Experience and Art

Book excerpt: The authors skillfully combine a philosophical and pragmatic approach, exploring the cognitive processes behind children’s painting. To deepen children’s understanding, the book suggests meaningful tasks for each phase of imagery and offers methods for encouraging children to discuss the concepts involved in their work. Focusing on children from 1-1/2 to 11, the authors include in this second edition: a more detailed discussion about painting in the preschool; an expanded description of techniques effective in motivating five- and six-year-olds; and a stronger emphasis on painting as a more central, rather than occasional, activity in all classrooms. “Experience and Art is a lean, wise, and useful book . . . that speaks to those who teach children.” —From the Foreword by Elliot W. Eisner