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From Brushstrokes to Life Skills: The Spark of Art

by | Feb 5, 2024 | 4-H Events and Activities

From Brushstrokes to Life Skills: The Spark of Art

Art has always been a medium of expression. It allows emotions, ideas, and stories to be shared visually, bridging gaps where words sometimes fall short. For the young minds of today’s world, art offers a plethora of benefits that extend far beyond the canvas or sculpture stand. Art is not just about creating beautiful pieces; it’s a potent tool that fosters communication, sharpens cognitive skills, and broadens horizons.

Improving Focus and Creativity Through Art

Art is a unique medium that demands both concentration and imagination. As youth experiment with colors, shapes, and techniques, they cultivate a creative mindset. The process of creating a finished art piece takes time, allowing youth to learn how to stay motivated through a long-term project. Whether creating or analyzing art, sustained attention to detail is required which helps youth to enhance focus. This interplay between deep concentration and imaginative exploration through art not only hones specific artistic skills but also fosters a broader capacity for creative thinking in various life scenarios.

Photo 1: Activities such as blind contour requires intense observation. This process trains youth to focus deeply and observe minute details, strengthening their attention span and observational skills.

Enhancing Communication Skills and Critical Thinking

Engaging with art serves as a dual exercise in communication and analysis for youth.  Although art gives youth a medium to express nuanced emotions and ideas visually, often conveying what words might struggle to capture, it can also increase their communication skills by increasing their visual literacy. Teaching the fundamentals such as the elements of art and principles of design gives youth the vocabulary needed to dissect art verbally. During this process, young people grapple with interpretations and the underlying intentions of artists, honing their critical thinking. In today’s visually charged world, recognizing these art elements helps youth decode and discern underlying intentions, making them more informed consumers of the visual content they receive in the form of ads and social media.

Photo 2: At this art exhibit, young artists not only display their creations but practice their communication skills.

Promoting Appreciation of Differences

Art introduces youth to a world that spans cultures and eras. Through engaging with various artists and forms of art, they gain insights into different values, beliefs, and narratives. The subjectivity of art teaches them that multiple valid perspectives can coexist, each shaped by individual experiences. As young artists create, they learn to value their unique voices and respect others’ individuality. Learning these skills helps to prepare youth to navigate the world with understanding and empathy.

Photo of artist surrounded by art students with a large canvas in the middle.

Photo 3: Art underscores the significance of individual expression and the beauty of varied perspectives.

How to Start an Art Program

Starting an art program for youth begins with the basics. Introducing them to the elements of art—such as line, shape, and color—and intertwining these with the principles of design, like balance and contrast, sets a strong foundation for understanding and creating diverse art forms. With these foundational skills in place, activities like group art critiques and art exhibits become both educational and enriching. For example, activities such as art journaling, reinforce newfound skills and perspectives, allowing a dynamic, hands-on exploration of the world of art that can be done in a workshop, club, or camp setting, but also at home. The National 4-H curriculum website offers many curriculum resources, alongside galleries and museums. Aside from being great for field trips, many local galleries offer youth year-round youth activities.

Fostering Art Skills through Florida 4-H

In 4-H, recognition of our youth members is an important step in creating a sense of belonging and developing positive self-esteem. A dedicated art program can provide youth with the opportunity to share their knowledge and be recognized for mastery gained in art through various Florida 4-H events. Below are some of these events:

  • Share the Fun in our County/District Showcase and 4-H University.
  • Florida 4-H Graphic Design and Photography Contests
  • Florida 4-H Holiday Card Contest
  • The Insect Art Contest (Insectathon)

 

Conclusion

Incorporating art into the lives of young people provides multifaceted benefits. From enhancing communication and critical thinking to fostering a deep appreciation for the vast spectrum of human experiences. Moreover, starting an art program in your county not only equips youth with technical competencies, but also instills values of empathy, understanding, and open-mindedness. As our society grows more interconnected, cultivating these qualities becomes an invaluable investment in our youth’s future.

We would like to thank BLICK Art Materials and the Artists League of the Big Bend for generously supporting the art program in Leon County 4-H. For more information about upcoming art workshops with Leon County 4-H, visit the UF IFAS Extension Leon County 4-H Facebook page or contact the Leon County 4-H Team at leon4h@ifas.ufl.edu.

Resources:

National Gallery of Art: https://www.nga.gov/learn/learningresources.html

National 4-H Curriculum for Visual and Creative Arts: https://shop4-h.org/collections/creative-arts-curriculum

 

Valerie Mendez Stansly
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