The Creative Choices Art Game

A Girl Scout Troop recently requested an art experience where the participants could be as creative as they would like without worrying about what the finished product looked like.

We have all seen the tears of frustration when a young artist isn’t able to recreate an image the way they have it in their heads. This is a normal reaction and can be good thing for our young artists to learn how to work through.

We can teach them new art skills to overcome this frustration, but more importantly we can teach them the value of their own creativity and foster a joy of art so that they continue to embrace their creativity.

One way we do this is through a game called “The Creative Choices Game” that we first learned about from from the Art of Education University.

In this game, students are given the same directions and the same. Here are some of the directions:

• Draw a zig-zag line

• Draw three circles, anywhere and any size

• Paint one of the circles.

At first the students are hesitant by the vague directions, but as the game continues they begin to get more and more comfortable making their own artistic choices. We start to see more smiles, hear more laughter, and they are starting to embrace the experience.

You can add in as many materials as you would like. I have played this using just crayons and watercolors. In other groups we have added in acrylic paint, bubblewrap, and Q-tips.

By the end of the experience, students see that although everyone had the same directions and same materials, everyone’s art is unique and true to themselves.

We end the session with a gallery walk where students can add post-its, writing (or drawing) a compliment on each other’s artwork.

The Girl Scout Troop had a wonderful time with us. I encourage you to try this with your students or at home with your family. Have fun and be creative!