At our Preschool, visual art experiences are set up in such a way we create interest and awaken curiosity of our children to encourage exploration.

Through interesting provocations in the form of observational art for example, our children are encouraged to use their developing artistic skills to express what they can see in drawing and painting without being overtly guided by our teachers.

In an experience with our Kauri room children, we placed just a handful of items on the table – drawing paper, pencils, paint, brushes, and slices of oranges which the children helped dehydrate. Children were supported by the teachers to pay attention to the intricate details of the orange slices to help them make connections between what they could see and what they already know how to draw. They were prompted with questions such as “what shapes or patterns can you see?”

When painting, the children were drawn to the colour of the orange slices and re-created the shapes well. In drawing, the children were able to sketch more detailed representation of the orange slices.

Preschool teacher Eileen Coghlan shared, “Observational art experiences such as this helps foster our children’s ability to develop beyond their sensory skills and perception but extend their existing artistic ability to recreate the ‘real’ as opposed to replicating what is in their mind’s eye. This exercise helps our children understand the subject and means to describe it through use of lines, form, tone, and colour. We were amazed by the children’s creations.”

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