Reflection #3- Visual Art Principles

The principles of visual art are things I never really thought about when I looked at a picture. I think even more than the elements, the principles of visual art are what draw you into a picture. They create the focus, the movement and rhythm of a picture. By understanding the principles when you look at a picture you are able to see what the artist is trying to focus on and have you see. Children's book illustrators, are a good way to introduce the principles, I think because lot of them exaggerate the principles making it easy to see what is happening in the pictures.
To prepare to teach first I need to know the principles. Second when teaching about a certain principle I can find artists that use that principle and teach that to my students. By being familiar with the principles and the illustrators it will make teaching simpler.
Elements of visual art are important to me and my students because it will help then to draw people into there art. It will teach them to emphasize what they want in a picture and create a scene.

Visual Art Reflection #2

When I think about visual art, the first thing that goes through my head is looking at a picture or sculpture. I don't think about all of the elements that actually make the picture. I think that is probably what I have learned during this section on visual art is how all the elements make up a picture or art piece. Understanding the different elements like texture and value will help me as I teach my students. If I can help then understand and how to use the different elements not only individually but together, the possibilities are endless for what they could do.
To prepare to effectively teach my students I will need to continue studying the elements of visual art.
My perspective on visual art has changed a lot. I now think of all the different elements as I look at a picture. I see how the artist mixes them to create the picture. I want my students to know that a picture has more to it than just something to look at. I want them to understand all that goes into it.

Reflection #1

My experience with art, seem really small compared to other aspects of my education. I remember doing some art projects in school, I played the piano, and danced when I was younger. It wasn't until recently that I even thought of dance as an art. Now as I watch dancing, I wonder how I didn't think of it as an art from the very beginning. I am sure my teachers integrated art at some point but I can not think of anything special that sticks out. I do remember writing stories and illustrating them. I also still have a picture of a dinosaur I drew one year along with a report I did about the dinosaur. Reading through the first chapters of the book, I think the main thing I have learned is that art doesn't have to be its own separate subject you can integrate it with any subject.
The arts have helped shape me in to who I am. Being involved in the arts helped me learn many life lessons. Dancing and playing the piano taught me about friendship, disipline, responciblility and many other lessons. Some of the best qualities that my favorite teachers had are, engaging, thoughtful, fun. My favorite teachers went out of there way to make sure each student knew that they were important. I had a teacher that when we would walk into class, he would have us pick up a worksheet and that is what we would do for the period. He would rarely talk to the class, this made him seem very unapproachable, this is not a quaility I believe a teacher should have.
I need to focus on the ideas and techniques that will help me intergrate the arts into my classroom. I am hoping to have alot of resources to help me remember how easy it really is to intergrate the arts! My goal is to have my students know that art doesn't have to be its own subject, that it can be apart of everyday life.