| In these days of budget cuts and limited | | | | how to do art. Some experts insist that drawing |
| resources, it's often the case that fine arts | | | | is the basis of all Western art education, at least |
| classes are the first to be cut. This is unfortunate, | | | | since the Renaissance. Once you teach someone |
| since a well-rounded education must include the | | | | how to draw, they say, you can teach them all |
| arts. Studying the arts, whether in the academic | | | | other forms of art because drawing is an |
| study of art appreciation, or learning how to | | | | empirical activity that involves seeing, interpreting, |
| actually do art, is crucial to teach young people | | | | and discovering the appropriate marks to |
| how to think creatively and independently. Some | | | | reproduce an observed phenomena. |
| studies have shown that students that participate | | | | Many state that an important part of a |
| in a strong art education program demonstrate | | | | well-rounded education is at least a basic |
| higher performance in other academic areas. | | | | understanding of art history, including the |
| Expert conjecture this is due to the fact that | | | | numerous movements in art throughout the ages. |
| when people do art, they exercise the right | | | | A good understanding of art history, however, |
| hemisphere of the brain, where higher reasoning | | | | includes more than memorizing artists, their |
| functioning occurs. | | | | works, and when they were created. It involves |
| Art education is an area of learning based upon | | | | an understanding of the trends in the art world. |
| the visual, tangible arts, such as drawing, painting, | | | | Even artists should have a good comprehension |
| sculpture, and design in jewelry, pottery, weaving, | | | | of the history of art, if they are to find out how |
| and fabrics. These days, it includes photography, | | | | they wish to express themselves to the world. |
| video, film, design, and computer art. | | | | A good artist needs both an in-depth education in |
| The first art schools were mentioned by Plato in | | | | the history and appreciation of art and lots of |
| 400 B.C. Art was taught in Europe through the | | | | studio time. Most art schools devote thirty |
| Method system for centuries. Artists, like most | | | | percent of their coursework to academic fields of |
| guilds, took on apprentices who learned their | | | | study, like art appreciation and art history. How |
| trade. During the Renaissance, more formal | | | | can you develop your artistic vision if you don't |
| training took place in art studios. Design was | | | | know what's gone before? |
| emphasized more than the fine arts, so schools | | | | It has been said, "We stand on the shoulders of |
| of design were founded throughout Europe during | | | | giants." This is especially true in the art world. You |
| the 18th century. In modern times, art education | | | | need to be able to answer when someone asks |
| takes place across the generations in | | | | who your influences are. What does it mean to |
| community-based institutions and organizations like | | | | be a post-modern painter, for example? Or an |
| museums, local arts agencies, recreation centers, | | | | abstract impressionist? Only a well-rounded |
| places of worship, social service agencies, prisons, | | | | education in the arts will help you answer those |
| and schools. | | | | questions, and how they apply to you and your |
| There are thousands of art education curricular | | | | work. |
| models, or ways to teach art appreciation and | | | | |