At Savremena Primary School, art is about much more than drawing. It gives pupils an opportunity to explore, discover great artists, develop their own creative expression and learn how to present their ideas in an authentic way. This time, Year 1 pupils stepped into the world of one of the most recognisable artists of the 20th century, Frida Kahlo, before transforming their impressions into their own drawings.

Inspired by her distinctive self-portraits, vivid colours and remarkable details, the pupils created their own interpretations of Frida Kahlo. Every piece was different, just like the young artists who created it. This reflects an important part of contemporary education: children are not simply given a task to complete, but are encouraged to observe, think, make choices and create.

From Year 1 onwards, Savremena pupils are encouraged to remain curious and confident when expressing their ideas. Through activities that combine knowledge, art and practical work, they develop creativity, attention to detail, fine motor skills and self-confidence. They also discover that there is rarely only one way to see or represent something. In this way, the classroom becomes a place where every child’s individuality and originality can grow.

Discovering the work of Frida Kahlo became the starting point for a creative challenge in which Year 1 pupils could demonstrate how they experience and interpret art. By observing the characteristic elements of her portraits, the pupils paid attention to colours, shapes, facial expressions and details before interpreting them in their own way.

This approach to learning is particularly valuable because children do not remain passive observers. They become active participants who transform what they see into something new. As they draw, pupils develop observation and concentration skills, learn to connect individual details into a whole and make their own creative decisions. At the same time, they discover that art leaves room for different ideas and that every piece can carry the unique signature of its creator.

At Savremena Primary School, activities like this form part of an educational approach that connects knowledge with experience. From an early age, pupils have opportunities to explore different fields, ask questions and demonstrate what they have learnt through their own creative work. In doing so, they develop skills that extend far beyond a single activity or school subject: independent thinking, creative problem-solving, confidence in their own ideas and the ability to share them with others.

And when all of this happens with pencils, colours and plenty of imagination, learning becomes an experience that Year 1 pupils will remember.

Year 1 marks the beginning of a much bigger journey, not only through letters, numbers and school subjects, but also through discovering personal interests and abilities. This is why it is important for children to have opportunities to create, experiment and confidently show how they see the world from their very first school days.

While drawing Frida Kahlo, the pupils practised much more than artistic skills. They learnt to observe carefully, recognise distinctive details, develop an initial idea and transform it into their own work. Each drawing revealed a different perspective and a different creative response, demonstrating just how valuable it is to give children’s imagination room to flourish.

Experiences like these are an important part of education at Savremena. Knowledge is not treated simply as information to be memorised, but as a starting point for exploration, connection and creation. Pupils gradually develop confidence, curiosity and the ability to transform their ideas into tangible results.

And perhaps among these Year 1 portraits lies the beginning of someone’s lifelong passion for art. What matters most is that every pupil has the opportunity to discover it.