Great art by little artists

As an artist, I am free to choose my materials and my goals. Freedom in art is great! But also a big task. First of all, there is a lot to try out. I can create my very own artistic path, but I also have to decide and implement a lot of things all by myself - sometimes without any instructions.

I had the great pleasure of creating a colorful double lesson with the enthusiastic children of a 2nd grade of primary school. At the beginning we talked about the profession as an artist.

In contrast to craftsmanship, pretty much everything can be tried out in art. I don't have to track work plans to get a working result such as a car or a usable device.

The fact that you can use pretty much any material and try out all kinds of things has been enthusiastically received by the children!

"Yes, but how do I do that with metal? I need scissors, don't I?" The enthusiasm grew when I was able to assure that there are also suitable tools for metal. You can decide for yourself which material you like best in art. Wow!

A miniature is so mini mini small!

The children already knew from the announcement of their teacher that I myself prefer to work with small finds. However, working as small and detailed as in my miniatures is a very big challenge for the second graders.

However, all the children accepted my invitation to work with me to create small beetles from found objects without hesitation and with great zeal.

The Beetle Gallery

First of all, we looked together at what a beetle looks like in the first place. How many legs do they have? Why are some brightly colored and some gray or brown? How big are they? Where do you live?

Staniol paper, plant residues and small sections of parcel string were then used to create wonderful creations of a wide variety of kinds. Even fantastic names were quickly found: there are rainbow beetles, stone beetles, dwarf beetles and many other fantastic species in the newly created beetle gallery.

What is actually the opposite of a miniature?

Sticking to the small dimensions demanded the fine motor skills of the primary school pupils. A whole pine cone, for example, was very suitable to be completely processed in the factory. Unfortunately, it didn't really hold up on the thin paper - although it was really convincing as a landscape around the created little beetle.

But we had previously discussed that everything is allowed in art.

"Then that's just a grandiature!"

was unceremoniously announced. That's how it should be! In art, everything is allowed! In any case, the children implemented this incredibly creatively. I am still full of enthusiasm and really impressed by so much commitment and joy! The double lesson flew by incredibly exhilarating and simple. Really all the children contributed their ideas and participated highly motivated.

It was a great collaboration. Dear children of the second "lion class" of KGS Voiswinkel - you are great!

Try out what you really want to do! It is not only in art that it is allowed to go one's own way.

Yours, Magdalena Hohlweg