Drawing From A Bag

We wanted to share a super cool project we did in our studio recently, called “Drawing From a Bag.” Sometimes the art your child brings home has that undeniable wow factor- something neatly painted, well drawn, and recognizably appealing. The art that probably ends up framed on the wall, or shown off on the refrigerator.

But sometimes, our projects aren't about the finished product at all- take our drawing from a bag project, for example:

When viewing this artwork as a finished product, we might puzzle over what it's supposed to “be.” We might notice that the color seems to evade the insides of the shapes or that the lines appear messy and random. Some might think it looks like a lot of nonsense. But that's okay! It's actually the point, and here's why:

The practice of art isn't just about the observer. Art is also about how something was created, how the artist interacts with their art while making it, and what they might learn in the process of making.

In this project, children were given a set of paper bags, each containing a unique object. They were instructed not to look inside the bags, but instead to draw the objects just by reaching into the bags and feeling the shape, size and texture of their contents. This is not a product-focused exercise. It is more about honing observational skills and creating new connections between the brain and the hand. 

In addition to helping develop physical skills, these types of projects also help students navigate their relationship with their art. Focusing too much on a beautiful end product can lead to perfectionism, and anxieties over not being good enough. Fear of failure, of making “bad art,” is often what leads people to abandon the practice of creating art altogether. 

Central to the types of art we teach in our studio is the element of play. While we encourage traditional skill development, we also strive to make the creative process engaging, fun, stimulating, and liberating, with the hope of fostering a lifelong appreciation for art.