MaryAnn F. Kohl, process art and treasures of childhood

Enhancing Literacy Through Process Art

Enhancing Literacy Through Process Art

This I know: If you want to hold the attention of a child, read a book out loud to him. If you want to see a child become easily and deeply involved in creativity, give him crayons and paper for free drawing. We know these truths to be self-evident, for we’ve seen and done them so many times we can’t begin to count them!

Books and art have always been powerful tools for motivating, subduing, intriguing, and delighting children. Indeed, it is proven through research that success in reading is linked to early experiences reading-aloud to children and reading aloud as often as possible. As an article in the online magazine Collage says, “Reading aloud is more than saying words.” Following up reading time with related activities such as art increases a child’s love and appreciation of books, and inspires children to return to their favorites with deeper understanding and comprehension.

Because picture books are the center of a young child’s step into literacy, following up with easy art ideas that center on the illustrator’s style or technique is a natural progression requiring no great expertise on anyone’s part. Activities use materials found in most classrooms or homes. For example, crayons and blank paper are the perfect combination for a starting point. Try this with a child or small group of children, and judge for yourself: Read-aloud a favorite children’s classic picture book, such as Harold and the Purple Crayon [Crockett Johnson, author and illustrator], as you and your child enjoy the illustrations along with reading the story aloud.

Follow-up the reading time with an incredibly easy and enjoyable art activity: Simply draw on large blank paper with a purple crayon! Draw anything. There is no right or wrong way to explore art. After all, it is the process of exploration and discovering that is most valuable, not the finished product. In other words, enjoy the doing more than the end result. When the purple drawing and coloring and designing and exploring is over, the next time you read Harold and the Purple Crayon to your child, you will notice a remarkable and directly related interest in the illustrations due to this very simple activity. Your child is appreciating art and tying together the enjoyment of reading with the experience of art.

If the child was particularly enamored with the purple crayon experience,take it a step further on another day: tape purple yarn in rambling and looping designs on a sheet of cardboard or on a tabletop. The yarn will travel great distances with great freedom of creativity. Some children like to color or paint in the spaces in the looping yarn; other are content to loop away the afternoon. When the child hears Harold and the Purple Crayon once again, the appreciation of the illustrations combined with comprehension of the story will be greatly enhanced and ingrained by the hands-on process experience. The child will have a more personal relationship with the book not only hearing it read aloud, but getting to know the book through hands-on process art related to the illustrations.

One of the most loved books and most requested art ideas go hand-in-hand with this follow-up activity, requiring only paper, scissors, crayons, aluminum foil, and glue. Bits of sparkly craft items like sequins or glitter are optional, based on whatever you have on hand. The project honors the process of creativity and does not have a planned outcome. Read aloud Caldecott Award Winner, The Rainbow Fish [Marcus Pfister, author and illustrator]. Enjoy the sparkly illustrations while reading along. Talk about the shiny fish scales and the colors of the Rainbow Fish himself. As a follow-up, place small scraps of aluminum foil, scissors, paper, crayons and glue on the worktable. Invite the child to create a sparkly crayon drawing, incorporating bits of foil glued into the artwork. Though some children will try to create a sparkly rainbow fish, others will most certainly work up abstract colored designs and then snip and tear aluminum foil into bits and shapes to glue into the art. Like snowflakes, rarely are two artworks ever the same if the creative process is honored over the finished product.

Plain paper and crayons will always be the shining star of art follow-up activities for read-aloud book time or any time. Drawing on plain paper with crayon, uninterrupted by an adult, has been proven by research to benefit children in their success in all other subjects. Art for children doesn’t have to be fancy; it simply must have a moment in time to be offered to a child. Children are capable of looking at illustrations and seeing elements they may wish to explore in their own art. Children are capable of appreciating illustrations for their style, color, and appeal. Children are inspired to love and appreciate books through hands-on companion art experiences. Give them the gift of opportunity to appreciate their books as they get to know the illustrations first hand and hands-on.

 

Listed below are summaries of quick follow-up art ideas to enhance a child’s love and appreciation of favorite read-aloud picture books (found in Storybook Art by Kohl and Potter):

Corduroy - Don Freeman author/illustrator
- make prints from scraps of corduroy pressed in paint and then on paper

Blueberries for Sal - Robert McCloskey, author/illustrator
- dip a fingertip in blue paint and make finger-dot designs on paper

Elmer - David McKee, author/illustrator
- create patchwork designs, like Elmer’s skin, with collected junk and bright construction paper background

It Looked Like Spilt Milk - Charles Shaw, author/illustrator
- mix ¼ cup white glue with 1 cup frothy shaving cream, and use to fingerpaint white puffy designs on blue or black paper

Ten Black Dots - Donald Crews, author/illustrator
- with any chosen number of black dot stickers, create a design with dots and incorporate the dots in a drawing (4 dots, wheels of a car; 6 dots, apples in a tree; 1 dot; a nose on a puppy; 20 dots, fancy design)

Gilberto and the Wind - Marie Hall Ets, author/illustrator
- draw on green colored paper with pencil and accent parts with white chalk (like the illustrator’s style)

A Tree is Nice - Marc Simont, illustrator; Janice Udry, author
- collect fallen natural materials from trees (leaves, needles, twigs, blossoms), place them under a sheet of paper, and make a crayon rubbing with peeled crayons rubbed over the bumpy design

Alligator Shoes - Arthur Dorros, author/illustrator
- a book about fancy shoes inspires kids to decorate an old pair of sneakers with felt, buttons, rick-rack, and other trims on hand; drawings or tracings of shoes may also be designed and decorated; boots, slippers, flip-flops, and so on.

More Spaghetti I Say - Mort Gerberg, illustrator; Rita Gelman, author
- mix strands of cooked spaghetti and glue in a bowl; stir in glitter or small decorative things if desired; arrange spaghetti strands on aluminum foil dry until hard and shiny. Peel away, and hang by a thread.

 

Further Recommendations

Storybook Art, MaryAnn Kohl and Jean Potter (Bright Ring) 

Discovering Great Artists, MaryAnn Kohl and Kim Solga (Bright Ring)

The Psychology of Art: A Psychology Today Book, Rhoda Kellogg (CRM; distributed by Random House)

Analyzing Children's Art, Rhoda Kellogg (Mayfield Publishing Company)

Creative and Mental Growth (8th Ed), Viktor Lowenfeld (Prentice Hall)

The Best in Children's Books: The University of Chicago Guide to Children's Literature

The Hedgie Awards offers a list of the best read-aloud Picture and Chapter books, grouped in categories such as Early Readers and Read-Alones. Visit Kids Art website and find truly creative, inspiring art ideas.

Read Aloud Handbook, Jim Trelease (Penguin USA)

The New York Times Parent's Guide to the Best Books for Children, Eden Ross Lipson (Random House)

Copyright © 2014 Bright Ring Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
For questions or permissions to reprint, write to MaryAnn here, or phone 800-480-4278.

 

Related articles

ArtsyKidsNEWS October 2013 now available.

Harold and The Purple Crayon

Emily-Rose on Harold and the Purple Crayon

10 Favorite Magical Story Books for Kids

The 25 Best Art Materials for Kids (& Our Absolute Top Ten All-Time Favorites)

ArtsyKidsNEWS March 2013

It's almost March, and here is the March 2014 ArtsyKidsNEWS ready to enjoy!

The following is a jpg. Click on it and it will take you to the actual ArtsyKidsNEWs in a new window. 

This month features an exciting blogger... Asia Citro... and her blog, Fun at Home with Kids.

 

Ready? CLICK!

 

February 2014 ArtsyKidsNEWS now ready!

February 2014 ArtsyKidsNEWS now ready!

Please click on the link above to view. Free of course!!

You can subscribe here 
and you will receive the
ArtsyKidsNEWS each month.
A free book is given away to a
randomly drawn subscriber each month,
and each newsletter is packed
with fun art ideas or other special fun.

All past newsletters can be enjoyed here. 

Here's a brief sample of the real thing:

more here!

 

Glitter - December Sparkle

Glitter.

Is there any better time than Christmas for glitter? Valentine's you say? Well, certainly. But Christmas!! Glitter on eyelids, on sweaters, and in your lipstick! Glitter on pinecones, glitter on stars, glitter mixed with paint, stirred into glue, sprinkled on tape, dusted over cardboard cookies, squeezed from glitter glue bottles, one color or colors mixed together, big chunks of glitter, or tiny dusty bits of glitter. GLITTER!

 

Silver has always been my favorite, and I know kids like all the metallics too. Gold glitter can turn a rock into a treasure, a Christmas drawing into a magical masterpiece, dough ornaments from ordinary to majestic. Never say no to glitter. Yes, you'll be sweeping, vacuuming, and picking it up piece by piece from everywhere for months, and how fortunate...just in time for Valentine's Day. Glitter, ahhhhhhh.

from Momspotted.com - glitter pinecones

 

theartfulparent blog - glitter tape trees

from Gluedtomycraftsblog.com - glitter reindeer

from coffeecupsandcrayons blog - glitter snowflake

November ArtsyKidsNEWS 2013

November ArtsyKidsNEWS 2013
featuring the NurtureStore

The following jpgs show you what the newsletter looks like, but for a fully interactive one with links, go to this url: http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=5ede963e35560c1088968f662&id=654eb089db

 

ArtsyKidsNEWS October 2013 now available.

The October 2013 ArtsyKidsNEWS is now available. Click on the painted pebbles image below to enjoy the entire newsletter.

Remember, if you suscribe to the newsletter (free of course), you will be in the running for a free book drawing each month. This month, Melinda Fant of Albany NY is the winner of Storybook Art.

Photo Credit: Halloween Rock Painting 

from TonyaStabb.com 

Enjoy a free activity connecting to
Ezra Jack Keats and
"The Snowy Day"
featured in Storybook Art.

* Conecting art and literacy helps kids love their books and want to read them more and more.  http://www.brightring.com/jackkeats.html

The Snowy Day, written and illustrated by Exra Jack Keats. Caldecott Winner.

Making snow angels, from "The Snowy Day" by Keats.

Original collage artwork by grade 2 student.

 

 

 

September ArtsyKidsNEWS

You can see the very latest in leafy art ideas at this link!
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=5ede963e35560c1088968f662&id=044af0a2ef&e=[UNIQID]

Posted below are jpgs of the ArtsyKidsNEWS. The links are not active in the jpegs, but if you go to the link above, you will have full access to the newsletter. 

I hope you will join the mailing list! (I give a free book every month to mailing list members in a random drawing.) 

MaryAnn

 

 

 

 

"Having Fun At Home" blog interview about art

An Interview Revisited, from the blog,
Having Fun At Home  

http://www.havingfunathome.com/2012/09/maryann-f-kohl-art-with-young-children.html"MaryAnn F. Kohl: Art with Young Children 

It's a treat to be able to interview someone you admire who is an expert in a field you care about.  That's why, even though this is a busy season in my life, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to interview MaryAnn F. Kohl, author of over 20 award-winning books about children's art and a contributor to Family Fun magazine (among many other distinctions).

MaryAnn recently sent me a copy of Scribble Art to review, and the girls and I have been having a ball trying out the activities there.  So far, we've done salt painting, made an easy piñata, and tried tissue paper collages (my favorite so far!)

The thing I love about MaryAnn's books is her obvious and genuine care for children.  It is tempting as a parent or a teacher to gravitate toward art projects that "turn out well," with end-products that make adults feel that the time has been worthwhile.  MaryAnn, on the other hand,  sees art from the perspective of a child and knows that it is the creative exploration that is often very special to children. That's why in Scribble Art, you'll find oodles of ideas for open-ended art experiences.

Who knew that there were so many possibilities for art mediums and canvases around the house?  Liquid starch, flour, sawdust- even insulated telephone cable find their way into over 100 activities that children can do independently for the sake of fun and beauty.

I'm finding it can be a great boon to have this arsenal of fun lying about the house, by the way.  The other day, as I was making dinner and needed to work uninterrupted, I found the tissue paper collages to do the trick nicely!

So let's turn now to MaryAnn and hear her perspective on doing art with young children.

