Using plaster casts for pencil drawing exercises can make the process both fun and rewarding for students. By observing the cast from different angles, they learn to understand light, shadow, and form. This hands-on approach encourages careful observation, helping students grasp how light interacts with surfaces to create depth and realism. Completing a drawing based on these observations instills a sense of accomplishment, as they see their efforts result in a lifelike depiction. This method not only enhances their technical skills but also fosters confidence and appreciation for the process of creating art.

Students often find drawing landscapes, still lifes, and imaginative scenes to be enjoyable and approachable. These subjects help build confidence and ease in their artistic practice. However, when it comes to drawing people from various angles, children may struggle to grasp how perspective alters the appearance of objects and forms. This challenge can feel overwhelming as they encounter the complexities of foreshortening, proportions, and the dynamic nature of the human figure.
By gradually introducing opportunities to observe and draw people from different angles, children can slowly build their understanding of perspective. Through consistent practice, they begin to recognize how shapes and proportions change depending on the viewpoint. This gradual exposure allows students to develop a more nuanced understanding of three-dimensional space and the relationships between objects.
This process not only enhances their technical skills but also enriches their creativity, enabling them to depict subjects more dynamically and expressively. Over time, these experiences broaden their artistic vocabulary, making their drawings more vivid, engaging, and lifelike.

I chose oriental painting as one of the classes I prepared for my students this year. It offers valuable insight into watercolor techniques. Unlike Western painting, which highlights the beauty of objects through composition and perspective, oriental painting focuses on capturing the essence through ink’s control of light and dark. This approach naturally enhances understanding of light control and blending. By exploring watercolor through oriental painting, I found it easier to grasp these core techniques.

A representative characteristic that distinguishes it from Western painting is that it does not express light and shade, and through it, which is drawn only with the light and dark of the ink, the concerns about ideas are expressed in a restrained manner.

​The characteristic of oriental painting is that the strength of the lines can express the artist's emotions, personality, and even the liveliness of the screen. And the beauty of the blank space is well expressed. The blank space is not an unfinished, undrawn space, but symbolizes a free sense of liberation and leisurely style.

​In Western painting, things are expressed by size, whereas in Eastern painting, things that are far away are drawn vaguely and things that are close are drawn darkly, and things that are close are drawn at the bottom of the picture and things that are far away are drawn at the top of the picture (imagine climbing a mountain and looking at a distant view).

Western paintings are painted by setting up an easel in one place and drawing the scenery as seen from that place. In other words, the viewpoint of looking at the painting is fixed in one place. Therefore, when appreciating Western paintings, you put them in a frame and hang them on the wall. On the other hand, Eastern paintings use a moving viewpoint. In other words, the moving viewpoint of Eastern paintings is in a panoramic format, so it is made into a scroll and is intended to be viewed by unfolding it.

In an art activity that requires constant creation based on diverse perspectives and ideas, it is very important to know various approaches. Through ink-based painting, you can learn the techniques of oriental painting by painting on rice paper rather than canvas, which will help you understand the differences in various thoughts.

My students Cindy Zhao and Daniel  Chen were selected as honorable mentions for the 2024 Save the Frogs competition. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase their meaningful work, especially since this is my students’ second year participating in the competition.

​I made Chupa Chups tulips using muffin cups. When I prepare for children's classes, I need a lot of ideas. My daily life has become a stage for hunting for such ideas. This work is always fun, like children's play.

When I find small ideas in everyday life, transform them into small props, and show the results to my children, they are truly happy. I find that showing them how to express their ideas is more educational and enjoyable than buying them things frequently.

When I teach students and repeat this process over and over again, I see them develop their own methods and teach me. This is when I feel the greatest sense of accomplishment. I believe that if this attitude becomes a habit, they will grow into wonderful adults who can solve problems that arise in life on their own.

I think that finding meaning in very small and trivial things, cherishing them, and trying to improve them are important elements in living life. I always realize this when I create works and draw pictures.

​Anyone can make a cute bird with pretty feathers, air clay, and wooden clips.

Supplies: Air clay/wooden clip/cubic/feather/patterned paper

Let's make a small and cute bird using the supplies above.

First, make the body of the bird with air clay. This class was a good opportunity for students to explore the shape of birds.

Air clay is soft, so it's easy to put feathers in. Insert a wooden clip into the back of the air clay (the part that will become the tail). Put feathers on this spot.

If you arrange feathers of various shapes, sizes, and colors well, you can make an even more beautiful bird. Children will have a lot of fun at this time.

The wooden clip makes it look like a bird's legs. You can also attach it to any place you want.

After that, make wings with patterned paper and make eyes with cubic and attach them.

​Air clay dries quickly and becomes very light and soft after drying. Therefore, it is very useful for making this type of bird. I developed this craft to help my students understand birds more easily, and I am very happy to share the process.