Tips for Teachers: Using Clip Art Effectively in School Publications

A plate of earthworms?
Ever see a school newsletter article about an upcoming spaghetti dinner fundraiser with a piece of clip art next to it that looks like a plate of earthworms? Not a very effective (or appetizing) use of artwork, right?

Dropping poor-quality clip art into your publication is never a good idea. It distracts rather that enhances. Likewise, dropping just any piece of art into your publication is just as ineffective. If a story is about a social studies project, don't paste an illustration of a puppy next to it just because you think it's a cute piece of art. The art should either serve as an example or help to explain the story.

Be sure to place your clip art wisely, balancing the art with the text. Don't aimlessly scatter the art about. Place the clip art beside key paragraphs or headlines or use the art to break up large areas of text. The art should also be placed to help guide your reader's eye around the page.

Avoid using too much clip art. Keep it simple. Cluttering up your publication with unneeded clip art looks unprofessional. Leaving white space is okay. White space, sometimes called negative space, is the open space between text, images, or other design elements. The use of white space can be just as important in the design as the placement of text and art in making your publication easy on the eyes and readable.

Finding good art for your publication is easy, but legally using it is another matter. Most of the art you see in newspapers (including comic strips,) magazines, as well as online is copyrighted, and should be considered off-limits unless you have written permission to use it from the copyright owner. Be aware, not all copyrighted artwork will display the copyright symbol with the art. Artists are not legally required to place a copyright symbol on their art. And no copyright symbol doesn't mean it's public domain and can be reproduced at will. When in doubt, don't use it.

I have created over a thousand pieces of clip art that educators can use legally for free! You can find this art at Discovery Education. And please visit my website, www.MARKIX.net for more interesting and informative content for teachers.