1.  Can you tell us a little about the role art has played in your own life personally, both as a child and an adult?

When I was little, I was constantly coloring in coloring books and on blank paper, and at times, on the walls. My mom provided me with scissors, glue, paper, and wonderful crayons all at my reach on a shelf we called the coloring shelf. As I grew, I had some talent with drawing, though I was never super talented, but I enjoyed it enough that I was often complimented on my work. This encouraged me to volunteer to do covers for classroom books or decorate invitations for the Halloween Party. When I began teaching, I found that even the most rowdy child would quiet down and become focused when doing art, and by art, I mean actually creating unique work with materials on hand, not copying something I the teacher had made. So I made sure art was a big part of everything we did. When I had my own kids, art was important from the beginning. Playdough, painting, coloring, and collage were a constant for my kids. They are both very good at art now, and though I don't think it is because of all the activities we had specifically, I do believe that their creativity was honored which has inspired them to go forward in life with that ability.

2.  Each of your books makes a unique contribution.  What about Scribble Art do you especially like?

Scribble Art was the first book I wrote, and has sentimental connections back to my teaching years where all these ideas were tested with kindergarten through grade three children, children I knew and loved. I choose these projects because they were open-ended and I was so excited to write a book to encourage creativity for children where their own unique artwork rather than copying adult made cutesy projects. The book was published in 1985 and it is still my favorite and still selling well around the world (in 9 languages no less).

3.  What tips would you give parents for doing art with very young children?

Start small! Rather than putting out jars of paint for a painting project, start with some shallow jar lids filled with about 1/8" of paint, perhaps three colors tops. Use small brushes or cotton buds for beginning. On the other hand, using big brushes and a bucket of water outdoors will paint thousands of rocks and squares in a sidewalk. Big or small, messy or tidy, start with fewer materials in the beginning, and add more in as the children become adept at using them and learn to handle the wonder of it all.

4. As a mother, I often feel my blood pressure rise when art starts to get messy because I envision myself spending the rest of the day cleaning it up.  I would love to hear about how you dealt with the tension between creative art and cleaning up messes when you were a parent of young children.

Do messy type art on days you are ready to handle it. Otherwise, skip it for the time being. The smartest thing is to set up the art area ahead of time to catch the mess. For example, tape an old shower curtain to the floor or over a wall near their little work table, or keep a damp sponge on their work area for them to wipe their fingers; wear a fitted apron or cover rather than a big shirt with rolled up sleeves that get in the way. Plan ahead to prevent problems. Sometimes I put a loop of masking tape on the bottom of a paint cup so it won't tip over, or certainly only fill it half way, not to the brim. Ideas like this make things easier. And if possible, working outdoors is always nice and much easier to clean up. Encourage the kids to help with the clean up too. Part of being a child and being given wonderful experiences is to participate in setting up, mixing, cleaning up, etc. They love to wash the tables with a big soapy sponge!

5.  Would you also give us some tips on doing open-ended art with young children in a group setting?

I like to place materials on the center of a table that everyone can gather 'round together (usually no more than 6 at the table at a time). Everyone can reach in and use what is available, and everyone cleans up their own mess. I rarely show them any finished product they should be trying to achieve; I would rather just see what they do with the materials. Most materials shout out how they should be used, so you don't have to say much. For example, if you have contact paper peeled away and sticky, and there are cotton balls and scraps of paper on the table, the kids will automatically stick the cotton balls and scraps to the sticky background. Let the materials you choose dictate how the activity will go. Sometimes you need to give a little demo or a brief explanation so they aren't left completely in the dark with new or unusual materials. But try not to make a sample for them to copy, because they will copy it, and at that point, the whole purpose of creativity and unique thinking has gone out the window.

6.  Which of your books / activities do you especially recommend for the youngest crowd?  (2 to 5 year olds)

Preschool Art is the best book for the 2-5 year old group, but it costs more than Scribble Art, and Scribble Art would do very well for that group too. My website also offers reduced price eBooks, which is another option.

7.  Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would love for everyone who is interested to join my mailing list. I send out a very nice newsletter once a month called the ArtsyKidsNEWS, with four or five art projects that go well with that particular month. Halloween/Autumn/Harvest is coming up soon and will be sent by email, free of course, at the end of September. Each month one person wins a free art book! Sign up on my website, home page, lower right corner:

http://www.brightring.com

I'd love for your readers to visit my Facebook page too. 

Go here:

https://www.facebook.com/maryannfkohl?ref=hl

or go here:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/MaryAnn-Faubion-Kohl/84206837844?ref=hl

*** FREE DOWNLOAD *** Chapter Six of "First Art"

Free to anyone who loves making things for kids to use, like an easel from a pizza box or a cool way to store markers! Chapter Six from the original First Art book has all this and more. Enjoy!

http://www.brightring.com/Bright%20PDFs/First_Art_Chp6.pdf

By the way, I still have some of the older versions of First Art on my website, at the special price of $10.

 

Special offer
1st edition of FIRST ART 
Only $10, and only a few left!
(no international shipping)
Shipping is $4.00 per book
reg price $14.95, sale price $10.00

July 2013 ARTSY KIDS NEWS: The Homegrown Preschooler

The July issues of the ArtsyKidsNEWS is here! I will cut and paste jpgs of the newsletter for your browsing enjoyment. The REAL newsletter has hyperlinks to all kinds of fun info. Click to see the actual July ArtsyKidsNEWS. Remind your friends to sign up for the free ArtsyKidsNews on my website (lower right corner on website home page).

All two years of past ArtsyKidsNEWS issues are available for free. 

Hope you enjoy all the great ideas!

Process Art Inspires Artful Adventures for Kids! by Lisa Albert

Process Art Inspires
Artful Adventures
for Kids!

By Lisa Albert  

 

“Kids need space to create,” is the simple guidance that award-winning author of art activity books MaryAnn Kohl offers to parents who are getting involved in their children’s arty play.  Given freedom to explore and make choices, children are more likely to use their own ideas in creating art.  You see, too often times, adults (parents and some teachers) project a sense of what a finished piece of art should look like, which denies children the opportunity to explore and create from their own imaginations, and to learn from that exploration and discovering.

Why is process art so important? Kids learn as they explore art materials and the creative process of taking ideas from within and bringing them into existence.  Art allows for trial and error from which authentic learning can take place.  Art is open-ended and fosters individual expression and originality.  When kids have the freedom to go through the process of creating art, they are happy and they are learning.  

Process art is natural.  You need only provide children with age-appropriate art supplies and blank paper, and the stage is set for arty adventuring.  You may want to store art materials in shoe boxes or on conveniently situated shelving.  “If you’re doing that,” Kohl says, “you’re way ahead in the goal of inspiring learning through play.”  

MaryAnn Kohl of Washington State grew up in an artsy family.  Her mom was a painter.  Her dad was a book printer and was lead singer in a band.  Her grandmother was published and her grandfather had a chain of bookstores.  Kohl became an elementary teacher and incorporated her love of art into such subjects as math and science.  After her first child was born, MaryAnn quit teaching and took up writing, which was always a lifelong passion.  By 1985, MaryAnn started Bright Ring Publishing, which is still going strong today.  She has written such best-selling favorites as Great American Artists for Kids, Mudworks, Preschool Art, the Big Messy Art Book, MathArts, and the Preschool Art series.  She has downloadable e-books and free activities on her website.  MaryAnn also writes for Gryphon House, Inc., and she is currently working on a new historical fiction novel.

Respected as an art educator of international repute, MaryAnn Kohl has consulted with such companies as Jim Henson, Blues Clues, as well as major magazines.  Years ago, MaryAnn connected with Abrakadoodle at a NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) convention.  She has presented at Abrakadoodle’s annual national conference at the Crayola Factory.  

This year, she is presenting a process art workshop at Abrakadoodle’s first-ever global virtual conference this May.  “We share a common belief in the importance of active discovery learning through art,” MaryAnn remarked.  “I am delighted to reach out to Abrakadoodle’s directors and teachers with an affirming professional development experience.”  

“Art values and respects the individual uniqueness of a child,” MaryAnn said.  “If you help kids manage materials and promote exploration,” MaryAnn commented, “you are creating a roadmap of your child’s experiences.”  When smushing red into blue, your child discovers he produced purple.  Kids love to see what will happen during the creative process. Mary Ann says that kids often ask her, “But what are we supposed to make?” She responds, “There is no right way; no wrong way; just your way.” She says their eyes sparkle when they hear these words.  

MaryAnn explains that the first time a young child experiments with a new art material, don’t expect a product.  By the third experience with that art material, children refine their process and may strive to create a finished piece of art.  

Try it! Below are a couple of outdoors activities MaryAnn suggests for your kids to get into the natural “process” of art:  

Arty Plastic Pool Play

If you have a small plastic pool, line the bottom with blank white paper.  Squeeze blobs of paint on the paper.  Select round objects (fruit works great), and gently tip the pool so that the objects roll through the paint leaving prints on the paper. Perhaps your child might like to add a hand or footprint.  At the end, wash the fruit well, and enjoy a healthy snack!

Cloudy Day Impressions

Find a comfortable place for your child to lay down with a view of the cloudy sky.  What shapes does your child see?  Encourage free thinking.  Next, set out some blue construction paper, and a pot of white paint with a paint brush.  Invite your child to paint.  It might be a very literal impression of what he/she viewed, but it might also be a whimsical interpretation.  Remember to keep the experience open-ended.  Your child is in control of his/her art and will delight in the natural creative process!

Want to learn more about MaryAnn Kohl? Visitwww.brightring.com.   

To learn more about the importance of art education, go towww.abrakadoodle.com/ny05.  

Lisa Albert is the Director of Abrakadoodle, the country's leading art education program for children ages 20 months to twelve years.  Abrakadoodle offers classes at two convenient locations,New Beginnings Early Start Center in Kings Park and Dream Makers Performing Arts School in East Nort

Valentine Creative Kids: Library Visit, Feb. 2

I hope you will enjoy these photos of kids creating openly with all kinds of materials to make Valentines to give to the Seattle Children's Hospital. We had a workshop at our local children's library on the Feb. 2, and the kids came in open-house-style. It was great fun for me, and they had fun using all the stickers, doilies, glitter glue, and more.

The workshop was put on by MaryAnn Kohl and Sarah Nelson Veleos.
MaryAnn writes children's art books, as you know  :)  , and Sarah has a new book for parents who expecting or have lost a baby. Titled: My Angel You Are Loved.

Valentine Workshop, Bellingham WA

Valentine Workshop, Bellingham WA

by Sarah Nelson Veleos

my angel, you are loved

A poem and journal embracing pregnancy, and celebrating baby
 

A Pregnancy Journal by Sarah Valeos with illustrations by Leanne Westman 

February ArtsyKidsNEWS is Here!!

February ArtsyKidsNEWS is here!!

 

The following view of ArtsyKidsNEWS for February is presented as jpgs. To view the newsletter and all its active links in your browser, go HERE .

If you would like to sign up for the free montly ArtsyKidsNEWS, go here.

If you would like to view all past editions, go here.

BIG BULK BOOK SALE Mudworks Bilingual Edition

I am taking Mudworks Bilingual Edition out of print. So to help the inventory disappear, I am offering an entire carton of Mudworks Bilingual for $2.00 per book, or $68, plus $20 shipping. Total $88.
The only stipulation is that if you resell the books, you may not ask more than half price or $7.50. The book retails for $14.95.

Email [email protected] and we'll set up your order, or go directly to the Bright Ring website and place an online order.

$2.00 per book! Full cartons only. The total on one carton of 34 books will be $88 with shipping. Those sales can be handled through Bright Ring's website using PayPal.

http://www.brightring.com/mudworks_span.html

EACH ACTIVITY IS PRESENTED IN 
BOTH SPANISH & ENGLISH 
ON FACING PAGES.

* This offer is for individuals or educators, not for store owners or commercial entities, sorry. I'm restricted from sales to retail or wholesale establishments. No international sales, sorry.

Face Your Fears: Art for Toddlers and Twos

Another new article at Barnes and Noble.com  -- Parents Expert Circle.

Written by art author and advocate, consultant, and presenter, 
MaryAnn F. Kohl 

Face Your Fears: Art for Toddlers and Twos

 

Thanksgiving weekend only EBOOK SALE $9.99 for ALL!!!

