Teaching Art to Young Children
How can teachers develop best practice in art teaching?
This fully updated third edition of Rob Barnes’ classic text blends practical ideas with
sound principles of art education. Teachers and student teachers will find a range of ideas
and tried and tested classroom examples; whilst for those looking for firm principles of art
teaching and ‘best practice’ this book presents many important issues in art education with
clarity and insight.
Based on first-hand experience of teaching children, this text uses many examples from
early years and primary school contexts, and tackles essential topics with realism and
imagination such as:
• developing skills through using media
• how children draw
• encouraging artistic confidence in children
• producing original artwork and making use of digital imagery.
Rob Barnes’ unique approach encourages teachers to develop and think about art as part
of a rich curriculum of learning, highlighting how it shouldn’t be taught in isolation but
with purposeful links to other areas of the curriculum.
Rob Barnes is an artist printmaker who was previously Senior Lecturer in Education at the
University of East Anglia, Norwich.
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Teaching Art to Young Children
Third Edition
Rob Barnes
Third edition published 2015
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2015 Rob Barnes
The right of Rob Barnes to be identified as author of this work has
been asserted by him/her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording,
or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
Cover design image by Dylan Barnes, aged 7.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
First edition published by Unwin Hyman Ltd 1987
Second edition published by RoutledgeFalmer 2002
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Barnes, Rob, 1944–
Teaching art to young children / Rob Barnes. — Third edition.
pages cm
1. Art—Study and teaching (Primary)—England. I. Title.
N365.G7B35 2015
372.5´044—dc23 2014042213
ISBN: 978-1-138-02254-6 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-02255-3 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-71264-2 (ebk)
Typeset in Galliard
by Keystroke, Station Road, Codsall, Wolverhampton
Contents
List of illustrations ix
Foreword xiii
Preface to the third edition xv
Acknowledgements xvii
1 Learning through art 1
2 The value of art 6
Learning to see 7
Art and the individual 10
Art as an expression of feeling 11
Deciding on what to value 12
3 Producing original artwork 15
Three suspect solutions 15
Finding a balance 20
4 How children draw 24
Cat and mouse 26
Examples from teachers 27
Children’s imagery 28
5 Developing ideas 37
Using themes 37
Themes as a resource 38
Making choices 41
Development through ongoing work 43
Games of the imagination 44
6 Activities, curriculum and progression 47
Four areas of activity 48
Examples of progression 50
vi Contents
Progression and achievement 53
The role of the art coordinator 56
7 Classroom organization 58
Organizing groups 58
The whole class and the group 61
Organizing materials 63
Organizing space and time 64
Organizing wall space 65
8 More activities for young children 68
Ingredients 68
Finding-out activities 69
Extended activities 72
Variety 76
9 Using paint 79
Mixing paints 80
Colour-mixing 81
Over-wet brown paint – practical outcomes 82
10 Sequencing printmaking 86
Putting ideas to the test 89
Three-dimensional prints 92
11 Collage as a medium 94
Other assemblages 98
12 Design and problem-solving 101
Introducing design and problem-solving to children 102
Stages in problem-solving 105
Practical examples 108
13 Talking with children 113
Imaginative talk 113
Using questions 116
Commenting on children’s work 119
An artistic vocabulary 121
14 Assessment and evaluation 123
An assessment model 125
Evaluation 127
Contents vii
15 Art and the digital image 129
An early years computer-art lesson 131
Using an art program 132
Linking the Internet to an art project 134
Digital cameras and scanned images into art 136
16 Using media and techniques to build skills 140
Crayon, pencil and paint 140
Building skills using clay 144
Using paper, papier mâché, card and glue 147
Organization 148
Some additional practical projects 148
17 Learning about artists and designers 151
Two ways of looking at a work of art 151
From popularity to originality – three familiar artists 153
Practical points 153
Questions about the artwork 158
Gallery visits and visiting artists 159
18 Conclusions 161
Doing art activities or teaching art? 161
Teaching children to look much more carefully 163
Index 165
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List of illustrations
Colour plates
The following colour plates appear between pp. 78 and 79:
1 My Mum. Age 4 years, 6 months.
Princess. Age 5.
2 Maze. Age 6.
3 An Angry Face. Age 7
4 Elephant. Age 5.
5 Lost Your Mum? – poster. Age 7/8.
6 Patternwork. Age 7.
7 From James and The Giant Peach – story. Age 6.
8 From James and The Giant Peach – story. Age 6.
9 Tiger. Age 6.
10 Violins. Ages 6, 7, 5.
11 Feathers – drawing. Age 8.
12 Fairground – group picture. Age 7/8.
13, 14 A Thousand and One Nights. Ali Baba – group mural. Age 7/8.
