MaryAnn F. Kohl, process art and treasures of childhood

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!

 

DECEMBER Holiday ArtsyKidsNEWS 2013

It's December Holiday
ArtsyKidsNEWS time!

Included in the newsletter are 3 winners
of the "1000th Member" Free GiveAway Book Drawing included.

The following images are all jpgs and will not have hyperlinks embedded.
To see this newsletter fully active with hyperlinks working, go here:
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=5ede963e35560c1088968f662&id=3031360cf8

We reached 1000 members for the ArtsyKidsNEWS!
Celebration Book Give-Away
3 WINNERS are....
1.  Jes Prochaska has won Great American Artists for Kids

2. Nina Watts has won Scribble Art

3. Shirley Oshima has won Mudworks Bilingual Edition 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

"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

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!

March 2013 ArtsyKidsNEWS

The following March ArtsyKidsNEWS is shown with jpgs. To view this newsletter with active links in your browser, CLICK HERE.

 

Process Art, let's listen

MaryAnn Kohl offers a 20 minute "listen" about process art. 

http://blogs.dctc.edu/dawnbraa/professional-guest-speakers/

Note: The pictures on the blog correspond with MaryAnn's talk about art.  http://wp.me/pUBXw-3B5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scroll down to MaryAnn's name. If you have trouble with the file loading, MaryAnn had the best luck with Firefox browser.

 

You can ALSO participate in the free book giveaway on the blog who is posting this recording.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MaryAnn Kohl

•  MaryAnn Kohl, Award-winning Author, Publisher, Art Advocate, and Educational Consultant (February 2013) GIVEAWAY, Free art activities, Facebook, Twitter, Blog

 

 

January 2013 ArtsyKidsNEWS - Snowman Art

Hello and Happy New Year!
 
January 2013 ArtsyKidsNEWS
is here! 
SNOWMEN!  SNOWMEN!  SNOWMEN!

The newsletter below is posted as pictures.
To see the actual newsletter with active links,
view here:   http://eepurl.com/s0S-1

You can sign up for the free monthly
newsletter on my website,
lower right corner:  
http://www.brightring.com
 

Thank you for visiting my blog!
    MaryAnn 

December ArtsyKidsNEWS - holiday art ideas

To view the actual newsletter, go here:  
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=5ede963e35560c1088968f662&id=b708b691c0 

When you go to the link and the newsletter, you can find links for signing up for the free newsletter to come directly to your email each month. You can also access the archive of all the past newsletters, which is now more than one year's worth.

Another bonus to joining the mailing list is that each month I give away a free book to someone on the mailing list, which is great fun.

I hope you will consider signing up, and if you already have, I'm so happy!
You can sign up on my website, lower right corner:  http://www.brightring.com

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
MaryAnn 

artsykids news december

 

A Repost From the Gryphon House Blog: Reading Scenes Photography Fun

This is a guest blog post directly
from the Gryphon House Blog,
reposted below:

http://blog.gryphonhouse.com/2012/03/13/reading-scenes-lets-take-pictures/

Reading Scenes: Let’s Take Pictures!

13 MAR

by MaryAnn Kohl

When I was a very little girl, my dad brought me a new book every week from the bookstore where he worked. Most of them were Little Golden Books, and I still own every single one. Those books brought magic into my life and lovely daddy-daughter time to me as an imaginative little girl. I treasure both the books and my time with my dad who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 50.

One of the ways I used to like to play with my books was to set up my toys in scenes and arrangements based on favorite stories, like playing dolls, but more. I was building the scenes from my books, like setting the stage for a great play or story. I would move the characters around and make them talk, reliving the book and adding my own twists to the story.

When I was satisfied with playing, I would bring out my Brownie camera (this was film, not digital, everyone! It was in the 1950s!) and take a picture of the scene. The pictures took about a week or more to develop and be returned to me. The waiting wasn’t so hard, as there was plenty to do to keep busy during the interim.

