Preschool Art: From Doodles to Degas

Most people associate stick-figure drawings or finger-painted blobs with kid artwork. How about graceful paper dancers inspired by Degas? Or delicately painted poppies in the style of O'Keeffe?

For the 10^th year in a row, the Katonah Playcare Early Learning Center mounted its annual Art Show last week, showcasing the creative designs by their students during the month-long "Art and Artists" unit.

Initially, the curriculum was intended merely to expose the children to some of the work of the master artists in order to stimulate and help develop their sense of imagination and creativity. But while they were being introduced to the concept of an artist, the techniques they were practicing resulted in startlingly good work.

"The art show has grown tremendously as a way to share what the children have learned with our school community," said Gail Porter, co-owner and director of the school. "Our students really develop an interest in, and appreciation for art."

Over 100 children, ages two through five, participate in the two-day show, held in the school's gymnasium. Artists studied include Picasso, Monet, O'Keeffe, and Mondrian in the 3's program; Seurat, DaVinci, Gauguin, Cassatt in the 4's, and in the 2's, the focus is on exploring art with a variety of mediums, said Porter.

Porter, along with her partner Louise Cameron, encourages her youngsters to reflect upon their own work, as well as the work of the master artists. "One of my favorite comments came from a three-year old after viewing work by Jackson Pollock—he said, "he really needs art lessons," she laughed.

One lesson the kids' clearly learned was about the inherent fun in creating art and using a medley of materials. Fours' student Olivia Kreckler proudly pointed out her Kandinsky-inspired painting, noting that she liked doing it "because I painted and used swirly rainbow shapes."

And then she thought about why she enjoyed her "texture" project, a star-shaped mosaic of dried navy, pinto and kidney beans.

"I liked doing it because it was beany," she said.