15 Lowry pictures. Age 7/8.
16 Looking at the Crust of a Loaf. Age 8.
17 Multicoloured Spaghetti. Age 8.
18 Inside a Sprout. Age 7.
19 Package design – study. Age 7.
20 Colour-mixing. Age 7.
21 Bee collage. Age 7.
22 Castle – potato print. Age 7.
23 Dragon – potato print. Age 6.
24 Peacock – print. Age 7.
25 Pheasant – claywork. Age 6.
26 Spiky Clay Monsters. Age 7.
27 Fabric collage. Age 7/8.
28 Diving into a Pool. Age 7.
29 On the Beach. Age 7/8.
30 Dinosaur. Age 7.
31 Fox by Moonlight. Age 9.
x List of illustrations
32 Popups. Age 9.
33 Fantasy Landscape. Age 8.
34 Miss Cranston’s Tea-Rooms. Age 9.
35 Overlaying Colour.
36 Van Gogh Church. Age 7.
37 Van Gogh, Peach Blossom in the Crau, 1889.
38 Claude Monet, The Japanese Bridge, 1923.
39 Monster from The Hippogrump. Age 7.
40 Viking Ships. Age 9.
41 Liberty. Age 11.
42 London Eye. Age 11.
43 Pop Art. Age 9/10.
44 Sea Monster. Age 10.
45 World Cup Rattle. Age 7.
46 Hundertvasser inspired. Age 7.
47 Warhol-inspired portrait. Age 9.
48 Group Pattern. Age 9/10.
49 Clay Sea Monsters. Age 9/10.
50 Shell drawing.
51 The Tidemill. Age 8.
52 Papier mâché bowl. Age 7.
53 Circus clowns. Age 10.
54 Octopus. Age 6.
55 Hundertwasser study. Age 8.
56 3-D Kandinsky Box. Age 9.
57 Vasarely construction. Age 9.
58 Container decoration. Age 8/9.
Monochrome illustrations
1 A Thinking Face. Age 6. 3
2 Maze picture. Age 6. 5
3 Children painting. 5
4 Creature from James and The Giant Peach. Age 6. 10
5 Puzzle drawing. Age 5. 19
6 I Stayed at School All Day. Age 5. 29
7 House stereotype. Age 6. 29
8 Houseface. Age 5. 30
9, 10 Scribble. Age 3. 30
11 Daddy, Peter, Mum. Age 3. 31
12 Daddy with a Big Face. Age 4. 31
13 Hills and Scribble. Age 5. 32
14 Mum Frightened by a Spider. Age 5. 32
15 Blackbird. Age 6. 33
16 My Best Writing. Age 5. 33
17 Writing/Landscape. Age 6. 34
18 X-Ray House. Age 5. 34
List of illustrations xi
19 All Around Dance. Age 6. 35
20 Space Shuttle. Age 8. 36
21 Fantasy Landscape and Masks. Age 9. 53
22 Text Blocks. Age 8. 88
23 Curved Line. Age 8. 89
24, 25 Parrot, Boat. Age 8. 93
26 Collage ‘Eyes’. Age 5. 97
27 Paper-strip sculpture. Age 8. 99
28 Design for a Key to Open a Treasure Chest. Age 9. 101
29 Passiflora. 108
30, 31 Zebra Birds. Age 7. 114
32, 33 Violin drawings. Age 6. 117
34 ‘Dazzle’ picture, thick and thin lines. Age 5. 130
35 An image using curves and a tiled effect. Age 9. 133
36 Design for Miss Cranston’s Tea-Rooms. Age 9. 133
37 Images based on paintings by Joan Miró. Age 9. 136
38 ‘Tiling’ a section of digital photograph. Age 9. 138
39 Changing a digital photograph by adding a ‘stamp’. Age 9. 138
40 Stencil spraying. Trainee-teacher project. 143
41 The Village Choir. Trainee-teacher project. 146
42 Paper-laminating, a Sun Mask on Plasticine. Trainee-teacher project. 149
43 Designs based on the brushstrokes of Van Gogh. Ages 4 to 6. 156
44 Van Gogh meets Monet in a 3-D box. Trainee-teacher project. 157
Charts
1 Free association on a theme. 38
2 A ‘brainstormed’ resource. 39
3 ‘Trees’ resource chart. 41
4 ‘Pattern’ resource chart. 42
5 Areas of stimulus and emphasis. 49
6 Symmetry. 67
7 Vertical columns. 67
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Foreword
All aspects of education should be questioned for their relevance in the curriculum. Long-
established activities can become a tradition or habit but not necessarily fulfil the needs of
children and the community. In writing this book Rob Barnes explains and justifies the wide
range of concerns which are at the heart of education, with clarity and depth. Many aspects
of the subject are covered theoretically and with sound practical ideas and advice.
