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You are here: Home / Archives for Art

Art

Discover the Power of Photography with Teens in Your Youth Group

Alissa Ellett Leave a Comment

Like any form of art, photography with teens helps them make sense of their life, relationships and encourages growth.

photography with teens 106

As youth walk through the world they face several difficult things to navigate, including heartbreak, sexual development, friendship, drug and alcohol use, family dynamics and decisions about the future.

Being a mentor for youth, God has placed you in a unique position to help them make sense of it all. And art, with its many applications, is a great way to do so.

Do you incorporate photography with teens in your ministry? We’d love to know how in the comments below!

poetry with teens 107

Just a Starting Point

There are countless ways to help teens process what’s going on in their lives. Art with teens is a helpful avenue with endless possibilities. We’ve put together a list of just five ideas in this blog series: art journaling, sculpture, painting, poetry, and photography.

No matter our age, we connect to our Creator as we live into our own creativity. God creates us and the world, and we’re a part of that collaborative process. Photography with teens is a cool way to experience this metaphor.

We hope these photography ideas are a starting point that leads to a connection with God, others, and self and that they help your youth make sense of their world.

photography with teens 105

Laying the Foundation for the Process

All of us, especially teens, develop through a process of trial and error. Art can be the same way as we create through play. We try a thing and see what happens, becoming familiar with the medium and adjusting along the way.

When making art as a form of spiritual formation, there is no specific goal except to listen internally. Each of your youth has a unique story and perspective. As you teach them to listen to the voice within, you facilitate their process of connection with God. So, assure them that there is no wrong way to engage.

When doing art with teens, help them trust their intuition, because it is the wisdom guiding them in their process of exploration and growth. As youth learn to trust this, they uncover who God has created and is creating them to be.

photography with teens 104

A Note on Lowering Anxiety

Many youth feel self-conscious and insecure when doing art. Art-making can build confidence, self-worth, and identity. But, anxiety can hinder this growth. So, help ease it with a few simple tactics.

First, when exploring photography with teens try starting by explaining that they have all they need within and around them. Also, assure them that they won’t be required to share any of their writing. Remind them that photography as a spiritual practice is about the process of connecting with God and themselves. It isn’t about the final product.

As an exercise to warm-up, show them several different types of photographs. Include a variety of genres and ones that show peak skill level and very little skill level. As they view the images, ask them to share as a group what each photo brings up internally for them. Highlight the fact that it doesn’t matter what the quality of a photo is, we connect to it in some way or another.

These tactics help the kids feel that talent isn’t as much a factor in their process and outcome. Now, let’s dive into a few ideas for exploring photography with teens!

photography with teens 104

Magazine Photo Exploration

In this exercise your students will learn to look at images critically, asking how they affect their view of self, God and the world.

First, prior to youth group cut out 2-3 times the number of magazine photos as you have students. Lay them out on the floor, so your youth can easily walk around and view them.

Next, invite them to choose an image that speaks to them.

Next, give them a chance to reflect on and write down what this communicates to them about the world, their feelings, the Divine, relationships, men and women, different types and ages of people, sexuality, -isms, justice, love, values, etc. Ask them to share their reflections and whether they agree with what the image portrays and how they might change it if they could.

To close, ask them how they might describe the power of photography in our minds and, therefore, our lives to create reality.

photography with teens 103

Photo Walk

This exercise will alert your students to what is happening around and outside or them. They can begin to see God at work in the world as well as how the sacred can be present in the ordinary of life.

First, find a safe route to walk together as a group. Perhaps this is an activity to do while away on retreat together.

Next, invite your students to take time in silence bringing their awareness to the world around them: the quiet, the noise, the sights and smells, the breeze.

Then, for the next 10-15 minutes walk together quietly as a group and encourage the students to take photos (either using their phone or an SLR camera) of where they see God at work or things that bring to them a sense of connection to the Divine. (If not every student has access to a camera, pair students up and ensure that every pair has a phone to use.)

When you gather together for discussion, ask the students to share their photos if they’d like. Encourage them to share where they saw God at work and what they noticed or learned in the process.

photography with teens 102

Reflecting on the Past

This exercise will help your students think back on the past and take time to consider where God may be at work in their lives.

First, a couple weeks before, tell your students to look through old photos, either hard or digital copies. Invite them to bring in some that particularly remind them of times when God was at work in their life.

Next, when the students bring their photos to youth group give them a chance to share, either in small groups or in one large group. Give them the chance to describe what was happening at the time the photo was taken and how they felt or saw God present in the situation.

Lastly, thank the students for bringing in those parts of their lives to share. Ask them how this exercise may help them connect to God as they live life in the present.

We hope these ideas have inspired you to think of exploring photography with teens as a spiritual practice. Have you seen the power of photography with your youth? Don’t forget to tell us about it in the comments below!

