Today we begin our month-long journey of creating masterpieces for our annual Art Show.
“It took me a lifetime to learn to draw like a child.” -Picasso-
“I would like to paint the way a bird sings.” -Monet-
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”
-van Gogh-
“Color is a power that directly influences the soul. Color is the keyboard. The artist is the hand that plays.” -Kandinsky-
“There are flowers for those who want to see them.” -Matisse-
Jennie
P.S. There really is a red house in Starry Night. Thank you, Snoopy. And thank you, Liam, for pointing this out to me years ago when you were four years old. I never saw it, but you did. Children catch far more than we do.
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About Jennie
I have been teaching preschool for over thirty-five years. This is my passion. I believe that children have a voice, and that is the catalyst to enhance or even change the learning experience. Emergent curriculum opens young minds. It's the little things that happen in the classroom that are most important and exciting. That's what I write about.
I was a live guest on the Kelly Clarkson Show. I am highlighted in the seventh edition of Jim Trelease's million-copy bestselling book, "The Read-Aloud Handbook" because of my reading to children. My class has designed quilts that hang as permanent displays at the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia, the Fisher House at the Boston VA Hospital, and the Massachusetts State House in Boston.
A Teacher's Reflections 
Profound and meaningful quotes of pure wisdom, Jennie. Loved them.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the quotes.
Welcome Jennie
Wonderful quotes, Jennie. And I remember your post about Liam and the red house in Starry Night. Magic. I look forward to reading about your children’s journey in art this year.
Thank you, Norah. Children always seem to create magic when we get ready for the Art Show. I’ll be posting about their work and discoveries, for sure.
I love Snoopy’s Starry Night 😉
It’s the best! 🙂
Great quotes! I love the Snoopy Starry Night. I’m looking forward to seeing what the kids’ create
Thank you, Dan. The children always astound me, every year. Stay tuned!
I remember the little red house because of your little student.
I’m so glad!
They do. We used to, once upon a time. I still try. Nice quotes.
Thank you, Steve. 🙂
I agree with every quote here. Children teach us so much if we let them.
I have a small basket filled with handwritten quotations. When I read a favorite quote, I grab paper and pen and write it down. Now, I have paper clipped my quotes into categories- art, music, books, Einstein, etc. It was a pleasure to un-paperclip the art quotes and read them again. I love that! Picking a few was hard, yet fun. Children absolutely teach us, if we let them. Thank you, Marlene.
What wonderful quotes. I love that there are so many ways to communicate.
Thank you, Jacqui. 🙂 Some communicate with words, and some communicate with a paintbrush. I love that, too!
Love the quotes and Snoopy
Thank you, John.
I love the quotes! ❤
Good luck with Art Month!
Thank you, Ritu! It will be busy, wonderful, and full of surprises. ❤️
I can only imagine!
Perfect quotes! I look forward to reading about this year’s creations.
Thank you, Darlene. It is always an exciting adventure. This month we are learning about Italy, a perfect backdrop for art. One of my favorite picture books (not well known) is a true story of Michelangelo as a boy. There was a rare snowfall in Florence, and he was asked to make a snowman sculpture for a festival at the palazzo Vecchio to celebrate the snowfall. Isn’t that cool?
That is very cool.
😀
Kids love learning about “the masters” and showing others what important things they have learned. When we bring these famous works into their lives they keep a love for them forever.
You are absolutely right! They love art, and learning about the masters gives them a love for a lifetime. Thank you, Anneli.
The quotes are fabulous and so is Liam’s painting.
Thank you, Deborah. They are some of my favorite quotes. The fact that Liam had looked at our Starry Night poster all year long, and noticed the tiny red house, was astounding. Twenty years of looking, and I had never seen it. Children are remarkable and wonderful, aren’t they?
They are!
😀
These are lovely quotes, Jennie.
Thank you, Robbie.
Jennie, thank you so much for this post!
You are welcome, Charles!
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Here is a wonderful post on children and art from the excellent teacher, Jennie!
Thank you, Charles!
Jennie, you are welcome.
I have a print of a painting called ‘The Red House’. My wife hates it, and says it is like a battery.
But I adore it,
https://www.wikiart.org/en/kazimir-malevich/red-house-1932
Best wishes, Pete. 🙂
I really like this, Pete. She’s looking at the house and not the whole painting. The balance of color is remarkable and works for the red house. I love everything from Monet to Kandinsky. Art fills the soul, like music does. Best to you, Pete.
This sounds like an awesome project!
It is awesome! We study the old masters, major pieces of art, and styles of art. I let them use real artist paints from a tube. And I introduce music on a record player to inspire their painting. Vivaldi and Beethoven are popular. Isn’t that something?!
My students and I just finished studying classical music and have now moved onto the blues.
I love studying a particular artist and doing art in their style
Wonderful, AJ!
I have thought for a long time that children could teach adults so much about art. I love that they have no sense of right and wrong. They just do what ever comes naturally and wish that we could all do the same. I have watched my special needs children in their class doing art, and it is a wonderful thing to see. They will put one color right on top of another one, and be perfectly happy with it, or they might make a car with a huge tire on one part of it. It is good to break the rules in art. I am so happy that you are doing this. You sure do give your children that you work with so many opportunities to explore with so many subjects, and especially with art. Who knows, your class might be the incubator for some famous artists someday. What a great idea!!! Congratulations and enjoy every minute which I know you will. Show us some of the photos of the work afterward.
The work and love that children put into their art continues to astound me. It is wonderful! And maybe one day there will be an artist or a writer or a musician or a scientist from children whom I have taught. Thank you, Anne. Wait till you see the Art Show!
I love this. Artistic expressions are so special for the growth and development of our children. Thumb up Jennie! Hope your week is off to a great start. ❤
Thank you! We’re off to a great start. ❤️
Wonderful quotes, Jennie! And Snoopy’s Starry Night is awesome! 😄 Looking very much forward to what your kids will come up this year!
Thank you, Sarah! 😍
Van Gogh has long been a favorite of mine (not only for his choice of colors) but because it was his painting that turned on the light bulb for me in understanding the “Literature” of Fine Art — especially modern Art (since I was always the kind of artist who drew literal interpretations of things). Van Gogh helped me see that Art can also be painting the “spirit” of things… It is the child in us that gives birth to that and the adult in us that edits it out — the reason Art is important to all human beings in remembering what we aspire to become…and holding on for dear life!
KC, I only have one poster hanging in my classroom – Starry Night. I feel the same way about his art, and that seems to transcend to children. Many wonderful things have happened because of that poster. I just bought the children’s picture book, Vincent Can’t Sleep by Barb Rosenstock. She also wrote The Noisy Paintbox about Kandinsky, which won a Caldecott. Great books. I highly recommended the Vincent van Gogh book – not just for children! Your library will have it. And, art is one of the most important things for the soul and the mind. Thank you, KC!
Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
Thank you!
Reblogged this on davidbruceblog #3.
Thank you!
Love Snoopy too! 😉 Thank you very much, Jennie! Great idea using these characters for education. Best wishes, Michael
Thank you, Michael. Snoopy and art are the best. 🙂
Great stuff- you are so inventive.
I can’t take credit for Snoopy and Starry Night. I can only take credit for sharing great stuff. Thank you, Opher!