Art provides us with a prime means of learning, understanding and communicating. In this
way it is significant across the curriculum. Without the skills involved, our children can be
denied access to extensive areas of knowledge and the opportunity for individual responses.
Teaching is a creative process and in art and design activities the approach of the teacher is
critical. We can teach by supplying set pieces for our pupils to imitate or we can create situa-
tions in which pupils develop self-confidence, working on the basis of their own experience,
extending their understanding, discovering, satisfying their curiosity and gaining pleasure.
The good teacher will accept children, whatever their ability, and will harness and enhance
their imaginative and natural talents.
Rob Barnes’s understanding of the needs of children and his sensitivity to their individual-
ity enable him to suggest an extensive range of approaches to the teaching situation. These
provide a rich source of guidance and stimulation for anyone involved with children. For
the thoughtful reader this book can be the source of reassurance and satisfaction as a teacher
and ensure relevance and pleasure for the pupils.
Norman Manners
Art Consultant
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Preface to the third edition
I have revised and expanded chapters in this third edition. There are also additional colour
plates. An obvious aim in this new expanded edition has been to preserve the original con-
tent where this was appropriate, but update some of the earlier material. The final chapter
contains information about motivating children to look carefully at the world around them,
and discriminate between shape and form.
Since this book was first published there have been at least thirteen education ministers
and numerous changes to the National Curriculum. My decision to make no direct refer-
ence to policies and curriculum documents is deliberate. The ideas and skills described in
this book are intended to promote good practice and stimulate art and design as part of a
balanced curriculum.
Research into art education has been published by the Journal of Art and Design Education.
The undoubted contribution this has made to art education is acknowledged by the author.
Rob Barnes, 2015
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Acknowledgements
Particular thanks are expressed to all those teachers and students who over the years have
helped form the ideas contained in this book. It is not possible mention them all by name
but special thanks must be extended to Jane Barker, Mim Barnes, Dinah Birnie, Christine
Boycott, Mavis Eccles, Sheila Gillies, Claire Goodman, Norman Manners, Ann Meades,
Liz Molander, Mary Munday, Amanda Parker, Jill Shea, Rachel Smith, Molly Turner, Sylvia
Turner, Cathy Whalen and Julie White. Grateful thanks are also due to the staff and children
of Abbot’s Lea School, Catton Grove First School, Clover Hill First School, Heartsease First
School, Ipsley First School, Knowland Grove First School, Lakenham First School, Lyng
C.P. School, Nelson First School, Northfields First School, West Earlham First School,
Seething and Mundham Primary School.
Nine children, whose work has been collected over a period of time, deserve special men-
tion. They are Adam Ballard, Richard and Peter Barnes, Rebecca Bryant, Tilly Ellis, Naomi
Holzer, Daisy Norton, Toby Whalen and Mary Wright.
Many thanks also go to Peter Moore, art consultant and natural Liverpool comedian. He
is one of the most inspirational teachers I have ever known.
Reproductions of works by Van Gogh and Monet courtesy of The Bridgeman Art Library.
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Chapter 1
Learning through art
Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.
Thomas Merton, No Man is an Island
Creative activities confront how we feel about things. Expressing a mood, emotion or tem-
perament through art becomes as valid as responding to another person, a moving sight or
a meaningful experience. Both responding and expressing through art puts us in touch with
qualities which are part of what makes us human. As such they give special significance and
meaning to what we see with our eyes and the inner eye of the mind. They touch on part
of us that nothing else can.
For children, art can be a means whereby they reconstruct and assimilate the experiences
they have had. What might have been an incomplete inner vision can become clear enough
for them to give meaning to what they encounter and can help to build up concepts of
themselves in relation to the world. Nowhere is this more obvious than when young children
cannot read or write. Their early art provides them with a personal language which describes
the world they live in through the shapes and symbols they make when they draw. By adult
standards those symbols are often poorly executed, even inadequate, but they are unique
to the children who did them and crucial to their development. Clumsy and primitive the
drawings may be, but they record an experience of perception and a stage reached in a child’s
personal growth and awareness.
Most of us who are teaching would want to help this process and try to find ways of
developing children’s artistic learning. By intuition we might find our way. More likely we
might look at prevailing schemes and the National Curriculum. Some of this would inspire,
but some would be vague and meaningless. Learning objectives are hard to determine if
we are only presented with finished pieces of children’s work to puzzle over. Making links
between principles and practice has traditionally proved difficult. In art teaching, an ethos
of apparently vague and random objectives still characterizes many classrooms. It could be
argued that the teachers should make these links for themselves but that would be to ignore
the problems most of us have in putting theory into practice. An understanding of principles,
the essential part of any theory, does not automatically lead to good practice.
It is not difficult to find children enjoying their artwork, coping with what we asked them to
do and controlling materials. But how do we know if they are really learning anything? Are they
engaged in anything worthwhile? Painting a cardboard box bright red all over may be enjoyable.