Over $100 worth of resources for $9.99

CLICK ON PHOTO ABOVE TO BUY NOW!!

This special bundle of books will be available for you to buy only over the Thanksgiving weekend. You've only got from Wednesday 21st November 2012 until midnight on Monday 26th November 2012 to buy this special offer. I've written one of the books, and have read the others, and they are fabulous. This bundle is packed full of fantastic creative and practical ideas that you can use with children. Thirteen different authors joined in, bringing you over $100 worth of resources. All for $9.99! Read the next paragraph to see what's included. You won't believe it!! (But it is true.)

The Learning Through Play
bundle includes all these
e-books and resources:

The Garden Classroom, by Cathy James of Nurturestore The Garden Classroom brings you fifty-two creative and playful outdoor activities, giving you a whole year’s worth of garden-based projects to enjoy with your children. Value $9.99 

Exploring More Great Artists Volume 2 Lesson Plans, by MaryLea Harris of Pink and Green Mama Exploring More Great Artists Volume 2 is a 79-page e-book PDF featuring 13 complete art lessons exploring the life and work of 10 great artists with full color photo directions, step-by-step instructions, and supply lists. Value $10  

 Alphabet Crafts, by Allison McDonald of No Time for Flashcards Alphabet crafts is a complete resources of letter crafts from A-Z. Value $8 

Alphabet Glue, by Annie Riechmann of Bird and Little Bird These three editions of Alphabet Glue are literary-themed e-magazines for families, filled with projects, printables, activities and booklists. (editions 7, 8 and 9)Value $12 

Play Grow Learn Issue 1, by Christie Burnett of Childhood 101 Bursting with ideas for playing inside and outside, with activities for moving, talking, cooking, creating, thinking, singing, imagining and constructing, Issue 1 of Play Grow Learn includes 62 pages of inspiration for parents and educators of children from birth to 5 years. Value $4 

Raising a Creative Kid: Simple Strategies for Igniting and Nurturing that Creative Spark, by Jillian Riley of A Mom with a Lesson Plan Just what you need to transform your environment into a creativity growth center, Raising a Creative Kid includes creative exercises following each of the sections that makes moving into a creative lifestyle as easy as possible. Value $7.99 

Parenting with Positive Guidance: Building Discipline from the Inside Out, by Amanda Morgan of Not Just Cute Parenting with Positive Guidance gives you the tools for understanding your child’s behavior and effectively teaching and guiding your child toward increased self-control while fostering a healthy parent-child relationship. Value $9 

Read and Write at Home, by Erin Wing of Small Types Read and Write at Home is a collection of resources and printables to help parents establish fun literacy routines at home. Value $4.25 

Everyday Sensory Alphabet Activities, by Melitsa Avila of Raising Playful TotsEveryday Sensory Alphabet Activities is your go to solution for wriggly jiggly children who want to craft and play with alphabet activities that focus on the process along with audio from educators about alphabet learning to set things going in the right direction. Value $9 

It's Turkey Time Literacy and Math Printables for Prek-K, by Christine Lanyon of Scribble Doodle Draw It's Turkey Time Literacy and Math Printables for Prek-K brings you fun literacy and math activities teachers and parents can use to encourage learning during the Thanksgiving holiday. Value $6 

The Playful Family, by Shawn Ledington Fink of Awesomely Awake The Playful Family brings you nearly 100 ways to play and engage as a family even during the busiest times. Value $4.99 

Mudworks Bilingual, by MaryAnn Kohl Mudworks Bilingual is a best-selling Spanish / English bilingual work from the award winning author MaryAnn Kohl, with fifty of the best squishy kid-tested art activities and recipes. Value $14.95 

Arty's Art Projects, by Sally Haughey of Fairy Dust Teaching In Arty's Art Projects, Arty the gnome shares twenty five of his art projects. Value $7.99

 

 

Top 10 Tips to Develop Young Artists’ Creativity

Top 10 Tips to Develop
Young Artists’ Creativity 

1. "It's the process, not the product." The product is merely the end result, not the reason children create art. Children create and explore art to discover and test their own imaginations. However, primary-aged children begin to expect aesthetic results from their art explorations. The choices of materials and activities provided help them focus their creativity and allow for aesthetically pleasing results.

2. Provide basic art supplies for children that can be used freely at a small table or in a comfortable corner. (Basic art supplies include crayons, scissors, paper, tape, glue, paint, chalk, and collage items.) Provide quality scissors and good paints to encourage artistic success.

3. Keep handy containers filled with all kinds of nifty "junk" for artists to explore. Include cotton balls, ribbon, yarn, paper towel tubes, egg cartons, feathers, buttons, beads, doilies, cardboard scraps, pieces of sponges, plastic berry baskets, packing peanuts, Band-Aids, fabric scraps, labels, Popsicle sticks, small wood scraps, smooth rocks, envelopes, and anything else young artists might find interesting.

4. Surprise children with something new, simple, and fun at least once a week. Introduce a new art material; slip a book into an unexpected place; eat dessert before lunch; make a cardboard box into a puppet theater complete with sock puppets; or tape paper to the underside of a table for drawing on one's back while lying down. Change is the key; surprise is the word; creativity is the result.

5. Use a digital camera to keep a record of children's creative art. Art can then be downloaded onto a computer, printed in color to make memory books, saved on CDs to send home, or displayed in computer slide shows set to music.

6. Check out a famous art print from the library whenever you check out a book, and display it prominently. Don't be surprised to see the great master's style show up in the primary artists' work.

7. Read to children every day. This will cultivate their creativity and motivate them in art, as well as all other parts of their lives.

8. Encourage art outdoors in many ways on many days, rain or shine. Make a crayon rubbing of the sidewalk or the bark of a tree, and keep looking for other textured things to capture in rubbings; weave a fence with plastic contractor's tape; draw with sidewalk chalk; plant flowers; or look at the clouds and imagine shapes and forms.

9. Ask good questions. Say, "Tell me about your art" or, "What were you thinking when you were creating this?" Open-ended questions open the lines of communication for children to discuss and evaluate their own artistic endeavors.

10. Allow free time for children to imagine and pretend every single day, through art, by listening to or reading a book, or by simply watching the clouds.

Jack-o-Pie poem for kids: Using interpretive voices.

Jack-o-Pie Poem & Activities originally posted at gryphonhouse By MaryAnn Kohl   I adore engaging in hands-on art experiences with young children, but I also love getting kids excited about dramatic play! This Halloween idea is a sure-fire winner for children from preschool through Grade 2. When I work with kids around Halloween, I bring this favorite activity that involves drawing jack-o-lantern faces on orange paper circles taped to Popsicle sticks. These funny faces then become props in reciting a little poem involving interpretive voices. Children get to hold up the faces during the poem to act out the fun. This also gives them something to hold on to during the dramatics! Jack-o-Pie I am Jack-o-Happy I am Jack-o-Sad I am Jack-o-Sleepy I am Jack-o-Mad I am Jack-o-Pieces I am Jack-o-Small I am Jack-o-Pie, the best of them all! [Repeat at least three times] Introduce During Circle Time Recite the poem above once or twice through. Ask the children to repeat the poem after you. Show a different orange pumpkin face for each speaker/character in the poem, such as a happy jack-o-lantern, sad jack-o-lantern, sleepy jack-o-lantern, mad jack-o-lantern, broken jack-o-lantern, small jack-o-lantern, and a pumpkin pie jack-o-lantern. Mix It Up! Hold up various jack-o-lantern faces from the poem out of order and ask the children to shout out who the face is. Jack-o-Happy! Jack-o-Small! Jack-o-Sleepy! and so on. Keep shuffling the jack-o-lantern faces and show them to the children over and over, allowing them to name each face again and again. Next, encourage the kids to use interpretive voices to describe the faces, such as a happy voice for Jack-o-Happy, a tiny voice for Jack-o-Small, and a tired yawning voice for Jack-o-Sleepy. Be prepared for the children to really enjoy the voices, so give them plenty of time to try them out again and again. Some kids may want to stand up and use the interpretive voice alone rather than in the group. Go with this idea as suits your group.   Make Your Own Jack-o-Faces Kids will need orange paper, scissors, black marker or crayon, tape or glue, and a Popsicle stick or tongue depressor. Have the children divide into groups of 7, to construct the seven Jack-o-Faces. Each child can cut one of the seven faces from orange paper, add the facial features for that face, and glue or tape it to a Popsicle stick (like a masquerade mask). No eye-holes need be cut. Gather Together Again Ask the children to bring their Jack-o-Faces to the circle. Have the first group of children line up before the others, following the order of the poem. Read aloud the poem and make sure each child holds up his or her “face” at the right time. Now, ask the children to create individual funny voices for their pumpkin faces. Once again, recite the poem. The happy pumpkin uses a very happy voice. The sad pumpkin uses a crying voice. The mad pumpkin uses an angry voice. Jack-o-Pieces sounds broken and the words are staccato. The small pumpkin has a tiny voice and Jack-o-Pie has the strongest voice of all! Invite the children to say the poem in order, holding up their Jack-o-Faces in front of their own face as they use their interpretive voices. When complete, they may sit down. Then, repeat with a new group! Follow-Up Activity Ideas Matching Game: In a box, place 7 Jack-o-Faces to match with 7 words/names, like big, small, pie, pieces, etc. Match the Jack-o-Faces with the words that describe them. Sentence Chart: On a sentence chart, feature sentences from the poem, such as, “I am Jack-o-Happy.” Make sure the sentences are out of order. The children can then put the sentences in the correct order of the memorized poem, saying it out loud as they work. Little Jack-o-Faces can also be used to help match to the sentences. Puppet Show: Use the Jack-o-Faces to create your own puppet show, repeating the interpretative voices used to recite the poem. Jack-o-Face Books: Children can draw one of the Jack-o-Faces on each page of a short handmade book. Encourage them to invent new faces and voices, like Jack-o-Fish (bloop bloop) or Jack-o-Baby (wah, wah, goo goo). They can draw, write, or cut out faces to glue in the book. See Where the Children Take You! I have seen one child act out the entire poem on his own. I have seen kids invent new personalities and jack-o-lantern faces to add to the poem, often rhyming. Open your mind to letting kids carry this to a new level, and you may be surprised what they come up with from this simple poem!   Additional Ideas to Expand the Theme: Orange and black paint at easel Play dough with black triangles and other shapes in a dish at the art table Collage materials for interesting jack-o-lantern face designs Decorate real pumpkins Carve pumpkins, with help if needed Count pumpkin seeds Cook pumpkin seeds Collage with pumpkin seeds Jack-o-lantern masks from paper plates, with additional decorations MaryAnn Faubion Kohl is the author of 20+ award-winning books of activities for children. Two of her newest titles are First Art: Art Experiences for Toddlers and Twos and Art with Anything. MaryAnn invites you to subscribe to her free ArtsyKidsNEWS monthly e-newsletter packed with lots of art ideas and book giveaways.

May ArtsyKidsNEWS : Warmed Crayon Drawing from Play Create Explore blog

Today I share the MAY edition of the ArtsyKidsNEWS.
You can sign up to receive it in your email
by going here (my website mailing list sign up)
or here (Mail Chimp ArtsyKidsNEWS sign up).

*** Notice: Sign up for the newsletter,
and the FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY in JUNE,
for members only. You don't have to do anything.
Just be a member. Random drawing! ***

The newsletter below is shown with JPGS, so the links are not active. 

Go here to see ALL PAST NEWSLETTERS:
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/home/?u=5ede963e35560c1088968f662&id=7fb103d00

Go here to see the May ARTSYKIDSNEWS online with active links: 
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=5ede963e35560c1088968f662&id=a678e1845b
 

Alexander Calder Sculpture: MaryAnn F. Kohl (from the Gryphon House blog)

Visit a recent Gryphon House blog post about how MaryAnn suggests being inspired by Alexander Calder, making Wire Sculptures!

http://blog.gryphonhouse.com/2012/04/10/wire-sculpture-for-kids-inspired-by-alexander-calder/

Wire Sculpture for Kids
(Inspired by Alexander Calder)

April 10, from the Gryphon House blog

By MaryAnn F. Kohl

Kids of all ages can be inspired by the great masters of art: inspired to create in their own ways; inspired to learn more about art, the masters, and history; inspired to discover; inspired to invent and experiment; inspired to learn more about everything; inspired to dream.

