Ema spends Wednesday afternoons with me at my studio. She is meticulous, creative, precise, funny, cheerful, interested, respectful and persistent. I enjoy her company immensely and I truly look forward to these afternoons. For the last few weeks, she has been working steadily on a mixed-media artwork. Ema started with some image transfers onto a canvas, then used water-soluble colored pencils and collage to complete her piece. I’m always impressed when a young person can sustain interest in a project over a period of days or weeks, and she certainly did on this piece. She finished this one yesterday. Let her know what you think in a comment. 🙂
Tag: art activities with kids
Kids’ Arts Festival from the Perspective of a Docent
A circle of hands is how it felt for me, as I helped with KidWorks alongside the volunteers, my fellow docents and staff of the Holter Museum of Art. We needed everyone to make it work.
After this weekend, I have a visceral feeling for something else we docents get to do: help put together the most amazing festival — KidWorks! — a huge, wonderful day full of hands-on art activities for kids. Read on to find out what a docent REALLY does … and to see the magic that happens when over 800 participants come through our doors.
Hollyhock Dolls: a throwback to simpler times
I can’t remember if my grandmother or my mom taught me to make these hollyhock dolls, or maybe just told me about them. Anyway, I didn’t need to look up how to make them. I remembered they were made the hollyhock blossoms, a needle and thread. Some folks make them with toothpicks or stiff pine needles. For an old-fashioned nature craft on a relaxed summer day, this is the perfect way to have fun with your kids while making and reliving memories. They’re so easy!
Painted Critters and Things Made of Clay
If you have access to a kiln, or a friend who does, get a chunk of clay and make some of these cute little critters with your kids. We painted them instead of glazing them this time. Ema and Adia have some tips on making and painting little clay objects, based on their own experiences with this project. Thank you to Gene Hickman of the Helena Clay Arts Guild, for giving us the clay, and teaching the girls some tricks of the trade.
Kid’s Art: Root Creatures
Have you ever wanted to make an imaginary creatures? Here’s a DIY tutorial. All you need is a few driftwood roots and some paint. You can make whatever you can imagine when you look at the sticks.
Kid’s Art: Clothespin Puppets
Making these cute puppets from clothespins, paper and paint was a hit with Ema and Adia (ages 10 and 8.) Easy art activity that is adaptable to just about any age. You can extend the activity by building a cardboard box puppet theater and putting on shows. Try making some puppets of clothespins, and let us know how you liked it!