A Journey Through the Creative Process

by Christine Walker, Lower School Art Teacher

WHEN WALKING INTO ANY ART SPACE AT THE Peck School, you are sure to be greeted by a buzz of activity: students exploring materials and techniques, learning about artists, conversing with each other, asking questions, and sharing materials and ideas.

They are immersed in the creative process.

The creative process is akin to a bumpy road—sometimes it’s level, and then highs and lows pop up along the way.

Students’ emotions fluctuate along this road; they can start out excited and eager (this is so cool and I can’t wait to get started!), nervous or anxious (oh no, that looks hard, what if mine doesn’t turn out well?), even curious (I wonder what will happen if…?).

Along the way that can turn into being delighted (this is turning out so well, I’m really good at this!), frustrated (why isn’t this working; I’m not good at this!), pensive and thoughtful (hmm, what else does this art piece need?). Sometimes all these can occur within the span of one class period!

The role of the educator is to move children through this process in a meaningful way and to teach them to learn from each experience, wherever the road takes them.

We want students to be excited by the creative process, experience joy while exploring and experimenting with materials and techniques, gain independence, be keen observers, take risks, build empathy, experience “flow” while working, make mistakes, and learn from them!

These social and emotional skills that are developed and strengthened in creative classes move far beyond the art room.

When I was at Pratt Institute for my Masters in Art Education, I was introduced to the book Studio Thinking: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education by Lois Hetland, Ellen Winner, Shirley Veneema, and Kimberly M. Sheridan.

It identifies eight Studio Habits of Mind—and there are sixteen (and probably more) other habits of mind that come along with them that can be applied to everyday life and many other disciplines.

• Develop Craft: Learning to use tools, materials, and artistic conventions; learning to care for tools, materials, and space. How can I learn the process of an art form?

• Engage & Persist: Learning to embrace problems of relevance within the art world and/or of personal importance; developing focus conducive to persevering at tasks. How can I develop focus on my work?

• Envision: Learning to picture mentally what cannot be directly observed; imagining possible next steps in making a piece. How can I see the next steps in my work?

• Express: Learning to create works that convey an idea, a feeling, or a personal meaning. How can I create work that expresses my feelings or ideas?

• Observe: Learning to attend to visual contexts more closely than ordinary “looking” requires, thereby seeing things that otherwise might not be seen. How can I look more closely to find new things?

• Reflect: Learning to think and talk with others about an aspect of one’s work or working process; learning to judge one’s own work and working process and the work of others. How can I assess my work and process?

• Stretch & Explore: Learning to reach beyond one’s capacities, explore playfully without a preconceived plan, and embrace the opportunity to learn from mistakes. How can I embrace experimentation and learn from my mistakes?

• Understand Arts Community: Learning to interact as an artist with other artists (i.e., in classrooms, in local arts organizations, and across the art field) and within the broader society. How can I learn about and interact with other artists?

Throughout my classes, I’m moving around the room to check in with students individually, and giving encouragement, constructive feedback, and support.

My goal is for students to grow in independence in the art room and to develop creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills. I want them to feel comfortable trying new things and taking risks!

The Peck School is a K-8, co-ed, independent school in Morristown, NJ. www.peckschool.org

We set the standard for excellence in K-8 education, where academic preparation and character development intersect powerfully in the learning experience. By embedding consideration of others, service, and belonging in all that we do, we are designing an integrated approach to education that develops curious and disciplined learners who positively shape the world.