Alexander Calder is an artist that kids easily relate to because his sculptures are playful, colorful, and, well, they are SCULPTURES, and kids love to create sculptures!

Here’s some fun information about the great American artist, Alexander Calder, you might enjoy sharing with your kiddos.

 

About Alexander Calder
July 22, 1898 – November 11, 1976

Alexander Calder, called Sandy by all who knew him, was born in Pennsylvania and came from a very artistic family: his great-grandfather and his father were both sculptors, and his mother was a painter. When Calder was young, he and his sister used to play with toys and gadgets that Calder made. In 1909, when Calder was in the fourth grade, he sculpted a dog and a duck out of sheet brass as Christmas gifts for his parents. The sculptures were three-dimensional and the duck was kinetic because it rocked when gently tapped. When he grew up, he continued to create such things as games, toys, jewelry, sculptures, drawings, paintings, costumes, movie sets, and more. Through his construction of wire mobiles, he became the founder of a new art form – kinetic sculpture, which means ‘sculpture that moves.’ He created sculptures in sizes from very small to tremendously large, as well as mobiles (suspended moving sculptures), standing mobiles (anchored moving sculptures), and stabiles (sculptures that do not move). Calder is the most famous kinetic sculptor in the world. 

From Page 58, Great American Artists for Kids by Kohl and Solga.
© MaryAnn F. Kohl and Kim Solga 2012

See samples of Calder’s sculptures at www.nga.gov.
Learn and see more about Alexander Calder at www.calder.org.

How to Introduce Kids to Calder and His Sculptures

First, show the kids some of his works on the Internet or in a book, or if you are lucky enough, visit his work in person at a museum or exhibit. Help the kids to take special notice of wires and see the possibility of movement in his work. Teach them the word “kinetic.” Even a two-year-old loves new words!

Examples of Calder-Inspired Sculptures

  

Kinetic Sculptures with Pipe Cleaners

For kids to try their hands at an easy Calder-inspired sculpture, you will need:

Materials:

• Pipe cleaners (or other craft-wire on-hand)
• A base (such as a rock or a block of foam insulation or foam packing. Other ideas: a can of gravel or sand, a cup of playdough, or a colander turned upside down.)
• Decorations (any items you have on hand, like: buttons, paper scraps, stickers, beads, paint chips, bottle caps, hardware nuts, macaroni noodles, etc.)
• Glue or tape for sticking things together (or other ideas like ribbons, string, or stickers)

* You can see I’m always saying “or”, “or try this, or try that, or what do you have on hand?” because there are so many options, and no right or wrong way to do these creative sculptures. Sometimes the special things you and your kiddos find together will inspire the sculpture to take on new life and design in ways MaryAnn Kohl never thought possible, so have some fun!

Basic Steps:

1. The kids push the pipe cleaners into the base, or wrap around a base such as a rock. If using Styrofoam, push the wires in deep so they will be strong and hold up well.
2. Bend the wires into designs and shapes, or leave straight. It’s inspiring to cut the wires into different lengths with scissors. Pipe cleaners cut pretty easily.
3. Add decorations! Buttons will thread right onto the wires, and it’s easy to sandwich the wire between two gluey scraps or two stickers. Pony beads thread well onto the wires as do macaroni noodles and hardware “nuts”. Have fun choosing from whatever is on hand. You can always add cotton balls or even lumps of playdough! No rules! Wide open ideas.
4. Wiggle or blow on or shake or otherwise enjoy the movement of the wires and decorations. Movement = Kinetic.

Note: One of the brain-challenges of this sculpture is bending and arranging the wires so the sculpture will not fall over.

What else?

Did you ever think of hanging the sculpture upside down so it becomes a kinetic mobile? Consider adding strings or ribbons too! This project is absolutely wide open for creativity and possibilities. In fact, I once saw a child hammer nails into a block of sculpture and then drape yarn from one nail head to another and say, “Look at my Calder!” That could work here too! Or add some golf tees or toothpicks. Or, or, or.

I love this kind of project because it is completely dictated by the materials on hand and the willingness of the child to explore.

The project above is "a twist" on the pipe cleaner idea: 
Colorful craft wire wrapped and wrapped around itself,
and stapled to a block of wood  -- Calder in a different direction!

Shown below: Kids work with pipe cleaners and Styrofoam to build Calder-inspired sculptures at the annual Art Night, Mountain View Elementary School, Ferndale, WA, 2011. Each child creates in his or her own way, exploring and discovering through the process of art. The finished product is fun too, but it is the process that captured their creativity and individual thinking.

 

 

MaryAnn and a young friend in North Carolina are shown below, each creating a Calder-inspired sculpture with wire and foam insulation (cut into small blocks). May 2011.

 

MaryAnn F. Kohl is the author of over 20 books about art for children. Her books are published both by Gryphon House and by her own company, Bright Ring Publishing. Connect with MaryAnn online on Facebook, Twitter, and her own blog!

 

March 2012 ArtsyKidsNEWS

My blog post today shows you picture clips (the links won't work in these clips) from the March ArtsyKidsNEWS.

If you would like to subscribe to this once a month mailing with art ideas for kids of all ages, go to my webpage, lower right corner, and sign up! Join the creative fun!

Your email will be safe with me, and I only send the mailing once a month.

I would love to have you join.

 

MaryAnn

 

 

The Short Story of MaryAnn's Publishing Company: Bright Ring Publishing

The Short Story of MaryAnn's Publishing Company:
Bright Ring Publishing 

MaryAnn Faubion Kohl has a passion for children and for their natural creativity through art that first permeated her teaching years, then her parenting years, and now her current daily life. That passion became a publishing company in 1985, Bright Ring Publishing, Inc., with her first book, Scribble Cookies: Creative Independent Art Experiences for Children (now titled Scribble Art). There was nothing on the market like it and it has become a cherished classic for parents, teachers, childcares, homeschools, and libraries around the world.

Bright Ring has progressed from that simple classic to a full color glossy art book for kids, Great American Artists for Kids: Hands-On Art Experiences in the Styles of Great American Masters (2009).

When asked about independent publishing, Kohl says, “Independent publishing has given me a voice and a crayon-bright-pipeline directly to kids that has changed the face of art for children in this country. What used to be cute kid crafts directed by adults is now true art inspired by children’s own creativity. My mission has been a joy and continues to grow as I bring my passion to the lives and art tables of kids everywhere.

One of the side benefits of my independent press is traveling and speaking to large groups of educators and librarians around the country, sharing my passion for creativity and art for children, and best of all, sharing hands-on art experiences with them. After they have been through ten or fifteen art experiences, and they feel the hands-on joy of pure creativity, they are hooked! If I sell a few books in the process, well then, I know I’ve succeeded.”

Bright Ring Publishing, Inc. recently completed a wide count of all the books in print that Bright Ring has published, those Kohl has written for Gryphon House, Inc. (another independent press), and those translated in numerous foreign countries (harder to count). The total it is closing in on 2 million copies. Kohl was asked, “How many children has each copy reached?” She replied, “The sheer thought of that number is gloriously staggering and impossible to know. It could be over sixty million, if I do a quick estimate, thinking of one book reaching a classroom of 30 kids per year, and then a new classroom the next year, and.... Forgive me if I take a moment and stare at the clouds imagining each of those children finding art within themselves.

Inspiring doesn’t quite cover it!

MaryAnn Kohl loves art for kids, and has enjoyed the publishing experince since 1985, bringing her books to children everywhere.

 

Special Sale: First Art for Toddlers and Twos

Hi, Everyone.

SPECiAL OFFER for
ALL MY Artsy BLOG FRIENDS!!

I have a box of  First Art  regular retail price $14.95,
which I'd like to offer for
$10.00 each book,
INCLUDING shipping.

Write to me at [email protected] with your
full address, and I'll send you a copy
(or as many copies as you'd like to buy). 

All you have to do is mail me a check for
$10 for each book, to MaryAnn Kohl.
Easy!!

This book has rave reviews and I think this is a
great opportunity to get a copy at a great price.

All copies are brand new and in perfect condition,
black and white interior with really cute illustrations.

I'm planning to put this up on my website, but will wait and give
my blog friends the first chance. There are only 24
so when they're gone, they're gone.

Remember: I need your address by email,
then I confirm with you and send you the book(s),
and you send me a check for $10 for each copy to:

MaryAnn Kohl
PO Box 31338
Bellingham, WA  98228 

SPECiAL OFFER
for ALL MY Artsy BLOG FRIENDS!
Hurry before they are gone!

Marvelous Homemade Paints: 20+ Recipes

Today I am sharing paint recipes from
the book First Art.
I worked with two toddler teachers/parents
Dana Bowman and Renee Ramsey putting it together.
First Art  is a book of art ideas for toddlers and two's.
This excerpt lists 20+ paint recipes, all homemade!!

 

Marvelous Homemade Paints: 20+ RecipesThe ingredients for a treasure trove of paint mixtures are right around the corner in the kitchen, laundry, and bath! Children will be intrigued, challenged, and delighted by painting with mixtures made from soap, flour, corn syrup, and other marvelous ingredients. Try these recipes any time, or when something new and different sounds like fun.

 * View inside the entire old version HERE!

PS This book is now in a full color edition.

Marvelous Homemade
Paints: 24 Recipes

Cold Cream Paint

muffin tin with 6 sections

cornstarch

cold cream

water

measuring spoons

food coloring

paintbrush

 

In each cup of a six-sectioned muffin tin, put 1 teaspoon (3 g) cornstarch, 

1/2 teaspoon (3 g) cold cream, and 1/2 teaspoon (2 ml) water. Use a 

paintbrush to stir in a different color food coloring into each cup. Use as 

you would any paint. This also works as a gentle face paint.

 

Egg Paint

colored chalk (bright pastel chalk)

old ceramic bowl

round rock

spoon

muffin tin

teaspoon

water

1 egg

bowl and fork

paintbrush

 

Break pieces of chalk and put them into an old ceramic bowl. Grind them into 

powder using a round rock. Spoon the powder into muffin tin cups. Separate an 

egg, setting aside the egg white and putting the yolk into a bowl with 2 

teaspoons (10 ml) water. Whip the egg yolk and water with a fork until it is 

a frothy yellow. Add drops of egg-water to the ground colored chalk. Stir 

with a paintbrush until the mixture is a smooth, thin paint.

 

Cornstarch Paint

liquid tempera paint

cornstarch

measuring cup

spoon and bowl

 

Mix 1 cup (240 ml) liquid tempera paint and 1 cup (125 g) cornstarch in a 

bowl to make a thick paint that sticks well to paper.

 

Cornstarch Vinegar Paint

white vinegar

cornstarch

food coloring

measuring cups and spoons

spoon and bowl or baby food jar with lid

 

Mix together 2 teaspoons (10 ml) white vinegar, 2 teaspoons (7 g) cornstarch, 

and 20 drops of food coloring (more or less is fine) in a bowl (or shake in a 

baby food jar). This makes enough paint for one child.

 

Corn Syrup & Food Coloring

food coloring

corn syrup

cup and spoon

 

Pour corn syrup into a cup and mix in food coloring. Paint on white paper. 

The painting dries to a shiny, but sticky, result.

 

Frozen Liquid Watercolors

Liquid Watercolors 

small paper cups

freezer

plastic spoons

 

Pour Liquid Watercolors into small paper cups and put them into the freezer. 

When they are partially frozen, put plastic spoons into each cup. After they 

freeze, remove the paper cups. The spoons become handles.

 

Flour Paint

flour

liquid soap

water

measuring spoons and cups

spoon

bowl or large jar

food coloring drops or paste, or powdered tempera paint

 

Combine 3 cups (375 g) flour, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) liquid soap, and 3/4 cup 

(180 ml) water in a bowl or large jar until the mixture is a thick paste. Mix 

in food coloring until you have a desired shade.

 

Fragrant Paint

fragrances and spices (see suggestions below)

paint

spoon

 

Add fragrances and scents to paint. Some suggestions are shampoo, lemon or 

almond extract, peppermint extract, scented hand lotion, perfume or cologne, 

fruit drink mix, chocolate powder, and coffee. Adding spices adds texture and 

fragrance. Suggestions include cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, basil, sage, or 

others.

