Kindergarteners spend about a half a month on painting. I have chosen to introduce all students to routines and various media before I move this class to a more choice-based classroom. Here you see a kindergarten student using only the primaries to paint over a painting she began during the last time I saw them. When letting students paint over their dried work they learn quickly that painting over dry paint does not mix as easily as painting over wet paint.
Before moving to 6 colors, students practice keeping the peltate clean using less colors first. These paintings are painted for several classes.
I never tell them what to paint. If students are asked to talk about their work one can often hear many intricate narratives.
The level of focus and concentration is palpable. Kindergarteners are very serious about their work. I consider their experience with paint, brushes and paint qualities research. This is in fact the research of young children.
When students tell me they are done I encourage them to try using a smaller detail brush to add, well....details of course. The idea of painting smaller lines and shapes over their already large lines and shapes is a new concept, but one in which they adapt to quickly.
I have never tried this, but I am pretty sure if students were given their same paintings to paint on every art class they would do it with no complaints. Each new layer, each new line makes sense in a quiet manner. While they work quietly a lot of personal decisions are being made.
From K-4th grade this is the way I set up my paints on the table. $ students sit at each table, one on each side. 2 diagonal corners have water and paint. I also place a variation of brushes so that students can begin to choose their tools with purpose. Not much thinking happens if you are simply given each choice.
Finished kindergarten painting.
The richness, the variety and the exciting layers of colors and shapes makes painting with kinders so exciting.
First day he explored mixing colors so much that he covered his paper in two. The second day he paints a ninja over it with a fine brush.
