Studio Habits of Mind - carman-stages.com

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Studio Habits of Mind

My curriculum is built around the belief that students studying the arts develop mental “habits” that are transferrable to all vocations and endeavors, habits that are essential to success in today’s world. (source: Studio Thinking by Lois Hetland & Ellen Winner, Harvard University’s Project Zero)

Engage & Persist Learning to embrace problems of relevance within the art world and/or of personal importance, to develop focus and other mental states conducive to problem-solving, and working and persevering at art tasks. Envision, Stretch, & Explore Learning to picture mentally what cannot be directly observed, and imagining the possible next steps in solving a problem. Finding a solution that is creative, original, and innovative in its approach to a problem.

Observe & Reflect Learning to attend to visual contexts more closely than ordinary “looking” requires, and thereby to see things that otherwise might not be seen. Learning to think about, talk about, and judge one’s own work and working process (and that of others) in relation to standards of the field. Confronting and reflecting on questions and issues related to the larger world and culture in which we live.

Learning to reach beyond one’s capacities, to explore playfully without a preconceived plan, and to embrace the opportunity to learn from mistakes and accidents.

Express Learning to create works that convey an idea, a feeling, or a personal meaning.

Understand the Art World Learning about art history, current practice, and career opportunities. Learning to interact as an artist with other artists (i.e.,in classrooms, in local arts organizations, and across the art field) and within the broader society.

Develop Craft Learning to use and care for tools (e.g.,cameras) and equipment (e.g., tripods). Learning artistic conventions (e.g., composition) and refining techinique.