Henry Paints
Stephanie Thiele
North Seattle Community College
August 16, 2010
CCE 195: Art for Young Children
Workshop 1
I met Henry tonight, and he was very
ready to be an artist! I was interested
to see what he would do with all of the
experiences in art.
When it was time to paint, we gave
the children white and black paint, and
white and black paper to experiment
with. Henry began right away with
black paint on white paper, and
seemed to enjoy the contrast.
Workshop 1
I gave Henry a mixing tray, and he
began experimenting with mixing
black and white paints. You can see
from his palette that he was
methodical about adding more black
to each new mixture, and ended up
with four shades of gray. Henry seems
to enjoy mixing his colors all at once,
and then trying them all out on paper.
Workshop 1
You can see on Henry’s paper that he
incorporated his new colors into his
painting. He also experimented at the
top with mixing grays together, and
with the process of his art. For him, it
wasn’t just about making a nice
painting, but about becoming familiar
with the concepts and the materials,
and looking at art in an almost
scientific way.
Workshop 2
Henry came back to art class tonight,
and was eagerly anticipating our
experiences in art.
When it was time to paint, we gave
the children blue, red, and yellow
paint, spoons, and a mixing tray to
experiment with. Henry began right
away with making new colors, and
chose a new combination of two each
time.
Once again, Henry was methodical
about mixing his colors first, before
going on to trying them on paper. He
approached the paints like: “Let’s see
what color this makes”, rather than:
“I’ll try to make green.” He reminded
me of a chemist, mixing ingredients in
a scientific way.
Workshop 2
After Henry had made several
new colors in his palette, he
went to his paper. His
experience this time was all
about his senses, and not
necessarily on painting a real
object or scene. He tried his
new colors thickly and thinly
on the paper, and
commented on the colors he
could see on the paper. A
very dark purple shade
turned out to be lighter and
richer when it was thinned
out on the paper. He put the
colors next to each other, so
that he could see them in
contrast.
Workshop 2
I noticed that Henry had painted a
symmetrical painting. I asked him
about it, and he not only knew the
term “symmetrical”, but had painted it
this way “on purpose.”
Workshop 3
For painting this week, we gave the
children watercolor paints to try. We
first introduced oil pastels, and then
told the children that they could try
painting their pastel drawings to see
what might happen. Henry listened
closely to the demonstration, chose
three colors, and began mixing
watercolor right away. He tried
painting on his pastel drawing, and
made several new colors.
Workshop 3
Henry took more blank paper when
offered and mixed and painted much
as he did last session, mixing for the
experiment of it, and painting abstract
shapes to see what color he had
created.
Workshop 3
When Henry heard that you could use
oil pastels to write a secret message,
only to be revealed by paint, he got to
work. This is what he came up with,
with two new colors of paint that he
mixed:
What it Means
• Henry, you are an artist. I watched as you listened to the art
introductions, and then as you sat down and got to “work.” You
were ready, and you dove right in. That told me that you are a
confident artist. You know that you have ideas for what to create
and represent. You know that art means that there is no “wrong”
art, but just whatever your brain, your eye, your hand and wrist,
and your materials can create. Art is a part of you. And you are an
artist.
• You are also a scientist. You enjoyed mixing paints to make new
colors, and had a scientific way of trying new combinations of
colors. You listened closely to the explanations, you focused on
your mixing, and you painted with your new colors to see what
changes had occurred to the paint. You are learning about cause
and effect, primary and secondary colors, shades and tones of color,
and how to use tools that make you an artist.
Opportunities and Possibilities
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Henry already has a confident and inquisitive approach to art. I see him as having
the possibility of an artist and a scientist, learning about his world and then
documenting his learning by making art representations of his experiences.
Henry can make art wherever he goes. He would most likely enjoy having a
sketchpad and a good drawing pen to take with him places, so that he can draw
what he sees around him.
Henry can explore more with black and white paint. He could explore lines by
painting with various thicknesses of paintbrushes, feathers, toothpicks, and twigs.
He could also try exploring the idea of painting a negative image. For example, he
could paint a snowman at night using only white paper and black paint. He could
also try painting a silhouette or a shadow.
Henry enjoys mixing paints to make new colors. For this he will need mixing cups
or trays, and access to the primary colors of paint. He could also paint when he is
feeling a specific emotion, to see what colors capture his mood. He can also paint
his sketches, to further explore what he knows about elements of his world.
Henry might like to visit an art museum, to see what other artists have created
using the media that he has experimented with.
Responses