This week Diarmuid presented us with the opportunity to explore the Children’s Art Archive This included work from children from all over the U.K. It was laid out into early, first and second level examples.

At early level, (McAuliffe, 2007) states that children tend to move their whole arm to create art as well as stabbing like motions. This piece is what looks to be a child’s interpretation of a rainforest. You can see the while arm movements in the trunk of the tree, and I must admit that I was blown away with the creativity and standard of the work.

 This first level piece is also of a high standard; however, it looks like part of a teacher-lead activity and not as spontaneous or creative. It is at a much higher level of detail and the attention to this detail is overwhelming. This could have been part of a topic related IDL.

This second level artwork definitely looks like topic related IDL. At this stage, children become aware of artists and their styles and become more critical of their own abilities and inhibitions. This is referred to as the ‘gang stage’ (McAuliffe, 2007). I really like how this particular piece tells a story of what the child imagines pre-historic times was like.

Overall this lesson provided me with an insight into children’s art and how to handle and not assess – but to appreciate it, and to display it with pride.

 McAuliffe, D (2007) Foundation and Primary Settings. In Teaching Art and Design 3-11 (ed). London: Continuum.