Gather the kids together in a yard or patio and get the party started.This is also a wonderful excuse to invite the neighbors for a block party, to make and view the kid's art, but also to enjoy interesting conversation, serve a potluck lunch and just mingle together.
Make sure there's plenty of construction paper, washable paints, brushes, markers, crayons, glue and children's scissors. Encourage the kids to be creative. Refrain from any "copy me" type projects. Guide the children, but let them express themselves. Think of art as a process, not a product!
Set up a cleaning station with a bucket of water, soap, and a roll of paper towels. After the projects are finished and dried, it's time to set up the gallery. String clothesline among trees and bushes, and use those wooden clothes drying racks to display the children's artwork.
Here are a few art techniques to try:
Paper Collage
A collage is a work of art made by combining pieces that have to do with one topic or idea. Choose a theme for the collage and gather the appropriate materials to represent the idea. Or the collage may be a combination of colors, textures, or something just pleasing to the eye. A paper collage is just that, all kinds of paper.
Choose from construction paper, colorful tissues, plastic wrap, foils, scrapbook paper, wallpaper, newspaper, magazine pictures and so on. Glue these onto a piece of cardboard in an interesting pattern. This project will amuse children for a period of time and so much fun to do. For a variation, think about dried pasta collages, textured fabric collages, and dried bean collages. There is no end to creativity!
Paint Blots
Paint blotting is a technique to make symmetrical pictures. Take a sheet of drawing paper and fold it in half. Drop or dribble poster paints onto one side of the paper. Use one or a combination of colors. Fold this paper together and with a rolling pin or hand, press gently outward from the center toward the edges. Open the paper to see a double design. This paper can be displayed as is, or cut into shapes to represent characters or objects.
Coffee Filter Dip
Kids love to make these colorful circles and it teaches color mixing too. Fill each section of a muffin tin with a small amount of water and drops of food coloring. Start with the primary colors; red, yellow and blue. Fold the coffee filters in half and then in half again. Dip the corners into a dye, changing colors with each corner and even double dipping to make secondary colors, like orange, green and purple. When finished, open the filters and let dry on top of paper towels.
Rubbings
Gather objects around the house with interesting textures, such as keys, combs, coins, doilies, leaves, paper clips, and cardboard shapes. Place a thin sheet of white paper (copy paper works well) over the object and rub hard with the side of a crayon (one which has had the paper removed). Use many objects and fill the page with a variety of rubbings. This process might be called a "rubbing collage."
Crayon Resist
Crayon Resist is an art technique where the colored areas will resist (not soak up) the paint, which is brushed all over the paper. Prepare a thin paint by adding water to poster paint in a cup, preferably blue or black. First, invite children to draw their favorite picture onto white drawing paper with crayons. Make sure the children press down with the crayons for a thick layer of the wax. Use light crayons, as dark ones will not show up well. If children want part of the picture to remain white, it must be colored in with a white crayon. When finished with the coloring, lightly brush the entire page with one coat of the paint wash. What a neat effect!
A variation of Crayon Resist is to make surprise pictures. Encourage children to draw a picture using only a white crayon onto white paper. When finished, brush the thin paint wash over the entire page. Surprise, a picture will appear!
Printing
Kids love to do sponge painting. Use store-bought sponges in all kinds of designs or make them homemade by cutting inexpensive sponges into shapes. Place poster paint into a shallow container, dip the slightly dampened sponge and print away. Don't forget about printing with cut vegetables, kitchen gadgets, and even the fingers. Dip and press, it's that easy!
While admiring the artwork gallery, ask the young artists to tell viewers about their pictures. Resist asking, "What is this?" Praise children for their efforts and how this artwork has enlightened everyone's day. Don't forget the cameras for lasting memories!
 |
 |
