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20 Powerful Art Room Visuals

Alecia Eggers
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Notes about Visuals

n  Many visuals are part of routines in the art room

n  Routines become habit when they are modeled,

practiced, and explained

n  Adapt visuals for YOUR room and routines

n  Only create visuals if they will serve a purpose AND you
will use them

n  A visual is powerful if it has both images and clear,

concise words
 Whiteboard Walk-In
•  Direct students as they enter the
room

•  Cut down on misbehavior and

wasted time at the beginning of
class

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•  Here’s a quick review VIDEO
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Hallway Display Signs

•  Communicate project objectives and inspiration to
all observers

•  See how I keep these organized HERE

 Table Helpers Chart
•  Each of my 4 table groups is assigned a different job each week.

•  I am able to shift the jobs using Velcro on the back of the descriptions.

Materials Masters: Hand out and collect

materials neatly and nicely

Neat Freaks: Count baskets (I have

caddies with 8 pencils, 8 erasers, and 3

+ sharpeners on each of the 4 colored

tables); check tables, floors, materials
shelf, sinks, drawing area - leave art
room better than it was before.

Noise Monitors: Remind about

appropriate voice levels; dismiss tables

Directions Experts: Pay extra special

attention to directions so you can help to
answer classmate's questions
“Work Goes” Visual Directions
•  Take pictures of your
most common spots
where students turn in
work (consider all your
mediums!)

•  Don’t repeat yourself

+ over and over, just

point to the sign at
clean-up! J
 Clean-Up Instructions
With the exception of clay and
painting, students follow the same 6
clean-up steps EVERY art class

1.  Stop and Freeze your voice and

actions

2.  Put your work away in the pictured

spot (the Work Goes visual)

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3.  Clean up after yourself

4.  Get table materials ready for

Materials Masters

5.  Do you table’s job for the day

6.  Sit quietly, wait to be dismissed by

Noise Monitors

Here’s a VIDEO that highlights how this

poster and routine transformed my art
room
 Learning Targets Board
•  Learning targets are posted throughout the duration of each project

•  Objectives include vocabulary, skills, techniques, and concepts students

should learn and demonstrate throughout each project

•  Watch a video HERE for more specifics

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 Volume Chart &
“Show Me the
Mona Lisa”
•  Provide students visual
cues, prompts, and
reminders to get their
attention or to use
appropriate levels of

+ volume

•  You can get your own

digital copy HERE!
 Volume Control
with A-R-T
•  One of my favorite Pinterest
inspired visuals!

•  Each class begins with A-R-T

showing

•  As the volume gets too loud, or

+ a majority of students are off

task, a letter gets flipped

•  Talking privileges are gradually

lessened with each letter lost

•  Classes may earn back letters

•  If my classes keep all letters (or

earn them back) they get a
class reward that is recognized
school-wide
 Davis Visual
Vocabulary Cards
•  Excellent visuals in both English
and Spanish that include
images, definitions, and fill-in-
the-blank prompts

•  Davis offers a set of vocabulary

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cards and a set of artist cards
that coordinate with each
grade level curriculum book

•  If you search “vocabulary” on

the Davis Publications page,
and scroll down you can
choose to order each pack
individually
 Ketchup & Mustard Days
•  Cue the
purpose of a
class period
with these
simple
visuals

•  See more of

+
my favorite
Pinterest
visuals HERE!
 Magnetic Color Wheel

+ Learn how to make

your own HERE!
 Clay Stages

•  Communicate and
represent the
stages of clay for all
ages

•  On the large grid,

Velcro is on the

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back of the stage
names, and on the
back of the images
so students may
match each
correctly to learn
the terms

(Note: the image

cards are not on the
poster J)
 Art Criticism
Questions
•  Place art criticism questions
where the majority of your class
discussions, demonstrations,
and presentations take place

•  This facilitates a more natural

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and familiar process
 Color Wheel Canvases
•  This is a permanent display and color tool that I use in every one of my
color theory projects

•  Students are introduced to this visual early on in the year, and frequently
use it as a resource

•  Your visuals can be ART too! J

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 Chalk Board Decals
•  These are awesome, removable chalk decals that I cut from a long roll

•  You can use these decals for multiple purposes as they can be an
additional writing surface ANYWHERE!

•  Place them by your door for entering directions, or even write learning
targets, or center rotation instructions!

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 Crystal
Productions
Display
Cards
Incorporate and
display essential
vocabulary!

+ I use:
•  Art Styles
•  Careers in Art
•  Color
•  Elements &
Principles

See more HERE!

 Art Room Rules
•  Posting rules, expectations, and consequences helps to
keep management fair and consistent

•  See more HERE about communicating expectations to

reduce behavior management issues later

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 Labels are your
Besties
•  Labels help to reinforce organization
and clearly communicate locations
to all who enter your room

•  My students are extremely

autonomous and responsible with
materials because of my labeled

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systems

•  Learn more about labels and using

recycled containers HERE
 Keep Your Brushes
Beautiful Poster!
•  This visual definitely needs a clear
demonstration, and probably multiple
reminders, but if you can train your
students to clean out and care for
brushes properly you deserve an art
teacher award!

+ •  Like I mentioned in the video,

sometimes it may be easier to assign a
few students to this duty for each class
period
 Techniques Posters
•  Show students the variety of
techniques and options of
different materials

•  I got these ideas from my

fabulous colleague Deb! J

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Email me for additional questions or comments!

aleciaeggers@theartofed.com