The Gift of Nurturing Arts - Unsticking Suppressed Artistry

"Grades four-six are the crucial 'bridge years' when adults especially need to encourage the efforts and emerging abilities of all children.

Without such encouragement, many self-conscious students may artistically, 'shut down,' giving up on modeling and other arts as things 'they cannot do' and which are only 'for the artists.'

This attitude can persist into adulthood.

Many grown-ups find themselves 'stuck' at the nine-ten year old stage of artistic ability.

Nevertheless, adults suddenly confronting such hang-ups can get themselves moving again and rediscover sculptural image-making as an essential and enjoyable aspect of human activity."

from Learning about the World through Modeling" by Arthur Auer