The Art of Ed | Professional Development for Art Teachers

Jun 5, 2013

5 Ways to Get Noticed (and hired) as an Art Teache...

With the summer hiring season in full swing, there are hundreds of art teachers jockeying for a few coveted positions. You’ve sent out your resume but you’ve received very few, if any responses and even fewer interviews. What can you do to separate yourself from the pack? Having recently been part of an interview team, I’ll present five tips that can help raise your name to...

Jun 4, 2013

Posted by Sarah | 8 Comments

What Would You Ask Chuck Close?

What if you could sit down with a famous artist and ask them a question or two? Would you ask them about their own art classes as a kid? Are you interested in learning about their artistic process? Wanna find out what kind of shampoo they use? Well, here is your chance! I have the opportunity to participate in a Skype conversation and ask a few questions to none other than Mr....

Jun 3, 2013

Posted by Sarah | 10 Comments

This message is for you, burnt-out art teacher.

This message is for you, burnt-out art teacher. I know who you are: The year is winding down. You are starting to dream about lazy mornings with coffee and crosswords (no? is that just me?) The smell of tempera paint is making you gag. If you have to identify the owner of a nameless Angry Birds drawing again, you might just rethink your career choice. Did these kids get anything...

May 31, 2013

Posted by Heather | 0 Comments

Watercolor Flower Bouquets: Free Lesson Plan Downl...

Grade Level: PreK-2 Art Education Lesson Plan Art Elements: Line, Shape, Space Art Skills: Observational drawing, over-lapping, water color painting techniques and care of materials Making Connections: Science, Nature, Picasso * Get more free lessons like this, on our Lessons Page This is a great lesson for springtime and the artwork makes great gifts for any occasion! Here are...

May 30, 2013

Posted by Jessica | 9 Comments

Rethinking the Materials We Use in the Art Room

“Every material comes with a story” These are the words of Jennifer Azzariti, published leader in the Reggio model of early childhood education. I was able to hear Jennifer speak at a recent conference at McDonald Montessori school. I love exploring new methods of teaching from around the world and am here today to bring you one of my many ‘ah ha’ moments...

May 29, 2013

Posted by Heather | 6 Comments

Will You Flip for “Flipped Teaching?”

Flipped Teaching (also known as reverse instruction or the inverted classroom), is a relatively new buzzword in education. It began in the 1990s as technology (specifically computers) began to be commonplace in the classroom and at home. As more and more students were able to get their hands on computers, teachers began questioning the role of the teacher in the classroom and...

May 28, 2013

Posted by Sarah | 13 Comments

Brighten Up with Liquid Watercolors

You might be thinking that between acrylics, tempera, tempera cakes, and watercolor cakes that you don’t need one more paint product crowding your cupboards. Well, think again! We recently talked about tube watercolors for your art room, and although there are some similarities and differences between tube and liquid, if you haven’t used liquid watercolors, they are also worth...

May 26, 2013

Posted by Jessica | 221 Comments

Tube Watercolors for the Classroom: Plus a Giveawa...

{This giveaway is closed to entries- Congrats to Keri who is the winner of this giveaway!} Tube watercolors remain one of my favorite art supplies to create my own art with, but I hadn’t considered adding them into the classroom until I found the Fantasia® Watercolors from Sakura. I don’t know how we get these ideas in our head that some art supplies are for adults...

May 24, 2013

Posted by Heather | 0 Comments

Using Chalk to Create Vibrant Wax Resist Paintings

I love to teach and use wax-resist painting in the art room. From crayons to oil pastels to batiks, this technique can really be geared for any age level. Over the years, I have tried wax resist strategies and finally have a method that is simple, successful and never fails to impress. My secret… chalk! After students decide on a sketch for their artwork, I have them...

May 23, 2013

Posted by Amanda | 6 Comments

Paste Paper 101

The end of the year is all about using up old supplies. Because of this, paste paper is a perfect project to do this time of year. All you need is some leftover paper mache goop and tempera paint. The process is a great way to learn about texture, while the finished product can be used for a variety of projects like journal covers or collages. Simply follow the step-by-step...

May 22, 2013

Posted by Ian | 3 Comments

Better Paintings Through Digital Sketches

When it comes to painting, students are always ready to get to work. However, art teachers know planning first through sketches will produce better outcomes. It can be quiet challenging, trying to slow the students down as they rush through their sketches just so they can start the painting stage. The answer to how we can have students take their time and produce better sketches,...

May 21, 2013

Posted by Jessica | 11 Comments

Watercolor Pencils: Providing Painting Control in ...

Have your students ever completed a beautiful and intricate drawing pre-painting, only to have the drawing get obliterated by gobs of paint during the painting process? It’s always sad to see the beautiful details of a drawing become lost, and often makes me wish I never allowed students to use the paint in the first place. One trick I have to keep details sharp in a drawing,...