 

Textured Paint

textures (see suggestions below)

tempera paint

spoon

 

Add textures to tempera paints (or any of the paint mixtures in this book). 

Some possibilities are coffee grounds, sand, salt, sawdust, pencil shavings, 

oatmeal, or crumbled leaves.

 

Jell-O Paint

water

gelatin powder

bowl and spoon or jar with tight-fitting lid

 

Add water to any gelatin powder, such as Jell-O, so it has the consistency of 

watercolor paint. Use as a fingerpaint or a paint for brushing on glossy 

paper, freezer paper, or finger-painting paper. This paint is great for 

"scratch & sniff."

 

Milk & Food Coloring

milk

food coloring

bowl and spoon or jar with tight-fitting lid

 

Mix milk and food coloring together in a bowl or in a jar with a 

tight-fitting lid. Use as a paint for toast, bread, cupcakes, or other edible 

painting projects.

 

Mud Paint

sifted soil

water

cup

paintbrush

 

Mix sifted soil and water in a cup, stirring with a brush. Use it to paint on 

paper, fabric, or wood.

 

Milk Paint

powdered milk

cornstarch

measuring cups and spoons

bowl and spoon

warm water

food coloring drops or food coloring paste

 

Mix together 1/2 cup (75 g) powdered milk and 2 teaspoons (7 g) cornstarch in 

a bowl. Gradually add in 1/2 cup (120 ml) warm water until the paint is 

smooth. Then add in food coloring.

 

Paste Paint

flour

water

measuring cups

saucepan and mixing spoon

stove or hot plate (adult only)

food coloring or tempera paint

 

Mix together 1 cup (125 g) flour and 3 cups (720 ml) water in a saucepan. 

Boil on a stove or hot plate until the mixture is thick. Mix in any coloring, 

such as tempera paint or food coloring, for a paint that will keep its 

texture when dry.

 

Shampoo Paint

shampoo

measuring spoon

water

bowl and spoon

electric mixer

food coloring, optional

 

Mix 3 teaspoons (30 g) shampoo with a little water in a bowl, and then whip 

with an electric mixer until it is thick and creamy. If desired, add food 

coloring.

 

Shaving Cream & Glue Paint

shaving cream

white glue

measuring cup

bowl and mixing spoon

food coloring

 

Mix 1 cup (30 g) shaving cream with 1 cup (240 ml) white glue in a bowl. Add 

in food coloring as desired. This makes a puffy paint that works well on 

cardboard or paper.

 

Shiny Milk Paint

sweetened condensed milk

tempera paint

bowl and spoon or jar with tight-fitting lid

 

Mix together sweetened condensed milk with tempera paint in a bowl or in a 

jar with a tight-fitting lid. When the paint dries, it will be shiny.

 

Slick Paint

tempera paint

white glue

bowl and spoon

 

Mix together an equal amount of tempera paint and white glue in a bowl. This 

mixture works well on glass and other slick surfaces such as aluminum foil.

 

Snow Paint

flour

salt

water

measuring cups

bowl and spoon or jar with tight-fitting lid

tempera paint or food coloring, optional

 

Mix together 1 cup (125 g) flour, 1 cup (250 g) salt, and 1 cup (240 ml) 

water in a bowl or jar. This makes a white paint that looks like snow when 

used on dark paper. Add tempera paint or food coloring, if desired. This 

paint dries hard.

 

Tea Paint

tea bag or instant coffee

water

measuring cup

bowl or cup

 

Soak a tea bag in 1/4 cup (60 ml) water, or add instant coffee to the water. 

Make it dark or light, for color variation. Use this paint for painting on 

plain paper or for shading.

 

Tempera & Starch Brush On

tempera paint

liquid starch

measuring cups

bowl and spoon

water

 

Mix together 2 cups (480 ml) tempera paint and 1 cup (240 ml) liquid starch 

in a bowl until it is smooth and creamy. Add water slowly while mixing, until 

the paint is thick and spreadable. Use it for painting on any type of paper, 

cardboard, or wood.

 

Vinegar Watercolor Paint

white vinegar

baking soda

measuring spoons

small bowl and spoon

cornstarch

glycerin

plastic bottle caps from 2-liter bottles

liquid food coloring

 

Mix together 1 tablespoon (15 ml) white vinegar and 2 tablespoons (30 g) 

baking soda in a small bowl; it will bubble. When it stops bubbling, add 1 

tablespoon (10 g) cornstarch and 1/4 teaspoon (1 ml) glycerin, mixing well. 

Pour the mixture into bottle caps. Add several drops of food coloring to each 

bottle cap. Allow it to dry overnight to make a watercolor paint similar to 

those found in watercolor paint boxes. (Double or triple this recipe to make 

more colors or to fill more caps.)

 

a little more from First Art .....

Painting Goes Wild! 

Collect and create homemade paintbrushes using imaginative materials such as 

feathers, bristles taped together, fern leaves, a sponge on a stick, or 

cattails. Each adds surprise to a painting experiment.

Materials

newspaper or a plastic tablecloth

tempera paints

Styrofoam grocery trays

paper, in a variety of sizes and types

tray

homemade brushes (see list)

Things to Use as Homemade Brushes 

broom bristles (break a few bristles off an outdoor broom and tape together)

cattails with long stem

dish mops, dish scrubbers, or dish sponges

fern leaves

inflated balloons

long feathers

pine branches with needles attached

small sponges clipped in a clothespin or tied to the end of a chopstick

socks or mittens on one hand

 

Prepare (Adult)

* Protect the work area with newspaper or a plastic tablecloth.

* Place several colors of tempera paints into Styrofoam grocery trays and put 

them on the table.

* Place a sheet of paper in front of each toddler.

* Put several types of homemade brushes on a tray for the children to choose 

from.

 

Process (Child)

* Dip a homemade paintbrush into paint, then brush the paint on the paper.

* Try other brushes as desired.

* Paint with homemade brushes at the easel, on top of paper on the floor, or 

paper taped to the wall.

 

First Art Tips

* Place a loop of masking tape on the bottom of each paint tray to keep it 

attached to the table. Sometimes the homemade brushes can stick to the paint 

and lift the trays if they are not taped.

* Children can become very opinionated about what should or should not be 

used for painting. Don't be surprised!

* Plastic liter bottles cut in half make great cups for paint. Save the tops 

to use as funnels.

 

* Easel Variations--

Painting at the easel is a basic and important art 

experience for toddlers and twos. To stimulate creativity, change the paper 

or paint at the easel. For example, encourage the children to paint on 

grocery bags or a sheet of paper with a hole cut out of the middle. Or they 

can try painting on a big sheet of newspaper or an old poster with the 

graphics showing. Paint on clear Plexiglas. Try a new paint recipe or 

different brushes. Use chalk or crayons, pencils, or pens. Paint with water 

on cardboard sprayed with chalkboard paint, or paint with water on plain 

cardboard or wood. Paint on little sheets of paper with small brushes or big 

paper with oversized brushes. Paint on fabric squares.

 

The sky is the limit, and variety is the spice of every child's creative life!

 

 

Amazing Mommy-Blog Christmas Ideas

I've chosen a few of my all time favorite Mommy Blog Christmas ideas to share. You cannot go wrong with these blogs on any day, and Christmas seems to have brought out art for children is that exemplary and wonderful in so many ways.

I cannot thank these young exciting mommy-bloggers enough for what they contribute to the world of children's creativity. Bless each and every one of you for your dedication and hard work.

~ MaryAnn

 

Painted Snowflakes from "The Artful Parent"

My comments: Cut coffee filters into snowflakes and paint. (You can also do this with flour tortillas and any variety of peanut butter, jam, or colored cream cheese for a fun snack.) You could also paint the coffee filters first and then cut the snowflake when it's dry.
Thank you, AP! 

Spin Art Christmas Tree Cards from "The Chocolate Muffin Tree"

The Chcolate Muffin Tree blog shows us a way to take spin art and cut triangles to assemble in a tree shape and then further decorate with paint dots, glitter, stars, foil, sequins, etc. Cotton is added for snow, which we know kids would love. I just love how happy these little trees are dancing in the snow. Thank you, CMT!

16 Christmas tree crafts to try from "NurtureStore"

NurtureStore shares some amazing Christmas Tree art -- these are far more art than craft, and so beautiful!

One of my favorites is the paint chip art cut into trianges to make little trees. Great gift tags!
And look at the sticks and driftwood tree.  Ooooo.

Sixteen different ideas for you, and just amazingly beautiful yet exploratory and unique for each child. 

Recycled Paint Stick Snowman from "Pink and Green Mama"
"Measure the snowfall!"

Pink and Green Mama blog shares this cute craft. I bet no two snowman sticks will look alike! Provide lots of felt, paper scraps, and ribbon or fabric strips for his scarf. Number at one inch intervals from the bottom up (from 1 to 8), and you have a measuring stick to count the inches of snowfall on Christmas Eve. (dreaming of a....)
Thank you, P&GM! 

 

Recycled Materials Christmas Tree from "The Imagination Tree"

The Imagination Tree provides the young artist with a cardboard tree shape, and then stands back as the artist paints the tree base and then adds scraps and doodads and other items from their "Jar of Wonder". Oh glorious! Check their blog to see how they fix the tree to stand.

Thank you IT! 

 

Thank you all for making Christmas merry, bright, and creative for children.

And Happy New Year to All!

 

PS. I send out a newsletter once a month with an art idea and other news and fun. If you'd like to sign up, go here.  

 

 

 

5 Days of Art with Leaves -- PLUS two bonus leaf art ideas

5 Days of Art with Leaves ::: PLUS two bonus leaf art ideas!!

 The original article by  Kaplan Early Learning  
from October 14, 2011 with added photos and comments by MaryAnn.

With as many leaves on the ground as there are on the trees, October is the perfect time to create leaf art! Have your students collect a colorful assortment of autumn leaves and explore a week of exciting leaf art activities from Art with Anything by MaryAnn Kohl!

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Day 1: Basic Leaf Paint and Print

Materials:

• Leaf (any color)
• Watercolor paints andpaintbrush
• Drawing or construction paper

What to Do:

• Place a leaf on a covered workspace. Paint the leaf with watercolor paints. While the leaf is still wet, press white paper on the painted leaf, patting and pressing with your fingers to help the paper pick up the paint design.
• Lift the paper from the leaf to see the print transferred to the white paper.

Hint: Sometimes the leaf sticks to the paper and needs to be peeled away.

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Day 2: Leaf Burst

Materials:

• Leaves (real or paper cut into leaf shapes)
• Drawing paper
• Damp sponge
• Thin tempera paint or liquid watercolors in a shallow tray

What to Do:

• Choose whole, complete leaves with good edges, either fresh green leaves or supple fall leaves. If leaves are unavailable, draw bold leaf shapes on paper and cut them out to use instead.
• Hold a leaf firmly on a sheet of drawing paper with one hand. Dip a damp sponge into thin paint with the other hand. Dab all around the edges of the leaf, brushing the sponge outward from the leaf’s edge onto the paper creating a “burst” design.
• Gently lift the leaf from the paper to see the clean stencil with a brushed burst design. Make several burst on one paper, changing colors and overlapping shapes, if desired.

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Day 3: Watercolor Leaf Paint   

Materials:

• Watercolor paint and paintbrush
• Drawing paper
• Leaves

What to Do:

• Cover a sheet of drawing paper with very wet watercolor paints. Paint color all over the paper without making a picture. Press leaves into the paint in any pattern or arrangement.
• Let the painting dry completely, usually overnight.
• Peel off the leaves and see the design images remaining in the paint.

