The Preschematic Stage: First Representational Attempts
AGES: 4-7 years
The second stage of artistic development, referred to as the preschematic stage (Lowenfeld), is a continuation of mark-making. Children in Early Symbol Making (Kerlavage), begin searching for representational schema and often create their own symbols to communicate visually. These symbols are representation of things, rather than things themselves. Once children master certain marks, they can then combine shapes to form symbols. These "me" drawings communicate meaning through representations of visual objects important to the child's life. In other words, children create economic equivalents for what they know of the world (Arnheim, 1969).
Characteristics to look for include:
Characteristics to look for include:
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During this stage, symbols are constantly revised as children work to make them easier to read. Students also begin formal art instruction at school. In kindergarten, lessons revolve around play and story-telling. Over time, certain symbols become part of the child's repertoire. As they are combined to create pictures and stories, new symbols begin to appear.
Three of of earliest symbols are...
Three of of earliest symbols are...
1. Radials/Suns
Children are unaware of their first marks. For this drawing, Anna was given crayons and paper by an adult. She held the tools with her fist and made a few marks without a complete or true understanding that she was producing marks.
Her unknown power is suggested by the lightness and sparsity of the marks. A few changes in color can be seen, but those choices are the result of adult suggestions. |
2. Simple Human Figures
In this benchmark drawing, Annabelle has produced one of her first representations of the figure. Centered on the page, the figure stands out as the focus of the drawing. This simple tadpole figure, is made by combining marks--a circular head, containing two eyes and a line mouth, and a rectangular body with straight lines radiating from the "neck" area. A series of multiple lines surrounds the figure, framing on the page.
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3. Letter/Number Shapes
In this drawing, Annabelle applied her facial schema to create figural flowers. These anthropomorphic flowers are drawn with local colors. Colorful petals spring from green stems and leaves. Two flowers, drawing in blue and yellow, help to balance the image. All of the symbols float on the pink paper. The letters "N" and "O" appear multiple times down the center of the drawing. Black and blue dashes running down the left and right sides of the page reinforce the drawings symmetry.
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