10 Tips for Viewing Art with Children

"Artists are the rock stars. I am just the roadie that is going to get them to their next gig."
– Kristin J. DeAngelis

By Kristin J. DeAngelis
Owner/Director/Art Educator – 107 Bowers Gallery & ArtSpace/Young Masters Art Classes
5 Years In Business
107bowersgallery.com/young-masters-art-class
facebook.com/youngmastersartclass

Introduction

I have over 25 years of art, marketing and sales experience culminating with being owner, director and curator at 107 Bowers Gallery & ArtSpace.

I love spending my time between being an art gallery director, art educator, and art advocate. As a gallery director, I work with artists, galleries, interior designers and collectors. As an art educator, I work with children under 12 years of age to bring out the Young Master within them. As an art advocate, I coach pre-emerging artists to get them focused and back on track to their creativity. I am also a member of the Association for Women Art Dealers and The Jersey City Arts Council.

I learned about the inquiry method during my residency with Learning Through Art (LTA) at the Guggenheim. During this time, I volunteered as a Teaching Artist Assistant for the 2017 - 2018 school year at PS 9 in Brooklyn. I also complete the Guggeheim's program Gallery Teaching for Elementary School Groups. Lastly, I was selected to train the student docents to prepare them for the LTA Student Show - A Year with Children 2018.

My goal is to empower artists of any age to be successful in their goals!

Top Tips

Children are curious - as are adults. What a great way to learn about one another than to view art together!

Here are a few tips to get you started.

1. First - view the art from a bit of a distance. Ensure that you can take it in as a whole.
   
   
2. Hold off on reading the title and artist who created the piece - you don't want any preconceived notions about the work.
   
   
3. Take in the work in silence for about 2 minutes.
   
   
4. Then ask your child - "What do you see in the artwork?"
   
   
5. Don't indicate that you see what they see - and don't indicate that you do not see what they see. Simply, nod and say things such as "Interesting" "What do you see that makes you say that?" "Show me by explaining where you see that?" Ask them what else they see until they are completely out of answers.
   
   
6. Take in everything they say and note if you see those things, too.
   
   
7. Then, you tell your child all the things you see - don't expect their reactions to be as yours.
   
   
8. Bring up areas where you see the same thing. Also, note where you need help to see what your child sees. Compliment them on their intuition and creative viewing. It is important for you not to correct them. Example: If they see a dog, do not tell them that there is not a dog in the image. 
   
   
9. Lastly, walk up to the piece of art (museum, gallery, someone's home) - get close enough so that you can see the details. Repeat the exercise. Note what you may have missed from the distance.
   
   
10. Review the title and artist. If you and your child are familiar with the artist, talk about how the work surprised you or didn't.

Summary

This subject is much easier - and way more fun - to experience in person.

Viewing art is a great way to bond with your child and learn about how they view things. You will not only learn about them, but you will learn about yourself!