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Day 4: Wiggle Leaf Design

 image 2

Materials:

• 2 or 3 fresh green or supple autumn leaves or paper leaves
• Large drawing paper
• Black marker (permanent marker works best)
• Crayons, colored pencils, and markers

What to Do:

• Using the black marker, trace around two or three leaves (and no more) on paper. Color each leaf with crayons or markers.
• With a crayon or colored pencil, trace just beyond the leaf shape by ½” or so, following the shape, but not touching it. Then trace around this line, about ½” more, expanding out from the original leaf.  *See image 1 with black lines.
• Do the same around each leaf with ever-expanding lines. As the expanding lines grow, lines will at some point bump into each other. Make an artistic decision about when to stop drawing lines. Even if they cross over each other, the design will be interesting and look “wiggly,” like an optical illusion. * See image 2 with lines colored in.

image 2 

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Day 5: Melted Leaf Mobile

Materials:

• One large leaf, either real or cut from paper
• Electric buffet warming tray – adult supervision needed
• Mittens or work gloves to protect hands
• Old, peeled stubs of crayon
• Stick or thin tree branch from outdoors (12” – 18” long) or a paper towel tube 
• String, thread, or yarn
• Paper towels or rag for clean up

Note: Although the warming tray will not get very hot on the “warm” setting, it is important to have an adult nearby at all times and to wear protective mittens or work gloves for this activity.

What to Do:

• Place a large leaf on an electric buffet warming tray (ask an adult to set the temperature on “warm”). Leaf shapes cut from paper are equally effective for this activity.
• Use a crayon to draw on the leaf. Allow the warm tray to melt the crayon as you slowly color the leaf or paper leaf shape. Try mixing several colors on the leaf if desired.
• Remove the leaf and set it aside. Color several more leaves in the same way.
• Attach each leaf to a tree branch with a different lengthof string, thread, or yarn so the leaves hang down at various levels. To hang this tree branch mobile, tie string to each end of the branch (or paper towel tube) and join them above.

Note: Electric buffet warming trays are usually available in thrift stores and yard sales. Warming trays are easy to clean: While the surface is still warm, wipe off the warm crayon with an old towel or paper towels. If you use the tray only for art, detailed cleaning is not necessary. If you plan to use the tray for non-art related activities, cover it with foil before using it for this activity.

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Art with Anything by MaryAnn Kohl is available from Kaplan and Gryphon House for $19.95 plus shipping and handling. For more books by MaryAnn Kohl or for more amazing early childhood resources, visit the Gryphon House website. MaryAnn's website is another great resource for this title.

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BONUS LEAF ART IDEA:
Leaves Like Matisse!!

 

Create a leaf cutting like the great master, Henri Matisse!!

Stack colored paper, from three to five sheets, or whatever number of papers you think you can cut through easily. Cut a leaf shape Matisse style from all the paper at once. Fan out the results and look them over. Then paste the shapes on a background paper in a design you enjoy.

Here's an original by Matisse: (* Oh, how I love Matisse's work!!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Optical Leaf Cuts

Another interesting leaf art design you might enjoy sharing with kids is this abstract optional illusion. It's easier than it looks. 

The basic directions are
1.  Cut a leaf shape from the orange papers. (You can use any colors, and any shapes.)
2.  Glue all the orange squares with the missing leaves  on a background paper, in this case, yellow paper.
3.  Next glue all the orange leaves in the yellow spaces. This artist chose to flip the orange leaves over, but you can do anything you like.

Easy to do. Really!!

Halloween Color-Changing Cups of Spooky Fun

I saw this idea somewhere and thought it would be fun to try, but I have my own take on the color changing fun (see idea 2)! Kids will be thrilled with the way their drink changes color before their eyes.

Halloween Magic Begins!
MAGICAL COLOR CHANGING DRINKS 

You will need:

    party cups, clear or solid

    food coloring, ice 

    any clear drink (Sprite, Fresca, Ginger Ale, 7-Up, Club Soda)

Idea 1: 

 Place a drop of food coloring at the bottom of each
party cup and let dry. When ready to serve, fill each
cup with clear ice. Then pour in the beverage, and
watch the kids be surprised as their drink changes color. 

Idea 2:

 Pre-freeze ice cubes in different colors using strong
food coloring. When ready to serve, fill the cups with
a clear beverage and leave room for a few ice cubes.
Plop in the cubes at the last minute, and suggest to
the kids that they look at their "magic" clear drink
to see if anything is happening.

All this color changing reminds me of the little ball of white 
playdough you can give a child, but inside is a tiny drop 
or two of food coloring. As the child plays with the 
dough by hand, the color(s) begin to emerge.

 

 

Great American Artists for Kids: A Look at Ansel Adams

Ansel Adams was a photographer most famous for his magnificent California nature pictures. However, during World War II, Adams surprised the art world when he traveled to the Japanese concentration camp in Manzanar, California. Here he photographed many of the American families imprisoned there, documenting the hardships and positive spirit of these brave Americans. I believe the pictures from Manzanar are among Adams' best work.

Adams' Manzanar photographs can inspire children to see how powerful photography can be.

How can children be inspired by Adams portraits?

One idea is to encourage children to express themselves through portrait photography. In the page below, second grade children chose, completely on their own, how they wished to be photographed: how to pose themselves, what props if any they might like to include, and also titled their portraits -- all as a way of expressing themselves and their current interests or emotions.

The most successful part of this project was seeing inside children in a different way than I usually saw them. I learned much about children who did not necessarily wish to express themselves through words. I was surprised on many levels -- surprised, delighted, and moved.

For this project, I handled the digital camera and took the pictures, though children could also take on this part of the projects. Children came into the photo area alone and assumed their pose, having previously thought it over (and some practiced). I snapped the picture, and later each child was able to view the picture on the computer where they chose a title and talked a little about it if they chose.

I recommend you explore portrait photography with your kids,  inspired by Ansel Adams. There's more to the photo than meets the eye.

 

~ MaryAnn

* This project can be found in the book Great American Artists for Kids
by MaryAnn F. Kohl and Kim Solga. The book is available in paperback
and in an eBook format. 

More information about Ansel Adams.  Wonderful display of his nature photos.

Shaving Cream Leaves, from the "Little Wonders' Days" blog

Shaving Cream Leaves, from Little Wonders' Days blog

* All links take you to Little Wonders' Days

Thank you, Little Wonders' Days! I'm sending all my blog friends over to visit you!

Little J was asking how many days until school started the other day. When I told him that there was about a month of summer break left he was rather quiet. I noticed later that he still seemed off. When I asked him he told me that he was going to miss having all the fun we had this summer. I reminded him of all the fun he had at school and how much he would enjoy seeing all his sweet friends again. This cheered him up some.

It really cheered him up when I suggested that we do a project together that I knew he enjoyed- shaving cream painting! 

It occurred to me that we could do something with our project to help him look forward to going back to school and let him know that while we won't have the lazy days of summer, we will still have Friday fun.

Friday fun is a little "I love you ritual" that we started when Little J was in kindergarten. With the busy weeks of school, extracurricular activities, homework, and earlier bedtimes, it's easy to miss each other.  We started doing simple things that we usually don't have time for during the other weekdays.  Things that help us spend time together and reconnect. 

When they dried, Little J and I thought of a few things together that would be fun to do this September. We wrote them on backs of the leaves (on post it notes...I'm hoping to get them back for our autumn traditions tree) and then put them on his bedroom door. 

• Take a walk on a nature trail
• Play at a favorite park
• Make ice cream for dessert
• Go to the science museum
• Go for an afternoon picnic
• Do a traveling story hour

 

Ivory Soap Amazing Colorful Microwaved Puff Ball, from "The Chocolate Muffin Tree" blog

The Chocolate Muffin Tree is one of my favorite blogs for fun creative ideas of things to do with kids. I had never seen this Ivory Soap sculpture idea, and just had to share it! Check out the Choclate Muffin Tree for further creative ideas and fun.  ~ MaryAnn 

:::::::: From The Chocolate Muffin Tree blog ::::::::
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Colorful Ivory Soap Sculpture

Have you ever tried the Ivory Soap Trick? It is super easy and a Great Science Lesson! We just happened to have some Ivory Soap around and I happened to come across this idea from the weekly post 10 Ways To Make Today More Magical from A Magical Childhood. I've seen this idea many times, but it was a great reminder to try it! The instructions and Science behind it are found here, if you want more detail. We did the trick a few times (It is addicting!), but also put an Artsy twist on it! Here is our Colorful Ivory Soap Sculpture. Keep reading to find out how we  did this trick and how we made it more fun! 

Before the trick, I did a little reading about the science behind this amazing experiment here and decided to incorporate a little bit of learning about what floats and what sinks and why? We tested a bar of Dial Soap and Ivory Soap and noticed which one sank and which one floated. I had my daughter try to guess why? Then I explained that the Ivory soap has air in it which causes it to float and Dial soap has very little or no air.

To do the trick, first put a unwrapped bar of Ivory soap on a paper plate or piece of paper towel.

Place the soap in your microwave for about 90 seconds and it will puff out and grow into this amazing looking foam sculpture!!!! I didn't let my daughter watch the whole time because of the microwaves harmful rays! Interesting Information: My Father, who worked with radiation, has told me the most dangerous place to stand is the side of the microwave because that is where the harmful rays leak out! He said the front has a protective shield on it so I just thought I would pass that along since I am mentioning the dangers of microwaves.

Now you can see how the soap puffed out! My daughter absolutely LOVED this! We've done it three times and she keeps asking about doing it again! I explained to my daughter that the reason it puffs out is because there is air inside the soap that makes it expand when heated ... she seemed to understand! To make our Ivory Soap Puffed Sculpture more beautiful, I let her put drops of Liquid Watercolor (you could use food coloring) on it to paint it! Be careful because the soap is hot right out of the oven and especially in the center of the soap!

The sculpture is not at all permanent and flakes apart so it is definitely an "in the moment" activity! My daughter loved touching the sculpture and wanted to save pieces of it!!!

Here is a finished "Colorful Ivory Soap Sculpture" again! Beautiful! (or Not?) What do you think? We put the finished sculpture back in the microwave to see what would happen and there was not much difference. I appreciated that my daughter wanted to keep experimenting!

I know we will be doing this "Trick" again and again!!! My daughter keeps eyeing our Ivory soap in the bathroom closet and I'm sure it will happen soon! If you are wondering if you should try this ... it is totally worth it!!! Have FUN !

Thank you, Chocolate Muffin Tree,
for posting this wild and exciting soap sculpture!

 

Hands-On Art Workshop, photos

 

I spent the weekend in Hillsboro, Oregon
with CAOWASH enjoying the hands-on art
workshops I offered throughout the day.

Here are some pictures:

         
 

 

I think the favorite art was melting crayons on the warming trays (center, lower).

I personally love "smooshing" play clay and blending colors (left, lower).

The salty watercolors were a big hit too (right, upper).

Block sculptures with pipecleaners and other odds and ends are fun for all ages (right, lower ).

I'd love to come to your CCR&R or other group in your area.
We can learn and play at the same time.

Visit: www.brightring.com to find info on "MaryAnn Presents!"

Remember: 

1. Sign up for my maiing list to receive the ArtsyNEWS four times a year, plus other special offers. (Sign up link... click on the bug below.)

2.  My website www.brightring.com has lots of free art ideas in "Free Activities"

 

 

Dinosaur Claws

Dinosaur Claws
- from the book, Snacktivities
Serves 5

Here's an easy recipe, and fun for kids.  
    This photo gives some idea of the results,
    but when making your Dinosaur Claws, stick the almonds
    into the dough to look like claws, not sprinkled on top. 

 

Ingredients:

1 can of refrigerator biscuits
margarine, melted
cinnamon sugar
almond slivers

 

 

Utensils:

oven, preheated to 425º degrees F or according to biscuit directions
baking sheet
pastry brush
oven mitts
squares of clean, plain cardboard
permanent markers

Process:

1. Bake the biscuits according to package directions, usually about 8 to 10 minutes.

2. Wear oven mitts and remove the baking sheet and biscuits from the oven.

3. Brush each biscuit with melted margarine. Sprinkle biscuits with cinnamon sugar.

4. While the biscuit is still very warm, carefully insert 5 almond slivers around the edge of the biscuit so it looks like the claws of a dinosaur.

5. Draw tracks near the edges on the clean squares of cardboard with the permanent markers.

6. Serve the claws on the cardboard squares.

 

copyright © 2010 MaryAnn Kohl 
This article/art activity is copyright protected.

Permission is granted to reprint one copy for personal use only.
Please contact [email protected] or 800-480-4278 for
permission to reprint multiple copies or to disperse.

