How is the Right Brain / Left Brain Concept Relevant to Artists?
When you start a piece of artwork, you need be able to to visualize the finished product in your mind (right brain, working from the whole), then develop the artwork, matching and mixing colors, placing in the shadows and highlights (right brain, working on various things simultaneously), while at the same time be able to look critically at what you're doing (left brain, being analytical). By finding out whether your thinking is dominated by your right or left brain, you can then deliberately set out to use the 'right brain' way of thinking in your painting or drawing, rather than working on 'auto-pilot'. By trying a different strategy you will probably be surprised by what different results you can produce. (http://painting.about.com/od/rightleftbrain/a/Right_Brain.htm)
In the elementary art room, I am reminded daily that thinking with your right brain isn't always as easy as it seems. All children are talented, some are athletic, some musical, some intellectual, and some are artistic. My goal as an elementary art teacher is to introduce different art forms and materials and let the children explore, succeed, and sometimes fail, we ALL learn from our mistakes. As a matter of fact, my class motto is " There are no mistakes, only happy accidents." So while I recognize that not all children desire to grow up to be Famous Artists, I treat them as artists in training and hope to give them to tools to explore, create and be inspired.
The following information on Right VS Left Brained individuals can be applied to children and adults alike. At the end you will see a link to a brain quiz, I have taken this simple test and found the information to be factually based and accurate. FYI- I scored 43% Left and 57% Right.
In the elementary art room, I am reminded daily that thinking with your right brain isn't always as easy as it seems. All children are talented, some are athletic, some musical, some intellectual, and some are artistic. My goal as an elementary art teacher is to introduce different art forms and materials and let the children explore, succeed, and sometimes fail, we ALL learn from our mistakes. As a matter of fact, my class motto is " There are no mistakes, only happy accidents." So while I recognize that not all children desire to grow up to be Famous Artists, I treat them as artists in training and hope to give them to tools to explore, create and be inspired.
The following information on Right VS Left Brained individuals can be applied to children and adults alike. At the end you will see a link to a brain quiz, I have taken this simple test and found the information to be factually based and accurate. FYI- I scored 43% Left and 57% Right.
LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic detail oriented facts rule words and language present and past math and science can comprehend knowing acknowledges order/pattern perception knows object name reality based forms strategies practical safe |
RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling "big picture" oriented imagination rules symbols and images present and future philosophy & religion can "get it" (i.e. meaning) believes appreciates spatial perception knows object function fantasy based presents possibilities impetuous risk taking |