This study was conducted to re-examine the raw materials that have been relatively neglected in contemporary art education research and to seek educational approaches to raw materials. To this end, the concept of raw materials and the meaning of materials in Korean art education curriculum were analyzed, and the raw materials theory of Tsutomu Uchino was examined to explore a substantial educational approach framework. In order to practically understand and apply the process of exploring raw materials and materialization process suggested by him, we conducted a class for pre-service art teachers to study watercolor as a raw material. As a result, material exploration is a process of discovering one s own language of visual expression while studying the characteristics of a raw material, and materialization of a raw material can be defined as composing a complete image by utilizing the characteristics of the raw material. For this, sufficient time should be given for material exploration and materialization, and the role of the instructor to induce active participation of students is important.