Where Does the Art of Crafting Fit into the Art Room? 

Note: Be sure to review all resources and preview all artists before determining if they are appropriate to share with your students.

Crafts and fine art both represent forms of visual creativity and each has a place in the art room. But have you ever slowed down to reflect on what the line between crafts and fine art is? It helps to understand not only what you teach, but why you teach it. When you can communicate and harness the why, you are a stronger and more reflective educator.

Let’s dive into how crafts and fine art can represent two approaches in the art room:

1. Crafts
   These pieces usually involve creating items by hand or following specific patterns or instructions. Historically, crafts required skilled trade workers to produce. These items can include weaving, pottery, embroidery, and beading. Additionally, crafts are decorative arts that include functional items like baskets or ceramics. 
2. Fine Art
   These pieces focus on artistic expression and conceptual exploration. While function is important, fine art prioritizes aesthetic value and the artist’s intent. Traditionally, fine art includes painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, and printmaking. 

Explore how to balance crafts and fine art in the art room so you can have the best of both!

A crafts-based approach in a K-12 art room will look slightly different from the metalsmiths and sculptors in the 1400s. Crafts in the elementary art room can look like paper bag hand puppets, pinch pot monsters, or paper woven placemats. Crafts in the secondary art room can look like slab mugs, macrame bracelets, or paper beads. Students love to get crafty and make items with their hands that they can use or wear! Let’s discuss how a curricular approach that heavily leans on crafts will impact your students learning and artmaking. 

Check out the positives of bringing crafts into the art room:

• Accessible and Inclusive
  Crafts are generally accessible to students of all skill levels. They use simple materials and techniques, making participation easy for everyone. This inclusivity encourages all students to engage without the fear of failing creatively. Crafts are perfect for new art teachers who need projects with clear steps and a final product. 
• Skill Development
  Working on crafts develops fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, craftsmanship, and spatial awareness. These foundational, practical skills support future art projects and everyday tasks.
• Instant Gratification
  Some crafts quickly produce a final piece. This immediate feedback boosts students’ confidence and motivation, reinforcing their interest in art. Crafts are ideal when you need a one-day project.
• Functional
  Many crafts have practical uses. This functionality helps students see the real-world relevance of art in everyday life, making the learning experience more meaningful. Plus, students love to use the items they make in art class when they go home!

Here are some considerations when incorporating crafts in the art room:

• Artistic Expression
  Craft projects often need students to follow specific instructions to achieve a set outcome. This focus on copying can limit creativity and critical thinking, as students have less opportunity to explore their own ideas.
• Conceptual Depth
  Crafts often focus on product and function over conceptual exploration. Students may be less likely to engage with deeper artistic themes.
• Budget
  Some crafting materials are expensive and may be hard to obtain. Buying quality fibers, looms, and clay can get pricey fast.

Fine arts in the art room traditionally include mediums such as painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, and printmaking. Fine art usually prioritizes the artist’s expression and focuses on aesthetics over functionality. Students feel empowered when they master technical skills and discover their artistic voice! Let’s explore some factors to think about when focusing on a fine arts approach.

Let’s review the benefits of creating fine art: 

• Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
  Fine art can encourage students to investigate complex social, cultural, and philosophical issues. They can also experiment with how different techniques can enhance their intent. 
• Self-Expression and Individuality
  Once students master specific techniques and nurture a foundational understanding of art history, students are free to develop their own artistic style.
  
• Conceptual Exploration
  Students are often able to select their subject matter, allowing them to delve into deeper themes and ideas. They can express their thoughts, emotions, and identities. 
• Affordability
  The basic art supplies to draw are paper and a pencil!

Reflect on these ideas about fine art:

• Technical Complexity
  Fine art often requires advanced technical skills and specific materials like oil paint or alcohol markers. This can be frustrating for younger or less experienced students. 
• Time Intensive
  Artwork high in technical complexity can take a long time to complete, especially since it may not be as hands-on or tactile as a crafts project. Some AP or IB art students’ projects take weeks or months to be fully resolved! This can be a challenge within the time constraints of a typical school bell schedule.
  
• Evaluation Bias
  It can be tricky to assess conceptual artwork because of its subjective nature. Establishing rubrics with clear requirements that still encourage creative freedom is key.

How can I navigate a healthy balance of crafts and fine art in the curriculum?

Who says you have to choose just one approach? Introduce both crafts and fine art to your students so they are well-rounded and get a fuller, richer artmaking experience. Integrating craft techniques and materials can open a whole new world of possibilities for your students who only thought art was painting and drawing. Leaning into fine arts will hone conceptual thinking and artistic voice.

Show these four artists who mastered the balance between both approaches to elevate craft to fine art:

1. Nick Cave
   Nick Cave combines crafting techniques such as sewing and beading with found objects and textiles to create wearable sculptures. His “Soundsuits” are performances and installations that symbolize identity, transformation, and social commentary.
2. Yayoi Kusama
   Yayoi Kusama creates soft sculptures and textile works in her iconic conceptual installations. Her repetitive use of sewing and crocheting explores themes of infinity, obsession, and identity. 
3. Ruth Asawa
   Ruth Asawa’s intricate wire sculptures explore the interplay of form, light, and space in mesmerizing ways. Asawa also created hundreds of individual face masks out of clay in her work The Faces of Ruth Asawa.
4. El Anatsui
   El Anatsui created monumental tapestries from recycled and found materials. His work challenges the perceptions of materiality and beauty as he transforms everyday objects into large works of art. 

In a nutshell, crafts and fine art both pose many benefits and considerations in the art room. The good news is that you can have the best of both to provide students with a well-rounded art education experience. Use crafts to hook students with engaging, hands-on creations and dive into fine art to communicate deeper messages. Share the inspirational artists above to challenge your students’ perceptions of art and cultivate a genuine passion for what they’re learning in your curriculum. Merge elements of traditional crafts and fine art to elevate your students’ work and thinking this year!

If you enjoyed this discussion on crafts and fine art, continue the conversation with the following two articles: 

1. Pros and Cons of Cookie-Cutter Art and How to Switch to More Original Ideas 
2. Do Crafts Have a Place in the Art Room?

What is the role of crafts in your art room?

Share a favorite project that elevates crafts to fine art.