different ways to present information using visual arts including painting, drawing and sculpture as well as games like ArtTag which encourages children to use their imagination while exploring nature. You can also try some of these paint ideas that we’ve compiled below!
Teach kids to paint with watercolors
Watercolor paints are one of the best techniques to teach kids the basics of painting. They’re easy to use, mess-free and allow for a wide variety of techniques and styles to learn. Plus, they’re a great way to encourage creativity and help kids express themselves through art. You can even help them create their own stories as they paint.
Try out these ideas for how to paint with watercolors in the classroom:
– Buy a watercolor set and set up a DIY art station where kids can experiment with different techniques like blending, shading and drybrush painting.
– Make art activities accessible to a wider range of students by breaking them down into smaller steps. This will help kids feel more confident when trying new things.
Image Source: FreeImages
Create a murals day
Murals are a great way to engage your students and get them excited about the arts. They’re easy to create and can be done in any space. Kids can even create their own designs and work with themes from books, movies or real-life experiences to create a mural that reflects their interests. You can display murals in classrooms and other public spaces for a welcoming, inspiring and inclusive aesthetic.
Here are some ideas for how to create a mural day in the classroom:
– Get students involved in creating the mural’s designs and themes. This will help them feel more ownership of the project and encourage them to put in more effort.
– Experiment with different materials and techniques while creating the mural, such as painting with watercolors, using stencils, spray painting and digital painting.
– Install a mural in your school or community space so that students can see it every day and inspire them to take their creativity further. This could be on a wall in an open space like a hallway or gym or on a wall inside a classroom.
Make a painting collage
Painting on a surface like cardboard, wood or paper is a great way to encourage kids to explore the visual arts. You can use whatever medium you prefer, or have a go at mixing them up with material from the school. Try painting with watercolors, tempera or acrylic paints to create an appealing painting or collage. You can then use the painting to decorate a wall or piece of paper for a striking aesthetic effect.
You can also use the painting for a fun writing and art activity like this painting collage that students can make themselves:
– Get your students to paint each others’ faces and decorate them with paper cutouts and stickers.
– Advise students to use the painting to write their own messages or use the painting as inspiration for writing poems or stories.
Try some finger painting techniques
Finger painting, also known as zen painting, is a great way to encourage kids to be creative without messy materials. It’s also a great way to encourage teamwork and collaboration among students. Finger painting is also a great way to keep students active while they’re waiting for class to begin or after-school.
Try these finger painting techniques in the classroom:
– Get your students to paint with watercolors, tempera or acrylic paints on a large piece of paper like a wall or a canvas.
– Have students paint specific shapes or patterns with their fingers like a flower or a tree. This will help them focus on structure as well as vividness.
– Encourage students to paint with a rhythm or beat to help them stay active and engaged as they paint. You can try this out by having them paint to music or in groups.
Play with colored pencils and ink pens
Colored pencils are a great way to get kids involved in the visual arts without using expensive materials. They can be used to draw simple shapes and form, or to add more images in details.
Try these ideas for how to use colored pencils in the classroom:
– Get students to draw portraits of their classmates or draw illustrations from literature or real-life experiences that they’ve experienced.
– Let students try coloring objects in their environment like posters on the walls or pieces of paper. This will help them better understand how they relate to the space they’re in.
– Have students draw and paint with the colored pencils outside in nature or on a paper or canvas. This will help them better understand the connections between their work and the world around them.
Bonus: How to use videos in the classroom as an art activity
Videos are a great way to engage your students in the visual arts and break down learning into smaller steps. They can help students understand how to draw and paint, or to make them more creative by using them as inspiration.
Here are some ways to incorporate videos in the classroom as an art activity:
– Get your students to create videos using music or their own voices to help inspire their work. This can be done in groups or with a project or theme.
– Install a large TV in a common space like a hallway or gym so that students can watch videos while they wait for classes to begin or during free time. This will help them stay active and engaged with the visual arts.
How to use art in the classroom for emotional well-being
Art can help boost student emotional well-being by encouraging connections between people. It can be used to create artwork with themes from books or real-life experiences, or it can be used to create art that reflects student interests. In addition, art can also help students express themselves while encouraging self-confidence and self-expression. These emotional benefits can make a big difference for students who might otherwise feel isolated or alone.
Conclusion
The best part about exploring the visual arts in the classroom is that they can be done by students of all ages and abilities. There are no specific prerequisites to get involved in the visual arts. You just need to have an imagination and be willing to explore new techniques and materials. The more you get your students engaged in the visual arts, the more likely they are to become passionate about it for life.
Read more blogs about teaching Art!