 

Crayon Melting on a Warm Plate, from www.playcreateexplore.com

Here's a wonderful art project
from Play Create Explore! 
Melting crayons on a warming tray
is one of my favorite art activities,
but not everyone has a warming tray,
and this finally solves the
problem! Great idea!! 

http://www.playcreateexplore.com/2011/01/crayon-melting.html

Crayon Melting on a Warm Plate

L did a crayon melting activity today while I cleaned the kitchen and he loved it!
Warm a plate in the microwave or under hot water.
It doesn't need to be scorching hot to melt the crayons. My plate was very warm to the touch and I explained to L that the plate was very warm. He bumped it a few times, with no reaction.
Just test it first to be on the safe side. 
Give your child some peeled crayons and let them discover the fun of drawing with melting crayons! 

         * Note from MaryAnn: Soak old crayons overnight in a tub of water.
            The paper slides right off.

The great part about this is that with hot water, and dish soap, and a scrubbie, the plate washes clean! So you can give your little artist a clean palette when they cover the plate, so they can start again, AND when they're all done, you'll still have a usable plate! However, don't expect to use the scrubbie again. It remains a bit waxy.
 * Note from MaryAnn: To clean easily, reheat the plate and wipe nearly clean with a paper towel. Then wash as usual.

 

Mixing Mouse Tracks, from Storybook Art

Mouse Paint - 

Some ideas for following up reading the book:

Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh, author

While trying to outsmart a cat, three white mice come upon jars of red, blue and yellow paint. They dance, jump, and amaze themselves as they mix colors, discovering how to make purple and orange and green!

Young children heard the story and then had a chance to mix, paint, and create their own little mice playing in paint colors.

 Toddlers "mouse paint" with their bare feet on butcher paper.

The kids shown above had a chance to paint on toast, using milk colored with food coloring.

Read how to make mouse tracks 
Mouse Paint: by Ellen Stoll Walsh, author

While trying to outsmart a cat, three white mice come upon jars of red, blue and yellow paint. They dance, jump, and amaze themselves as they mix colors, discovering how to make purple and orange and green!

Explore Stoll's color mixing idea as acted out by three white (briefly) mice. Print colorful mouse tracks with a plastic toy mouse dipped in paint. Imaginative mixing of colors is encouraged, like any good mouse would do!

Mixing Mouse Tracks 
from Storybook Art
copyright © 2003 Bright Ring Publishing
Please do not copy or reprint other than for personal use.
Permission for reprint, contact MaryAnn Kohl. 

Materials:

• plastic toy mice (used for party favors around Halloween - if none available, simply make a thumb or finger print, and pretend it is a mouse track! The eraser of pencil also makes a nice little track.
• tempera paints in flat Styrofoam grocery trays

Process:

1. Spread a thin layer of paint in a Styrofoam grocery tray, one color for each tray. Red, blue, and yellow primary colors are good choices and correlate with the story illustrations.

2. Press the fee of a plastic mouse into one color of paint, and then onto paper to make mouse tracks. Make many, many tracks here, there, and everywhere!

3. Dip the toy mouse in a variety of paint colors so colored tracks can mix and combine, just like in the book. Try to make purple, green and orange.

Variations:

• On a warm, sunny day, go outside with bare feet. Walk in a tray of cool squishy paint, and then on paper, recreating the idea of mouse tracks. Repeat one color or walk through previously made footprints so colors will mix and create new colors.

• On the end of a wooden dowel, glue a mouse shaped track cut from the insole of a shoe or a stick-on toe pad. Let the glue dry. Make mouse track prints by pressing the track in paint and then on paper.

• Create painted footprints directly on a blacktop or concrete playground, sidewalk, or driveway. Prints will eventually rinse away after many rainy days.

 

In the Style of Diebenkorn (Stain Painting)

 

click on the book's pages above to see a larger version in a new window

© Note ©
These two pages are copyright protected. 
You may enjoy them for personal use, 
but may not share or disperse them in any form.
For permission to reprint or share, contact [email protected] 
© copyright MaryAnn Kohl 2011 

Richard Diebenkorn

April 22, 1922 - March 30, 1993

Diebenkorn was born in Portland, Oregon in 1922, and grew up in the San Francisco Bay area where the colors of fog and sea and mist were his everyday companions. His paintings reflect his ocean environment and exposure in abstract works, especially through his famous "Ocean Park Series" paintings.

Though Diebenkorn did not use stain painting technique, children can create paintings that reflect their own special colors too, in an easy to do project called "Stain Painting" based on Diebenkorn's abstract designs. Use bits and pieces of art tissue painted onto paper with water. Once blurred and wet, the art tissue is then removed, leaving a captivating blurred stain on the paper. (Some artists prefer to leave their art tissue on the paper and not peel it away.)

Pages 76 and 77 in "Great American Artists for Kids" shows an example by Richard Diebenkorn as well as four different artworks by children of various ages.

Kids love how the colors blend and blur and bleed from the art tissue, and yes, you can use crepe paper too! Enjoy this project, compliments of Bright Ring Publishing! If you have scans or pictures of what your kids make, send to MaryAnn and I can post them on this blog if you like.

 

Chalk on Starched Fabric: An Art Experience from "Almost Unschoolers" blog

Drawing With Chalk on Wet, Starched Fabric
from "Almost Unschoolers" blog 

Posted completely from
http://almostunschoolers.blogspot.com/2011/07/drawing-with-chalk-on-wet-starched.html 

© 2011  All photos property of almostunschoolers.blogspot.

Almost Unschoolers experimented with chalk and starch drawing today,
with an idea from Preschool Art: Drawing (preview the book in Google Books).

To quote "Almost Unschoolers" blogging mom:

"I cut a few scraps of cotton fabric into squares,
and gave them a quick soak in liquid starch.

 

Wringing the squares out...

 

... laid them flat, in pans, and had the girls color on them with colored chalk.

It worked out great, as the starch not only let the chalk blend out a bit, but really brightened the colors, and "set" it on the fabric (as long as it's not washed), so it won't rub off.

Making the dried pieces perfect for hanging - framed in popsicle sticks, stretched across embroidery hoops, or with twigs and twine, or whatever happens to be handy.

It's great to be a homeschooler.

POSTED BY AN ALMOST UNSCHOOLING MOM "

a HUGE t h a n k  y o u,  

to the
a l m o s t  
u n s c h o o l i n g  

m o m !!

Art Book Give-Away * 3 WINNERS ANNOUNCED! *

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

 ... and the WINNERS are ... 

Cathy Wilson - Mudworks

 Christina Spencer  - Storybook Art

 Jenna Freck - Great American Artists for Kids 

Winners:
Please send your mailing address to my email
                 [email protected]
and your books will go out in the mail right away! 

* Note:
The winners were chosen by a blind random drawing 
in the offices of Bright Ring Publishing.
Names or entries of winners or other particpants 
will never be used for any other purpose 
without their express permission. 
 

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! 

_{. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .}  

Cathy Wilson said:

I already have your Great Artists books and I use them for my junior high art classes. AND I would love to have MudWorks. As a child, I didn't have much confidence in making art, but I do remember finding a side yard that had been recently seeded. To my ten-year-old mind, it looked like the perfect place to make some designs. I didn't have a clue about seeding! I got shovels and a garden hose, and carved out a beautiful city with bridges and rivers and tunnels and buildings. As I recall, my parents didn't punish me for this, even though it ruined their seeding job. I remember the huge delight of running water through the muddy waterworks!

Christina Spencer said:

MaryAnn, I would love to have a copy of your "StoryBook Art". I'm an Artist and Art Educator trying to develop a curriculum to bring art to all ages at our local Arts Center. They have never had classes for the toddler/preschool age. I'm starting up a class called ARTventures: A Story + Art What a Great Start to an ARTventure! I love the age group! I taught toddlers at a daycare for 4 years and have a 2 year old at home. I was hired at the Arts Center as an on site Artist and Education Coordinator. Your book would give me ideas for so many stories and art projects to play off of! I love the teaching about story telling, visual literacy and illustrators as working artists. I hope that it will inspire them to create their own stories.

Jenna Freck said:

I completely enjoy your books. I'd love to have Great American Artists for Kids - I've checked it out from the library twice and renewed it twice...so many fabulous projects and I love that the kids drew the portraits of the artists! All of your books are awesome. My mom, a very creative soul, was always making things when I was small, and I remember when she put a paintbrush in my hand when I was two, walked me over to my easel, and let me paint away, while my dog Blazer licked my ear, looking over my shoulder. Another time she let me help make huge paper mache animals that were as tall as I was, from the messy mache time to painting the spots on the giraffes she made... Also there was this great after school art class at a studio right at school called "Cloud 9 studio" - where my teacher gave us big balls of clay and we made these cool 'matterhorns' with tunnels that traveled through them, and he'd start a marble at the top and we'd watch in suspense as it traveled to the bottom...endless fun. I remember making tickets for the airplane, and pretending to be a passenger on board, making all of the things you'd need to make the flight comfortable, etc...all creating, imagining... Then when I turned 10, Mom signed me up for an oil painting class with her friend Louise. It was there that I leaned that I loved to paint, and catch facial expression and paint portraits of people, and animals. The rest is history...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Dear *ALL* Blog Participants ~

How I wish I could give 215 books as prizes, because that's how many childhood memories were shared during this contest! The time you took to go back into your childhood memories and share those moments with us is truly appreciated. I had no idea that your memories would be so powerful and moving. You had me laughing and crying as I read through each one. 

I hope you enjoyed the experience, and if you have time, do read through all the comments because they are inspiring (and entertaining at times)! I think more than anything your memories of your own art experiences as a child remind each of us how important we are in the lives of the children we touch, and how the things we do, the opportunities we offer, the way we interact... it all makes a difference.

We matter!  :)

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 

Thanks to each and every one of you for participating
and sharing your childhood memories of art!

 

And special congratulations to Cathy, Christina, and Jenna.
I hope you each enjoy your prizes! 

 

 

MaryAnn   
(1950)

Some Favorite Artworks by Kids

I chose a few random favorite artworks for you to enjoy. And here they are! I'll share more in the next few days. If you need specific comments about each one, I can add those but for now, just artworks. 

  I love this painting because the cat extends beyond the border of the artwork.

 

Matisse style cutouts in a new way... colorful spirals hooked together and glued on a blue background.

 

 What little rabbit could be cuter than this one?

 Smooshing non-hardening play clay on paper is a new and tactile way to "paint."

 The Three Flamingoes... Crayon and chalk, and crayon resist.

 An interesting little cat drawing.

Matisse style cutouts of little houses glued on a black background. The houses were cut in one "cutting" from a stack of colored paper squares. And then there's the big flower.

 

 Stained glass in the style of the architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Three kids taped their three panels together to make one window. Grade 2. Contact paper and art tissue, with shapes outlined in black marker, black tape to join them.

  Absolutely beautiful chalk on the sidewalks of Bellingham, Washginton. Age unknown.

 Fox chalk art, Bellingham, Was. Age unknown.

  Photo portrait surrounded by painting and drawing.

 

Drawing Incorporated: fill in with imagination

This is a little idea my dad used to do with me at the kitchen table, and I still do this with kids whenever there's some time to play with drawing. Cut out a picture from a magazine or catalog, and glue it on a sheet of paper. Make a bunch of them! Then draw what's "missing", but don't go for the obvious, draw something with imagination. Get ready for laughter!!

* You can also do other challenging or inspiring things like cut a hole in the paper or glue a solid shape to the paper and try to incorporate those things into a drawing.

Want to see some finished artworks by kids?

    Red scraps were glued to paper and then children could choose which paper they wanted to "finish drawing".

   Everyone had the same cat glued on their paper. This child turned his upside down and made a balloon with a cat in it. As I recall, this student worked on the computer to draw in the details rather than on actual paper.

 

     This boy cut a cow head from a magazine and then drew the details to make the cow a dancing ballerina-cow with a rose.

