Root and Rise Unit Study Recap: Art Style Explorers

October carried us into our Art Style Explorers unit — three inspired sessions full of color, curiosity, and creativity, all leading up to a beautiful field trip to visit a local potter.

This month, we invited the children to look a little closer at how nature weaves itself into art. The idea for this study came to Sierra in a simple conversation with her son - and from there her vision came to life. As a gifted photographer, Sierra has an incredible eye for beauty, light, color, and movement—she’s also the artist behind all of the stunning photos you see from Cassava Acres. Her presence is both grounding and full of spark, and the children were absolutely inspired by her creative spirit.

Here’s a peek into what we did: 

Week 1: Natural Pigments

We kicked off our journey by making our own art materials. We collected things like beauty-berry, turmeric root, spirulina, and charcoal, to create our own paints — discovering how nature’s pantry becomes our palette.

The children painted freely with the pigments they’d created, noticing how the colors shifted as they dried.

Week 2: Abstract Art

 In our second session, we turned inward and experimented with abstract art. We talked about how art can reflect what’s happening inside — our feelings, moods, memories — rather than representing what’s seen.

 We took a nature walk and asked the kids to find and sketch observed patterns.

 We also revisited our natural-materials theme from Week 1: this time inviting the children to choose materials to build their own brushes and tools (think sticks and pine needles).

I guided the children in a short meditation and invited them to explore their internal feelings and then create an abstract painting that answered the prompt: “If your feeling was a color and a texture, what would it look like?”

 It was neat to witness how each child’s work turned out so different!

Week 3: Photography

For our third session, we shifted from painting to capturing art. We introduced basic photography techniques: noticing light and shadow, getting close with macro photography, and the idea that every photo is a choice — what you include, what you exclude.

 This session reminded us all that art isn’t only made by brush or clay — it’s also made by our eyes and our awareness of the world.

Field Trip: Potter’s Studio Visit

To close the unit, we visited a local potter’s studio. We learned how raw earth (clay) becomes form and how texture, intention and material meet in a studio. Monica guided the children as they shaped and painted holiday ornaments out of clay, which we’ll pick up after they fire in the kiln in a few weeks — just in time for the holidays!

We ended our time together with a deeper appreciation for the many ways creativity lives all around us.

As the fall breeze makes its way in, we’re already plotting out our next unit — bringing the same spirit of curiosity, community, and connection that grows each week at Root & Rise.