When the pictures arrived, I selected which scenes would go into my scrapbook, really just a notebook with photos taped in, and tape them in. Though sadly I don’t have any of those pictures today, I do have the memory of my play time with my books as the inspiration and my dad smiling over me and asking me to tell him about the photographs in my notebook. Retelling the stories was a good part of the enjoyment.

So I’d like you to try this, your kids will love it! I call it Portraiture, an idea from the book, Storybook Art, authors MaryAnn Kohl and Jean Potter, and also in a different way from Great American Artists for Kids by MaryAnn Kohl and Kim Solga.

Portraiture

To Do:

1. A child (children) reads a favorite book (listen to a book or read it on their own).
2. A child (children) sets up a scene with whatever toys, figures, blocks, and so forth on hand.
3. Take a digital picture of the scene.
4. Choose to move the scene about and take a second or third picture to tell a story in sequence, but most kids are happy with one picture.
5. Print out the picture.
6. Save it in a notebook or scrapbook.
7. Take dictation about the picture from the child if they are very young, or encourage them to write something about it if they are old enough.

More:

Some kids like to actually dress-up in costumes and put together some background or props to re-enact a favorite book or one of their make-believe times. Do the same: Pose, take a picture, print it out, save it in a notebook.

These pictures show scenes as well as children dressing up and posing:

The squirrel is reading the baby frogs a bedtime story. The two children who posed the scene gave a short dictation of what was happening to the squirrel and frogs.

Jake and Sydney posed themselves in costume with props to show how difficult it is to have a cup of tea when the toys are not behaving.

Foil figures squeezed from aluminum foil can make fun characters to pose in a story. This foil man has found himself a marker and is setting out to draw his own personal story on white paper.

 

This post was contributed by MaryAnn Kohl (pictured on the left at about the age of Brownie cameras  in the 1950s). MaryAnn is the renowned 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. MaryAnn enjoys speaking internationally and working with groups of children all over the US. Articles by MaryAnn can be found at the Barnes & Noble Parents’ Expert Circle as well as her own blog. MaryAnn lives in Bellingham, Washington.

 

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.

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.

 

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!

I attended the Mountain View Elementary School Art Fair (Ferndale, Washington) last week and set up a fun sculpture at my book table... styrofoam squares, with pipe cleaners, buttons, scraps, sequins, and so on. We used up every last piece of everything. I taught at Mt. View back in the 70s so find it a good place to volunteer when I can. Enjoy the pictures!!

PS This activity is found in Great American Artists for Kids and is an enjoyable sculpture activity based on Alexander Calder's famous stabiles (which are "standing mobiles").

How to Paint on Canvas ~ with Maya

via www.youtube.com

 Maya is so refreshing!  
 To quote Maya: "You draw from your heart and let it come out on the canvas..." 
 This is Maya's first time drawing and painting on canvas. 
 She is delightful. I hope you enjoy this video (9.2 minutes).

Mondrian Style Art

via teachkidsart.blogspot.com

This is an easy way for kids to try art in the style of Mondrian. I like using colored masking tape to make lines, but this is a good way if you only have crayons and paper handy.

 

Art Is Important Year Round

Art Is Important Year Round

Read this interview with MaryAnn about summer fun!

 
 ^{Summer is a great time to enhance your child’s art education experience, but art is an important and fun activity that parents should engage their children in all year round. MaryAnn Kohl, author of over 20 art books for teachers and children including “Art with Anything: 52 Weeks of Fun Using Everyday Stuff”, discusses why art is an important part of children’s lives and gives some suggestions on how to share art with your child.}

 

Garden Weaving

Tie twine onto bean poles in the garden, then add ribbon and other materials. The beans won't mind! Check the whole step-by-step experience at The Artful Parent.

Stephen Wiltshire draws Rome from memory

If you are interested in art and autism, this video will absorb your attention. Stephen Wiltshire is a British man who was diagnosed as autistic when he was a child. He's also been noted for his exacting memory, which allows him to recreate [in drawings] vast scenes he sees only once. This video shows his 16-foot-panorama of Rome after taking one helicopter ride above the city.