I read the book
Beautiful Oops! by Barney Salzberg to Prep, Year 1 and 2 students. It's a fantastic book about moving past "mistakes" in art. "When you think you've made a mistake, think of it as an opportunity to make something beautiful." I gave Prep students paper with a shape already drawn on it and a folded corner as starting points. Year 1 students had a torn paper with a smear of black pastel on it, and the year 2s started with a splash of paint and a hole in their paper...They created wonderfully imaginative pictures! "Beautiful Oops" is now a part of our everyday visual arts language. I have spoken with all grades about the principle of
Beautiful Oops. My intent is for students to have fun, take risks and become fearless with their art.
