Media arts has been familiar to many through television, film, and digital graphics, and often appears as an extension of the four traditional arts disciplines: music, arts, theatre, and dance. As media arts continues to acquire its own unique identity, particularly through technological means, it has been included as a stand-alone discipline in…

Since the '60s New York style graffiti has gradually become an integral part of the urban visual landscape all over the world. The -so called- graffiti scene evolved into an alternative space where writers educate one another. Through their association with other writers, especially through their membership in informal organized groups known as…

The author discusses the role of the visual arts in helping people deal creatively with their struggles while enhancing their creative abilities. Lists of media, materials, techniques, events, names of artists, art careers, and modes of expression are included. (CL)

There are five categories of titles of paintings: descriptive, narrative, directive, poetic, and arbitrary. When children title their work they give clues to its intent and challenge the presuppositions that adults may bring to children's art. Titling can expand students' ideas for painting and provide a greater variety of approaches. (CS)

The push for academic electives has grown over the years for many reasons. The pressure for high test scores has forced schools to focus on literacy and core content areas. The competition for entrance to four-year universities has grown, too. However, in the race to improve academic offerings and raise test scores, some schools have neglected to…

Uses the five stages of creativity designed by psychologist Jacob Getzel--first insight, saturation, incubation, illumination, and verification--to describe a mural project in a rural community college. Reports that the project successfully paired students with community members to paint two local murals. (NB)

Describes a method used to acquaint art students with their painting subjects. The method requires students to study the subject closely and to make thumbnail sketches of details before they start to paint. Concludes that artists must observe their subjects closely to make the finished work believable. (GEA)

Described is a demonstration to illustrate the storytelling qualities of "clayscapes" and to suggest just one of the innumerable sculptured environments that are possible with clay. Clayscapes are sculptures which are minilandscapes made of clay. (KC)

Considers the importance of teachers learning about an artistic discipline in much the same way that language arts teachers are encouraged to write. Discusses knowing what materials can do, making materials mean something, and children's artistic intentions. Visits two second-grade classrooms in which working with clay invites students to think…

Describes how a teacher integrates art and literature in teaching English and world literature, by using slide presentations of modern art to graphically demonstrate the characteristics of modernism--fragmentation, alienation, heightened subjectivity, narrative distancing, and discontinuity in time. Describes and relates specific works of Dali,…

In this article, the author describes how she conducts her art classes. She relates that she begins all of her classes by asking prompting questions and presenting basic information such as a definitions of art terminologies to her students. The author believes in brainstorming with her students, an effective way for creating a dialog with her…

Highlighting the fundamental concepts of discipline-based art education (DBAE), this essay supports a comprehensive elementary and secondary education visual arts teaching approach that features content and skill learning in art history, production, criticism, and aesthetics. Section 1, "The Arts and the Mission of Education," considers:…

The part that words play in teaching art has been underestimated. In a good art class, there is an interplay of ideas about the ongoing work. By using the right words, the teacher can help students develop their creative faculties. (CS)

A self-taught artist describes the creative process and a technique for developing one's intuitive drawing ability. The article identifies seven basic motifs derived from natural forms and illustrates how these motifs are used in the artist's work. (DB)

Discusses the life and paintings of Vincent van Gogh, focusing on "The Road Meanders," and describes how to teach students through the painting (e.g., analyzing colors, discussing feelings it evokes, and writing poems that speak to the people in the painting). A copy of the painting is included. (SM)