Communication & Art
Jessica Blessing
Communication is a fundamental and essential skill for humans, and yet connecting to each other remains a challenge for so many. Art provides young people with an opportunity to communicate their feelings, thoughts, and ideas, and to find commonality with others. Many people struggle to verbally communicate; it isn’t always the easiest method for getting deep, dynamic, or original ideas across to others. For Complex Learners, this barrier may also be exacerbated by challenges with articulation and speech, processing and interpretation, and/or holding a conversation with others. Developing nonverbal methods of expression helps to strengthen children’s emotional intelligence, ability to convey their feelings, and support their recognition of social cues in others.
Abstract art making is a perfect match for visualizing abstract feelings. Through experimentation, children can connect their inner world to physical elements such as color, shape, texture, and movement to translate it to others. As an art teacher, I aim to provide a space that’s intended for creative expression and offers room for possibilities. Approaching artwork with curiosity and genuine questions, I am routinely surprised by the connections made by young artists and the ways they represent themselves. By focusing on the process of creating art, rather than the finished product, a young person can learn important information about themselves, their preferences, inspirations, and intrinsic motivation to make something uniquely theirs. Using creative language allows for the art to be experienced by others regardless of verbal language. This access to creative expression can reduce anxiety and aid in relationship building as the invisible becomes visible.
There are many other factors working in subtle ways during the art process that encourage effective communication. Storytelling skills and vocabulary are enhanced as the conversation revolves around the artwork. Adults in young artists’ lives play a pivotal role in how much discussion is had around inspiration, medium choices, and deeper meaning. Through these discussions, children learn to articulate their thoughts and validate their experiences.
Artmaking provides unique access to a multifaceted exploration of self and the development of social-emotional skills. This is a relaxing way to demonstrate the wide range of ways the human experience can be accessed and shared. These benefits can be explored in so many interesting ways. There is no wrong way to experiment with expression! Here are some ideas of things you can try out to bring art and connection into your home.
“Musical Materials”
This is a great activity to engage artists in movement as a reaction to different sounds. It’s recommended to curate a specific playlist of songs that evoke a variety of emotions ahead of time for this art session. A song or sound is played for about thirty seconds as a material is quickly chosen to draw on paper or canvas with. As the artist listens, they start to make marks by moving their material/body in a way that represents the sounds they’re hearing. After the timer ends, the song will be changed, and a new material is chosen to respond with.
“Scribble Game”
A quick and fun inventive drawing game that can be played in most places, this is a great way to pass the time and bring in some humor during dull moments. Start by closing your eyes and drawing a random line on the page. The line can be complex, but shouldn’t be wild scribbling. This starter “scribble” is passed to someone else, or can even be used by the same artist. This random line is the start of a new and original drawing that is inspired by imagination, much like seeing shapes in the clouds! It can be helpful to turn the paper around to get a new perspective.
“Emotion Wheel”
The Emotion Wheel involves creating a circle divided into six to eight sections. An emotion is chosen for each triangle of the wheel, and the artist uses colors, shapes, lines, patterns, and symbols to represent that emotion. This is a flexible activity that encourages introspection and self-awareness. The finished product can give insight to adults, and has the opportunity to be a useful tool in future emotional communication moments.
Creating art is so much more than just an expression of creativity; for many of us, it gives us an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and to grow. When you give your Complex Learner the space, materials, and encouragement they need to create art at home, you’re giving them the chance to grow and connect in a brand new way.
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