 

From the Curly Birds Blog: Sciencey Fun (Science Arts book)

Bloggy Fun For Father's Day: ScienceArts

The following post is directly from the Curly Birds blog, showing Science Arts (my book) along with the materials for making a volcano. Thank you, Curly Birds! All credit on this page goes to you! See fullsize photos at Curly Birds.  Bloggy Fun For Father's Day: ScienceArts

Father's Day Gift - Tub of Sciencey Fun   

A thoughtful gift for Father's Day - a fun box of quick, weird and wonderful activities for dads and kids to do together. It is a tub of sciencey fun and a convenient way to have all the materials readily available for a spontaneous afternoon of exploration.

 

For clever science experiments aimed at a younger audience, I bought MaryAnn Kohl's Science Arts. I then chose 15 activities that looked like fun and purchased all the materials to make the projects. I labeled each material with the corresponding project page number and tabbed each of the chosen projects in the book. 

The girls used all the leftover stickers to decorate a big tub to keep the materials and book in. And there you have it - a tub of sciencey fun.
The girls and I made this for Eric last year and it has been used, loved, and restocked many times. Posted on June 01, 2011 at 06:20 PM in Celebrate, Create, Family, hand-made gifts  at Curly Birds

All credit for this post goes to Curly Birds

Cut-Up Repeat (in the style of Matisse)

Matisse Cut-Up Repeats

Try these wonderful bold cut-outs, much like the style of Henri Matisse.

Make a little stack of 5 or 6 colored squares, and staple once in the corner to hold together. Then cut one shape from the stack. (Little kids need less paper to cut through easily, and older kids can experiment to see how many they can handle.) Some kids can cut free-hand like Matisse, and others will prefer to draw a shape first. 

Glue the shapes in any pattern or design on a background paper. Black or bright blue is particularly effective, but any color works fine.

Matisse's cut paper leaves spray across the paper in wild abandon, and yet placed with care and great visual pleasure for the viewer.

 

 

 

 

Polynesia by Matisse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Matisse cuts his famous paper shapes. When he became too ill to paint, he invented his wild and wonderful paper shapes. He was called a Fauvist, which means "wild beast", for no one had ever created art such as this before.

 

Matisse is shown in his studio in his home in France with his artwork surrounding him. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matisse poses in his garden. I think his face shows the kind of person he was, as beautiful and cheerful as his artwork.

When he became too ill to leave his bed, he painted his grandchildren's images on the ceiling above his bed using a broom handle with a paintbrush tied to it so he could enjoy looking at them when they were not with him. That tells me everything I need to know.

 

More Kid Art Works after Matisse

Spray Paint & Scrape Sequence Photos

A preschool teacher friend of mine, Margaret Mahowald, asked a little guy at her center to help us show the process of "spray and scrape" paintings. He agreed, and here are the steps and results:

• 1. Photo of all the materials, including the scraper (use any straight edge, like a credit card or ruler).
• 2. Child colors with Cray-Pas^TM (oil pastels). Crayons work too.
• 3. Child getting ready to spray.  
• 4. Child sprays his drawing with a fine mist of liquid watercolors. He has chosen green. (Thin tempera paint works too. Or strong food coloring in a little water.)
• 5. Child scraps and smears the paint to cover the drawing in any way. (Some kids like to keep the spray as is and not scrape it.)
• 6. Finished resist. The paint is almost completely dry from the scraping smearing step. 

photos by Margaret Mahowald, 
Calvary Lutheran Church preschool,
Golden Valley, Minnesota

 

THANK YOU, MARGARET 

Spray & Scrape Drawing

Draw with crayons on paper. Draw shiny and bright. If you have oil pastels, they work really well for this project too.

Spray liquid watercolor paint over the crayon drawing, and before it can dry.
scrape the paint with a spatula to spread and dry it. (You can also use a credit card or ruler to spread the paint.) 

The bottles that I use that work best are from Discount School Supply and make a fine controllable mist, not a wide spray like some. Liquid Watercolors come in amazing colors, including metallics. I love them more than any other paint I've ever used. 

10 Simple Art Activities from The Artful Parent

List created by Jean Van’t Hul
The Artful Parent
www.artfulparent.typepad.com

I was so enamored by Jean Van't Hul's post at The Artful Parent, I decided to share it here.
To visit Jean's wonderful inspirational amazing delightful fun blog, click on her logo: You'll see her photos and read more of her story about  

10 simple art activities to set up for after school

Activities that require minimal set up that children
can do on their own with little or no guidance. 

1. Crayon-Watercolor Resist    Set out: Watercolor paper and crayons  The process: Let kids draw for a while then bring out the watercolors to paint over the drawings  Variations: Use oil pastels. Draw white on white then reveal the mystery drawing by painting over it. Paint over leaf crayon rubbings.	2. Paper Cut Art    Set out: Construction paper, scissors, hole punch, and tape or glue stick  The process: Let kids fold, cut, and decorate paper.  Variations: Try snowflakes, origami, paper hats, boats, sculptures, mobiles, fans, collage, paper dolls, pop-ups, flaps, etc.
3. Contact Paper Suncatcher    Set out: Clear contact paper (cut into squares and taped to the table sticky side up) and colored tissue paper  The process: Let the kids tear or cut the tissue paper into pieces then stick them to the contact paper. Cover with another sheet of contact paper and hang in the window.  Variations: Use flowers, leaves, and other nature items instead of tissue paper. Try ribbons, lace, or feathers.	4. Collage    Set out: Cardstock, a glue bottle, and collage items such as beans, feathers, and buttons.  The process: Let kids glue collage items to the cardstock as desired.  Variations: Draw a picture then fill in with collage items. Glue collage items to a cardboard box for a 3-D experience.
5. Toothpick Sculptures    Set out: Toothpicks and marshmallows (stale works best)  The process: Let kids build using the toothpicks and marshmallows.  Variations: Other easy sculptural activities include pipecleaners, straws and tape, playdough and tools, cardboard boxes and glue, bread dough and raisins.	6. Q-tip Pointillism    Set out: Paint, paper, and Q-tips  The process: Let kids dip Q-tips in paint then press on paper to make a picture with dots.  Variations: Try cotton balls for larger dots. Use Do-A-Dot markers or regular markers. Try two primary colors together to see if you can create the illusion of color mixing.
7. Printing with Fruits & Vegetables    Set out: Paper, paints, and one or more fruits such as a lemon or apple cut in half.  The process: Dip fruit in paint then press to paper.  Variations: Try printing with other objects such as leaves, animal figure feet, kitchen tools. Get out the stamp pad and stamps. Try fingerprint art.	8. Hole “Challenge” Drawings    Set out: Paper with a hole cut out of it and a pen  The process: Let kids draw on the hole paper as they see fit.  Variations: Try different size, shape, or number of holes. Cut the paper into different shapes. Use white paper, colored construction paper, or large posterboard. Glue a paper shape to a piece of paper. Offer different drawing tools. Try this with paints or collage items.
9. Masking Tape Art    Set out: Paper, scissors, and masking tape  The process: Let kids cut or tear masking tape into pieces and adhere to paper in any way desired.  Variations: Offer multiple colors and widths of tape. Draw or paint over the masking tape art then remove the tape.	10. Simply Drawing / Simply Painting    Set out: Paper and drawing tool or paints  The process: Let kids draw and paint! No need to get fancy.  Variations: You can vary the papers, sizes, kinds of paint, kinds of drawing tools…

 

Inspiring Triptych Art for Kids (from the Angry Chicken blog)

See children's triptych art from Discovering Great Artists 

 
Visit the Angry Chicken Blog!

The owner of Angry Chicken prefers you visit her site to see her words and photos, so I won't post those here. While visiting this creative fun blog, you will easily see how a triptych painting can be inspiring and unusual and easy and just plain COOL for little kids to paint (or draw).  Please visit her blog and check it out!!

 I will share this quote:

"We have been having a lot of fun doing projects out of Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters. This one is inspired by the triptychs by Jan van Eyck. I love this book. We checked it out from the library and now must buy a copy. It's great as a starting point for working on a particular artist, but sometimes the girls just flip though the book and choose a project to do." ~ from Angry Chicken blog

Masking Tape and Mondrian: abstract tape art for kids

Masking tape and a piece of matboard or cardboard...that's all you need!

Kids wrap around the board with my favorite,
colored masking tape from DiscountSchoolSupply.com 
(or wherever you like to get your art materials). 

To do:

Kids simply wrap colored masking tape around the board, in any way they like.
First time "wrappers" tend to make the board puffy with tape and colors.
They will refine their work when they get the idea.
This idea comes from being inspired by the great abstract master, Mondrian. Look at more of his work here and HERE: 

 

About Piet Mondrian, the great abstract master:

Mondrian, Piet (1872-1944)

"I would not trouble to cite these observations if I did not belive they bring one to see better Mondrian's vigilant planning for variation, balance, and interest. His were not just the moves of an intellectual game or tour de force of painterly construction. Through the rhythem of differences and contrasts of a few colors and lines, with an appearence of both freedom and control in the opposition of the regular and the random, he effects a stirring expression of his delight in sensation and movement. (...)

Piet Mondrian. Broadway Boogie-Woogie. 1942-43. Oil on canvas, 50 x 50"(127x127 cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Given anonymously.

While Mondrian's abstract paintings of the 1920s and 1930s have an architectural effect with an impressive stability and strength, the surprise of Broadway Boogie-Woogie lies in its movement and colorful visual music. The reversion to his earlier styles clearly served a new expressive intent. In conceiving Broadway Boogie-Woogie, Mondrian could well have been inspired by the sights of New York, the dazzling night spectacle of its high buildings with their countless points of light, and in particular the moving illumined signs at Times Square. He had been prepared for this new conception by his enjoyment of Paris where, on first encountering jazz and modern popular dance in the 1920s, he defended them against detractors. In Paris he discovered, besides Cubist painting, the beauty of a big city as a collective work of art and its promise of greater freedom and an understanding milieu. Shortly before coming to New York he had disclosed a new inspiration in paintings with more complex grids, which he called Place de la Concorde and Trafalga Square - the forerunnerd of the interwoven grid in New York Cityand Broadway Boogie-Woogie. (...)

Mondrian was never freer and more colorful, and closer to the city spectacle in its double aspect of the architectual as an endless construction of repeated regular units and of the random in the perpetual movement of people, traffic, and flashing lights."

 

Melted Crayon, oh my

Melted Crayon, oh my! Everyone loves this, adults included. You have to find an electric warming tray at a thrift store, or maybe you have one in your pantry. I did! Lots of grandmas and grampas have them and don't use them, so ask anyone over the age of 60 if they want to get rid of theirs.

Draw with old crayons on paper that has warmed on the tray. The crayon will melt and smoothly move across the paper, soaking in to the paper, and creating crayon art you will love!!! There's something about the fragrance of melting crayon that is soothing, too.

Kids can wear a mitten or hold pot holders, but really the only hand they need to protect is the non-drawing hand. And by the way, these trays are very low heat and kids work with them very well. I'm personally pretty careful about the electric cords, taping them down to the table to prevent tripping or movement of the trays. With young kids, I recommend just one tray one kid at a time. Older kids, I put six or eight at a table at the same time.

Preschoolers love this. Middle school kids love this! I love this.

 

 melted crayon designs cut out

 examples of various melted crayon art

  example of melted crayon on paper plates

  more examples

 

Googly Puppet Stick: an easy but artsy craft

Crafts can be process and not heavily product. Here's one that's always a winning favorite. You need some large tongue depressors (ask your pediatrician for a few) and any little collage items, markers, etc. to decorate the sticks. Googly eyes are a plus! Sticks can be puppets, or sticks can simply be decorated in any way at all. Kids always love when your puppet talks to them!

 

Smooshing Play Clay: a favorite!

You know that soft play clay called Plasticine or Modeling Clay? It never hardens, comes in pretty colors? Try this instead of modeling the clay. Take small pinches and smoosh them on paper like the little kids in the pictures. You use your pointer or thumb to smear the clay in designs, thin smears and smooshes. Toddlers and young kids like to further press little things into the smooshed clay, like buttons or sequins. This project is my personal current favorite, and kids from age 1-16 have agreed with me! Start Smooshing!

Art with Anything featured in "Arts & Activities", May issue

My book, Art with Anything, is in Arts & Activities May edition.

It's such a good magazine. YAY!!!

You can look at the entire magazine online. Lots of great art ideas for you and your kids.

http://pubdev.ipaperus.com/ArtsandActivities/AAMay2011/