The Preschematic Stage (Ages 4-7)
Artwork in the preschematic stage is indicative of a child's proclivity to draw representationally. Images begin to resemble symbols, but these may only be understood by the child. Drawings created during this stage are often about elements of nature and fill the entire paper.
Letters and numbers will begin to appear as elements of children's drawings at this time. Colors may also begin to be more realistic than they were in artwork of younger artists. Additionally, shapes drawn are floating and there is no baseline evident. The benchmark for this stage is the creation of tadpole people (figures without necks and with arms sprouting from the head).
Children at this stage have difficulty differentiating between fantasy and reality, creating an alternate view of the world around them. They are able regulate their own behavior and may comply when sharing is necessary. Additionally, distinct personality traits emerge around this age as they begin to compare themselves with others.
Letters and numbers will begin to appear as elements of children's drawings at this time. Colors may also begin to be more realistic than they were in artwork of younger artists. Additionally, shapes drawn are floating and there is no baseline evident. The benchmark for this stage is the creation of tadpole people (figures without necks and with arms sprouting from the head).
Children at this stage have difficulty differentiating between fantasy and reality, creating an alternate view of the world around them. They are able regulate their own behavior and may comply when sharing is necessary. Additionally, distinct personality traits emerge around this age as they begin to compare themselves with others.
Figure 1
Jack's drawing falls under the early preschematic stage. He is including closed shapes in his drawing and the composition of the piece seems to be contrived rather than spontaneous. He uses a variety of chalk colors throughout the picture, but certain portions of the piece seem to be colored a specific hue, such as the two red circles. The shapes as a whole are somewhat representational of a house, but the artist's true intentions are not clear.
Figure 2
Although this drawing consists of thought-out closed shapes, it is not clear what the artist is trying to portray. She uses a range of watercolors in the background with red and black crayon on top. The entire paper is filled with elements of her drawing, some lines even continuing off of the page. Additionally, she begins to use recognizable symbols in her work with the inclusion of a heart in the bottom right corner.
Figure 3
Alexander's drawing consists of four forms floating on the paper. There are symbols for windows, doors, and wheels evident, but it is not clear what the complete objects are. Additionally, Alex does not draw solely in the middle of the page, but spaces his objects out to cover all four corners.
Figure 4a
Figures 5a and 5b depict two people. The first is a typical tadpole person. The main shape of the form is an oval and there is a line through it indicating arms. Facial features are present, but they ar not proportionally accurate or descriptive. There are no further limbs and there is no neck or torso. Chloe's drawing of "Daddy" is concluded with a scribble at the base, possibly indicating that she is still attempting to understand the material.
Figure 5b, "Mommy," is less advanced. There are two overlapping circles indicating multiple attempts at a creation of a head. There are two smaller circles within the form which most likely represent eyes. The remaining elements of this drawing are nonspecific marks.
Both drawings are done with the same red crayon with no preference with the actual color of the people. Additionally, Chloe experiments with the various types of marks that can be made with her material, making both dark and light marks.
Figure 5b, "Mommy," is less advanced. There are two overlapping circles indicating multiple attempts at a creation of a head. There are two smaller circles within the form which most likely represent eyes. The remaining elements of this drawing are nonspecific marks.
Both drawings are done with the same red crayon with no preference with the actual color of the people. Additionally, Chloe experiments with the various types of marks that can be made with her material, making both dark and light marks.
Figure 4b
Figure 5
Chloe's drawing includes a rainbow, a purple circular scribble, and her name. The creation of the rainbow may have been assisted by an adult, as a complete understanding of colors has not been achieved at this stage. Although the purple scribble does not seem to have meaning, the child may have seen it as a figure or some alternative form. Additionally, the writing of her name indicates an attempt at perfecting letterforms.