When it comes to teaching visual arts, many often feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to begin. With so many art mediums, materials and tools it can be challenging to know which ones to start with in the classroom. In this blog I want to offer some valuable resources and an important tip that will help you get started. Without feeling intimidated or lacking artistic expertise with art materials.
Experiment With Different Materials
Before you begin teaching it’s important to feel comfortable with art mediums. For example, you might not know the difference between an oil pastel and a soft pastel? Or not clear why to use transparent over opaque paint, or the difference?
To build your confidence I recommend experimenting. Try out different art mediums before taking it into the classroom. By familiarizing yourself with materials, or which is appropriate for different ages. You will build the confidence you need to start teaching and using these with your students. I’ve spent a lot of time creating useful guides and books on art supplies. I have identified which ones work great with children.
I have a couple of free resources to share in this blog. Plus a list of books I’ve written I recommend on the topic of choosing art supplies for children.
Free Download – Materials Checklist
I have two valuable resources for art materials that you can download here. My lists feature the best art supplies I have used over the years. Both for early childhood and elementary students. Take a moment to download these resources and save them for future shopping. They will serve as a helpful guide when selecting art materials.
- Montessori early childhood Materials Guide (PDF DOWNLOAD)
- Montessori Lower & Upper Materials Guide (PDF DOWNLOAD)
Another invaluable resource is my book, “Montessori Art: Early Childhood Art Guide.” This comprehensive guide covers visual arts topics for children aged 13 months to 6 years old. In this book, you will find a wealth of tips and advice on purchasing art supplies. Additionally, the guide includes over 100 color pictures. This book is available in both digital format and paperback. For Elementary Grades check out my Montessori Art Guide here.
I also have a book that teaches you everything you need to know about setting up children with paints. This guide lists the best paints to use with children. There is also information on why these paints work best for different art projects. The book, titled “Kids Painting Book – Teach Young Kids How to Paint. Included is the materials and set-up guide to ensure successful painting experiences. I also give you my best practices on clean up and how to manage paints. You can order this book in both paperback and digital format.
Choosing Art Materials
Visual arts covers variety of broad topics. The first tip I recommend is to decide on which art area you want to teach your students. Do you want to focus on drawing, painting, or crafting? These are just a few things you can teach in the visual arts. These are what I refer to as art domains. Getting clear on which area you first want to focus on is important. To get details on domains, both my early childhood and elementary art guides cover all the domains you should be exposing children to.
After you decide on which area you want to work with, then move to purchasing safe non-toxic art mediums. There’s no exact right medium or tools you have to purchase. But you should first focus on an area so you can invest in those art materials. For example, if you want to start teaching watercolor painting, I recommend starting with these materials:
- Watercolor paints
- Paintbrushes
- Watercolor paper
- Wash jars
- Painting key lesson curriculum
Explore Process-based Art First
The most valuable tip I want you to share is to embrace process-based art making. If you’re unfamiliar with this concept, you can learn more by reading this process-based art blog. Essentially, process-based art making is about experimental and explorative open-ended art. Try experimenting with different mediums and materials in a process-based way. Don’t worry about studying a famous artist’s technique. Or feeling the pressure of how to use the mediums perfectly. This is the best way to get use to art materials.
Start by purchasing some supplies like oil pastels and soft pastels. Play around on paper and explore how they work. You don’t need to create elaborate masterpieces. Just make basic art elements to see how the mediums work. That’s it! Give them a try, see how they work, and share them with your students. Your students will appreciate the autonomy you give them. Let them decide on what to create. and use the materials respectfully as they explore. After awhile you can go into more focused step-by-step art key lessons.
Painting & Paint Art Materials (Order Now)
Here are some fun options of different paints you could play around with. I use these regularly, and children love trying them out. You can follow the links to order directly from my art store website. If you are outside the US, please reach out to me for shipping options.
- Jumbo Dry Watercolor Cakes (3 Primary Colors): These last long and are washable watercolors.
- Sumei Ink: This ink makes beautiful brush stroke marks.
- Watercolor Crayons: Crayons that turn into paint!
Need more information on art supplies, READ, THE HOTTEST & COOLEST ART SUPPLY BLOG.
