The Connections Issue, September 2025

Published on 24 July 2025

Description:

While teaching students about new artists, processes, and techniques, art teachers also prioritize building relationships and strong foundations. Young students transform the hallway bulletin board into a giant sheet music mural promoting kindness, elementary students develop fantastical illustrations, middle-school students embrace imperfections while making stained glass jewelry, high-school students work with limited materials to create balanced compositions, and more.

24 articles from this collection:

Editor's Letter: Connections

SchoolArts editor-in-chief Frank Juárez discusses the importance of connection in art education, emphasizing relationships and authentic art experiences.

Advocacy: The CreativiDAD Project

An art teacher hosts workshops to provide fathers with the skills needed to incorporate creativity as a parenting tool.

Managing the Art Room: How Personal Art-Making Transforms Teaching

An art teacher explores how personal art-making outside of the classroom enhances the feedback she gives to students.

Point of View: Choice-Based Art in International Schools

A veteran international school art teacher shares several methods for implementing choice-based art in international schools.

Focus In: The John Michael Kohler Center Preschool

An arts center describes its preschool program in which children develop communication skills, self-esteem, imagination, and creativity.

Cloisonné Graffiti Remix

High-school students combine the ancient technique of cloisonné enamel with contemporary graffiti to create unique enameled pieces.

Perfectly Imperfect Stained-Glass Jewelry

Middle-school students embrace imperfections while making stained-glass jewelry inspired by artist Dale Chihuly.

Lyrical Kindness

Young students transform the hallway bulletin board into a giant sheet music mural with lyrics promoting kindness.

If Games Could Talk

Elementary students investigate the pop surrealism style of artist Todd Schorr and combine board games and fairy tales to develop fantastical illustrations.

The Fabulous Fuller

Elementary students create two artworks inspired by contemporary artists Beau McCall, Michael C. Thorpe, and Maria Molteni after viewing their works at a local museum.

Peace Without Limits

Middle-school students make connections between the environment, artificial intelligence, and watercolor painting while participating in an art contest.

Playing with Paper

High-school students focus on process while working with limited materials to create balanced compositions.

ClipCard: Quilt Squares

Young students investigate the quilts of Gee’s Bend and create their own quilt squares with a variety of materials.

ClipCard: Creative Candlestick Holders

Elementary students design a unique, functional candlestick holder and a complementary beeswax candle.

ClipCard: The Eyes Have It!

Middle-school students discuss the human eye and use the grid method to draw and shade their own eyes.

ClipCard: Landscape Felt Painting

High-school students create a felted landscape painting by exploring composition, color blending, and texture.

Contemporary Art in Context: Katherine Duclos

Multidisciplinary artist Katherine Duclos transforms LEGO bricks into abstract compositions that reflect her experiences as a neurodivergent woman and mother.

Table of Contents

The Connections Issue, September 2025

Amaco Brent

AMACO (American Art Clay Company, Inc.) continues to be a leader and innovator for ceramics in the areas of art, technology, and education. Get ideas and inspiration for your next Lesson Plan project.

Skutt

The #1 kiln used in schools. Kids Need Clay helps schools start and sustain ceramics programs with full support.

Mayco

Mayco Colors is one of the world’s leading producers of quality ceramics products. Founded in 1954, our company has been serving artists of all levels and backgrounds ever since.

Blick Art Materials

As a leading art supply company, we provide artists, educators, students, and our associates with the tools, assistance, and training needed to grow, innovate, and reach their creative potential. BLICK Art Materials is family-owned and serving artists since 1911.