Cross-train Your Brain

Tina has 40 years’ experience with a wide variety of educational settings–from youth to college age to seniors. She has two master’s degrees and an Indiana teaching license. Tina has designed curricula and trained teachers in various areas of the arts.   

Tina’s method of “cross-training the brain” helps students develop both analytical and creative thinking through a logical yet fun process. Art is like “weight training for your brain.”  It strengthens the ability to perform in daily situations and in other academic areas. In life, you have to be inventive because not everything comes with a manual. 

Dancing Brain

*  Left brain/technical art skills:  Learn technical skills and use of materials, such as graphite, paint, oil pastels, etc.  Learn to draw landscapes, figures, perspective, and still life.  Do exercises in color theory.  Use a ruler to mathematically lay out a design.  Learn to sew.

* Right brain/conceptual thinking:  Create a composition, making decisions about where to place the elements.  Combine the learned technical skills with problem solving and creativity in the construction.  Use various materials and mixed media. All of this is done in a logical, step-by-step, scaffolding process.

I’ll walk you through an art project that can be adapted for any age.  

Project: Toy Collage
Objective: To create a mixed media composition of an interior space (back wall and floor)in which is a group of toys.
Age group: 8 to 9-yr-olds
“Cross-train the brain”: The step-by step process builds skills and develops conceptual thinking. The “left brain” solves problems by measuring for their “wallpaper” and figuring out how to construct and place each object. The “right brain” draws, creates the overall composition, and chooses colors.

1. Draw individual toys from observation and from visuals.
1. Draw individual toys from observation and from visuals.
2. Paint each toy and then cut them out.
2. Paint each toy and then cut them out.
3. Create the room and the table or cabinet after a lesson in perspective. Then cut out strips for wallpaper, measuring for accuracy.
3. Create the room and the table or cabinet after a lesson in perspective. Then cut out strips for wallpaper, measuring for accuracy.
4. Cut and glue the objects while making creative decisions, along with improving manual coordination.
4. Cut and glue the objects while making creative decisions, along with improving manual coordination.
5. Add detail and room accessories.
5. Add detail and room accessories.
6. Add finishing touches with a sharpie.
6. Add finishing touches with a sharpie.
7. Feel happy about the masterpiece.
7. Feel happy about the masterpiece.

Examples: Preliminary exercises for final project

CTB1
CTB2
FishScales
Felt Samples
MonicaFerrisWheel
Monica Circus