It may be absorbing, but has it any educational value to the child so industriously occupied in
doing it? Are any skills being learned so that subsequent artwork shows some development?
2 Teaching Art to Young Children
The themes in this book are intended to bring together principles and practice so that
effective art teaching can evolve. Since the first and second editions of this book, art and
technology have moved onwards as they always do, embracing the digital image, ‘installa-
tions’, ‘land art’ and ‘performance art’. Despite this, teachers still want to know basic things
like how children draw, how to produce original artwork and what value art offers. Like
most views on art and design, the arguments and suggestions set down here can undoubt-
edly be challenged. Art thrives on its multiplicity of viewpoints and its unwillingness to be
governed by any hard and fast rules. For that reason, conceptual models have been avoided
in favour of arguments which try to touch more on the experience of teaching art than on
its various theories. The intention is to examine principles and practice together rather than
try to separate them entirely. A frequently made assumption is that the two can successfully
be divided and analysed. Yet though one may be associated with thinking, the other with
doing, they are not necessarily separable.
Another, and perhaps less obvious, aim is to discuss art teaching in a context of ‘creative
teaching’. Teachers are far more creative in their thinking than they often suspect, and art
can be a way of using this creativity across the whole curriculum. To that end, many ideas
in this book will be found to cover a far wider range of curricular interests than art alone.
A creative teacher makes links with other areas of the curriculum, realizing that children
do not learn piecemeal subject by subject, even if we conveniently structure curriculum
documents as if they do.
Not many decades ago we would have believed that art was for a few gifted children.
Nowadays, the majority of children are regarded as being creative and their artwork is read-
ily cited as evidence of their creativity. The shift in viewpoint has partly resulted from the
influence of a variety of educationists as well as changes in the way we see our roles as parent
and teacher. In Victorian times, children were viewed as imperfect adults. Now they have
qualities which we recognize make them perfectly childlike and capable of producing imagi-
native ‘Child Art’. They are able to produce artwork with special qualities which no adult
could hope to emulate. We expect children to be taught as individuals as well as being part
of a group, and we have organized our education system so that individual learning is valued.
There are now far more adults in the classroom than would be seen by previous genera-
tions of children. Classroom assistants work alongside teachers and some assistants take on a
teaching role. This means that responsibility for teaching art is often shared between teach-
ers and other adults, including parents. They too have a great deal to offer by becoming
involved with their children’s projects outside the school day. Critics of this might say that
the art produced no longer belongs to the child. That would be to ignore a strong social
and bonding element to an art project that involves parents. Some projects can be almost
as rewarding for parents as they are for children. For example, artwork done on a theme
of Landmarks (Plate 42) can involve research at home to find out about sculpture such as
‘The Angel of the North’ or ‘The London Eye’. Such a theme involving parents can extend
knowledge of what a landmark is and how it came to be where it is.
We expect that children will do more in their artwork than just copy. Deliberately to teach
children to copy would not fit any principle of individual learning or creativity and we would
rightly think a narrow way of working had been prescribed. The UK National Curriculum
firmly put the study of art and artists in context, but some of this has resulted in mindless
copying of masterworks. Some principles are already formed in our minds and affect how we
approach teaching art. Others, like working from reproductions of famous paintings, need
to be understood. Copying to find out how an artist worked, or to find out more about a
Learning through art 3
Figure 1 A Thinking Face. Age 6. 370 3 500 mm.
painting is a sound principle. Copying to learn about colour-mixing or different ways to use
materials is sound. Copying to produce twenty-five almost identical examples, each from a
child in the class, can be mindless and mechanical. Individuality disappears and conformity
becomes a goal.
Imposing one view of art teaching would be a fruitless exercise. We still have every right as
teachers to choose where we stand. Children learn successfully despite experiencing different
methods of art teaching and different schemes. The very differences we see in good practice
only reflect the variety of excellence which is possible. For that reason the examples which
appear in this book should be treated with some caution and carefully considered rather than
blindly accepted as good or bad. The same is true of published government schemes, most of
which date quickly. A lot depends on the perceptions we bring with us and these inevitably
influence our preference for working one way rather than another. We can be a slave to the
detail of a published scheme, but there is no reason to be constrained unless we choose to be.
What works for one teacher may not work for us. But examples, such as the one which fol-
lows, have a knack of illuminating our own views by their realistic and concrete nature, even
if they do not coincide with our own preferences. A slight shift of principle or practice often
arises when one particular way of working has been found wanting. And in this example, the
effect on children’s work was considerable, the change of tack a result of personal choice.
I used to think of providing different things for children to do each day. Then I dis-
covered you really have to listen to them talking about their experiences so you can
get them to record and extend their thinking. They must use ideas from things they
themselves experience at first hand. They need to handle things because at this age,
