Process Art

Written by Teacher Kavitha

In a world where children are often given step-by-step instructions, process art offers a breath of fresh air. But what is process art? It is an open ended approach to creativity that allows young children to explore and experiment freely with the materials, focussing on the journey rather than the outcome. Unlike product art that aims for a specific result, process art empowers children to engage with available materials freely with no inputs from adults. This approach is not about creating “refrigerator art”, it’s about the joy, the engagement and the freedom to tinker with their ideas in a way that makes sense to them.
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In her book, Preschool Art: It's the Process not the Product,  process art advocate MaryAnn F. Kohl wrote “Young children do art for the experience, the exploration, the experimentation. In the process they discover mystery, creativity, joy, and frustration. The resulting masterpiece, whether it be a sticky glob or meritorious gallery piece, is only a result to the young child, not the reason for doing art in the first place.”

Honoring Children - By allowing children to make choices in their creative process, we send the message that their ideas matter. Whether they choose to mix all the colors to make a shade of brown or create something abstract, mix unexpected textures, each decision reflects their choice. When adults celebrate this self-expression, children feel empowered and learn to trust their instincts and embrace their perspectives.

Empowering Children - The freedom to experiment with colors, textures, drawing tools, clay, playdough fosters creativity, problem-solving, decision-making, and a deep sense of ownership over their work. It encourages children to take risks, make discoveries and trust their instincts- all essential skills for fostering confidence.

A Judgement Free Zone - There are no rules to follow, and no “right” or “wrong” way to create. This freedom encourages children to think outside the box, challenge their assumptions, and develop their own creative problem-solving skills. They may encounter challenges along the way—like a material not working the way they imagined or an idea not turning out as expected—but these experiences become valuable opportunities for learning and growth. Through experimentation, children learn how to adapt, try again, and persevere, which strengthens their resilience and confidence.

The Joy of Engaging - Whether it’s swirling the paint with their fingers, pressing objects into play dough, squeezing out glue to make blobs, or splattering the paint, they are choosing to interact with materials in a way that feels right to them. This sensory-rich play experience is an important vehicle for developing self-regulation, language, cognition and social competence.

Process art is powerful. Process art is liberating. Process art is developmentally appropriate. By embracing a process-focussed approach, we give children the opportunity to PLAY and engage in a way that feels right to them. Here at FPNS, we invite children to play with the art materials and experience the joy of creating.