Discover the Power of Poetry with Teens in Your Youth Group

Alissa Ellett 1 Comment

Like any form of art, poetry with teens helps them make sense of their life, relationships and encourages growth.

painting with teens 106

As youth walk through the world, they face several difficult things to navigate, including heartbreak, sexual development, friendship, drug and alcohol use, family dynamics, and decisions about the future.

Being a mentor for youth, God has placed you in a unique position to help them make sense of it all. And art, with its many applications, is a great way to do so.

Do you incorporate poetry with teens in your ministry? We’d love to know how in the comments below!

poetry with teens 107

Just a Starting Point

There are countless ways to help teens process what’s going on in their lives. Art with teens is a helpful avenue with endless possibilities. We’ve put together a list of just five ideas in this blog series: art journaling, sculpture, painting, poetry, and photography.

No matter our age, we connect to our Creator as we live into our creativity. God creates us and the world, and we’re a part of that collaborative process. Poetry with teens is a cool way to experience this metaphor.

We hope these poetry-writing ideas are a starting point that leads to a deeper connection with God and self and that they help your youth make sense of their world. If any of your students are interested in the art of spoken word poetry, check out Youth Speaks.

poetry with teens 103

Laying the Foundation for the Process

All of us, especially teens, develop through a process of trial and error. Art can be the same way as we create through play. We try a thing and see what happens, becoming familiar with the medium and adjusting along the way.

When making art as a form of spiritual formation, there is no specific goal except to listen internally. Each of your youth has a unique story and perspective. As you teach them to listen to the voice within, you facilitate their process of connection with God. So, assure them that there is no wrong way to write poetry.

When doing art with teens, help them trust their intuition, because it is the wisdom guiding them in their process of exploration and growth. As youth learn to trust this, they uncover who God has created and is creating them to be.

For further reading, recommend to your youth who are interested, Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.

poetry with teens 105

A Note on Lowering Anxiety

Many youth feel self-conscious and insecure when doing art. Art-making can build confidence, self-worth, and identity. But, anxiety can hinder this growth. So, help ease it with a few simple tactics.

First, when writing poetry with teens try starting by explaining that they have all they need within and around them. Also, assure them that they won’t be required to share any of their writing. Remind them that poetry-writing as a spiritual practice is about the process of connecting with God and themselves. It isn’t about the final product.

Second, as a warm-up exercise, invite your students to write for three minutes their stream of consciousness. They will write down whatever thoughts come to mind without interpreting or critiquing them. No one will see these.

These tactics help the kids feel that talent isn’t as much a factor in their process and outcome. Now, let’s dive into a few ideas!

poetry with teens 104

Everyday Something Poem

We often assume that poetry needs to be about something profound and deep. But, what if that isn’t true? What if the potential for the poetic lies in our routine lives? With this exercise, you’ll invite your youth to bring awareness to their everyday lives. It’s an excellent practice for finding the sacred in the ordinary!

First, hand out paper and pen to each student. Writing rather than typing is a way to level the playing field, and it takes students back to a time when they were younger, which is helpful in encouraging freedom and creativity.

Second, give them a simple prompt like “Using short phrases, describe your lunch today. Consider including sights, sounds, foods, tastes, conversations, gratitude, feelings you experienced.” This prompt can be used for anything that’s an everyday something: their ride/walk to school, brushing their teeth, going to sleep, walking their dog, a family gathering.

Third, invite them to share their writing if they’d like to. Then, ask them to discuss what the process was like, how it felt, the challenges they overcame, and how they imagine this kind of writing may relate to discovering the Divine in their lives.

poetry with teens 105

Nature Walk Poem

Use this type of writing when away with your students on retreat or take a walk around your church if in a more rural setting.

First, invite your students to walk together silently noticing the nature around them. Encourage them to listen to the sounds and look for things they hadn’t before noticed.

Next, stop after a few minutes and tell them that in the next few minutes they will search silently for a piece of nature they feel drawn to. They will take this back with them to write about.

Next, once all have an item, walk back to a common space where they can begin to write. Invite them to describe in detail what the object looks like, perhaps why they felt drawn to it, how they may see God at work in this item’s life cycle, how it may teach them about their own life.

Lastly, discuss together what the experience of being in nature silently was like. Ask them to share their writing if they’d like and what the process was like for them.

poetry with teens 106

God Poem

In this exercise, your students will imagine and reflect on what they’ve learned of God through experience and spiritual formation.

First, give your students paper and pen.

Next, invite them to reflect on their experiences of the Divine, what they have learned, and what they imagine God to be like. Give them a few minutes to brainstorm on their paper in list form, reminding them that they won’t have to share these.

After that, invite them to write at the top of a blank page “God is…” After every three lines, they will begin again with “God is…” Once they’ve written 12 lines, they will finish with what they imagine God hopes for the world.

To end, invite them to discuss their writing if they’d like and what the process was like. Ask how this may have impacted their ideas about God and how they may want to help God’s hope for the world become a reality.

We hope these ideas have inspired you to think of writing poetry with teens as a spiritual practice. Have you seen the power of poetry with your youth? Don’t forget to tell us about it in the comments below!

