the joy of process art with children

There was a time in my life when I had ambitions of  becoming a children's book writer and illustrator. I only managed to write one children's story (which featured a pot of glue called Sticky, and really wasn't very good at all). These days I still enjoying drawing and painting, but now I mainly do these activities with the children.

I love involving the two kids in the same activity whenever possible, and in my experience, one of the best ways to do art together is by using an approach called process art. Because process art emphasizes the process (the actual act of drawing, painting, molding, etc.) rather than the outcome (i.e. the picture of the lion/snowman/etc. that is produced), it gives children the freedom to go about creating art in their own way and at their own pace. 

Our take on process art perhaps isn't always true process art, as we sometimes have an idea of the direction the process is leading towards. Here, for example, the children are enjoying process art with some tools (their toys!), but they knew they were ultimately making a Christmas tree. Bristle Blocks in particular are really great for creating texture (here, the needles of a pine tree). 

Check out that great texture!

Our tree

Here's an example of true process art - no agenda at all here, just some orange and yellow paint (and our favorite bristle blocks and shapes)

Process art with warm colors

We tried using different surfaces and tools - here, Wawa is experimenting with aluminium foil and a heart made out of the end of a toilet paper roll:

Hearts on a shiny surface

and here, Bobo is painting with a small bunch of cotton buds. 

Experimenting with different tools

There is something so spontaneous and joyful about process art - something about not having to color within the lines, and not having to follow a specified path - that keeps us coming back to it. It can get a little messy, but that's a big part of the fun!

Look, Mama!