Please allow me to introduce you to the No Name Art Club. For those who might not know, I started hosting an afterschool drawing club for my son, two of his classmates, and a friend of one of those classmates to teach them the basics of three-dimensional drawing by explaining simple techniques like shading, foreshortening, and perspective. It also gives them a chance to become friends with other neighborhood kids from different schools.
I want them to see all the things their simple sketches can become, so in addition to drawing a lot, we will be screen-printing tees, stenciling posters, painting signs, making zines and stickers, and visiting artists’ studios.
We’re three weeks in now, and I’m more or less letting their interests guide each class now while sprinkling the lessons in. Because there are only four kiddos, I’m able to work with them one-on-one. I also leave them homework in their sketchbooks. Here’s how the first one went:
Art Club Log #001
Knowing how hard it is to keep a nine-year-old’s attention for an extended period, I was a little nervous about having to do it for four kids at once. It was challenging from the beginning, as they all had so much to talk about coming straight from school. They were also just very excited to finally start the art club.
After a few introductions, since not all friends knew each other, they quickly became pretty chatty. C, being the mutual connection, seemed to help. And him telling E I was cool probably didn't hurt.
While decorating their sketchbooks, we talked about what to name our club and how, since they're the founding members, they get to come up with some of the rules and have the first membership cards, which they are very excited about. There were lots of questions about what the membership card would be made of and if it would be attached to a lanyard, so I explained that it's all our job to work together and figure it out, but really, I just haven't had a chance to think that far ahead yet. C said they were kind of like the Final Four but the First Four.
Lots of good potential club names and logo ideas came up. C suggested using the same color as a non-photo blue pencil “since that's like the basis of a drawing.” He also suggested the name Green Grass Club, and as much as we all liked that one, I don't think sounding like a cannabis dispensary is a good idea for something for kids. Or is it?
E suggested the Super Amazing Asteroid Skating Penguins, which blew my mind. I felt bad asking him to repeat it a fourth time, so I’m probably still saying it wrong. W read the sign behind him and suggested Jungle Inn Snack Bar, which everyone thought was funny and cool.
We also talked about how potty talk hits different in Japan and that if you made a poop or fart joke, the person on the receiving end might feel awkward and not find you as funny as you hoped. From the looks on their faces, this was hard for them to comprehend.
I tried to keep everyone on the same track but eventually had to widen that track quite a bit to include all of them. I tried my best to tie things together, but I also realized they are going to learn things at different times and hopefully from each other, so I need to loosen up a bit. They did at least all complete a page of six simple drawings that they'll draw again in the last class and hopefully notice an improvement.
In addition to everything else, I’m hoping we have time to paint “no littering” and “pick up your poop” signs for the neighborhood as well as help local businesses with their signage. It's hard to know exactly where this will go at this point, but a friend offered to let them have an art opening at her space, so they need to make SOMETHING. We’ll figure it out. I can already picture the kids sipping apple juice from champagne flutes at their opening.
If anyone has suggestions, you know I want to hear them! Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you again soon.
Thomas
Curious on what fundamentals to start with. Sometimes, I feel like letting them naturally "figure" things out lends to some creative routes. I'm an enginerd so I know too much structure stifles that creativity.