This Week In Art K-4

I love doing a fish unit with Kindergarten!!  It is a great way to review shapes and explore all the different media (crayons, markers, paint..etc).  I always read The Pout Pout Fish Books!! 

Landscapes with 1st!  Upping the expectation that students have a Foreground/Middle Ground/Background in the work.  In Kindergarten it was enough for their to be a Foreground/Background.  I use 3 lines to start the drawing & then let them build on it from there. 

Landscapes for 2nd Grade, but they did theirs in collage.  If you do attempt this...don't be surprised if it is a bit of a struggle.  I try to get my students to lay down the base (sky, hills, middle ground, foreground) before they add the details into their landscape.  With all the virtual and such that happened over the past 2 yrs....we will revisit this lesson later on to give them another chance at success!

3rd & 4th get some practice with watercolor.  A majority of my students did not have watercolor at home.  We are really starting a square one, and that is totally fine!!  I want to build my students up so they can have success in their future paintings.  They really did enjoy getting to paint...even if it was just an exercise! 

Exploring Mini Masterpieces by Laura Lohmann

I finally took Mini Masterpieces for a test drive today!! The YouTube Video at the bottom of this post has me showing you the book...and doing one of the lessons!  I've included the Amazon link so you can order your book today!!! 

HERE IS THE AMAZON LINK FOR THE BOOK!

https://www.amazon.com/Mini-Masterpieces-Exploring-History-Hands-Projects/dp/1943147833

Cost of Art Lessons

This is one of my most visited old posts.  At the time I just asked for help because I had no clue...but now I'm old  & experienced! So I thought I'd come back and update it!

Anyone else struggle with pricing art and art lessons?  I really wish this would have been discussed more in college.  However, over the years I've gotten better with pricing lessons/classes (still struggle with pricing my art work...just being real with you!)

There are a lot of factors that go into pricing art lessons for individuals and classes.  One of the first things you should do is investigate the going rate for art lessons in your area.  It truly is different based on geographic locations.  I would look at individuals giving one on one lessons, individuals giving classes, and classes that can be taken at art stores (Michael's, Hobby Lobby, and Jo-Ann's).  Consider what they are offering and what they are charging.  

Another factor is how many students you will be working with at a given time. I'd also say that they should be at a similar age/developmental level so that a lesson is not comprised of multiple sets of instructions/supplies.  When you are teaching a lesson to a group of students you can charge a bit less than when you are teaching one on one because you will be receiving compensation for each of the students. You are in control in these situations(to a point)...and can set the number of students, their ages, and the projects that you will be doing with them. 

Supplies!  Are they providing the supplies they will be using or will you?  What are is the quality of the supplies you will be using (because that impacts price).  

You have to make this experience worth it for you.  Your time, experience & expertise deserves financial compensation.  Do not underestimate your worth. You need to be flexible (to a point) as people approach you for lessons.  Provide people with the amount that you are looking for based on the information you've gathered, but have a bottom line dollar amount that you are not willing to go below if people want to "negotiate".  They may offer to buy the supplies to help lower the price...but you still need to make sure you stick to your bottom line.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS/PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

...PLEASE SHARE IN THE COMMENTS