The Studio Habits of Mind that will be explored in this unit are Engage and Persist and Stretch and Explore.

To engage with the art that we create as artists, we must pursue subject matter that is interesting and important to us. Often these subjects are of a personal nature, but are something that we wish to share with the world through our art and the meanings we create using visual symbolism and metaphor. Through the practice of making art we develop a focus in terms of the themes we create work around, the processes we use, and the tools and materials we choose to work with.

Creating art can often times be frustrating, and difficult. We can lose our focus. To persist we must find ways to move beyond the frustration and difficulties we may be having to keep working on our art.

To stretch and explore as artists we must learn to use all of the Studio Habits of Mind, and artistic concepts and conventions to go beyond what we perceive as our limitations - or what we think we can't do or aren't good at. We must remember to explore new ideas and tools, and stretch beyond our comfort zone by trying new things, taking risks, and making mistakes. Most importantly, as artists, we must learn from everything that we engage in, the progress we make, and all of the opportunities for growth and development.

Just as in all of the Studio Habits of Mind, the ability for an artist to engage with an artform, persist at it, and stretch and explore beyond what we think our limitations are takes repeated practice.