MC ARTS Module 1.2 Arts

DARAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Education Department
Daraga, Albay

MC ARTS Teaching Arts in the Elementary Grades

Module 1.2 (Modular Learning Delivery) Prelims
Prepared by:
JOEWE B. BELGA, Ed.D.

Instructor
Module 1.2 (Modular Learning Delivery)
The Artist Mindset in the Early Grades
1. Familiarize yourself with the mindset, attitude, and values that must be developed in
young learners to help foster a healthy attitude toward the practice of art.
2. Reflect on the presence or absence of these artistic values in your own life as an art
educator, and consider how to develop them to the point that you can encourage
their development in others.
“Nemo dat quod non habet”

(You cannot give what you do not have)
-Latin Maxim
Any approaching artist can tell you that art first begins in the mind, with artistic
skills serving only to create what is already seen in the imagination. The skill of an artist
can, thus, be seen in how faithfully it can translate what he or she imagines into a work
of art. If there was nothing held in the imagination – no finished picture, painting,
drawing, or sculpture – even just fleetingly, can the end product be truly considered
“art”?
It is, thus, necessary to identify the habits of the mind – the mindset – that art
educators should both possess and seek to develop in their students in the early grades
through the teaching of art: the values, philosophical positions, and the focus needed for
art to thrive in Philippine education.
Inspired by Daily Experiences and Encounters
Part of the “artistic sense” is sensitivity to beauty – not just in big and grand
spectacles and experiences, but particularly in the everyday things we see and
experience as we go about our lives. This is difficult to explain and likewise teach for a
number of reasons:
1. Exposure
The ability to see beauty every day does not appear out of thin air; rather,
it often takes someone else explaining to us how something simple and
commonplace can be beautiful.
2. Context
it is almost a cliché to say that beauty is subjective; that is, what is

beautiful depends on the individual.
3. Age
Children are naturally drawn to novel, unusual, and the exciting. Bigger,
bolder, faster, brighter, louder are a guaranteed formula to gain the
interest of children.
Constantly Curious
While curiosity is often cited as a characteristics of scientists, it is also an

essential part of being an artist, albeit that while a scientist might be curious as to what
is in the design of a bird’s wing that enables it to fly, an artist might be curious as to
how to make the wing “look alive” even when rendered in a static, unmoving work of art.
Where a scientist is curious regarding the how and why of natural phenomena, an artist
should be curious regarding how to make beautiful things given a set of limitations and
parameters.
Open-Minded
Related to curiosity is “open-mindedness,” which is the willingness to be exposed

to new ideas and to consider them on their own merits.
Some areas where an open mind is an artistic asset are:
1. Lack of resources
2. The idea of perfection
3. Criticism
Open-mindedness is also an asset when it comes to the idea of “perfection” in art

– a concept which artistic reject. Accepting that perfection in art is a fool’s errand and
coming to terms with one’s strengths and weaknesses as aqn artist are part and parcel
of becoming a mature artist
Lastly, an open mind is necessary for an artist to benefit from criticism. Criticism
is an inevitable part of being an artist, and being able to take criticism well is vital to an
artist’s mental, emotional, and professional well being.
Activity 1: Let’s Do this! Answer the following questions. Write your answer in a
separate sheet.
1. Can comic books be considered “art”? Why or why not?

2. Can designing a slide presentation be considered an “artistic” process? Why or
why not?
3. Can editing a video to upload onto the Internet be considered an “artistic”
process? Why or why not?
4. Can editing a photo on your phone be considered “art” Why or why not?
5. These and other questions help reveal our own artistic “blind spots:” and biases,
which young learners often do not yet have but can acquire because of a
teacher’s influence.
Art as Authentic Self Expression
Art can be defined as any expression of the inner desire to create beauty.
Art as Self-Expression
Expanding this concept, we see that teaching art is not limited to simple
technique – the how of art – but must also include teaching it as a means for students to
communicate feelings, experiences, interests, and desires – the why of art.
Valuing Authenticity
Wrapped up in the mind and heart of an artist is a desire for affirmation – some
outside validation that work we produce is, in fact, beautiful in the way that artist
intended it. That is, artists want to know that what they wanted to express via their art
has indeed expressed.
Enjoyment in the Process

As an art teacher, you will find learners with a varying degree of patience and grit
for the process of creating art in your classroom: a few will be willing to take the time to
carefully and neatly fill in areas with color, many will start well and then give up as the
minutes pass, and a few will hardly care for any art exercise you give them. You might
not be able to turn them into artists, but they overall goal is to expose them to a wide
variety of artistic processes to that they might find one that they enjoy, as they will be
more likely to pursue it to completion.
Activity 2: Let’s do this! Write your answer in a separate sheet.
1. In what ways are you/are not “artistically curious? In what ways can art be more
integrated with your own daily experiences and contexts?
2.
3. How do you cope with on how you intend to develop patience and endurance in
your future students.
REFLECTION:
1. Consider an art from that you yourself do not particularly like or enjoy. Why do
you dislike it? List down your reasons.
2. Consider a student who likes to draw but dislikes water color painting. What
strategies you might employ to get the student to at least give watercolor painting
a chance.

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DARAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

MC ARTS Teaching Arts in the Elementary Grades

JOEWE B. BELGA, Ed.D.

The Artist Mindset in the Early Grades

“Nemo dat quod non habet”

Inspired by Daily Experiences and Encounters

it is almost a cliché to say that beauty is subjective; that is, what is

While curiosity is often cited as a characteristics of scientists, it is also an

Related to curiosity is “open-mindedness,” which is the willingness to be exposed

Some areas where an open mind is an artistic asset are:

Open-mindedness is also an asset when it comes to the idea of “perfection” in art

1. Can comic books be considered “art”? Why or why not?

Art as Authentic Self Expression

Enjoyment in the Process

Activity 2: Let’s do this! Write your answer in a separate sheet.

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