Franz Cizek

[Plane]

"What adults call 'wrong' in Child Art is the most beautiful and most precious. I value highly those things done by small children. They are the first and purest source of artistic creation." (Franz Cizek, 1865-1946)

http://core.ecu.edu/art/newmanj/6070/casey/artguide.html



http://naea.leeds.ac.uk/cizek.htm

http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Inkameep/english/research/pdf/VMC_NoSmallWork.pdf


http://www.christmasing.com/franz-cizek-and-child-art/#more-9

[The_Professor]

I have always felt we do not emphasize the creative arts as much, as a society, as we should.

[Plane]

I have always felt we do not emphasize the creative arts as much, as a society, as we should.

What would you like to do?

[The_Professor]

Unfortunatley, it is a systemic problem, e.g. it crosses many aspects of our culture. As just one example, creative artists are not nearly as well rewarded, financially, than many other more "practical" occupations. Does this not deprive our culture of much-needed richness and depth?

[Lanya]

Art is often cut out of poorly-funded schools.  It's very sad that this is the case.  We are poorer for it.

[The_Professor]

well, as long as we have football and other "significant" activities....

Seriously, I am a BIG sports fan, but I find it difficult to imagine that there is simply not enough money to go around. I do not remember the level of fundraising in my day in high school as I see now. Has there been a shift here?

[BT]

Prof says:I have always felt we do not emphasize the creative arts as much, as a society, as we should.

Lanya says: Art is often cut out of poorly-funded schools.  It's very sad that this is the case.  We are poorer for it.

I say if you have something to say creatively you will find a way to say it. I do believe talents should be nurtured and encouraged. I'm not sure aptitude and ability can be taught. In fact i would tend to think that structured courses would stifle creativity.

[Amianthus]

Unfortunatley, it is a systemic problem, e.g. it crosses many aspects of our culture. As just one example, creative artists are not nearly as well rewarded, financially, than many other more "practical" occupations. Does this not deprive our culture of much-needed richness and depth?

It has never been true that arts have been richly rewarded, anywhere. Many artists through the ages have sought out sponsors to support them while they created. These sponsors have frequently been members of the clergy.

[Plane]

     Franz Cizek was intrested in the artistic ability that seems to be innate in children before they are trained at all , the urge to create is seen universally in children and there is a commality in child art that doesn't depend on culture but is a feature of being human. Franz wanted to preserve the natural human elemnt and not quash it with too early and opressive training.

      M akes me glad for all the crayons I bought and sorry for all those coloring books Franz would have given blank paper .


      Everyone has art in them we should all make something artlike and not be intimidated by the fact that some of us are better. I think that Franz Cizek would approve of the tipical American refrigerator display.

[Lanya]

Teaching art can be teaching a different way of seeing, or of thinking about how faces for example are made.   A nose is not a "line" but several planes.  How to compose a drawing or painting so that the viewer's eye travels around and into the scene can be taught, perspective can be taught, etc. 

[Xavier_Onassis]

Art is like music: some people have a knack for it, others don't. Most people, but not all, can be taught enough to create things that satisfy at least themselves. Many of the techniques can be taught, and it is certainly a way of expression that benefits most people who are exposed to it.

Not everyone can be a Mozart or a Picasso, but if more attention were paid to art and music, more people would have a deeper understanding of these.

To achieve material prosperity as an artist, one needs to be a rather shameless self-promoter, like Dalí, Picasso or Herring. It is also most helpful to live a really long life like Dalí or Picasso.

Poor Modigliani died penniless, despite his great talent.

[BT]

A nose is not a "line" but several planes.  How to compose a drawing or painting so that the viewer's eye travels around and into the scene can be taught, perspective can be taught, etc. 

I think you confuse technical skills for creativity. Most education facilities teach conformity. True artistic creativity and innovation is by definition, noncomformist.

[Lanya]

I'm not confusing technical skills with creativity.  I'm saying that it's good to teach the technical skills, because everyone has in their mind's eye a picture of...something.  Maybe lots of things.  It's teaching them many ways to express this with different material, media, etc. that sometimes lets it out.  I couldn't draw well at all, didn't enjoy drawing, until I learned how to draw in the 7th grade.  It was like learning how to see.   Wow.  I could draw well enough to have kids ask me to draw them, to get drawings of teachers in the little weekly student paper, and just to have fun. 
We had a very talented teacher, who taught us about catalysts and molds and plastic and masks and had us practice drawing the sports photos in the newspaper, and we got pretty good.  Great teacher.  Average kids.  We aren't artists by trade, any of us I don't think, but creativity is innate. 
Everyone's got a smidge. 

[BT]

The trouble with demanding art classes or music classes in the public schools is that in these days of limited budgets, the emphasis rightly should be placed on the three R's .

I certainly wouldn't have a problem with a public private partnership offering art and music as an after school elective.

But try to remember that the vast majority of school district funding comes from property taxes and unless you want your taxes raised, possibly at the risk of putting home ownership out of reach, the schools need to stay within their budget means.

[Lanya]

I agree.  A budget is a budget.   I'm just saying, we are the poorer for it. 

I want someone to be able to read the directions on a medicine bottle and to do math, and other very important skills that outweigh art.