Discover the Power of Painting with Teens in Your Youth Ministry

Alissa Ellett Leave a Comment

Like any form of art, painting with teens helps them make sense of their life, relationships and encourages growth.

painting with teens 106

As youth walk through the world they face several difficult things to navigate, including heartbreak, sexual development, friendship, drug and alcohol use, family dynamics and decisions about the future.

Being a mentor for youth, God has placed you in a unique position to help them make sense of it all. And art, with its many applications, is a great way to do so.

Do you incorporate painting with teens in your ministry? We’d love to know how in the comments below!

painting with teens 107

Just a Starting Point

There are countless ways to help teens process what’s going on in their lives. Art with teens is a helpful avenue with endless possibilities. We’ve put together a list of just five ideas in this blog series: art journaling, sculpture, painting, poetry, and photography.

No matter our age, we connect to our Creator as we live into our own creativity. God creates us, and we’re a part of that collaborative process. Painting with teens is a cool way to experience this metaphor.

We hope these painting ideas are a starting point into deeper connection with God and self and that they help your youth make sense of their world.

painting with teens 103

Laying the Foundation for the Process

All of us, especially teens, develop through a process of trial and error. Art can be the same way as we create through play. We try a thing and see what happens, becoming familiar with the medium and adjusting along the way.

When making art as a form of spiritual formation, there is no specific goal except to listen internally. Each of your youth has a unique story and perspective. As you teach them to listen to the voice within, you facilitate their process of connection with God. So, assure them that there is no wrong or right way to paint.

When doing art with teens, help them trust their intuition, because it is the wisdom guiding them in their process of exploration and growth. As youth learn to trust this, they uncover who God has created and is creating them to be.

painting with teens 102

A Note on Lowering Anxiety

Many youth feel self-conscious and insecure when doing art. So, help ease their anxiety with a few simple tactics.

First, when painting with teens try switching out conventional materials for more unconventional ones like using cardboard instead of watercolor paper. Also, try allowing them to only use their non-dominant hand or have them close their eyes while painting. Additionally, try using paints they used as children, like watercolor trays or bottles of tempera paint.

These tactics help the kids feel that talent isn’t as much a factor in their process and outcome. Now, let’s dive into a few ideas!

painting with teens 103

Crumpled Paper Painting

Pre-paint sheets of paper with dark blue or black paint and crinkle them up into a ball. Place the balls of paper altogether in a container.

Invite your youth to choose one ball of paper. Provide them with paints and paint brushes to create their own painting using the lines on the crumpled paper. This project can be painted in 3D or 2D formats.

Additionally, give them a quote or two to consider as they paint and lead a discussion about their process and reflections after they’ve completed their painting. Use the following quote or others that speak to your youth’s context.

“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.” -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

“The Internet is the stained glass picture of the 21st century.” -Diana Butler Bass

“The easiest thing to do is throw a rock. It’s a lot harder to create a stained glass window. I used to get upset at the people who threw rocks but now I’d rather spend my time building the stained glass windows.” -Jon Foreman

painting with teens 101

Drip Painting

This can be a large scale painting done on large sheets of paper on the floor using pour-pots of latex paint. This option can be utilized for a group art project that is completed as a community together. Alternatively, this painting can be created on a small scale using watercolor paper and paint. Organic watercolor shapes can also be painted on the background prior to the drip painting.

For large scale, mount a large piece of canvas on the wall or hang it from the ceiling. Then, provide pour pots of water-based acrylic paint with large paint brushes. Encourage students to work together filling the whole canvas. They can use both painting and pouring techniques as long as it’s non-representational and abstract shapes. Be sure to mask off the ground on which you’re working for easier clean-up.

For small scale, give each student a piece of watercolor paper, a brush or two, a cup of water for rinsing, a few paper towels and a case of watercolor paints like they would have used as children. Next, allow time for the students to fill their paper using the drip and paint method. Be sure to line the table with plastic tablecloths.

Then, lead a discussion with them about the way they used both methods and how they made their decisions. Ask them if they found anything that connected to their understanding of God or their faith journey as they worked.

painting with teens 105

Poured Line Painting

This is an art technique that takes little preparation and planning. It’s a wonderful technique that provides an opportunity to play with “fail free” abstract painting. Ask the students to think as they paint about their feelings around failure, how they define failure, where their standards for failure come from.

First, provide the students with watercolor paper and tubes or small cups of water-based paint. Ask teens to pour their paint onto their sheet of watercolor paper in free-form poured lines. Cross poured lines over one another to form interesting shapes. Teens can also “rock” the paper to create spontaneous designs. Allow lines to completely dry. Next, provide watercolor paint to fill in the shapes with color.

Then, once they’ve completed their pieces, lead a discussion about their reflections as they painting and wonder with them about God’s take on failure and how the world’s ideas may differ.

We hope these ideas have inspired you to think of painting with teens as a spiritual practice. Have you seen the power of painting with your youth? Don’t forget to tell us about it in the comments below!

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