Stages of Artistic Development- Middle School

What should your middle schooler's art look like? Understanding the stages of artistic development at this age is key to enjoying and taking pride in your child's art production as they gain more security in adding realism to their art works. See key features of children's art work at this important art stage. Learn how you can encourage, engage, and provide meaningful learning opportunities for the middle schooler who is passionate about what they draw and how they learn.

Stages of Artistic Development

In art, we can notice , encourage , engage , and provide opportunities to expand and strengthen growth and development. Middle School ages 12-14 The art you see is based on your child’s ability to bring together expressive and realistic ways of drawing. Imaginative drawing and drawing from direct observation are often mixed in their picture-making for the purposes of expressing your child’s passions, ideas, and experiences. Passionate Your child is ready… to show the world what they are about!

YOU MAY NOTICE THAT YOUR CHILD: • experiments with clothing, interests, or skills (like art) in a search for individual identity. • feels strongly about everything; desires to be understood. • identifies strongly with peers; but desires honest approval from parents. • is self-aware or self-conscious; benefits from private time to work on art skills. • tries art for the first time. Your middle schooler may wish to keep the results of their sketches to themselves until a certain level of proficiency is obtained. • is done with guessing and messing and desires instruction in drawing concepts or color theory. ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO: • showcase their art in public locations such as a library, rec center, or local coffee shop, within Instagram, or a personal website. Say something like, “I think this series of “landscapes” or “portraits with flowers” that you’ve created shows a lot of originality. I think others would like to see them too. Have you thought about displaying them on… or at the county fair?” ENGAGE YOUR CHILD BY: • helping your child collect original drawing references of their favorite subjects; drive your middle schooler to locations to draw their favorite subject “horse stables” or “zoo” or to take photographs at an event such as “hot air balloon festival” or “motocross track” for use in future artworks. Develop your child’s best photos into 8 x 10-inch prints, which are easier to see than working from a phone screen.

“Passion is one great force that unleashes creativity, because if you’re passionate about something, then you’re more willing to take risks.” – Yo-Yo Ma

This is the stage when Imagination is anchored in Realism!

Though they often create imaginative images, the middle schooler wants their art to look realistic. They seek the practical skills of applying the art elements and principles to their work in order to achieve their goals. Your middle schooler must feel that they are learning new information and progressing in their skills. Passionate about the Subject • Focus on one “subject” for the centerpiece (focal point) of their art, more than compositions involving “scenes” with multiple subjects • Increasing ability to grasp abstract ideas such as horizon line, construction lines, ellipses, overlap, and variations of perspective • Drawing may be stylized like anime, cartoon, or character rather than realistic, due to wide exposure to these types of invented styles and your child’s passion for them! • Use of values with light and shading is achievable, but child may choose not to develop an idea to that degree Passionate about Art Media • When gaining mastery of an art material, they can get “stuck” using one technique only. Feeling confident in their abilities with the technique, security overrides risk-taking, halting further advancement for a short time. • May want to use art materials in private space (bedroom desk) rather than a public space (kitchen table) • Taking ownership of art materials; will not want to share art supplies with others as a protective measure. Provide each middle schooler with their own art supplies.

FEATURES OF THEIR ART

Elements of art : Understands how to use the elements of line, space, shape, value, texture, and form.

Propor�on: Can achieve greater realism in propor�ons.

Originality: Able to visualize interes�ng arrang ements of space when prompted by crea�ve assignments.

Line varia�on: Uses more than one type of mark in a single image.

ART CLASS OBJECTIVES

PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

ARTistic Pursuits resources are designed specifically for your child’s stage of development. We provide learning opportunities with art class objectives that fit your middle schooler’s needs as a growing artist and expand their visual experiences.

https://artisticpursuits.com, @artisticpursuitsinc, alltheanswers@artisticpursuits.com, (303)-467-0504, Artistic Pursuits Inc., 2626 East 109 th Ave., Northglenn, CO 80233 COPYRIGHT ©2024 BRENDA ABBEY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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